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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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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no…

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Top 14 Reasons Why Disney Can Be Hard for Highly Sensitive Kids

Top 14 Reasons Why Disney Can Be Hard for Highly Sensitive Kids

Highly Sensitive Kids
3 Comments

Are your kids easily overwhelmed? Do they get overstimulated quickly? Are they prone to meltdowns when their routines are out…

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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⤵️
i’m a firm believer that sensory needs shouldn’t stop you from participating in things. it might mean that you do things a little differently. like… using noise canceling headphones. not rushing. taking more breaks. avoiding certain attractions. but disney, and any destination, can still be doable (and enjoyable!) with a highly sensitive child. do i think disney could do a better job of being inclusive and accommodating of those with various sensory needs? YES. i don’t love the recent decisions they’ve made. but hopefully they’re listening to the feedback of many families out there 💖 follow @momsmakeitmagical for more disney & family travel tips with highly sensitive kids ✨✨ #disneyworld #ig_wdw #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #sensoryneeds #sensoryoverload #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneytipsandtricks #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #autismtravel #adhdawareness #generalizedanxiety #momsmakeitmagical
where’s the lie?? 🫣 i know how it feels when where’s the lie?? 🫣 i know how it feels when you, mama, have planned alllll the deets. and when you get to your destination, your kids want none of it. 🫠 they’d be perfectly happy in the pool all day. but here’s a gentle reminder that sometimes what WE think will be fun for them isn’t always what’s ACTUALLY fun for them. so it’s ok to let go of a bit of your plans, your itinerary checklist, your “vision” of how the vacation would look like.. it doesn’t mean your trip is ruined. instead, look at what IS working for your fam. it doesn’t have to be like anyone else’s trip. follow @momsmakeitmagical for more ✨ #disneyworld #honestmotherhood #momswhotravel #travelwithkidstips #familytravelblogger #momhumor #parentinghumor #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #travelplans #beflexible #momsmakeitmagical
⬇️⬇️ travel to disney & elsewhere isn’t ⬇️⬇️ travel to disney & elsewhere isn’t the easiest with sensitive children. but it can be made doable with these three things! ✨PREPARATION✨ this means watching youtube videos of your destination. everything about it! the more they know, the better they’ll do. for older children, let them explore on google maps. read books, watch documentaries, talk about what to expect. it might seem like a small thing but it can make all the difference. ✨A FLEXIBLE PLAN✨ sounds kind of counterintuitive right? but it means having a general outline or flow for your trip so that your child has an idea of what to expect. however, it also means these plans can be LOOSE so you can pivot if things go a little haywire and everyone needs a reset. it doesn’t mean your trip is ruined if plans change. it just means you’re being flexible 💖 ✨ACCOMMODATING SENSORY NEEDS✨ what does this mean? providing ear plugs or noise headphones if your child is sensitive to loud noises. it means bringing a change of clothes if you know your child can’t handle getting wet or dirty. it can look like using screens to help support self-regulation in unfamiliar places. if you’re new here, hi! i’m susan, a mom of 3, a disney/family travel blogger. stick around for more tips on travel with highly sensitive children ✨✨ #disneyworld #ig_wdw #disneybloggers #familytravelblogger #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #travelwithkidstips #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #anxiouschild #neurodivergentparenting #consciousparenting #autismtravel #sensoryoverload #meltdowns #momsmakeitmagical
what do you have in store for 2025? let’s manif what do you have in store for 2025? let’s manifest all our travel goals together ✨ if you’re new here, hi! i’m susan, a mom of 3, disney/travel blogger, and i share everything from the pov of a mom with highly sensitive & anxious kids 💖 hope you stick around! #travelgoals🌍 #manifestyourdesires #travelingmom #travelingfamilies #highlysensitivechild #autismtravwl #sensorysensitive #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #familytraveltips #travelwithkidstips #momsmakeitmagical
🫠🫠🫠 i try to throw out things before we 🫠🫠🫠 i try to throw out things before we leave but we inevitably have some kind of science experiment in our fridge whenever we return from a long trip. 🫣 follow along @momsmakeitmagical for more family travel, disney, relatable mom content 🫶 #scienceexperiment #fridgesituation #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #highlysensitivechild #moldy #travelwithkidstips #motherhoodunplugged #relatablemotherhood #momhumor #momsmakeitmagical
