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Moms Make it Magical
Moms Make it Magical

Is “it’s a small world” a Scary Ride for Sensitive Kids?

Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom, Rides & Attractions
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(Originally posted: October 2020, UPDATED: JANUARY 2024) Are you planning a trip to Disney World and wondering if your highly…

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Welcome to Moms Make it Magical. Find out how to navigate Disney World with kids who are highly sensitive and easily overstimulated.

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susan | disney & family travel with sensory sensitivities

momsmakeitmagical

former social worker • disney & family travel • homeschooling • 🇰🇷🇨🇦📍SE MI
✉️ susan@momsmakeitmagical.com
✨FREE disney ride planning printable⤵️
did y’all catch the 10 minute posted wait time?! did y’all catch the 10 minute posted wait time?! 🤯 while the morning strategy can work as long as you’re there right at opening, if you’re straggling in around 10am, you DON’T want to go here first. animal kingdom closes earlier than all the other disney world parks, so you’ll see the park starting to slow down a little in the late afternoon. folks will often hop to other parks that are open later. this video was taken at 4pm and kilimanjaro safari was a complete walk on 💖 dinosaur was a 10 minute wait, expedition everest a posted 15 (but felt faster than that!), and then we had a dinner reservation at 6:45pm, with the park closing at 6pm. it was the peaceful end of a park day we needed after a pretty disastrous wdw trip. follow along @momsmakeitmagical for more tips and honest insights on doing disney & family travel with highly sensitive, neurodivergent kids.
anyone else have difficulty with the unknown? i anyone else have difficulty with the unknown? i do love to travel and visit new places. but never is it spontaneous 😅 i don’t think it’s physically possible for me to travel anywhere without studying google maps & read reviews for hours. part of me thinks it’s a survival tactic to know the ins and outs of where we’re going, especially with highly reactive, sensitively wired, slow-to-warm-up kind of kids. but it’s probably also my own anxiety talking 🤷🏻‍♀️ hi, i’m susan! a mom of 3, disney/family travel blogger, sharing honest tips & insights on doing adventures with highly sensitive and neurodivergent kids. #googlemaps #streetview #satelliteview #typeamom #anxiousmom #travelanxiety #autismtravel #highlysensitivechild #disneywithkids #neurodivergentparenting #sensorysensitive #momsmakeitmagical
here’s MY opinion: i love living with the land! here’s MY opinion: i love living with the land! its quintessential disney “edu-tainment” which i really appreciate. there’s no minimum height requirement so the whole fam can ride together. the biggest concern we’ve had with this attraction is the darkness & thunderstorms. but once you get through the first half of the ride and enter the greenhouse portion, it is much less overwhelming. comment LAND for my full attraction review & sensory rating—and be sure to be following me so you don’t miss my DM 💖 #disneyworld #epcot #livingwiththeland #disneyattractions #sensoryreviews #disneywithkids #disneytipsandtricks #sensoryoverload #disneyblogger #autismtravel #highlysensitivechild #momsmakeitmagical
the whole purpose of family vacations… to be to the whole purpose of family vacations… to be together and make memories. ✨ it’s never actually about the itinerary or how much you “accomplished”. slow down and look at your family. and try to find space for gratitude—even if the kids are dysregulated, siblings are fighting, and no one is sleeping. i know it can be so hard to travel with kids, especially highly sensitive & neurodivergent ones. but looking at our little fambam & the privilege of being their mother & exploring all these places… fills me with gratitude each time. no matter how hard it is. follow along @momsmakeitmagical for more honest insights & tips on doing disney and family travel with highly sensitive kids 💖 #disneyworld #disneywithkids #familytraveltips #gratitude🙏 #disneytipsandtricks #disneyblogger #travelwithkidstips #motherhoodmoments #highlysensitivechild #neurodivergentparenting #autismtravel #momsmakeitmagical
here’s MY opinion: i don’t love it. the fumes here’s MY opinion: i don’t love it. the fumes get to me, as someone who is very sensitive to smells. however, i ride it because my littlest is the biggest race car fan ever and it brings him the most joy. ‼️do note that you must be at least 32” tall to ride with an adult, and at least 54” tall to drive your own car alone. if you’re new here, hi! i’m susan, a mom of 3, @disneyvacationclub member, a disney/family travel blogger, giving you honest insights and tips for doing travel with highly sensitive and neurodivergent children. 🫶 comment SPEEDWAY for my full sensory breakdown of tomorrowland speedway at magic kingdom, and be sure to be following me so you get my DM! #disneyworld #disneyattractions #magickingdom #tomorrowlandspeedway #disneytipsandtricks #disneyblogger #disneywithkids #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #sensoryoverload #dysregulation #neurodivergentparenting #momsmakeitmagical
