Attraction Height Requirements

There are several attractions that require a minimum height requirement. The following are the rides and their requirements. Also a PDF download version is provided

Dietary Needs

Here are some helpful information if the family member is on a special diet.

Table Service
For many people who are on the spectrum, they are on a special diet and it may be hard to get what they need. Disney is very accommodating for those with special diets but also those that have allergies to certain foods. Part of the planning process is determining what restaurants you may want to eat at. When making your dinning reservation for table service venues, you should let them know at the time of the booking that you will need special accommodations. 14 days before the reservation you will need to email them at SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com. When you check in, you should remind them of your requests, even though it should be in the reservation system. They are very helpful in finding alternatives for you to have a nice meal. The key is communication with them to let them know what your needs are so they can help you.

Walt Disney Worlds Website on Special Dietary Requests

Counter Service
Counter service restaurants can also help you with special meal requirements while you are at the park. When you get to the point where you order your meal tell the cast member taking your order that you will need to order a special meal because of dietary needs. They have special menus that will allow you to chose something that will suit your needs. The selections they have may be limited in selection, and it will also take longer to prepare compared to a normal meal so you may have to be a little patient with them. Counter service restaurants will try and help you as much as possible and again communication with them about your needs is key to a meal that will suit your dietary needs.

FASTPASS

     One of the best ways to save time at Disney Parks is to use the FASTPASS reservation service to bypass the regular wait queue and enter a special "reservations only" queue with shorter wait times.  All you have to do is obtain a free "FASTPASS " at participating attractions.  This special ticket gives you a specified time to return to the attraction and get on with little or no wait (usually).  You can also return later than the time specified on your FASTPASS ticket.

     To get a FASTPASS, go to the FASTPASS Distribution kiosks near the entrance to participating attractions (specified in our writeups as "Fastpass: Yes").  Insert your park ticket, and the FASTPASS Distribution kiosk will return a "reservation ticket" with a return time window printed on it.  You will need to repeat this process for each member of your party - so it helps to have a single adult hold the tickets for more than one person to use the system effectively. 

     One thing to note:  once you have obtained your FASTPASS, you have to wait a certain period of time before you can get another one.  This time is also printed on your FASTPASS, and you can use it for planning.

Here is what Disney has to say about their Fastpass Service:

Disney's FASTPASS® Service

The complimentary Disney's FASTPASS Service allows you to enjoy the rest of the Theme Parks while Disney's FASTPASS Service saves your place in line for an attraction.

To Use Disney's FASTPASS Service:

• Look for the Disney's FASTPASS Service distribution area near the entrance of an attraction.
• Check the Disney's FASTPASS Service "Return Time" display to learn the span of time during which you can explore the Theme Parks before returning to experience an attraction.
• If the Return Time is sufficient for your plans, just insert your Walt Disney World Resort admission ticket, readmission ticket, Disney Resort Hotel keycard or Annual Passport into the Disney's FASTPASS Service machine.
• A Disney's FASTPASS Service ticket will emerge with your Return Time printed on it. Now you're free to go and enjoy the rest of the Theme Park.
• Go back to the Disney's FASTPASS Service "return" queue when your printed return time rolls around, show your Disney's FASTPASS Service ticket to the Cast Member at the entrance, and enjoy the attraction with a minimal wait.

Here is a list of Fastpass attractions within the four parks. A PDF list is available for download.

Magic Kingdom

• Jungle Cruise
• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Mickey's Philharmagic
• Peter Pan's Flight
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Space Mountain
• Stitch's Great Escape!

EPCOT

• Living with the Land
• Soarin'
• Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
• Test Track
• Mission Space
• Malestrom

Disney Hollywood Studios

• The Twilight Zone Tower or Terror
• Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid
• Toy Story Mania!
• Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show
• Star Tours
• Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spetacular

Disney's Animal Kingdom

• It's Tough To Be A Bug
• Kilmanjaro Safaris
• Kali River Rapids
• Expedition Everest
• Primeval Whirl
• Dinosaur

Guest Assistance Card

What is a Guest Assistance Card?

