Author: Stephen

I'm Stephen Ashley. My wife and I are huge fans of Disney World. I'm the author of Walt Disney World With Disabilities. I also wrote a book called Walt Disney World Made Easy for Everyone, but rather than have it published, at this point we've decided to place all the material from the manuscript on this website so everyone can have access to it! I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it makes your day just a little bit brighter and easier.

By Rebecca Joy As if you needed another reason for signing up for a Chase Disney Visa debit or credit card, Walt Disney World has just announced that Chase will return again to sponsor this fall’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. That gives Chase card holders some great perks at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival! Signature dining experiences – With world-renowned chefs (separately priced events). Advanced booking of Festival Events – For a limited time, cardholders receive early access on July 19 and 20 to book reservations for special events at the Festival before opening to the general public…

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By Teresa Dec In the Disney World Parks: What do you need to know? After all your research and careful planning, you’re finally at Walt Disney World! Your only goal now should be to have a great time, yet you may still feel some anxiety about managing as a Pooh-sized guest. If you are an energetic and agile plus-sized person, you may be less concerned about movement and more apprehensive about fitting. If you have less mobility, you may wonder how easy it will be to get in and out of ride vehicles. We’ll talk about all those things. This is Part…

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Tips for Managing Diabetes While visiting Disney World! With a little pre-planning you can have a wonderful time at Disney World while taking great care of your health at the same time. In addition to my own contributions to this article as a Type 2 diabetic, we got input from a number of awesome Disney World fanatics. They include Disney Genius and nurse, Sue Mickelson; Mike Tuchman, a Disney Cast Member, long-time diabetic and Disney expert; and Kevin Keen who is an 18 year old type 1 diabetic and Annual Passholder. A big thank you goes out to all of them! Remember that we’re not doctors, and you…

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Tips for visiting Disney World with medication and medical supplies With some good planning up front, you should have no problem dealing with your medications and medical supplies during your trip to Disney World. 1. If you’re flying to Disney World with medication: Check the current TSA Rules for flying with Medication or Medical Supplies. Visit the Travel Security Administration site for up-to-date rules here. Always keep your medication on you in your carry-on, purse or pocket. If you put it in luggage that you check in, you run a very big risk of losing it. See #10 below for info on medical…

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The Disney World bus system makes traveling around Disney seamless and easy for their guests in wheelchairs and ECVs. Here’s what you need to know to use the bus system. If you haven’t read it already, you may want to read the article titled Using the Walt Disney World Bus System. This is the general information on using Disney World’s bus system. Then come back here and read this additional information on wheelchair and ECV use on the buses. Let’s get started! How many wheelchairs & ECVs can the Disney World buses fit? Most Disney World buses accommodate two ECVs…

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Disney World has an excellent bus system! This article includes everything you need to know to use the Disney World bus system. If you’re looking for information on wheelchair and ECV access on the buses, read this page first, and then go to our article called Wheelchairs and ECV info for the Disney World Buses. The best things about the Disney World buses: They’re free! They allow you the freedom of going just about anywhere on Disney property, even with a wheelchair or ECV. The bus drivers tend to be really helpful and friendly. You don’t have to drive! Yes!!! The…

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On this page, we’ll cover what you need to know to use the monorail, including info for people with wheelchairs, ECVs and other special needs. If you haven’t read it yet, you may want to read our article called Walt Disney World Transportation Overview for additional details on the monorail and other forms of transportation at Disney World. The Walt Disney World Monorail is a Fun Way to Get Around Disney! What is it?  The Monorail is a part of Disney’s transportation system that’s available in certain parts of Disney World. It’s an elevated train system that runs on electricity. It’s…

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Most people of size will find that there’s very little they can’t do at Disney. Here are some things to consider. Managing with Turnstiles at the Disney World Parks Though most people of size will have no difficulty going through turnstiles, some may wish to bypass them. At Disney there’s always an alternative entrance designed for wheelchairs and strollers that people of size can use. Just let a cast member know you need this and they’ll let you through. Height Concerns on the Disney World rides According to Services for Guests with Disabilities, tall people will be fine on most rides.…

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By Teresa Dec When you are overweight (“Pooh size” or “Pacha size” in Disney vernacular), you may feel some trepidation about going to Walt Disney World. You may want to ask questions like: Will I be able to manage the walking? Will the excessive heat make me miserable? Will I even fit on the rides? People may respond, “Just lose weight before you go!” But as people with long-term weight issues well know: if it were that simple, no one would ever be overweight! Plus, you may be working hard on losing weight, but it doesn’t happen safely overnight. You…

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Sprinkles is the world’s first cupcake bakery, and they focus on using high quality ingredients such as bittersweet Belgian chocolate, fresh fruits, and pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla. When sprinkles opened in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs area, they got a ton of publicity by giving away free cupcakes. We heard of hour long lines because of this, but we still had to take advantage of it! We signed up online and got our cupcake credits. Fortunately we waited only about 10 minutes. The queue was outdoors, but we quickly got inside and out of the sun.  Apparently Sprinkles has quite a following.…

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Choosing a Disney World resort can be a fun but daunting task. Every Disney resort is accessible, and you’ll be able to manage in any of them. However if you have mobility challenges, some resorts will be easier for you than others. Whether you’re planning on walking or using a wheelchair or ECV, there are still some things to consider. The Disney World Resort Size Can Be Important! Most of the Disney resorts are very large. In some of them you could get placed in a guest rooms that’s quite a hike from the resorts’ main activity areas.  You can bypass this problem…

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Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World with 5 or more people in your party? Many of the resort rooms in the Disney World resorts are designed for 4 people plus a child under 3 years old, but there are many good options designed for 5 or more guests. We’ll give you details on those below. Another option is to request two connecting or adjoining rooms. Connecting rooms have inside doors that open two rooms side by side rooms to each other. Adjoining rooms are next to each other, but don’t have inside connecting doors. Compared to some options,…

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So you’ve decided to stay in a Disney World resort. That’s a great choice! (If you’re not sure yet, read our article called Should I Stay in a Disney World Resort?) Now you’re wondering how to choose the right resort. There are a lot of them, and it can be confusing. Let’s talk about some of the things that you may want to consider as you decide: Budget How much time you’ll spend there Level of amenities Service Required Theme – taste and interests Resort Location Transportation Dining options preferred Space needed – room size and maximum occupancy Kitchen needed Crowds at…

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Check out the new Royal Princess Promenade now happening every day at the Grand Floridian Resort, at 3:30 pm in the lobby. Enjoy a live orchestra as Cinderella and Prince Charming make a grand entrance. They then take photos with guests, and dance the Grand Waltz. Guests are invited to dance along. (Confirm it before you go) https://youtu.be/gslkbtjrDeA Do you have more thoughts or tips or thoughts on this topic? Please feel free to post them in a comment below. We’d love your input. GET UPDATES, NEWS & TIPS (IT’S FREE!!!) Sign up below to stay updated on the newest information, tips and…

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With a little planning and knowledge you can save yourself a nice chunk of money! Some gas stations in the Orlando area are charging way above the going rate for gasoline, according to an article on clickorlando.com. They showed one Shell gas station at 8878 Vineland Avenue charging $5.99 a gallon for unleaded, when nearby stations are charging just $1.68 for unleaded. The reporter actually saw people filling up their tanks there. This is very close to Disney, and it’s an area that’s full of tourists. To give you an idea of where it is, it’s about 6 miles away from…

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