share this list with your travel buddy! a special share this list with your travel buddy! a special mention to the SWAN & DOLPHIN resorts, which also have a sandy area near their playground. i’m not including them because they’re technically not disney resorts (they are marriott properties). be mindful that swimming is not allowed at any of these sandy areas. however, several of these are located close to the resort’s pool! while sand play could be challenging for some kids with sensory sensitivities, this type of sensory play can also be extremely regulating for others. my kiddos loved it and it was a battle to leave 😅 follow along @momsmakeitmagical for more on disney & family travel with highly sensitive and neurodivergent kids! #disneyworld #disneyresorts #disneytipsandtricks #disneyplanning #disneybloggers #familytravelblogger #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #selfregulation #sensorysensitive #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #momsmakeitmagical
baby tucker needs his own spot on my feed ✨ thi baby tucker needs his own spot on my feed ✨ this has been a rough wdw trip on many fronts… but there have been little sprinkles of magic, like this one. 🦒🦒 you can try to spot tucker aboard the kilimanjaro safari at animal kingdom! it’s never a guarantee with these animals so it’s exciting when we get to see them. wait times at kilimanjaro safari tend to drop after 3-4pm… we got on with a 10 min wait. we love this park for the animals, its focus on conservation, and the theming and food. follow along @momsmakeitmagical for more disney & family travel tips and insights 💖💖 #disneyworld #animalkingdom #kilimanjarosafari #disneyanimals #babyanimals #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneytipsandtricks #disneyblogger #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #momsmakeitmagical
i said what i said 🙃 my opinion may be skewed i said what i said 🙃 my opinion may be skewed by the fact that we had a miserable time while at grand floridian because of all 3 kids being hit with some kind of GI bug. so truly not disneys fault 🤪 but here are some reasons why i didn’t love a monorail resort as much as i expected: ✨it felt hectic. there were lots of visitors passing through the lobby constantly ✨the monorail itself felt crowded at times ✨the buildings (at least at grand flo) felt pretty spread out so it felt like there was a lot of walking to get from spot to spot there are still a lot of benefits to being on the monorail, and deluxe resorts are always great in terms of amenities & service. 👌 what do you think?? 🤔 #disneyworld #disneyresorts #disneymonorail #disneytipsandtricks #autismtravel #disneywithkids #highlysensitivechild #disneyblogger #momsmakeitmagical
no amount of planning can change real life. life no amount of planning can change real life. life happens. whether it’s at home or disney world. this has been one of the HARDEST disney trips i’ve ever had and we’ve been 7+ times since 2018. no, it hasn’t been entirely horrible… but it has been challenging to say the least. 😓 if you’ve had a miserable disney experience because of real life and NOT related to anything with planning & preparation, know that you’re not alone. social media only shows the perfect moments. #disneyworld #disneywithkids #reallifemoments #honestmotherhood #notalwaysmagical #disneyblogger #autismtravel #highlysensitifechild #sensorysensitive #momlifeunfiltered #momlifeproblems #momsmakeitmagical
but who can complain about the adorable wave to th but who can complain about the adorable wave to the boats going by along seven seas lagoon? 🥹 i’m so tired tho. 😴 and we’re probably not rope dropping. #disneyworld #familyvacations #therealityofparenting #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #sleepstruggles #bedtimebattles #neurodivergentparenting #autismtravel #spdawareness #dysregulation #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #sotired😴 #honestmothering #momsmakeitmagical
hmm i wonder why it was so miserable 🤔 #disney hmm i wonder why it was so miserable 🤔 #disneyworld #sensorysensitive #autismtravel #disneywithkids #anxiouschild #highlysensitivechild #neurodivergenttravel #disneytips #disneytipsandtricks #disneyreels #disneyblogger #momsmakeitmagical
that mom mental load is something else. 😮‍💨 share this if you relate. #familytraveltips #mommentalload #mentalloadofmotherhood #honestmotherhood #prepforvacation #goingtodisneyworld #freezermeals #pickyeaters #travelwithkids #momswhotravel #momsmakeitmagical
💖🥹 sometimes i wish i could go back and hug 💖🥹 sometimes i wish i could go back and hug the first time mom version of myself. #firsttimemama #honestmotherhood #parentingishard #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #colicbaby #sleepbattles #dysregulation #meltdowns #refluxbaby #neurodivergentparenting #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #momsmakeitmagical