2 weeks in manila, philippines 🇵🇭 internati 2 weeks in manila, philippines 🇵🇭 international travel isn’t the easiest, especially with long haul flights and young kids. but i will say it made of a heck of a difference going with a 10, 7 and 3 year old vs. a 3 year old and a 9 month old back in 2017 😅 let me know if you have questions about our trip to philippines ⬇️⬇️ and if you’re new here, hi! i’m susan. i’m a disney/family travel blogger, and i share tips and insights from the pov of a mom with highly sensitive children. hope you stick around ✨✨ #philippinestravel #manilaphilippines #travelwithkidstips #familytraveltips #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #travelsnapshots #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #momswhotravel #momsmakeitmagical
travel with kids can be hard. travel with kids i travel with kids can be hard. travel with kids is harder when you have a highly sensitive child. but try taking that leap. or if that leap feels too hard, just take a step. any little step. ✨ for us, prepping ahead of time, adjusting HOW we travel, and managing my own expectations of the trip are how we make this happen 💖 and we’ve got a ton of practice (&mistakes!) under our belt 🫠🫠 we’ll be ending the year with the furthest trek we’ve made since 2017… manila, philippines 🇵🇭 here we come! 🤞🏼🫣😅 what was YOUR favorite family adventure this year (big or small)⬇️⬇️? #travelwithkids #familytravel #familyadventure #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #autismtravel #adhdparenting #neurodivergentparenting #sensoryoverload #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #traveldestinations #momsmakeitmagical
a quick little intro ✌🏽 hope you stick aroun a quick little intro ✌🏽 hope you stick around for more travel tips & parenting insights with highly sensitive children 💖💖💖 what makes travel hard for YOU? ⬇️ #socialworker #mswgraduate #highlysensitivechild #disneyworld #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #disneywithkids #travelwithkidstips #sensorysensitive #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #consciousparenting #sensoryoverload #meltdowns #momsmakeitmagical
did you know highly sensitive kids are also more i did you know highly sensitive kids are also more inclined to feel shame? it’s really common for them to feel like there’s something wrong with them. so let’s not feed into that. what can we do instead?? ⭐️meet your child where they’re at. accept them for who they are. 💖 don’t compare them to other kids—“look how excited they are about _____” 🚫🚫🚫 ⭐️adjust your definition of fun. remember what YOU think will be fun for your kids won’t always be fun to THEM. ⭐️have them involved in the planning process—so they have a chance to start thinking about what they’ll be doing ⭐️try new things but always provide an “out”—whether it means sitting out, taking a break, splitting up if you’re new here, hi! i’m susan, a mom of 3. i love disney and family travel, and i share tips for making travel more approachable even with sensitive slow-to-warm-up kids 💖 hope you stick around! #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #slowtowarmup #disneyblogger #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #disneytipsandtricks #consciousparenting #neurodivergentparenting #sensoryoverload #lowdemandparenting #autismtravel #sensoryprocessing #momsmakeitmagical
satellite & street view ftw 🙌 if you have a h satellite & street view ftw 🙌 if you have a highly sensitive and slow-to-warm-up child, elementary age or older, let them explore their travel destination on google maps. increasing familiarity before going on ANY trip can help reduce any travel-related anxiety for a highly sensitive child. this is my go-to strategy regardless of whether you’re going to disney world, a national park, or a european city ✨✨ AND it’s a great educational opportunity (leave me 🙌🙌 if you homeschool like us!!) we are headed to the philippines soon 🇵🇭🇵🇭 we haven’t been since 2017. and my two big kids have been spending a lot of time exploring in google maps 💖 binge my content for all things disney & family travel with highly sensitive children ✈️✈️ #highlysensitivechild #googlemaps #travelwithkidstips #familytraveltips #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #autismtravel #sensorysensitive #slowtowarmup #consciousparenting #homeschoolfun #travelschooling #momsmakeitmagical
first time mom susan might’ve felt self-consciou first time mom susan might’ve felt self-conscious or embarrassed. but 3rd time mom susan knows it’s well worth it to make sure their sensory needs are met so that we can ALL enjoy an experience together. i recently took all 3 kids to the movie theatre to watch moana 2. 🌀🌴🏝️🌊 movies have never been a big thing for my kids. the tension, conflict, suspense, and of course, villains were always too much for them to handle. but in the past year or so, my older two have slowly been starting to tolerate it a little more. and they also knew how to cope with the things that felt overwhelming or scary—put on headphones if it’s too loud, or close your eyes if it’s scary. being able to accommodate their sensitivities resulted in ALL of us actually sitting through a movie in the theatre 🤯🙌 it’s true that accommodations alone might not be enough to help your child feel safe and not overwhelmed. so this is NOT a “hack” to force your kid to do something that’s uncomfortable for them. but it’s the mindset of supporting their nervous system so that some of these hard things might one day become possible. what do you think?? how have you been able to accommodate your kids? #moana2 #disneymovies #scaredofmovies #sensorysensitive #highlysensitivechild #accommodations #lowdemandparenting #neurodivergentparenting #highlysensitivechild #anxiouschild #spdawareness #consciousparenting #movieswithkids #nervoussystemregulation #meltdowns #sensoryoverload #momsmakeitmagical
