Vacations are Important For Everyone!

Vacations are a time for bonding. As busy as families are, there are rarely times that you are forced to be with each other all day, every day, for a pre-determined amount of time, we have a hard time even getting together for dinner. All day every day can sound tough but I think this is a recipe for wonderful memories that will be laughed about and shared for a lifetime. Even things that feel like tragedies at the time provide wonderful material when 40 year old siblings reunite at Christmas.

The time my sister, Emily was car sick all over Grandma, or the van breaking on I-90 so we got to ride in a tow truck to the nearest McDonald's and wait, are stories we love to share as much as  the great times in Williamsburg, or getting to stay at the Contemporary Resort, and making fun of the way Emily squeals on rides (she really is a scaredy cat).

There are many families that find the idea of a vacation as more stressful than relaxing. Many of them have a family member with a disability. Special challenges can lend itself to just living day by day, and not really planning ahead for things like vacations. Or they may not seem worth the hassle, admittedly there is a lot of work to plan, pack for and travel to a vacation. It is even MORE work if you need to plan around a disability. Whether it is how to get wheelchair service on a plane, or make sure the room is accessible, worrying about a peanut or gluten free menu, or trying to keep things as predictable and functional for a child with anxiety or Autism as possible. But I'm telling you it is worth it, and here's why...

1. Bonding- Vacation time allows families to enjoy each other. Even with "he's touching me" ringing in the back seat, they are relating to each other, and they will use this time to create lasting memories. In the best case scenario, they may even choose to like each other now, instead of later... I did say best case. Worse case, everyone is laughing about that crazy vacation for decades.
2. Siblings- All parents of kids that have a sibling with a disability know how hard the balance is. I truly believe they deserve vacations! They have a different journey in life than most, and they should be able to visit great places, dip their feet in the ocean, or hug Mickey Mouse. 
3. The Rat Race- You deserve a change of pace. Even though every day with children is work,  even on vacation, being away from the home schedule will do more for your frame of mind than you can imagine. Just a change of pace can be relaxing! Seeing your kids smile, that makes you stress free!

I love this photo, it shows them actually enjoying each other!

Yes, you will have to work out accommodations to make your vacation work for your family and YES it is worth it! Maybe start with a long weekend, and work your way up to a week. Or start close by, and graduate to a longer distance. Just pick a balance for all of the kids. I have a son, Ben that loves science and museums. So after the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, we went to American Girl for our daughter, Meg. And when we visit Disney we spend a lot of the time together, but we split up to have time doing what each kid enjoys (and sometimes even what we parents want to do). This way we have a vacation that everyone enjoys and group memories that we will forever cherish!

Packing For the Park!

During my daily life I carry a pretty small purse. A little wallet, phone, and chapstick, and I'm ready to roll. Unless Ben is with me... then I need a bag large enough for headphones and his other needs.

When I'm at Disney I need to carry even more...

To meet sensory needs-

• Noise reducing headphones
• Chewies
•  Comfort toy or blanket
• Sunglasses (Ben is much more comfortable with them- choose lightweight designs)
• Dry clothes (if being wet from fountains, rides, or rain will bother them)
• Snacks- sometimes you need a certain snack- Disney always allows you to bring in food!

General family needs-

• Magic Bands or Tickets - don't leave home (or the hotel room) without them!
•  Wallet- Magic bands are great, but you probably will still need your wallet.
• Gum, chapstick, little things you carry with you daily. Gum is not sold at Disney- be sure to pack it from home!
• A smart phone- No if you don't have one it doesn't mean you can't use the system, but it certainly helps you to be flexible, and check wait times and things.
• Portable battery- between the My Disney Experience App, playing games in line, taking pictures and of course posting those cute pics on Facebook, a phone dies pretty quickly. Don't forget the cords to plug the phone into the battery.
• Camera- If you aren't using just your phone and Photo Pass. Don't forget a large memory card.
• Ziplock bags- Tropical showers and Splash Mountain are good reasons to put those electronics in a Ziplock to protect them.
• Sunscreen- Don't forget to reapply!
• Ponchos- You can buy them in the parks, but having some from the dollar store isn't a bad idea.
• Garbage bag- if you have a stroller, a garbage bag can keep it dry.
• At Animal Kingdom- You will want a cup to put kids drinks in. Lids are not on the cups to protect the animals (paper straws are usually available).