     One of the best tools for families with Autism Spectrum Disorder who visit Disney Parks is the Guest Assistance Card.  As parents of children with autism, you may have experienced frustration getting the support you need as you travel, because your child's disability is not always visibile to others around you.  With the Guest Assistance Card, you have a visible and easy way to get the assistance you need as you travel through the parks.

Where do I get a Guest Assistance Card?

     When you arrived at one the theme parks, simply walk up to any of the Guest Relations locations inside or outside the park entrance.  At Magic Kingdom, there are Guest Assistance locations outside of the ticket entrance on the opposite end from the Monorail, or you can go to the City Hall on Main Street U.S.A. inside the park.  At Epcot, Guest Relations is location on the east side of the entrance plaza.  At both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom parks, you will find Guest Relations to the left as you pass through the entrance.  When in doubt, please consult a map or ask a Cast Member for directions.

How do I ask for a Guest Assistance Card?

     When you are at the Guest Relations center, tell the Cast Member that you need a Guest Assistance card.  They will need to know what type of assistance your child will need, and how many people are in your party.  Most people find it easiest to tell them their child has Austism Spectrum Disorder, but it helps to articulate the best way for cast members to assist your child and your family.

     Some things to ask for, depending on your child's needs, include:

• Alternate waiting area:  this allows your child a quiet place to wait his or her turn for the ride.  Sometimes this is the handicapped entrance, but not always.
• Use a stroller as a wheelchair:  this allows your child to continue to sit in his or her stroller while waiting for the ride.  The stroller must meet some specifications for this assistance.

     Cast Members are obligated to inform you that the Guest Assistance Card is not a "skip the line" card.  You will still need to wait for rides - you just have the option to wait in a quieter area with less stimulation for your child.  We generally only use ours for rides with noisy or crowded queue areas, and use the Fastpass system to minimize wait times on most rides.

     For families with more than one child with autism (or with any other non-visible special needs), we recommend you obtain a Guest Assistance card for each child who needs the assistance.  Cards are issued for the duration of your visit, and having a card for each child with special needs allows your party to split up and still receive the assistance needed for each child throughout the parks.

At the end of the trip, hold on to the GAC. The next time you come back to the Disney Parks, present the card from your previous trip. This will help the cast member to know what you had previously done and complete the next one.

How do I use my Guest Assistance Card?

    As you approach the attraction, look for the Cast Member stationed at the ride entrance (sometimes this is at the Fastpass entrance).  As you approach, show them your Guest Assistance Card and tell them what your needs are (for example - "we need the alternate waiting area").  Sometimes they may ask you to identify which child is listed on the guest assistance card - this may be to help prevent fraudulent use of the card.  After inspecting the card, the Cast Member will direct you to the alternate entrance or provide the assistance you need.  It's that simple!

What does Disney say about the Guest Assistance Card?

     We asked Disney about their official policy for Guest Assistance Card requests and usage, and what options are available for Guest Assistance.  Here is an official statement from Walt Disney World Guest Relations we received via E-mail regarding the Guest Assistance Card.

“The Guest Assistance Card is a tool provided at all four WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Theme Parks to enhance the service we provide to our Guests with disabilities.  It was designed to alert our Cast about those Guests who may need additional assistance.  The intent of these cards is to keep Guests from having to explain their service needs each time they visit an attraction. (emphasis added)

The Guest Assistance Card is available to our Guests with non-apparent, special assistance needs (i.e., autism, heart condition, etc.).  Depending on a Guest's need, this card may provide a variety of assistance such as allowing Guests to wait in a shaded area, or providing admission to our attractions through auxiliary entrances, where applicable.  However, the intention of this card has never been to bypass attraction wait times, or to be used by Guests with a noticeable service need.

Guests with an apparent mobility concern, such as Guests using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc., or Guests with service animals, do NOT need a Guest Assistance Card.  These Guests should be directed to follow the attraction entrance procedures for guests using wheelchairs, as outlined in the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.

