Easy-Access Vacations for Travelers with Extra Challenges
What the authors of Open Mouse effectively get across, even before you open the book, is that nearly every family, at one time or another, travels with someone with a special need.Most of you have probably heard the term "special needs." If you've ever thought about those with special needs as only being wheelchair bound or mentally challenged, you need to take one glance at the 24 "Special Challenges" in Open Mouse. These are challenges many people successfully overcome daily — pregnancy, special diets, allergies, hearing or vision impairments, age, heart conditions, diabetes, language barriers and more — when they are in familiar territory, but may encounter difficulties with when traveling in unfamiliar settings.
Disney World is one of the most inclusive and accessible resorts in the world, thus the title of this guide book, Open Mouse. The authors want you to feel like Disney is an "open house" to enjoy yourself on your well deserved vacation... no matter what needs or requirements you might have. They skillfully put together information and tips to help you feel comfortable about visiting Disney World or taking a Disney Cruise. Whether you or someone else has a physical limitation, special dietary requirement, a medical issue or something else you will likely find the information in Open Mouse helpful.
Immerse Yourself In the Magic
While Open Mouse includes a "Getting There" section that offers great tips for traveling by car, plane, bus or train, it's when you arrive at Disney World that the magic begins. Staying at a Disney resort hotel has many advantages that are particularly helpful for guests with special needs:
- Disney's Magical Express is a complimentary shuttle service from Orlando International Airport to and from your hotel.
- Free Disney transportation to and from the theme parks.
- Free parking at the theme parks for those using their own transporation.
- Extra Magic Hours allow Disney hotel guests to visit a designated theme park one hour earlier or several hours later than the general public each day of the week.
- Complimentary package delivery from Disney locations to your hotel.
- Special Disney character wake-up calls.
This guide book takes a close look at every Disney World resort accommodation and the staterooms on the Disney Cruise Line — from cost to necessary facilities — both in a quick comparison chart and in-depth by resort. There really isn't a reason not to stay at a Disney hotel and immerse yourself in the magic!
Touring the Theme Parks and Dining Your Way
While Disney's resort hotels offer so many amenities and so much to do that you really don't have to set foot in the theme parks to have a great vacation "away from it all," usually a trip to Disney World isn't complete without visiting them.This is where I think Open Mouse becomes invaluable — from its list of Disney "buzzwords" to photos of attraction seating types and transportation services available to detailed attraction descriptions and ratings. They cover first aid and baby care centers, parking information, mobility options, character meet and greets, detailed attraction information and getting around Disney World's huge property.
This guide book is a must if the success of your vacation depends on planning down to the tiniest detail. "Finding Your Place..." charts on each of the four theme parks offer the type of seating and whether there are restrictions or warnings. Detailed attraction descriptions include the approximate time you'll need to wait for a ride and how long the ride will last. The authors even offer its age-appropriateness and how it ranks in popularity.
With more than 300 places to eat at Disney World, there are many dining options. There lies the problem if you have dietary restrictions. How do you know exactly where to eat? The authors skillfully walk you through every step (park-by-park and restaurant-by-restaurant), from deciding where to eat, to making special dietary requests and what is available for just about every dietary restriction out there. They also offer tips for diners with special mealtime challenges.
The Bottom Line
When I first picked up Open Mouse I thought maybe the authors had taken on too many travel challenges to cover them effectively. I was wrong. Besides the authors, expert peer reviewers (each with their own experience with special needs) have checked the text to ensure accuracy and thoroughness, so each special need — from ADHD to Vision — seems to be well researched and thought out to bring readers the best information and tips for their specific restriction.Once your eyes adjust to PassPorter's annoying print of a busy gray border on each page, you will find the guide very readable. Despite covering medical issues, it is written in clear language anyone can understand and the book is laid out in a well organized fashion.
While I am generally very impressed by Open Mouse, there are a few areas that I feel could be improved:
- While there are photos of how rides accommodate those with mobility issues, there could be more of them.
- Some tips scattered throughout the book could be more logically located. (Example: We found information on turnstiles and noisy restrooms sandwiched within the section about the Magic Kingdom. Unless someone were reading the book from cover to cover, this valuable information might not be found.)
- I would have liked to have seen the section on the Disney Cruise Line be in a break-a-way section that could be easily packed for a cruise. Packing this handy, but bulky book for eight pages of information seems unnecessary.
