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walt disney world with special needs

Walt Disney World Special Needs – Attraction Boarding Tips Part 2

(Back to Part 1 of Walt Disney Worldยฎ Special Needs – Attraction Boarding Tips)

Iโ€™m going to spend a minute here on what to do when being denied boarding on a ride.ย  Sometimes, due to the nature of the ride, you may not be allowed to boardโ€ฆbe it because you must transfer or because you are not able to load within a certain time, etc.ย  This can be a very defeating moment and I have a few things you should keep in mind.

First, the Walt Disney Worldยฎ Resort (and other Disney properties) is the best in the whole world at making things wheelchair accessible.ย  Their business is customer service and they do a great job when it comes to meeting the special needs of all their customers.ย  There may be, however, operational, construction or safety issues that are out of their control.ย  I was once told by a Walt Disney World Special Needs counselor that they would love for everyone who cannot transfer from their wheelchair to be able to ride all the rides, however, putting a wheelchair on the Rockโ€™nโ€™Rollercoaster was simply not a good idea!

Second, if you are being told you cannot ride due to your particular disability, and the Cast Member (CM) has not already done so, request to speak with a manager/supervisor.ย  It has been my experience that the CMโ€™s call their manager before they ever come talk to you about it, so that the manager has time to get there.ย  Remember to remain polite and calm, but ask the manager to explain to you why they think the ride would be dangerous for you.ย  Walt Disney World Special Needs - Rock'n'RollercoasterThey probably know something that you donโ€™t, and they are just looking out for your safety.ย  However, as in my case in one instance, I knew something that a manager did not knowโ€ฆโ€œme!โ€ย  The situation occurred at my favorite ride, Rockโ€™nโ€™Rollercoaster.ย  I had ridden the attraction several dozen times before the incident occurred, so I knew there was no danger.ย  I explained to the manager that while it may not appear so, I have a large amount of upper body strength, and even though I donโ€™t have arms, I use my shoulders to brace myself and to protect my neck.ย  After answering a few of her questions, she said to get onboard and have fun!

In conclusion to this Walt Disney Worldยฎ Special Needs Tip:

The Walt Disney Worldยฎ Resortย is magicalโ€ฆbut there has to be some safety added in with that magic, or it wouldnโ€™t be magical!ย  Remember that while some situations may be handled poorly, that the CMs involved are not getting joy out of making it more difficult for you, but rather they are getting joy out of giving you a safe, but wonderful experience.ย  And always remember, no matter what happens whether youโ€™re at the Walt Disney Worldยฎ Resort with Special Needsย or anywhere elseโ€ฆโ€œOnly you can let someone else ruin your day!โ€

Disney World Dining Caters to Everyone – Special Needs Dining

Disney World Vacation - Infant Looking at MenuFrom Magic Makerยฎย Kip Dennis
Anyone who has visited the Walt Disney Worldยฎ Resort in the past can tell you about their excellent dining options. From the ethnic restaurants in the World Showcase at EPCOTยฎ, to the class act dinner theater like Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and the one-of-a kind restaurants like 50’s Prime Time Cafรฉ, there is something for everyone. But when you have a dietary restriction, you may think that you choices are limited. With the MAGIC of Disney it is actually quite the opposite.

While recently traveling with someone with a food allergy, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of service provided. When placing my advance dining reservations (ADRs), I notified the cast member of the allergy. All of my reservations were noted to alert the staff of the extra care needed. Just let your personal Magic Maker know of your special needs and they will communicate those to Disney. They can also provide you with additional information relating to your restrictions including suggested restaurants that will be able to best meet your needs.

At our table service meals, our waiter/waitress told us that their chef would be out to talk about our particular dietary need. Each chef went to great lengths to ensure a meal was made without any allergen contamination. If it was a buffet meal, the chef escorted him around to identify “safe” foods.

For counter service, we just notified the cast member at the order podium of our restriction. They once again notified a manager to come and consult us on what our available options were.

The Special Dietary program at Disney is just another example of how Disney continues to provide great service to their guests.

Diz-Abled.com and Off to Neverland Travelยฎ Join forces to Support Travelers With Special Needs

Planning a trip to Disney World with health conditions can be complex and time consuming. To simplify the process, two companies that specialize in supporting travelers with special needs have come together. Stephen Ashley, author of Walt Disney World with Disabilities and head writer of the Walt Disney World with Health Conditionsยฎ website (Diz-Abled.com) had been looking for a travel agency that would cater to his readers for nearly a year. “I was so excited to learn aboutย Off to Neverland Travelยฎ. After chatting with the owner, Chet McDoniel, I realized that they have the knowledge to help plan a smooth vacation, but perhaps more importantly, they have the heart to bend over backwards for their clients who have extra needs.”

Chet McDoniel was excited to find Walt Disney World with Health Conditionsยฎ. ย “We felt that the resources on Diz-Abled.com and the Walt Disney World with Disabilities guide book are a perfect complement to our services. We plan to make the book available to our clients and to send them to Diz-Abled.com, which is full of very helpful free resources and articles,said McDoniel.

Chet McDoniel is uniquely experienced in dealing with health issues while visiting World. McDoniel has no arms and he must ride an electric wheelchair when long distances are involved, such as in the Disney parks.ย  Stephen Ashley said “I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Chet, and I’ve been so impressed. Despite his physical challenges, he is a person who has a busy, normal life.ย  He doesn’t seem to let his physical challenges get in the way of living life to the fullest.ย  His friendly, upbeat personality makes you feel comfortable right away.” ย Concerning his agency’s services, Ashley said “It seems they’ll go far beyond what most other travel agencies will do to help their special needs clients plan a dream trip.

Some of the services Off to Neverland Travelยฎ offers include:

  • Advice and planning assistance with details regarding air transportation
  • Advice and planning assistance with choosing the right resort for your special needs
  • Park touring details and advice when visiting with special needs
  • Dining reservations and advice for guests with special dietary needs
  • Overall vacation planning assistance with special needs being the focus

Ashley’s book, Walt Disney Worldยฎ with Disabilities has extensive information on the services Disney offers it’s guests with health needs, how to get your needs met in the parks, resorts & restaurants, details on handling medication & medical equipment, dietary needs, transportation, wheelchair use and suggestions for dealing with specific conditions in the parks & resorts, and much more. It also has in-depth descriptions of the physical and emotional feel and experience of Disney rides and attractions. ย The book is written to support guests with “minor” to major health and emotional issues, and is available on the web through the official website: www.Diz-Abled.com. It can also be purchased on Amazon.com.ย  For bulk purchase and group discounts contact the publisher at (954) 432-1274.

www.Diz-Abled.com includes free content to complement the book such as Disney World restaurant menus, the special dietary needs policies of each restaurant and a variety of articles designed to help travelers with health and emotional issues plan for Disney.

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