let’s normalize the fact that not every kid is g let’s normalize the fact that not every kid is going to love this. and let’s also normalize that some kids might want all the character meet and greets and NONE of the rides. each child is different. and each age & stage of life is different. and it’s important to acknowledge and honor that 💖 my youngest hated meeting characters. he was that kid that would point and say “go! go!” because he wanted out of there. but i honored that. i didn’t force him to hug or high five or pose for a photo when his brain was only telling him DANGER ‼️⚠️⛔️ but one day… he was actually ok with approaching peter pan. and then the next day, he HUGGED olaf for a good 5 minutes 🥰🥰🥰 it wasn’t anything of my own doing. and it’s also possible for some kids to not EVER enjoy character interactions. but accepting our kiddos and their fears & dislikes is so so important. not so that they’ll one day change. but to maintain a sense of safety & connection for them. have your kids ever been fearful of character meets at disney? binge my content for all things disney & family travel with highly sensitive and anxious kids ✨✨✨ #disneyworld #ig_wdw #wdw_ig #disneyblogger #disneycharactermeetandgreet #disneytipsandtricks #highlysensitivechild #anxiouschild #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #consciousparenting #disneywithkids #disneywithtoddlers #sensorysensitive #sensoryoverload #dysregulation #momsmakeitmagical
and the feeling as a parent couldn’t be better ✨ so proud of this kid 💖 i didn’t want to push formal music lessons on the kids, because so many have really negative experiences from being pushed into classical music education too early and too hard. but he agreed to try piano a few months ago… and it has been amazing to see him grow ✨ does your child have a recent moment of trying something new or hard?? share below ⬇️⬇️ #kidspiano #kidsvoicelessons #musicrecital #highlysensitivechild #tryhardthings #overcomeanxiety #consciousparenting #proudmommymoment #brunomarsmusic #countonme #momsmakeitmagical
the struggle is real. if you have a child who ha the struggle is real. if you have a child who has difficulty in new situations, can’t sleep well away from home, has particular foods they prefer to eat, and just generally become dysregulated when they’re “off routine”, i get you. travel can feel daunting and impossible. a road trip? no way. a national park? too hard. disney parks? sensory overload. historic cities? ughhh. but don’t feel pressured to “go big” when it comes to travel. take baby steps and expand your child’s ability to tolerate the new and uncomfortable. maybe sleepover at grandma’s house. or book a night in a hotel for a staycation near home. practice leads to progress. i promise. hi, im susan! 👋🏼 i’m a mom of 3, and i blog about disney & family travel with highly sensitive and anxious kids. hope you stick around for more of my honest thoughts and travel tips! #highlysensitivechild #anxiouschild #autismtravel #sensorysensitive #introverttravel #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #realistictravel #travelwithkidstips #dysregulation #sensoryoverload #neurodivergentparenting #consciousparenting #momsmakeitmagical
holidays and family vacations aren’t one size fi holidays and family vacations aren’t one size fits all 💖 share this with someone if this resonates for you. i feel like so many of us become caught up with how we’re “supposed” to do things. either based on social media, or what our friends are doing, or what we grew up with our families of origin. but it’s ok to set boundaries around how you navigate holidays. and it’s ok to take a slower pace when it comes to travel. we can say NO to FOMO, and YES to being present and enjoying time with the ones we love 💖 binge my content for all things family travel, disney, and parenting highly sensitive kids ✨✨✨ @momsmakeitmagical #yellowstone #disneyworld #familytraveltips #holidayswithfamily #holidayswithkids #travelwithkidstips #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #highlysensitivechild #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #consciousparenting #momsmakeitmagical