Optional (but fun!) 

• Mickey Ears
• Autograph books
• Fat pens (characters hold those easier)
• Lanyard or bag for pin collecting

I know it seems like a lot! Really, it will make your life easier!! We like to split these items up into 2 bags, my husband and I each carry one. If you still use a stroller, then 1 lightweight backpack works too!

If you haven't been to WDW since Summer 2013 read this!

Although my kids find this hard to believe, not everyone visits Disney every year! If you are planning a vacation to Orlando to visit the Walt Disney World Parks there are a couple of newish things you need to know before you go. There are changes to the FastPass system, AND the policies for disabilities.

In 2014 WDW introduced My Magic Plus. This program includes- 

• Magic Bands - The colorful wrist bands that are room keys, park passes, fast passes, and charge cards all in one. Any guest of a WDW resort  receives one of these either before they arrive or as they check into the resort. They also receive a lot of information about how the new system works.

• FastPass+ - The FastPass machines that used to be in the park are no longer there. Now FastPasses are completely digital. Using either the web site, or the phone app, you make FastPass+ reservations on your own. If you are NOT a resort guest, this can be done as early as 30 days ahead of time. You also do not need a Magic Band, your ticket will have all of the information synched with it.

Now, what do I need to do to be prepared? 

1. Order your tickets early- at least 70 days if you are a resort guest and 40 days if you will be staying off property. This allows shipping time, if you don't have a ticket you can't make a FastPass+. If you have the time try www.undercovertourist.com for a safe way to by slightly discounted tickets.
2. Open an account for My Disney Experience on the waltdisneyworld.com website.
3. When your tickets arrive link them into your My Disney Experience account.
4. At midnight 60 or 30 days (again, depending on where you will stay) before your park visit you need to be ready to make FastPass+ reservations. The Park guests had a 30 day head start, so it is important to be ready if you plan to visit rides such as Toy Story Mania, visit with Elsa and Anna, Soarin', Test Track, or any of the "Mountains". Tip- Don't forget about the new 7 Dwarves Mine Train, it is new and still very popular.
5. If you aren't a park guest you will need to repeat this process for each day you are planning to be there. Meaning- a 4 day trip = 4 nights of making FastPasses. Resort guests have their entire length of stay open to them from 60 days prior to the first night of their stay.

If you are traveling with someone with a disability- There are newish BIG changes for you too!

In October of 2013 The Disney Parks changed their policies concerning guests with disabilities. These changes effect ALL disabilities, visually impaired, mobility issues, non-visible (Autism etc) and the medically fragile. In short- everyone with a disability or even an unfortunately timed broken bone.

1. There is no longer an automatic FastPass. Even guests with mobility issues will be asked to wait in the queue or be given an access pass with a return time if there isn't accessibility. 
2. Guests with service animals, and non- visible disabilities, you now receive a reservation asking you to return at a certain time, the time given is based on current wait times. It does not have a closing window like a FastPass, and you can only have one open reservation at a time. You may have a DAS (Disability Access Service) pass AND a FastPass at the same time (for the same attraction or different ones). 
3. Parties of more than 6 can't all board the ride with the disabled person. For example, a grandma with 10 grandchildren using a wheelchair is no longer able to bring everyone on the ride with her.
4. Guests with non -visible disabilities still need to visit Guest Services to be registered, have the new policies explained to them, and have their picture taken. (The photo is the new part to this step- It's done quickly with an iPad- no posing or smiling required.) Guests with mobility issues, service animals etc. do not need to check in.
5. The new policies are meant to work WITH the FastPass+ system. So even if you have a person with a disability traveling with you, reserve FastPasses!!

