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"All I want you to think about is when people walk through or have access to anything you design, I want them, when they leave, to have smiles on their faces. Just remember that. It's all I ask of you as a designer." 

-- Walt Disney referring to the design of Disneyland.

Walt Disney wanted his parks to be a place where access was a pleasant experience for all, long before the concept of accessibility became linked by law to providing access to people with disabilities. In order to take advantage of the accommodations and available assistance, though, a family with special needs would be wise to do their homework. 

Resources
Passporter books. A comprehensive and well-researched source for current information is PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs. This 400-page resource covers 24 categories and provides solutions for travelers with hundreds of possible dietary, medical and mental health issues. Each attraction, restaurant and hotel is described in great detail for a variety of special needs from a traveler's point of view.

Co-author Debra Martin Koma describes her motivation for creating this resource. "We've gone to Disney countless times and, over the years, we've seen that Disney is accommodating for special needs, but there is not one central source for information." Koma, along with Deb Wills, initially created the web resource http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/planning.htm#special, to fill the need. The website attracted the attention of PassPorter Travel Press.

Koma and Wills feel that everyone should be able to go to the parks and enjoy themselves, which is the motivating factor for the website and book. "Figure out the best time of year, the best resort, the best restaurants for you," she continues.

Koma's advice to all guests with special needs is to do their research before they go. "A Disney vacation can be a big expense. If [families] go unprepared, or without having done research, they may encounter extremely large crowds, unbearably hot weather, and subsequently have a less pleasant experience. A Disney vacation is too expensive a proposition to squander your time and money that way."

Koma stressed that neither the website nor the book is officially affiliated with Disney. All the opinions and reviews are completely independent, with honest hints and advice straight from the consumer.

Official Disney Resources
Online. The restaurants, the resort hotels, the parades, even the fireworks can be explored with one click at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/. The site provides official information on special needs via the Walt Disney World Disabilities Guide. Guests can find information on access, drinking fountains, first aid, guest relations, parking, safety, service animals, restroom accessibility, and even stamina or endurance concerns. Up-to-date information about closed attractions, special events and park schedules can be found here as well.

Vacation planning kits. Vacation planning kits are available without charge by calling 407-W-Disney or by visiting http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/. Be aware, though, these can take a few months to arrive after ordering. The kits come with an entertaining DVD full of exciting images, guide maps and resort information. Host recommendations provide detailed descriptions of attractions. A step-by-step tutorial guides you through the use of "My Disney Vacation", an online planning tool. The online planning tool can help you create and save for future reference comparison shopping information, a list of "must sees," itineraries and details about reservations.

Maps and brochures. In the parks, guide maps show accessible attractions, attractions closed for refurbishment and precautions. Be careful with these, though! Ink can rub off from the maps, making a mess on hands or clothes if touched after using sunscreen or moisturizing lotion.