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How To Prepare Your Highly Sensitive Child for Disney World

How To Prepare Your Highly Sensitive Child for Disney World

Highly Sensitive Kids
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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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momsmakeitmagical

former social worker • disney & family travel • homeschooling • 🇰🇷🇨🇦📍SE MI
✉️ susan@momsmakeitmagical.com
✨FREE disney ride planning printable⤵️

susan | disney world & family travel with sensory sensitivities
it’s my birthday 🎉 what better opportunity t it’s my birthday 🎉 what better opportunity to share a little bit more about myself right?! if you’re newer here, i hope this gives you some insight about who i am and why i’m here. do we have anything in common?? let me know ⬇️ #gettoknowme #disneyblogger #disneymom #travelmom #momsmakeitmagical
the meltdown is never “out of the blue” if yo the meltdown is never “out of the blue” if you feel like your child went from 0 to 100 all of a sudden… they probably weren’t at a “0” to start with. 🫠🫠🫠 travel can make meeting basic needs more difficult. and while you can’t completely avoid the stress and demands of travel, being mindful of trying to keep our kids’ nervous systems regulated is so worth it. does it guarantee no meltdowns? nope. but being aware of meeting and protecting these basic needs will help make travel just a little bit smoother ✨✨ follow along for more tips & insights on doing disney, family travel, parenting with highly sensitive kids 💖💖 #meltdowns #sensoryoverload #dysregulation #nervoussystemregulation #consciousparenting #autismtravel #familytraveltips #travelwithkidstips #sensoryprocessing #anxiouskids #sensorysensitive #highlysensitivechild #momsmakeitmagical
a little snapshot of yellowstone national park ✨ a little snapshot of yellowstone national park ✨✨ we spent the end of august/beginning of september in montana & wyoming exploring this beautiful national park. it’s funny—you’d think that being out in nature would mean it’s more sensory-friendly. especially for highly sensitive kids. but it’s not always the case. things like weather, the wind, sounds of waterfalls and steaming geysers, sulphuric smells from all the hydrothermal activity, a long time spent in the car, and it being incredibly crowded/congested in certain parts. but like any destination, whether it’s disney world or a national park, prepping for these things in advance can make all the difference. traveling with a highly sensitive child isn’t easy, but you can do it ✨✨ one little step at a time. binge my content for all things disney, family travel, and parenting insights for highly sensitive kids 💖💖 #yellowstonenationalpark #nationalparkswithkids #traveltipswithkids #familytraveltips #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #sensoryprocessing #spdawareness #adhdparenting #neurodivergentparenting #sensoryoverload #autismtravel #travelingwithkids❤️ #momsmakeitmagical
✨ ever wonder if your child is having a tantrum ✨ ever wonder if your child is having a tantrum or a meltdown? 🤯 here’s the key difference: tantrums are goal-driven, like boiling water 💥, while meltdowns are a nervous system stress response, more like a geyser 🌋. they may look similar on the outside in terms of BEHAVIOR, but what’s happening underneath is different. i hope understanding this difference will help you have more empathy for your child when they’re in meltdown mode, especially when traveling to disney or elsewhere 💛 our highly sensitive kids usually tolerate less stress on their nervous system before getting dysregulated. so understanding this distinction is KEY. hi, i’m susan. a former social worker and a SAHM of 3. i regularly share tips and insights on doing disney & family travel with highly sensitive kids. hope you decide to stick around! #tantrumsvsmeltdowns #tantrumsarenotmeltdowns #tantrums #meltdowns #dysregulation #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #autismttravel #neurodivergentparenting #adhdparenting #sensoryprocessing #nervoussystemdysregulation #consciousparenting #momsmakeitmagical
remember these 3 things for your next travel day. remember these 3 things for your next travel day. especially if you have highly sensitive, anxious, slow to warm up kind of kids. ✨✨ send this to a friend or partner that you’re traveling with soon to make your travel day less stressful 👍 #disneyworld #familytraveltips #autismtravel #travelwithkidstips #travelday #slowpace #highlysensitivechild #neurodivergentparenting #adhdparenting #sensoryprocessing #lowdemandparenting #consciousparenting #meltdowns #dysregulation #momsmakeitmagical
