1. Get "The Unofficial Guide to Disney World" by Bob Sehlinger with Len Testa and
check out their touring plans.  Or, go to www.touringplans.com and see what touring plan fits your family. There may be a small subscription fee for some plans.

2. Get a copy of Birnbaum's "Walt Disney World For Kids By Kids!" and review the
suggestions in that book. This is a great book to help introduce your children to what to expect while on vacation at Walt Disney World. Use it as a social story or even use the information contained in this book to write your own social story to help prepare your special needs family member for Walt Disney World.

3. If Universal Orlando Resort is on your agenda, go to www.OrlandoInformer.com and check out all the information available, including touring plans designed to maximize your days at Universal, especially the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. There may be a small subscription fee for some plans.

4. Visit Walt Disney World's website www.disneyworld.com Universal Orlando's website www.universalorlando.com and SeaWorld's website www.seaworld.com. Review their ride and restaurant descriptions so you know what to expect.  Also, check out our Rides and Attractions Guide on this website to see more detailed information.

5. Have a good idea how your special needs family member handles crowds, waiting, loud noises and even rides. Try a local fair or even go to your local mall on a busy day to see how they react.

6. Know if your family member will need a written schedule or social story to help them with transitions or daily routine. Our son has a calendar that everything is written on for the day and it hangs on our refrigerator at home with magnetic clips.  We take the calendar and its magnetic clips with us on vacation and place it in a prominent location in the hotel room. This is very familiar for our son and he knows to look at the calendar to see what is on the schedule for the day.  

7. Know your special needs family member's likes, dislikes and limits. What will entertain them while you wait in the Fastpass, Express Plus, or Quick Queue line for five to twenty minutes? Will reading a social story about what to expect while on
vacation help them transition to vacation mode? Do they need to have a toy or item (fidget) in their hands to help keep them occupied? Should you bring sound-reducing headphones or earplugs to wear during loud rides or while in a crowded restaurant? Would it be frightening for your child to stand next to a larger-than-life character and have their picture taken? Are they going to want to ride a fun ride at least 2, 7, or even 15 times in a row and are you willing to do this too?

8. Start walking regularly at least a month prior to your vacation.  It is not unusual for someone visiting Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando or SeaWorld to walk five miles in a day. Exhaustion can contribute to potential meltdowns for your family member.

9. Speaking of walking, have good sturdy shoes to wear on vacation. Blisters at the end of the first day of vacation are not fun.  Also, you may want to check your child's feet, especially throughout the first day, because they may not be aware they are developing a blister. You may wish to bring an extra pair of sandals or flip-flops to wear on wet rides, in order to prevent having to walk around the rest of the day wearing wet shoes and socks (which may promote blisters).

10. Have a packing list; it really does help when you are rushing around at the last minute preparing for your trip.