Making Disney Vacations Magical for Kids with Food Allergies and Special Needs

By Julie Richman

Traveling with children can be daunting for any parent but taking a vacation with a child with special needs or multiple food allergies can be especially challenging. As a mom to a six-year-old child with several food allergies, a rare allergic GI condition called FPIES and a feeding disorder, I know all too well how difficult it can be to even consider taking a family vacation let alone plan one all on your own. That’s why I decided to start a travel agency dedicated to helping families like my own.

I’m a former producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show and now the owner of Enchanting Family Vacations, a travel agency specializing in Disney vacations. I help families who have food allergies, special needs (including autism, sensory disorders, feeding disorders, or cognitive delays) or just want a Disney travel agent who is all about the details and can produce a memorable experience all free of charge.

For years I thought it would be impossible to safely take a family vacation given all of my son’s food restrictions (close to a dozen food allergies) and the feeding disorder he developed as a result. How could we attempt to eat out if he’s still an extremely picky eater and new feeding environments cause so much anxiety for him?

Then I discovered how amazing Disney is for children with food allergies and other medical conditions or special needs. Their chefs take rigorous training to learn how to safely handle food allergies. My child had never been able to order food in a restaurant until we took our first vacation to Walt Disney World. Seeing him eating a cupcake and pancakes that are free of ALL his allergens brought tears to my eyes. For the first time in his life, my son had the chance to do what average kids experience all the time…eat in a restaurant. We stayed in a Disney resort villa with a full kitchen to prepare meals if anxiety got the best of him and he wasn’t able to eat unfamiliar food.

We now visit Disney World every year, and each time I go I’m overjoyed that my son will get to be a “normal kid” for a week. I was inspired to start Enchanting Family Vacations to help other families with food allergies, feeding disorders, or special needs experience the same magic of Disney. As a patient at Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center, I’m especially excited to help other families at the clinic plan a Disney vacation.

I have clients whose children have sensory processing disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, autism, and other conditions that can make traveling difficult. Disney offers support their disability pass to help children who can’t wait in long lines. There are special areas in each park that are quiet and offer a place for kids to get a sensory reprieve from all the sights, sounds, and crowds. Disney even publishes a guide for guests that lists all attractions and shows that may be too visually stimulating, noisy or scary.

As a Disney vacation planner, I also offer lots of tips on navigating your Disney vacation. The best part is my services are 100% free, there is absolutely no added charge and I can get you the same discounts and price because I book directly with Disney. My website is www.enchantingfamilyvacations.netor you may follow my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/enchantingfamilyvacations.

Please reach out to me via my website or email julie@enchantingfamilyvacations.netthe next time you’re considering a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line or Aulani Resort in Hawaii!