How to plan a stress free vacation with the Disney Disability Pass
Planning a Stress-Free Family Vacation to Orlando with the Disney Disability Pass
Summertime brings with it exciting opportunities for family vacations, and a trip to Orlando is a favorite choice for many. The city offers a multitude of theme parks and attractions that are sure to delight kids of all ages. However, for families with children who have disabilities, proper planning and awareness of available resources are crucial. In this blog post, we will share our personal experiences and provide helpful information on how to make the most of a trip to Orlando while accommodating a child with a disability.
Our Eye-Opening Experience
Understanding our Daughter's Needs: Last fall, our family embarked on a trip to Orlando to celebrate our daughter's birthday at Disney World. Little did we know that we were about to face the most challenging vacation of our lives. Our daughter has narcolepsy, a condition she was diagnosed with at the age of six. Over the years, we have become familiar with her triggers and developed strategies to handle her meltdowns. However, the overwhelming combination of crowds and the Florida heat exacerbated her condition, leading to a major panic attack in the park. This experience made us realize the importance of being prepared and seeking appropriate assistance.
Discovering the Disney Disability Pass
Seeking Help: It was during our disappointing trip that we discovered the Disney Disability Pass, which made a significant difference in our experience. While venting about our vacation on Facebook, a friend informed us about this helpful resource. We learned that Disney, along with other major theme parks, provides assistance to individuals with disabilities without requiring extensive paperwork or proof of disability. Instead, they rely on an honor system where visitors describe their symptoms.
How the Disney Disability Pass Works
Making the Most of Your Visit: To benefit from the Disney Disability Pass, we visited the customer service area at the park entrance and explained the symptoms associated with our daughter's disability, despite her outward appearance of good health. The pass does not allow skipping lines entirely but provides an alternative. We were able to approach the fast pass line and obtain a return time for a ride while the disability pass held our place. This enabled us to explore other areas of the park, shop, or enjoy shows without having to endure long queues. The pass seamlessly integrates with the Fast Pass system, maximizing our time and minimizing triggers for our daughter's meltdowns and panic attacks.
Other Parks Offering Disability Passes
Expanding Our Options: After our Disney World experience, we decided to explore the availability of disability passes at other major Orlando attractions. To our delight, we found that many of them offered similar programs. Here are the details and links to obtain more information for each park:
- Universal Orlando Resort
- SeaWorld
- Disney World
- Legoland
These passes typically work across all affiliated parks for Universal Studios and Disney World throughout the duration of your trip. Once the pass is loaded onto your cards, you can use it accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Planning a family vacation to Orlando requires extra consideration when a child with a disability is involved. By familiarizing yourself with resources like the Disney Disability Pass and exploring the options available at other major attractions, you can ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free experience for everyone. Remember, a little preparation goes a long way in making magical memories that will last a lifetime.
We are headed to Disney AGAIN in Summer 2023.
Since I wrote this post back in 2017, a lot has changed. My daughter's diagnosis has changed from Narcolepsy to Level One Autism with Circadian Rhythm Disorder. We used a Disney travel agent for this trip to make sure this trip is more enjoyable than the last!
Here is the most up to date information from Disney's website:
Top Things to Know About DAS
- DAS is intended for Guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.
- DAS doesn’t provide immediate access to experiences but rather allows Guests to request a return time for a specific experience that is comparable to the current standby wait. This allows the Guest using DAS to enjoy other experiences in the park instead of physically waiting in the standby line.
- The Guest who is requesting to use DAS must be present during registration (in person or live video call) and when redeeming a DAS return time at Walt Disney World theme parks. The Guest using DAS doesn’t need to be present when a return time is requested at an attraction or any Guest Relations location.
- Once registered, DAS is valid for up to 60 days.
- Two exciting new features have been added to the DAS program: (1) the opportunity to pre-register via live video call and use DAS Advance pre-arrival planning and (2) a convenient way to receive DAS return times through the My Disney Experience app.
