We started planning our first family trip to Disney World when our daughter turned four. At the time, she was having noise sensitivities off and on. We figured it was something she’d grow out of by the time we visited Disney World, but we were wrong. When we realized something more was going on and she was diagnosed with anxiety, possible SPD (sensory processing disorder) and possibly on the autism spectrum, I started researching everything I could about bringing a child to Disney World with sensory issues.
Was she going to be able to handle it? Would Disney World be too much stimulation and be overwhelming for her? Will our special trip be full of meltdowns instead of being the magical time we had hoped for? I was so nervous about taking our child with sensory issues to Disney World and did everything I could to prepare ourselves as much as possible.
Well, I’m happy to report that we had the most magical trip and successfully managed all of her sensory issues at Disney World!! For any other parents who may be in the same position as us, I’m excited to share all our tips and tricks that worked for us!
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What are sensory issues?
When I say “sensory issues”, what do I mean? Well, I’m talking about any sensory stimuli that a child has a strong reaction to that usually wouldn’t bother others so strongly or at all. It could be a strong reaction to sound, light, temperature, touch, smells or tastes. The child may or may not have an official diagnosis. Maybe the child has sensory processing disorder (SPD), is on the autism spectrum, has ADHD, or is just a highly sensitive child.
In my daughter’s case, she has been diagnosed with anxiety and hyperacusis, but I feel she meets all the symptoms of SPD, and is also on the waitlist for an autism assessment. Her biggest struggle is that she is extremely sensitive to sounds. Loud sounds, new sounds, sudden sounds – these are all sources of anxiety for her and she can easily spiral into a meltdown over them.
In addition to sounds, she is also sensitive to light. Bright lights are very bothersome for her. The same goes with temperature. She can’t stand to be too hot or too cold. When it comes to touch, she’s very sensitive to scratchy fabrics and getting wet.
If you’re reading this, you probably know or have a child with sensory issues and know what their triggers are.
How to have a successful trip to Disney World with Sensory Issues
If you have a child with sensory issues, then I’m sure you share the same worries I had before our trip. Disney World is full of sensory stimuli – it’s loud, busy, there are lots of lights, fireworks, new smells, opportunities to get splashed and wet, the weather is hot, the sun is bright, and so on.
How is one to manage this constant bombardment of sensory stimuli? What can we do to ensure our child has the most magical experience ever without spiraling into a meltdown or completely shutting down and wanting to leave?
Let me assure you – Disney World CAN still be a magical experience for kids with sensory issues. Here is everything we learned to help you plan a successful and very special trip!
Prepare your child ahead of time
My child is very sensitive to change and anything new. She thrives on routine and knowing what to expect. Therefore I knew the best thing for us to do was to start talking about going to Disney World way ahead of time and preparing her for what to expect.
From the moment she knew we were planning a trip to Disney World, she was super excited. However, just getting her excited about the trip was not enough to prepare her. I needed to SHOW her what we would be doing so there were absolutely no surprises.
Watch YouTube videos
About three months prior to our trip, I started watching Disney World YouTube videos together with my daughter. We spent hours watching POV (point of view) videos of people walking through the parks, going on the rides, eating at the restaurants, etc.
Once we decided that Magic Kingdom was the park she most wanted to go to, we focused on Magic Kingdom POV videos. We watched everything from riding the parking lot tram, to the monorail, to character meet and greets, to the fireworks.
Being able to see exactly what the rides were like allowed her to get more comfortable with what we would be doing. She was able to let me know which rides she felt she could handle and which ones she definitely did not want to go on. Sometimes her choices surprised me.
I highly recommend watching YouTube videos with your sensitive child so that you’ll both be prepared and know what to expect. We found it extremely beneficial.
Let your child choose which rides they feel comfortable on
By watching YouTube videos, your child should be able to get a good sense of which rides they want to go on. My daughter had a few clear favourites that we put on our must-ride list, a few that she seemed unsure about so I put them on a maybe list, and some that she said she definitely did not want to go on.
Having these lists will make it easier to plan out your itinerary. I made sure to plan the morning full of must-do rides and saved the maybes for the afternoon to see how our daughter felt once we were there.
Look at the Disney World Map together
My daughter loved looking at the Disney World map and figuring out where all the rides were. Knowing which way we were going to walk made her feel more at ease. We got a printed one and she brought it along with her while we were at Disney World.
Show your child where you’ll be staying
If your child is not good with change and sleeping in new places, then you’ll want to get them familiar with where you’ll be staying during your Disney World trip. If you’re staying at a hotel, try looking up walkthrough videos on YouTube and showing them to your child. Show them photos from the hotel’s website to get them more comfortable.