A Guest with a specific need for assistance can request a Guest Assistance Card at any Theme Park Guest Relations location upon arrival. To accommodate the individual needs of our Guests, we ask that all Guests discuss their assistance requests with a Guest Relations cast member prior to the card being issued.  The Guest Relations Cast Member will discuss the available service options with the Guest and provide written instructions for our cast on the Guest Assistance Card.  The Guest will be directed to present the Guest Assistance Card to the Greeter or first available Cast Member at the attraction and await further directions for their experience.”

We hope this helps you have a more enjoyable trip to the Disney Parks!

PhotoPass

     One of the best ways to capture memories of a Disney trip is through photographs.  But sometimes it's difficult to manage your children (and other adults!) and snap quality photos at all the Disney icons and landmark attractions.  To help you out (for a fee), Disney provides the PhotoPass service.

     PhotoPass is a program where professionally trained photographers are stationed at strategic points around each park - usually near park icons, with characters, or at other great photo spots.  If you want to get your picture taken, simply ask the photographer, or stand in line if it's busy.  The PhotoPass photographer will take your picture (usually several shots in various poses) and then give you a free PhotoPass card, or scan the one you may already have.  You can re-use the card each time you get a picture taken by an official Disney PhotoPass photographer.  If you forget your card, you can get another one and combine them at the end of your trip.  This is a great way to get pictures at night, or family photographs all around the parks - with you in them!

     One tip for families with children with autism is to tell the photographer about your child's disability.  Our son doesn't usually look at the photographer - so we just tell them to snap away and not worry about whether he looks at the camera.  The photographers are very willing to work with you - so tell them what you need!

     The fun part is that you have the option of enhancing your pictures with borders, character autographs, and other fun embellishments.  You can also zoom and crop to get the very best picture.  To view or enhance your pictures, simply go to the Disney PhotoPass website and create an account using your PhotoPass card (or cards) for reference.  You can view your photographs online for 30 days, and order individual pictures, PhotoCD's, or other items with your pictures on it.  You can even upload your own photos to the service - as Disney says "it's personalization with a Disney touch!"

     One of the best values is purchasing the PhotoCD - it generally runs $149.00, but can hold hundreds of pictures.  When you purchase the PhotoPass CD, you own the copyright to the pictures, which means you can post them to your personal websites or photo sharing services, print out as many copies as you want, etc.  Considering individual 5x7 photos at Disney Parks can run about $12.95 each, the PhotoCD is a great value and offers you a lot of flexibility to customize and personalize each picture before printing them out. 

Quiet Places in the Parks

Walt Disney World Parks can often get extremely busy and crowded. However, there are many "quiet places" throughout each park where you can go to get away from the all the activity and noise. Sometimes they are tucked away and hard to find, but once you know where they are they can be a great place to sit and rest for a couple of minutes. This is helpful in cases where it is not easy to get back to your resort to rest. We have provided a list of places in each park where you and your child can go to decompress from the crowds. Sometimes even these places can be busy, but for the most part they are peaceful places. We have pictures for some of the areas, and will provide more suggested quiet areas as we find them.

Rider Swap

     Sometimes your child may simply be too short to ride (especially on the high end rollercoasters).  If you find yourself wanting to ride an attraction, and your child unable, you might consider the "Rider Swap" program offered by Disney.

     This complimentary service allows adults to switch off riding an attraction without doubling the wait time.  It's perfect for those rides where you don't have a Fastpass.  Here's how it works: 

• The first adult will join the normal wait queue, and ask a Cast Member for a "Rider Swap" ticket.  These are sometimes called "Baby Swap" and "Stroller Swap" on the Disney message boards.
• The first adult will wait in line for the ride, while the second adult stays with the children.
• After riding, the first adult gives the second adult the "Rider Swap" card, and that adult gets to join the FASTPASS wait queue (or an alternate wait queue designated by the Cast Member manning the entrance).

Be sure to ask Cast Members about the "Rider Swap" program for your favorite adult attractions!