Disney with a Disability

Ever since I first visited Disney World when I was 7, it's been one of my favorite places to escape reality. So many magically nostalgic memories are linked to my trips to Disney. I recently revisited the happiest place on earth for the first time since my car accident with my family for my spring break. I want to be very honest with my experience so I asked you guys to send in questions about accessibility, transportation, rides, etc. I hope this helps you out on your next trip!

Q: How was it transporting to and from your hotel?

A: We stayed at The Contemporary Resort, which is located on Disney property. All Disney-owned hotels have access to either the monorail or Disney buses. We mainly used the buses, which are all accessible, to get from park to park. A ramp is lowered, you roll on up, then the bus driver assists you getting securely strapped in. Another mode of transportation is Disney's Skyliner, which is a gondola system that opened last year. This is probably my new favorite way to travel in Disney! For the Skyliner, there's a separate loading area for ECVs and wheelchair users where the cabin comes to a complete stop so you have time to get on.

Q: I hear Disney World is huge, how was it traveling to different areas of the park?

A: Yes, the parks at Disney are HUGE, but definitely doable! I have a good amount of upper body strength so I could push myself the majority of the time, but when I had to go uphill or got tired, I used my SmartDrive. The SmartDrive is a little motor I put on the back of my chair that I control by tapping a Bluetooth censored bracelet to the side of the wheel. It's a LIFESAVER! Allow yourself to take breaks and drink plenty of water! Especially if you're visiting Disney in the summer months, it can get HOT!

Q: Which rides were accessible and how did you get on them?

A: So I'm going to split this answer into two parts because there are rides I had to transfer for and rides I could just stay in my wheelchair for. For the rides I had to physically transfer out of my chair, the cast member stops the moving ride vehicles. I fortunately had my strong brother with me on this trip, so he just picked me up and carried me onto the rides (thanks bro:)). If you can do the transfer yourself, they will let you get as close to the vehicle as you need and most rides have transfer devices available if you need them. Here's a list of the rides I rode that I had to transfer onto:

• Splash Mountain

• The Haunted Mansion

• Pirates of the Caribbean

• Seven Dwarves Mine Train

• Frozen Ever After

• Soarin' Around the World

• Spaceship Earth

• Rockin' Roller Coaster

• Star Tours

• Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

• Toy Story Mania

• Avatar Flight of Passage

• Expedition Everest

• Kilimanjaros Safaris Expedition

Video: My brother helping me onto Expedition Everest.

Here's a list of the rides I rode that I could go on in my chair:

• It's a Small World

• Jungle Cruise

• Mickey's PhilharMagic

• Journey of the Little Mermaid

• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress

• Gran Fiesta Tour

• It's Tough to Be a Bug

Video: Cast member helping me onto Journey of the Little Mermaid.

Major tip: Make sure you speak up and advocate for yourself. The cast members are really cautious when they ask questions (trying not to assume or offend). So sometimes you have to be clear and say "I can't walk".

Link to more ride accessibility information: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/

Q: Did you ever feel uncomfortable getting on rides in front of everyone waiting in line?

A: Honestly, yes! I mean nobody likes being stared at, but it's just one of those things you have to make the best of and try not to think about too much. No one was ever rude or impatient, so don't feel bad about taking your time!

Q: Did they have any private handicap bathrooms or just handicap stalls?

A: Yes, there are multiple Companion Restroom Locations in all four parks, resorts, and in Disney Springs! You should be able to locate these bathrooms on the park's map.

Photo: Companion Restroom in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot.

Q: Did your trip feel any more or less magical than previous ones?

A: I thought for a while about how to answer this one. Whenever I'm doing something for the first time since my injury, I get a little anxious. I experienced this a few times when I faced a challenge on the trip, but when it came up I just had to take a breather and calm down. Of course it is was different, but just like everything in life, I adapted to those changes. It's still Disney, it was so much fun, and it was still just as magical.

Q: Which park did you find to be most accessible?

A: For the most part, all of the parks were equally accessible. However, I'd say that Animal Kingdom had more hills than the other three parks.

Q: Did you ever feel unsafe on any of the rides?

A: I never felt unsafe, but there were definitely rides that tested my balance more than others. I'd say of the ones I rode, Expedition Everest was the jerkiest and tested my balance the most. Luckily it was a two-seater ride, so I just locked arms with who was beside me and that helped me stay put. The only rides I didn't get on that I didn't think I could handle was Space Mountain, Smuggler's Run, and Tower of Terror. You know your body best, so just ask yourself what you think your body can handle.

Q: What do you wish Disney would do a better job of?

A: I honestly can't think of anything that Disney didn't already think of! So instead, I'll list a of a few things they did to go the extra mile.

• Most cast members offered us to ride rides twice. If they don't offer, just ask, they'll usually let you go around at least twice!

• DAS (Disability Access Service): DAS passes are for visitors who have a disability that prevents them from standing in line. Instead, you are given a return time and are allowed to roam the park until that time. When your time slot comes up, you return to the cast member at the FastPass line and go to the front! I didn't find out about the DAS pass until the end of the trip, and since I was technically physically able to wait in line, I was only allowed to use it when wait times were extremely long.

• Upgraded our hotel: Originally, this trip was supposed to be my graduation gift my senior year of high school. This trip was planned around the time that my car accident happened, so obviously we had to cancel. Long story short, my mom emailed Disney, telling them about my story, and they upgraded us from The Caribbean Beach (a moderate resort) to The Contemporary Resort (a deluxe resort)! SUPER nice of them, they did not have to do that, but that's just Disney.