Disney World With Disabilities Archives - Page 2 of 2

Nov

18

2025

WDW’s Disability Access Service Part 2: Signing Up

This post is one of a multi part series on the WDW Disability Access Service. These posts are based upon our own personal experience with using DAS with our daughter, so your mileage may vary. In our first article in this series, we provided an introduction to the Disability Access Service: what it is? how it works? who is eligible? In today's article, I will walk you through the process of signing up for the DAS. Before You Sign Up Before you start the process of requesting a DAS for yourself or members of your party, you need to be…

Nov

18

2025

By banshee

Packing a Special Needs Theme Park Bag

Disney World With Disabilitiesdisabilities, walt disney world

I have read some wonderful blogs about what people pack in their park bags. I thought I would contribute to that community. Along with the usual necessary sundries, Buster and I have found some items we are sure to pack for the day unique to Little Banshee’s needs. Some of these are the same as everyone else, some unique to our family. At any rate, I thought I would chime in with our families must brings. First… I carry my own smaller needs in a Loungefly. Perfect size for me and they are so Disney chic! That’s my phone, wallet, lip balm, sunglasses, and body glide…

Nov

18

2025

By buster

Our Experience With Wheelchair Transfers at Walt Disney World

Disney World With Disabilitieswalt disney world, wheelchair

As we have mentioned in previous articles, Little Banshee has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. In her case, it means that she has low muscle tone, impaired gross and fine motors skills, and developmental delays (among other symptoms). She is generally able to walk, but just not to the extent that is required in the parks. As a result, when we travel to WDW, she tours the parks in a wheelchair. When she rides the rides, she able to transfer from her wheelchair to most rides with some assistance from us. It is no stretch to say that doing so is akin to…

Nov

18

2025

By buster

Hardest Places to Use a Wheelchair at Walt Disney World

Disney World With Disabilitieswalt disney world, wheelchair

Little Banshee has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome which, among other things, means that she has low muscle tone. The upshot of this is that she needs to be transported in a wheelchair when we visit Walt Disney World. While I commend WDW for making the parks generally wheelchair accessible, there are still many places where pushing her in a wheelchair is problematic for us. Note that this article is written from the point of view of someone who is pushing an approximately 100 lbs individual in a 30 lb manual wheelchair. Therefore, it may or may not apply to your own personal…

Nov

18

2025

By buster

Why Walt Disney World Is Great For Our Special Needs Daughter

Disney World With Disabilitiesautism, rides, walt disney world

If you have read our About Us page, you will know that our daughter Little Banshee has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome. Like others with this condition, she has autism, intellectual development delays, low muscle tone, and impaired fine motor skills. The upshot of all this is that she experiences life much differently than the rest of us. It is an understatement to say that this makes choosing vacation destinations very challenging. We have to select activities in which she can participate, but also things that appeal to three others who also have their own preferences. Normal sightseeing vacations are pretty much lost…

Nov

18

2025

By buster

Tips For Navigating WDW In a Wheelchair

Disney World With Disabilitiesdisability access service, rides, walt disney world, wheelchair

When we visit the Walt Disney World parks, we usually bring Little Banshee along in her wheelchair. Although she can walk on her own (and even navigate stairs - hooray for occupational therapy!), she uses a wheelchair for three reasons. She has low muscle tone so she wouldn't be able to handle the rigors of walking around for an entire day in the park. She has a tendency to "elope", or wander off at a moment's notice. This is not uncommon for those on the autism spectrum. Therefore, it is safer for her to be in her wheelchair. A wheelchair…

Nov

18

2025

By banshee

Little Banshee’s Favorite WDW Rides

Disney World With Disabilitiesautism, rides, special needs, walt disney world

Going to WDW with a special needs family member is both challenging and rewarding. Nothing makes Buster and I smile like seeing happiness on Little Buster's and Little Banshee's faces. But with Little Banshee, it goes a bit deeper. She has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, which means she has autism, is non-verbal, has developmental delays, and low muscle tone. Not as much thrills her. She is not as easily engaged or amused. Because she cannot communicate with her voice, we need to look for her signs of pleasure when we are there. In general, this is not difficult. Little Banshee LOVES WDW! …

Nov

18

2025

By buster

Using the “Stroller as a Wheelchair” Option at WDW (and Universal Orlando)

Disney World With Disabilities

One of the first thing that any visitor to WDW will notice is the sheer number of strollers in the parks. You can't walk more than a few feet before seeing a haggard parent pushing their little one(s) from attraction to attraction. However, there are some areas of the park where strollers just aren't allowed... ride lines, certain indoor areas, certain modes of transportation. This is probably a good thing from a practical standpoint. Imagine if everyone with a stroller was allowed to bring into the ride line. When it comes time to board the ride, what are you going…

Nov

29

2025

By buster

WDW’s Disability Access Service Part 1: Introduction

Disney World With Disabilitiesdisability access service, walt disney world

This post is one of a multi part series on the WDW Disability Access Service. These posts are based upon our own personal experience with using DAS with our daughter, so your mileage may vary. What is DAS? DAS stands for "Disability Access Service". It allows qualified individuals who have issues waiting in ride lines to wait in a virtual queue instead. If you are familiar with rides like Cosmic Rewind, you probably are already familiar with the virtual queue concept. Basically, you sign up for a return time, and when the time comes, you enter the ride through the…