welcome to my “hard at disney world” series! welcome to my “hard at disney world” series! today, lets focus on: LOTS OF WALKING disney world is massive… and it is so easy to accumulate 15,000-25,000 steps each day even as an adult. it’s actually really common for highly sensitive kids, or kids with sensory processing disorder, to tire more easily. especially those who have proprioception difficulties. so the fact that disney world involves a lot of walking and standing can be a REAL challenge. so what we do about it? ⭐️ use a stroller! even if you don’t use a stroller in your everyday life anymore, disney world is a different beast. my oldest took turns in our double stroller up til the age of 8! and there’s nothing wrong with that. ⭐️ take lots of breaks. it’s ok to slow down and sit with a snacky snack and people watch. that’s part of the fun too. ⭐️ strategize how you’re navigating the parks so you’re not criss-crossing to get from one part of the park, to go to the other side. this means it’s all the more important to become familiar with the park maps and have a general sense of what you’ll find in the various areas. ⭐️ start practicing at home! take a daily walk and work on increasing their tolerance for extended walking and standing. do this gradually, and pay attention to their cues to push them just enough but not too much. binge my content for more tips on doing disney and family travel with highly sensitive kids! ✨✨✨✨ #disneyworld #ig_wdw #lotsofwalking #lotsofstanding #proprioception #sensorychallenges #sensoryprocessing #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #adhdawareness #disneyworldtips #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneytipsandtricks #disneyblogger #neurodivergentkids #momsmakeitmagical
we’ve all been there. but this mindset is key we’ve all been there. but this mindset is key to making travel and outings with highly sensitive kids successful. sometimes we, as parents, have to let go of our own agendas. maybe we’re not following “the plan”, but see where the alternative takes you. you might even be surprised at what you notice too. so whether it’s disney world. a children’s museum. a national park. your local zoo. an apple orchard. FLEXIBILITY is KEY. #disneyworldtips #familytraveltips #familyoutings #highlysensitivechild #beflexible #sensorysensitive #sensoryprocessing #neurodivergentparenting #meltdowns #selfregulationskills #consciousparenting #autismtravel #adhdparenting #momsmakeitmagical #dysregulation
anxious moms unite! i’ll be honest. a lot of anxious moms unite! i’ll be honest. a lot of my blog, my tips & insights here.. are fueled by my anxiety. and as someone who was ALWAYS prone to anxiety, it went up another notch when i had kids. and then some when it turned out my kid was a hard-to-soothe, easily triggered, prone to meltdowns type of child. but disney world (& travel in general) can be for people like us too. the hope is that this account, and all the free resources on my blog, can be a way for you to feel supported as you consider family travel to disney & beyond ✨💖💖 #disneyworld #anxiousmoms #honestmotherhood #momssupportmoms #disneytips #disneyblogger #highlysensitivepeople #highlysensitivechild #disneywithkids #disneymom #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #overstimulated #anxietyproblems #momsmakeitmagical
slow paced trips, ftw 🙌 …even at destinatio slow paced trips, ftw 🙌 …even at destinations where you might be tempted to do more, more, and more. an itinerary is important because it provides the bones for what your trip is structured around. BUT it’s not the be all, end all, written in stone plan. and you don’t need to fill up your itinerary to the brim. because what happens when you don’t get to it all? you feel frustrated, annoyed, resentful, like you’re missing out on things. but if you have a more minimal approach, and you end up doing a bonus activity that wasn’t expected… you feel excited, happy, and thankful to have done that thing. this is what for works us as a family with highly sensitive kids, and as an introverted mom with anxious tendencies. but honestly i think this approach would lead to lower stress for parents and less pushback from kids of ALL families👌 what do you think?? 🤔 #slowerpace #disneyworld #familytraveltips #travelwithkidstips #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #sensoryprocessing #anxiousmom #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #disneywithkids #travelitinerary #meltdowns #sensoryoverload #momsmakeitmagical
what this looked like for us ⬇️ if you’ve b what this looked like for us ⬇️ if you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll know that we did a big trip to yellowstone national park last month!🦬🏞️ our kids had to wake up earlier than usual to get to the airport for our 8am flight. ✈️ our travel day was longer because there were no direct flights from where we live—so with 2 flights and a 3 hour layover, it took up most of our day. 🕥 so what we did upon arrival was: ✨get to our hotel ✨get unpacked ✨doordashed our dinner ✨had an early bedtime i know sometimes we want to hit the ground running when we’re going on a family trip, and it might feel like we’re “wasting” precious vacation time by not living it up every minute. but don’t let FOMO override taking care of your basic needs—like sleeping and eating. and for kids, that includes PLAY. it sets you up to be in a better state of mind on your busier and fuller vacation days. i promise! 👌 binge my content for all thing disney & family travel with highly sensitive kids ✨✨✨ #familytraveltips #travelwithkidstips #yellowstonenationalpark #travelday #autismtravel #highlysensitivechild #neurodivergenttravel #neurodivergentparenting #overstimulation #restisproductive #adhdparenting #sensoryprocessing #sensoryoverload #momsmakeitmagical
