Search Results for: blog disneyland and special needs families

Needs vs. Wants

Becoming a single parent is hard in so many ways. Adjusting to all of the changes can be difficult right at first. One of the most challenging things for many single parents is learning how to manage their finances on their own. Being the sole income when there are children to support can be overwhelming to say the least. You learn to live within your means very quickly, or your kids don’t eat. As a mother the sacrifices come easily. We naturally will set aside our own needs for that of our children. What’s harder is learning to distinguish needs … Continue reading →

Disney at E3 and Other Video Games Update

A Kinect demo booth at this year’s E3 The E3 Video Game exhibition might be over now, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop talking about all we learned about upcoming video games. Put E3 up there for me with other conventions, like Comic Con and the D23 Expo, that I’d love to attend one day. Disney didn’t dominate E3, as the company isn’t really known for putting out much more than thrown-together movie tie-in games. Titles like “Epic Mickey” and “Kingdom Hearts” are the exceptions to the rule, though the latter doesn’t quite count because it was a … Continue reading →

Disney Party Tickets and Animal Kingdom Update

Tickets for two Magic Kingdom holiday events, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, are now available. This information comes via the official Disney Parks blog. Pricing and date information for both events are up at the official post. What’s funny about that, however, is that the article doesn’t contain any links to follow or phone numbers to call to actually book the tickets. All one needs to do, however, is go to the official Disney World pages detailing each event, and one is directed to the purchasing sites from there. Follow the link here for the … Continue reading →

Disneyland’s World of Color

Tonight Disneyland premieres a beautiful new exhibit called the World of Color. Playing exclusively in the evening, World of Color is a high-tech water and light show celebrating the magic of Disney. Powered jets shoot water up to 200 feet above spectators’ heads, and rotate to let the water dance amidst colorful beams of light. Within the water and light play scenes and clips from famous Disney films, all set to music. The type of music isn’t specified, but a New York Times profile on Bob Iger mentioned he tweaked it to sound more contemporary. Frankly I’d be surprised if … Continue reading →

Disney Welcomes Visitors with Ambulatory Needs

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One of the great things about Disney World is the accessibility that the attractions feature for visitors whether they are ambulatory or not. In fact, the majority of the rides, shows, restaurants and more are designed to accommodate guests in wheelchairs and more. Visitors Can Rent ECV Visitors to the Disney theme parks can also rent electric carts if they need assistance in their mobility. ECVs offer the non-ambulatory an easy to drive vehicle to travel throughout the park. This gives guests tremendous freedom as they travel the length and breadth of the park. On our last visit to Disney … Continue reading →

Setting Appropriate Limits for Your Special Needs Child

Setting limits for our children, especially children with behavioral difficulties, is extremely important. Yet it’s easier said than done. We often reach a point of desperation (“I’ll do ANYTHING to make the irritating behaviors stop”) and so we give in. But this is counter-productive. Setting limits for your son or daughter provides structure, which ultimately makes your child feel safe. Despite what they say with a sniffle and a whine, children crave structure and routine. When there’s chaos in their world, it’s hard to claim any sense of control. And that’s stressful, which creates more chaos. Here are three of … Continue reading →

My Secret Disneyland Diary

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Yesterday I went to Disneyland. Alone. I know; it’s a rather bizarre concept. Nobody goes to Disneyland alone except employees, people meeting friends, or weird-os that talk to themselves. I got more than a few raised eyebrows as I rode the tram into the park solo. Even I wondered what I was doing. Going alone was something I’d always wanted to do. But it never made sense before. I had too many kids that would have died a painful, agonizing death if I had dared to go without them. Yet now I found myself in California due to a family … Continue reading →

Preparing for Emergencies While Visiting Walt Disney World or Disneyland

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No one wants to believe that the vacation they’ve planned for months can suddenly be at the mercy of unforeseen circumstances. However, just like life, vacations can bring about unexpected “bumps in the road” and the best way to combat these bumps is to be prepared for them. Luckily, while staying at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts, you are not alone. Disney has many services available to those families in need in order to ensure a “magical” holiday. So, in order to prepare you for the worst, here are a few tips you might want to keep in … Continue reading →

Disneyland and Special Needs Families

My family just returned from our annual trip to California. We spent time at the beach, Hollywood, Los Angeles, and one day in the world of Mickey Mouse. There’s something about Disneyland that has a real hold on me. I absolutely adore it. Some of my favorite rides include the Indiana Jones ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain. But I also love browsing the little shops, slurping pineapple spears, listening to performers on Main Street, and watching the “Fantasmic” show. The crowds are a bit frustrating at times, of course. But going back to Disneyland every … Continue reading →

Benefits Cut for Disney World Premium Annual Passes

The lobby of the Grand Floridian, one of Disney World’s most exclusive hotels Walt Disney World continues to aggravate its most loyal fans, as it announced in December that discounts for premium annual pass members will be cut.  The Orlando Sentinel has all the details. Since 2010 Disney World’s been pulling back a lot on the discounts it offers various pass holders.  This time, the target is premium annual passes, which already cost around $750 (Florida residents get a discount at around $600).  Now the shopping discounts premium annual pass holders receive have been cut in half. Let’s take a … Continue reading →