Theme Parks: A Summer Rite of Passage

I live in Orlando, Florida, the mecca of theme parks. Within about a 100-mile radius, there are countless sites including SeaWorld®, LegoLand®, Gatorland®, Busch Gardens®, and, of course, Disney World®. Because I frequent Orlando International airport on a regular basis, I'm always amazed when I see families with small children balance time, tickets, snacks, strollers and luggage all while keeping a safe eye on small bodies that want to explore. This is just at the airport! Watching these families complete this challenging feat, the therapist in me always wants to know how parents with children with special needs negotiate through the travel and theme park mazes. I came across this blog at Mom’s Guide to Travel that offers practical tips and suggestions on what to do to ensure a safe and fun experience at some of the major attractions in this area, which may be applicable to other parks around the country as well.   And if you need extra help keeping your theme park explorer nearby, check out Gentle Joe and his accessories as part of your toolkit for traveling. Happy adventures, and please share with us any tips you have for successful theme-parking!