The good news- 

• You no longer have to run to a FastPass Machine to get a FastPass. 
• You can sleep in if you choose to, and not worry that there won't be a FastPass.
• You can make adjustments from your phone.
• There aren't as many wheelchairs and electric carts in the way being driven by people that don't know how. Only people that actually need them are using them...
• Many people have learned that having a disability isn't easy. Without the instant ride access a wheelchair isn't much fun.- I just wish that lesson hadn't cost the rest of us!

I will be posting a detailed blog the first week of May 2015 about the latest "tweeks" to the policies for people with non-visible disabilities. The basics of the system are staying, you will still need to make reservations for the attractions. Ben and I are going on a quick trip to test them out!

SOAR- Starting Our Adventure Right!

Updated from a previous post- everything is still accurate as of 2/2/2016
Happy Flying!!

We had quite the adventure this morning. My husband, Steve our son, Ben and I went to Cincinnati- Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) to participate in the SOAR program.

In cooperation with Delta and Cincinnati Children's Hospital,  CVG invites families living with Autism to come and do a "practice run" to prepare you for air travel.

The first night was a parents only training to prepare you for what the day will look like. They went over the procedures, and provided us with visual schedules, and a social narrative in laminated form as well as digital. Then they were nice enough to validate parking!

Wonderful tools, including social stories and visual schedules were shared with families before the event to prepare for the trip.

So this morning Steve, Ben and I went to the airport with bags packed, and headphones ready. 

Packed and ready to go!

When we arrived there were signs welcoming and directing us. Then a special desk where they weighed Ben's bag, checked our ID's and gave us our boarding passes. Ben got his State ID this week, so even though he isn't 18 yet he wanted to show it off!

The details were important, and done very well!

Then we went through security. This is where I noticed the most anxiety. Many of the kids really didn't want to give their prized possessions to a complete stranger, OR put them through that scary machine. Thankfully everyone was able to get through it, and hopefully next time will be easier.

They checked us in and we had to take our shoes off, use the bins and walk through the metal detectors. 

There are no photos of this. You may not take pictures of TSA. One of the teens in our group took photos a couple of years ago, and Homeland Security came to their house. Not Fun!!

While we were putting our shoes back on there were TSA officers handing out cards with the TSA cares number.

1-855-787-2227- available M-F 8am-11pm Eastern Time  9am-8pm on weekends and holidays

THIS IS IMPORTANT- If you call ahead they will meet you before security and go through with you any time you are flying. I thought that was fabulous!!

In the terminal SOAR was even listed on the departure schedule. The little details were very well done.

On the flight board!

At the gate everyone was waiting very nicely. We even celebrated a birthday, and the chief pilot came and gave a young man (15 today) a pilots hat and wings. There were more than a few emotional adults, it was a very sweet moment.

Happy Birthday!!

We boarded the flight, buckled our seat belts, and watched the security presentation.

Then the plane pulled out and taxied around the airport (VERY COOL) the kids seemed to really like it. I know Ben loved seeing the runway lights, and the area where they practice emergency response.

Headphones to help with engine noise!

The one thing that wasn't realistic was getting to go in the cockpit! But even if you are striving for a true run through- who can pass that up??

Then we had to go get our bags of course. As Ben picked his up from the carousel we noticed a new luggage tag. It was a very nice touch!

We would like to thank Delta, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and CVG for an amazing program. It was a really great adventure!

What I learned-

• When you book a flight that asks for you to pay for a seat selection call the airline. Explain that one of the people in your party has a disability. They will place you together without a fee.

• Call TSA to meet you at security.- 1-855-787-2227

• Frontload or prepare your child or family member, so they know what to expect. Look up security videos from You Tube. Explain that Tomas the Tank Engine, or your favorite kitty will only be away from you for a couple of minutes (before you get to security)

• Stay calm and ask for help. Many of the TSA agents are receiving training concerning people with non-visible disabilities.

Lessening the Anxiety of Character Greetings!

That perfect picture with Mickey... most of us moms want that as our prized souvenir from a Disney vacation. MANY of us will never achieve this goal, and that's okay. Not getting a photo (good or bad) with Mickey or Elsa will not ruin your vacation.