We chose a villa at a timeshare resort for our stay. It felt more homey for our daughter since it had separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, dining room and living room. I made sure to show her a video tour of the room and hotel grounds, and lots of photos of the pool and playground.
She was super excited when we checked into the hotel and felt right at home.
Discuss strategies to manage anxiety
Before leaving for our trip, we had many discussions with our daughter about how she could manage her anxiety while at Disney World. We asked her what she could do in case she felt nervous while there and practiced these strategies with her.
We practiced taking deep breaths, activating our “super powers” to be brave, covering our ears if there was a loud sound, using tools from our emergency sensory tool kit (more on this below), and remembering that Mommy and Daddy are going to be with her to keep her safe.
By discussing these strategies with her while she was calm, and having her come up with some of them herself, it made it much easier to implement once we were at Disney World.
Prepare an Emergency Sensory Tool Kit
We highly recommend putting together an emergency sensory tool kit before visiting Disney World with sensory issues. Your child can pack all these sensory tools into their backpack and feel more safe and prepared when heading to the park.
Here is what we used and recommend:
Noise-cancelling Headphones
These were the number one must-have item in our sensory tool kit. Sound is the biggest trigger for our daughter and Disney World is full of all kinds of sounds! Most people find it quite loud, so for any child with sensory issues, it can quickly become overwhelming.
Our daughter felt so much more at ease about Disney World when we introduced her to her Dr. meter noise-cancelling headphones and packed them for our trip. We tested them out at home and she was confident they would block out the noises and she wouldn’t feel nervous.
We told her she could use them whenever she felt she needed them. She ended up asking for them as soon as we got on the monorail and they remained on for the entire time we were at Disney World. The only time she felt comfortable taking them off was during some quiet indoor character meet and greets.
Managing her sound sensitivity made all the difference in allowing her to fully enjoy Disney World. Taking away that major stressor really helped prevent meltdowns.
Sunglasses
If your child is sensitive to bright lights, definitely pack some kids sunglasses. The Florida sun can be quite intense so having sunglasses available can definitely make a child with sensory issues more comfortable.
Our daughter loved wearing her Minnie Mouse sunglasses while we were there.
Chewelry
If you have a sensitive kid, you may notice they chew on things to help calm themselves. Our daughter will often chew on a straw, her clothes, fingers, or toys when she is feeling nervous.
Our occupational therapist suggested we purchase some chewelry, which is wearable silicone jewelery that’s safe for children to chew on. My daughter loved the chewelry necklace we got her.
Even though she didn’t end up using it much while at Disney World, she felt good having it in her backpack just in case.
Gum
This was another suggestion from our occupational therapist and one that’s proven to be quite helpful for our daughter! I had never thought about offering my 4-year-old gum before, but turns out it is a great way to help her nerves.
She will ask for it when she is starting to get nervous and the chewing motion helps calm her. We ended up using the gum more than the chewelry, but it’s nice to have both as options.
Mini Handheld Fan
If your child is sensitive to heat, definitely pack a fan for Disney World. The Florida heat can be a lot for our sensitive kiddos, so giving them a mini electric fan can save the day when you can sense a meltdown coming.
Our daughter was starting to get overwhelmed waiting in line, but when we gave her the electric fan, it instantly turned things around.
Insulated Water Bottle with straw
Another thing to help with heat sensitivity is drinking cold water. Bring an insulated water bottle to offer your child when they are starting to feel too hot or overwhelmed.
Drinking cold water combined with sucking on the straw has always helped our daughter calm down. It was definitely great to have her Minnie Mouse water bottle with us in her backpack.
Poncho
If your child does not like to feel wet, then make sure to pack a poncho (we loved this Minnie Mouse one)! Florida does get quite a bit of rain depending on the time of year so you’ll want to be prepared.
Luckily, it did not rain while we were at Disney World so we didn’t end up needing to use it, but it was great to have just in case. Our daughter absolutely does not like wet clothes.
Familiar Toy/Stuffie
If your child has a favourite stuffie or fidget toy, bring it along for comfort to help get through overwhelming moments. Our daughter loved carrying her Minnie Mouse stuffie around Disney World to feel more “safe”.
Read books about calming strategies
I bought a few books prior to our trip that I read with my daughter. She really enjoyed them and I feel like it helped prepare her for the trip. The two that we really liked were A Little Calm Spot and When Harley Has Anxiety.
Hire a play therapist
Months before our Disney World trip, we decided to hire a play therapist based on a recommendation from our pediatrician. The play therapist helped our daughter through her anxiety by demonstrating appropriate reactions to sensory stimuli via play.
Our daughter absolutely loves play therapy and has responded really well to it. We definitely notice a difference in her ability to cope with sensory stimuli after a visit with her play therapist.
Play therapy is often covered by extended health insurance and is something we highly recommend.