the kids couldn’t be more excited to host their the kids couldn’t be more excited to host their cousins 🎉 did you know that paying attention to the details, especially things that others might miss, is one trait in a highly sensitive child? sometimes this can result in rigidity.. that book has to be in that one spot. or the seam on their sock has to sit just right. or mom’s phone can only be held by mom. but in other instances, these kiddos can be really thoughtful and wise in ways beyond their years. and they can also appreciate the beauty in little things. 💖 hi, i’m susan! i’m a mom of 3, and i’m a disney/family travel blogger but focus a lot on doing so with highly sensitive children ✨ hope you stick around 👍 #highlysensitivechild #highlysensitiveperson #detailoriented #neurodivergentparenting #thoughtfulkids❤️ #rigidity #consciousparenting #momlifeunplugged #momsmakeitmagical
share this with a friend if this resonates 💖 s share this with a friend if this resonates 💖 slow paced travel with ample opportunity to connect with your loved ones is what makes the trip magical. ✨✨ a way too packed itinerary forcing the fam to rush around is a recipe for disaster if you’re traveling with highly sensitive kids. so, slow it down. remember your true purpose of taking that family vacay, regardless of the destination 🥰 hi, i’m susan! mom of 3, disney/family travel blogger, and i share relatable tips & insights when it comes to vacationing with highly sensitive children ✨ hope you stick around! #disneyworld #wdw_ig #disneyblogger #familytravelblogger #slowpace #highlysensitivechild #sensorysensitive #autismtravel #neurodivergentparenting #sensoryoverload #travelwithkidstips #momsmakeitmagical
more ⬇️ great wolf lodge first opened in wisc more ⬇️ great wolf lodge first opened in wisconsin dells, and since then, they’ve had locations pop up all over the country. we visited the one in traverse city, michigan… and actually loved it. while it’s known for its waterpark, the highlight for my kids (especially the 10 and 7 year old) was MAGIQUEST! an interactive game that has you wandering the hallways and foyers throughout the hotel on a series of adventures and quests. it kind of felt like a cruise in that there were scheduled activities throughout the day. and most things you needed were all in the building. i will say if we went my oldest (HSC) was younger, i don’t think she would’ve enjoyed it. the waterpark is noisy and the constant activities/announcements would’ve been a lot for her. but now at 10 years old, she loved it and can’t wait to visit another great wolf lodge in the future! this was a great little getaway for our fam 💖 have you ever been to a great wolf lodge?? ⬇️ hi, i’m susan! 👋🏼 i’m a mom of 3, and share relatable travel tips & insights with highly sensitive children 💖 hope you stick around! #notsponsored #greatwolflodge #traversecitymichigan #tripreview #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #travelwithkidstips #highlysensitivechild #sensoryfriendly #momsmakeitmagical
share this with someone you want to go to yellowst share this with someone you want to go to yellowstone with! planning really far in advance can be tough (🙋🏻‍♀️). i personally have a hard time committing to something way ahead of time 😅 but when it comes to certain destinations or trips, like cruises, disney world, and even national parks, planning way ahead can help SO much. because yellowstone is so big, it helps to stay at least a night (or 2) inside the park. reducing the driving time with kids can be a game changer for how your overall yellowstone experience will be. but these lodges, cabins, and campground spots book up fast. so if yellowstone is on your list for summer 2025, i’d start looking and BOOKING now. if nothing is available, there are plenty of options in the town of west yellowstone (west entrance) and town of gardiner (north entrance). but staying inside the park means: ⭐️no long car lines at the gate to enter the park ⭐️getting ahead of the crowds for more popular areas ⭐️less car time for antsy or easily motion sick kids ⭐️easier to take a break during the day is visiting yellowstone on your list for 2025?? ⬇️ follow along @momsmakeitmagical for family travel tips, especially for highly sensitive & easily overstimulated kids 💖💖 #yellowstonenps #nationalparkswithkids #familytravelblogger #disneyblogger #yellowstonewithkids #travelitinerary #travelwithkidstips #nationalparksusa #highlysensitivechild #momsmakeitmagical
share this with a friend if this resonates with yo share this with a friend if this resonates with you. this has been a hard lesson learned for me personally over the years. i realized that when there’s a mismatch between expectations & reality.. it causes such stress and frustration between YOU as the parent and your child 🫠 this applies in any situation as a parent, but even more so when doing special outings or vacations, where maybe you took a day off work or you spent extra money. it’s ok if things don’t go how we imagined. hang around with me for more tips & insights on disney, family travel, parenting highly sensitive and neurodivergent kids 💖💖 #familyvacationtips #familytriptips #highlysensitivechild #neurodivergentparenting #autismtravel #adhdparenting #sensorysensitive #adjustyourexpectations #lowdemandparenting #travelwithkidstips #momsmakeitmagical
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