However- I do understand how important this is, so here are some tips for lessening the anxiety, and allowing your family to have fun AND get that great pic.

Frontload-
This is my family's word for preparing Ben ahead of time for different situations. Talk to your family about how big the characters are, that some characters (the ones in masks) don't talk. That princesses Mad Hatter, Gaston and other characters do talk.
If your child will not want to be touched, let your child know they won't touch him. All you have to do is say something out loud or to their helper.
Find You Tube videos of kids interacting with characters. (always screen them first)

Collect Autographs 
During Ben's first visit to Disney, when he was 3, we discovered a goal was helpful. We bought an autograph book, and decided to see how many autographs he could collect. It worked like a charm. He didn't necessarily care about Mickey, but he wanted that autograph. (We also used pressed penny machines to convince him to move on to a new thing)

Autograph books and fat pens from the park are not inexpensive. I love the idea of making a book at home. This is an activity that will get them excited about using it and seeing characters. Then just pack a fat pen, that is easier for the characters to hold.

Eat at Character Meals
At Character meals you sit and have dinner and the characters come to you. They will pose for pictures, sign autographs and spend a little silly time with you. At the Star Wars dinner where Mickey and Friends are dressed as Star Wars characters, Ben wasn't thrilled that Goofy was on the "dark side" dressed as Darth Vader. So Goofy quickly picked up on that and just sat near him. A picture was taken, but Ben was still comfortable.

My favorite of the character meals is the Garden Grill at Epcot. It is quiet, the food is fresh and good, and you can ask for a "non revolving" seat if the motion bothers anyone. This is the best way to meet Chip and Dale, Pluto, Mickey and Goofy-

Memory Maker Photographers
Memory maker photographers can work two ways. They will take your picture so you can be in the photos. AND they can use your camera to take a picture (ask nicely). If a child will be too nervous without you by their side you probably want to consider using this service. It is really easy, and then you have a lot of your pics in one place after your vacation.

FastPass+ or DAS reservation
There are some characters that will take a long time to visit. Even if you are using a DAS reservation for a family member I recommend using a fastpass+ for meeting Elsa, Anna or anything Frozen. The lines are often hours long (sadly I'm not exaggerating). This means it would hold up your DAS for quite a long time. To get a fast pass for Frozen characters I HIGHLY recommend you be ready at midnight 60 days before your vacation.


Relax
When we are nervous our kids pick up on that. Just remind yourself that they often rise to expectations, but if this isn't one of those times then you are still having an amazing vacation!

Epcot in Full Bloom!

Updated for 2016!

I believe Walt Disney World is always beautiful, but Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival adds even more magic! The flowers are bursting with amazing color, the outdoor kitchens are convenient and yummy, and the topiaries bring some whimsy to the park that sometimes doesn't quite capture everyones attention.

Topiaries

Topiaries of both classic characters and newer favorites add an extra interest to World Showcase and Future World. My favorites are The Crocodile and Flower (yes, I'm a little old school) in 2015 the centerpiece was Frozen (this year look for Anna and Elsa in Norway), and my son loves the Phineas and Ferb topiaries. 

Flower is probably my favorite, so cute!

Outdoor Kitchens

A VERY close second to the flowers is the food.

There are outdoor kitchens in many of the countries in the World Showcase, and an urban kitchen near Future World. The food is fabulous, and served and priced as sample sizes,  my friend and I to share many dishes (allowing us to eat even more). 

Food is a very exciting piece of the Flower and Garden Festival!

Sensory Impact-

The only challenge was seating. Some of the areas had extra tables set up to eat at, many were standing tables, or no extra seating at all. Finding accommodations if you needed handicapped seating, or a seat to rest and take a break is not simple. My suggestion would be to take your treat into a nearby quick service restaurant.

Playgrounds

There are 2 playgrounds available during the festival (I wish they were permanent) to give kids a chance to run around a bit. A pre- school sized playground near the Cars topiaries (near Test Track), and a music themed (new for 2016) playground for kids that are a little older. just near the bridge into Future World. Shade is at a premium, but the sensory outlet is fun!

Photo Credits- Debbie Eaton