as a mom of 3, with a highly sensitive child, as a as a mom of 3, with a highly sensitive child, as an introvert, and as someone who struggles with anxiety… i know the thought of going to disney world, or any major trip, can feel overwhelming. i’m not here to sell you a trip to disney world. i’m not here to convince you that going to disney world is the best thing for you. i’m not here to make disney world seem like a place where families are *always* having a magical time. here’s what i’m here for: to support, encourage, and share relatable tips for moms (&other primary caregivers) if you are considering travel to disney or elsewhere, but you’re not sure if all the overstimulation and leaving the comfort of your usual routine is worth it. traveling with kids, especially highly sensitive ones, is hard. there’s no sugarcoating that. but if you’re thinking of taking the leap, i’m here 💖💖 i’ve got a lot of FREE resources on my blog—you can find the link in my profile ✨✨ #disneyworld #ig_wdw #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneytipsandtricks #disneyattractions #disneyplanning #disneyblogger #autismtravel #anxiousmoms #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #overstimulation #overwhelmedmom #neurodivergentparenting #adhdparenting #sensoryprocessingdisorder #meltdowns #momsmakeitmagical
is it just me?? happy friday ✌🏽 if you’re is it just me?? happy friday ✌🏽 if you’re new here, hiii! 👋🏼 i’m susan. a mom of 3, a disney fan, with a love of travel. i mostly share tips and insights on doing disney world & family travel with highly sensitive kids, but occasionally i’ll make a fool of myself too 🤪 inspired by: @csapunch #disneyworld #disneyhumor #disneysongs #disneyadult #disneyfan #disneyblogger #ig_wdw #disneymom #thepixiedustsociety #momsmakeitmagical
need to pivot from your plans? no worries! hakuna need to pivot from your plans? no worries! hakuna matata 💖 it’s important to have a a game plan and go in knowing what to expect. but we need to also be able to let go of said plan depending on how your family is doing. and that’s perfectly ok 🫶 it doesn’t mean your trip is ruined. it doesn’t mean your outing was a total wash. it means you’re doing what you need to support your kid’s needs 👌 and that, in my opinion, is worth doing—instead of forcing everyone to stick with a plan that sends kids into meltdown mode, parents into punishment mode, and the whole family is in complete dysregulation. tell me about a time when you’ve had to pivot from “the plan” ⬇️⬇️⬇️ binge my content for all thing disney & family travel with highly sensitive, anxious, sensory sensitive kids ✨✨✨✨ #disneyworld #pivot #flexibility #familytraveltips #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #parentingmantra #adhdparenting #sensoryprocessingdisorder #meltdowns #dysregulation #disneywithkids #travelwithkidstips #momsmakeitmagical
SAVE & screenshot this list! if you’re consider SAVE & screenshot this list! if you’re considering disney world with a highly sensitive child, i’m your gal 🫶 sometimes youtube pov attraction videos are not enough. as a mom of 3, with kids who have varying sensitivities, i’ve made a ton of mistakes (and observations!) so YOU don’t have to. my blog is a FREE resource for parents of highly sensitive kids who want to go to disney world while mitigating the meltdowns & maximizing the magic. ✨ comment BLOG to get access to all my disney attraction sensory ratings, packing lists, and endless tips. which attraction element is the biggest trigger for your kids (or you!)? sound off in the comments 📣⬇️ #disneyworld #ig_wdw #disneyattractions #highlysensitivechild #disneyblogger #disneytipsandtricks #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #autismtravel #sensorysensitive #neurodivergentparenting #disneymom #sensoryoverload #meltdowns #dysregulation #momsmakeitmagical
#thisismagic i unexpectedly fell in love with @w #thisismagic i unexpectedly fell in love with @waltdisneyworld in 2018. despite some of the challenges and struggles we’ve had when it comes to traveling with a highly sensitive child, there was something about disney that continued to draw us back ✨ thank you for all the memories, and more memories to come 💖