Get lots of rest
If you have a child with sensory issues, you probably notice that they are extra sensitive when tired. Our daughter has the worst meltdowns when she is overtired. Knowing this, we made sure she got lots of rest prior to our day at Disney.
If you’re traveling a long distance to get to Disney World, don’t schedule a day at the park right after arriving in Orlando. Make sure you have at least one full rest day so that your child can go into Disney World with a full battery to manage all the sensory stimuli they will encounter.
Managing triggers while at Disney World
While it can certainly be overwhelming visiting Disney World with sensory issues, we can definitely make it more doable for our sensitive kids by helping to reduce their triggers as much as possible.
Avoid the crowds
To be honest, this is usually hard to do because Disney World is just so popular and always seems crowded. However, try to minimize your child’s exposure to the worst of the crowds by avoiding certain times and events, ie. fireworks, rope drop, and holidays.
Even though we arrived at Magic Kingdom at opening time, we stayed at the back of Main Street to avoid the rope drop crowd at the front. This also kept us far enough away from the welcome show and fireworks, which were too loud for our daughter.
At night during the fireworks, we stayed far away from the craziness of Main Street and opted instead to go on some popular rides while they were less busy. After the fireworks end, the monorail gets super packed so you’ll want to take this into consideration when planning your time to leave.
Wear the most comfortable outfit
Ensuring your child has a comfortable outfit on is very important and is one less trigger to worry about. No scratchy tags, not too tight, and layers to manage temperature changes throughout the day (my daughter was sensitive to the AC indoors).
Comfortable footwear is also very important for all the walking and standing they’ll do throughout the day. Our daughter was most comfortable in her velcro Minnie Mouse Adidas sneakers.
Bring extra clothes
Make sure you bring extra clothes for your sensitive child! You never know what might happen. Since wet clothes are a major trigger for our daughter, we made sure to bring a full change of clothes in case she got too wet on a ride.
Bring lots of snacks
This is kind of a no-brainer for any parent, but extra important for kids with sensory issues. If my daughter is getting hungry, she is extra sensitive to sensory stimuli. Making sure she had snacks available during long waits was crucial to preventing a meltdown.
While there are plenty of food carts and restaurants available at Disney World, it’s nice to have snacks on hand when you can’t get to them right away. Plus, you’ll save lots of money AND have the added comfort of having snacks your child is familar with. With so many NEW things at Disney World, snacking on something familiar will help your child feel more at ease.
We brought:
- Yogurt-covered raisins
- Blueberries
- Disney Mickey Mouse Goldfish
- Welch’s fruit snacks
- Teddy Grahams
- King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread
Use a stroller
Trust us, even if your child does not usually use a stroller at home, you will be thankful for one at Disney World. If you feel silly about pushing an older child in a stroller, don’t worry. You’ll notice the majority of families at Disney World are doing the same.
If you have a lightweight stroller, bring it, but if not, they are available to rent as soon as you enter the parks. We rented one as soon as we arrived at Magic Kingdom and it was the best $15 we spent.
Not only did the stroller save our daughter’s energy so that she had more energy to cope with sensory stimuli, it also served as a “safe place” for her when the park was feeling overwhelming. The cover shaded her from the heat and made her feel protected from all the sensory input surrounding her.
Buy Genie+
If it’s within your budget, we strongly suggest purchasing Genie+. Being able to reserve lightning lanes and save your sensory sensitive child from waiting in long lines will make a huge difference in your day.
The line ups can be dark, hot, crowded, loud, stuffy – all things that can trigger a child with sensory issues. Minimizing your time spent in them will definitely help prevent meltdowns.
Get a Disability Access Service (DAS) Pass
If you’ve opted not to get Genie+, you may want to look into getting a DAS pass. This is a wonderful program offered by Disney Parks to assist guests who have difficulty tolerating extended wait times in conventional lines due to a disability.
The DAS pass allows guests and their parties to request a return time that is comparable to the current standby wait time rather than having to wait in the physical line-up. Guests are able to wait in a quieter spot or wherever they would like, use the restroom, have a snack, etc while waiting for their return time.
Another nice thing about the return time is that it is not limited to a specific window and is valid until the park closes! So, if your child is having a hard time and it is taking longer than you expected to get back to the ride, you don’t have to worry about missing your spot in line.
You can register for the DAS program online up to 30 days before your visit or at Guests Relations at the park entrance on the day of your visit.
Use a stroller as a wheelchair
Strollers must be left in stroller parking before lining up for rides. Standing in lengthy line-ups can be quite challenging for any kid, but even more so for those with sensory issues. If your child cannot tolerate standing in line, Disney allows you to use a stroller as a wheelchair as long as it is appropriately tagged as such.