any overlap with yours? 🤔 honestly this list c any overlap with yours? 🤔 honestly this list changes trip by trip as the kids get older (first trip where ALL three need to be paid for 💸💸🫠).. and also, new experiences continue to come into play. like meeting bakso, we are dyyyying to see you sweet baby tiger 🐯 and this goes to show that there isn’t one right way to do disney, or just travel in general, frankly. this is especially true if you have a neurodivergent child. i like to make these “priority” lists because it helps me create a game plan to be able experience all our must-dos, and then anything extra is a bonus! hi, i’m susan! a mom of 3, disney/family travel blogger, sharing tips and resources for doing travel with neurodivergent kids. hope you stick around! 💖 #disneyworld #animalkingdom #disneyattractions #disneyvacationtips #disneytripplanning #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #disneywithkids #sensorysensitive #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #momsmakeitmagical
share this with a friend new to disney world plann share this with a friend new to disney world planning! disclaimer: there is no one right way to plan. if your dream is to see disney decorated for christmas, then choose your dates accordingly! if you only have a long weekend to make it down there, make your trip work with a shorter number of the days. if your priority is to see cinderella castle instead of having the FULL experience of all 4 theme parks, then figure out a way to do magic kingdom in a way that works with your schedule and budget 🫶 but i have found that this way of mapping out and sketching trips has helped me so much. going from BIG PICTURE to the smaller details is my favorite way to make sure our trip is fitting all our needs. if you’re new here, hi! i’m susan, a mom of 3, NOT a travel agent, but a family travel blogger sharing all the honest insights and tips on disney world & beyond with highly sensitive and neurodivergent kids. 💖 #disneyworld #disneyplanning #disneytipsandtricks #ig_wdw #familytraveltips #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #highlysensitivechild #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #autismtravel #sensorysensitive #mommyonamission #momsmakeitmagical
not a master chef by any means. but do i ever fe not a master chef by any means. but do i ever feel like those contestants on chopped on @thefoodnetworkofficial 😅 here are your ingredients, and GO! other things i do to prep before leaving on vacay: •throw out food we won’t finish that doesn’t freeze well •freeze food that DOES freeze well •pack foods for our airport day as snacks (i like to finish our fruit this way!) leave me a 🙌 if you relate 😆 #familytraveltips #familyvacationtips #preppingfortravel #travelwithkids #momlifeunfiltered #honestmotherhood #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #momsmakeitmagical
honestly some of these shocked me 😱 as a mom t honestly some of these shocked me 😱 as a mom to kids with varying sensitivities, you’d think theme parks would NOT be in our realm of possibilities. but man, this goes to show how things can change over time. my oldest, now almost 11, is actually willing to try tower of terror!😱😱 we’ve also been lucky enough to return to the parks about once a year since 2018 thanks to @disneyvacationclub… so this has truly allowed the kids to become comfortable and familiar with these theme parks 💖 and i’m also in disbelief that slinky dog is not on this list 🤔 what’s on YOUR list? ⬇️ #disneyworld #hollywoodstudios #disneyattractions #disneyvacationtips #disneytripplanning #highlysensitivechild #disneywithkids #sensorysensitive #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #momsmakeitmagical
here’s why⬇️ it is NOT the smoothest coaste here’s why⬇️ it is NOT the smoothest coaster. despite the low height requirement of only 35”, the ride is quite bumpy and rattle-y. 🤪🙃 on the plus side, the duration is SUPER short so if your little hates it, it’ll be over before you know it. i’d recommend trying seven dwarfs mine train if your child is tall enough (38”). while there are dark portions and it’s a little longer, the ride feels way smoother and less jerky 👌 and i feel like it has a better overall ride experience. what do you think? 🤔 comment BARNSTORMER and i’ll DM you the full ride overview & sensory rating i have on my blog 🫶 #disneyworld #disneyattractions #barnstormer #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #autismtravel #vestibularsystem #spdawareness #inclusivedisney #sensoryratings #sensoryprocessing #themeparkadventures #sensoryoverload #disneywithkids #momsmakeitmagical
is it on YOUR list for your next visit to EPCOT? is it on YOUR list for your next visit to EPCOT? remember to account for things like: loud noises wetness darkness speed animatronics etc. as you consider which disney attractions to prioritize. we have loved this one as a fun interactive walk-through attraction! however, my 3 year old is in a new phase of HATING getting wet unexpectedly (he used to be totally fine!). so we may skip this or have extra clothes on hand 🫣 hi, i’m susan! i’m a mom of 3, disney/family travel blogger, sharing tips for those with sensory sensitivities. hope you stick around! #disneyworld #journeyofwater #epcot #disneyattractions #disneyplanning #disneytipsandtricks #sensoryoverload #overstimulation #dysregulation #neurodivergentparenting #spdawareness #autismtravel #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #momsmakeitmagical
we were all the best parents before we ever had ki we were all the best parents before we ever had kids. #disneyworld #waitinginlines #parentingadvice #beforekids #sensorysensitive #sensoryoverload #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #honestparentingmoments #disneywithkids #momsmakeitmagical
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