don’t let your itinerary take precedent over you don’t let your itinerary take precedent over your family’s needs. figure out your absolute “musts”. and then leave the rest open and flexible. this is what you call MARGIN. anything else you fill in here is simply a bonus. and it’s perfectly fine to leave it empty too. this mindset when it comes to travel decreases stress for both PARENTS and the kids (especially highly sensitive ones). leave space for: ⭐️rest ⭐️free play ⭐️some autonomy for kids ⭐️lingering ⭐️spontaneity follow along for more tips & insights for doing family travel with highly sensitive kids ✨✨✨ #disneyworld #nationalparksusa #highlysensitivechild #introvertedtraveler #autismtravel #adhdawareness #sensoryprocessing #slowdown #saynotofomo #traveltipswithkids #familytraveltips #neurodivergentparenting #disneywithkids #momsmakeitmagical
…and planning ahead is essential! okay, it migh …and planning ahead is essential! okay, it might be a bit of a stretch to be comparing a national park to disney world 🫣 but i couldn’t help but see all these parallels while we were there last month. yellowstone really felt like the “disney world of national parks”. these are important considerations to keep in mind if you’re thinking about visiting the nation’s oldest national park 🏞️ especially with highly sensitive kids. any of these surprise you?? ⬇️ follow along for more tips & insights on disney world and family travel with highly sensitive kids ✨✨ #disneyworld #yellowstonenationalpark #sensorysensitive #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #neurodivergenttravel #sensoryoverload #crowds #familytraveltips #travelwithkidstips #nationalparksusa #momsmakeitmagical
first, don’t forget to tap follow ⬆️ and hea first, don’t forget to tap follow ⬆️ and head to my profile for more tips on doing Disney with highly sensitive kids! today we’re talking about one of the hardest parts of Disney World—waiting in lines. ⏳ imagine being in close quarters with lots of other people, slowly inching forward every few minutes. there is additional visual and auditory stimulation coming in from the theming throughout the queue—whether it’s announcements about safety procedures, animatronics, or interactive games. for highly sensitive kids, this can be *really* overwhelming. being in confined spaces, noise, and long waits can lead to meltdowns. 😩 so what can you do?? ⭐️ consider applying for the **DAS pass** (Disability Access Service) to help minimize time in a traditional queue environment ⭐️see if purchasing lightning lane multi pass and/or lightning lane single pass makes sense for your family based on what are your priority attractions ⭐️ be strategic with your days—for example: magic kingdom is MUCH quieter when there’s a Halloween or Christmas party happening later that night. ⭐️ don’t be afraid to *skip rides* if the line looks too intense or your child seems off. it’s ok to pass! ⭐️ plan to take breaks as needed—find quiet spots, cool down, and recharge. no one thrives when they’re overstimulated! waiting in line doesn’t have to be a struggle with these strategies. 💖 what else works for your family? #disneyworld #ig_wdw #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneytipsandtricks #disneyplanning #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #daspass #overstimulation #sensoryprocessing #spdawareness #adhdawareness #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #meltdowns #momsmakeitmagical
learn from my lived mistakes! through my parentin learn from my lived mistakes! through my parenting journey, i’ve learned that accommodating our kids, especially sensitively wired ones, is NECESSARY. gone are the days of thinking it’s ok to tell kids to “suck it up” or “too bad just deal with it” or “how’re you going to survive in the real world?!” safety is key for all our kids, especially our highly sensitive ones. not just physical safety, but emotional safety too. and there is never opportunity for skill-building if they are in a constant state of dysregulation. so do what you need to do to accommodate your kiddo at disney world, and beyond. ✨✨ follow along for more tips on doing disney & family travel with highly sensitive kids 🫶 #highlysensitivechild #disneyworld #accommodations #invisibledisability #sensorysensitive #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #autismtravel #nervoussystemsupport #meltdowns #sensoryoverload #overstimulation #neurodivergentparenting #momsmakeitmagical
true story. my youngest has had major fear react true story. my youngest has had major fear reactions in the toy aisle at target when there are moving & dancing toys. we were at a local farm today and he was having a blast until he noticed this pumpkin with eyes that moved ⬆️⬆️ …he is also not the biggest fan of animatronics at disney world 🫠🫠🫠🫣 i share this because it helps to notice and observe how your kids react to things at home. so you can be better prepared for how they will handle the various attractions & experiences at disney world 🫶 follow @momsmakeitmagical for more tips on disney world & family travel with highly sensitive kids ✨✨ #disneyworld #disneyanimatronics #halloweendecorations #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #sensoryoverload #neurodivergentparenting #disneytipswithkids #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #autismtravel #adhdawareness #sensoryprocessing #fightorflightresponse #momsmakeitmagical
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