You just need to visit the Guest Relations Lobby when you arrive at the park and request the identifying tag that will allow you to use your stroller as a wheelchair. This tag is available for all guests with a disability, including cognitive disabilities, who need to remain in a stroller while in a queue.
Take sensory breaks
Visiting Disney World with sensory issues can easily become overwhelming for our sensitive kids. To prevent meltdowns from the over-stimulation, be sure to schedule some sensory breaks at the park.
Find a quiet spot to sit down and take a break from all the sounds, lights, smells and overall action of the park. Disney World’s Baby Care Centers are a great option for a sensory break. You can also ask any cast member for assistance in locating the nearest quiet spot.
At Magic Kingdom, we found quiet spots by the Swiss Family Treehouse, to the side of Pirates of the Caribbean, outside of Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and in the areas around Splash Mountain since it is currently closed for renovation. Outside of meal times, restaurants can also be an ideal location for a sensory break and to enjoy the air conditioning.
For a quick emergency sensory break, we just let our child sit in the stroller with the sunshade, gave her a water bottle, sunglasses and headphones and sat in the nearest corner away from people.
Prepare your child to use public restrooms
Public restrooms are often challenging for kids with sensory issues. My daughter is terrified of automatic flush toilets and hand dryers, doesn’t like wet floors and counters, and gets upset if there’s no paper towel to sufficiently dry her hands.
However, at Disney World, you don’t really have a choice but to use the public restrooms, so make sure you prepare for your child to use them.
I like to bring mini Post-It notes in my wallet so that I can cover the sensors on automatic flush toilets. This allows my child to actually agree to go near them and use the toilet. Wearing headphones inside the restroom also really helps her feel more comfortable. I also bring napkins in my bag in case there are no paper towels.
Have low expectations and be flexible
When bringing our kids to Disney World, we of course want it to be the most magical experience ever! We spend all this time and money planning for this super special trip for our kids and want them to love it. However, this can also put a lot of pressure on our sensitive kids.
Don’t be disapointed if they don’t respond the way you expect them to. My daughter was very excited to meet the Disney princesses but when the time came to meet them, she was nervous and didn’t look very excited at all. However, after the trip, she told me she loved meeting them and was so happy!
Follow your child’s lead and don’t expect that they will want to do all the things that YOU think they would love to do. If they don’t want to go on a ride that you got in line for, don’t force it. If they’re overstimulated and need a break, but you’re going to miss your lightning lane, don’t rush them. Reschedule the lightning lane. Flexiblity is key.
Best Magic Kingdom Rides for Kids with Sensory Issues
Every child is different, of course, and each will have their own preferences and triggers. However, based on our experiences with our sensitive daughter, here’s a list of the rides that worked well for us (and the potential triggers we faced):
- It’s a Small World (our daughter’s favourite! Relaxing, slow, and she enjoyed the happy music)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (short and gentle ride)
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (happy and gentle ride)
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (we were surprised our daughter loved this one as there are so many flashing lights but she enjoyed partaking in shooting the targets)
- Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid (gentle, but dark and have to pass by somewhat scary Ursula)
- Tomorrowland Speedway (a hit for our car-loving daughter, but it’s a bit loud and smelly)
- Princess Fairytale Hall (quiet and cool inside; the only place our daughter wanted to take off her headphones)
- Pete’s Silly Sideshow (quiet and cool inside)
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (gentle ride but can get splashed)
- Mad Tea Party
- Swiss Family Treehouse (quiet, not crowded, and no long lines)
- Tom Sawyer Island
Our Magic Kingdom Video Tour
Where to stay
We were torn between staying at a Disney World resort versus one that was off-site. Staying on-site has its perks, such as early entry, and the ability to return to your room mid-day for a break. This is a huge plus for kids with sensory issues!
However, staying off-site meant we could stay in a more spacious and quiet place with a full kitchen. This would allow us to make more familiar meals for our daughter and eat in a more relaxing environment than a noisy restaurant.
On-Site: Walt Disney World Dolphin
The Dolphin is an excellent option if you want to stay on-site and have access to early entry. Epcot is only a 15-minute walk away, or you can take the water taxi, and the Disney Boardwalk is only a 7-minute walk.
Off-Site: Marriott’s Grande Vista
We decided to stay at the Grande Vista and it ended up being an excellent choice for our family. The villas here are very spacious, and you can get ones with separate bedrooms. We rented a two-bedroom villa which worked perfectly for us and allowed our daughter to get a good night’s rest since she had her own quiet space.
The villa had a full kitchen so we were able to save some money by making meals at the hotel and prepare familiar food for our sensitive daughter.
The resort also has many great pools, a quiet kid’s playground, and a golf course!
We hope these tips have been helpful and make you feel more confident about bringing your child with sensory issues to Disney World! Let us know if you have any other tips to add 🙂
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