Things Trippin' with Jamie Wants You To Know About Special Needs Travel

Here at Trippin' with Jamie, our main focus is on helping families with special needs take trips that they may have thought impossible. We do our best to make each trip special, and here are some things we want you to know!

1) We can't make it easy, but we can make it easier.

Anyone who tells you that traveling with special needs is easy has obviously never traveled with special needs. Our goal as your travel agent is to get to know you and your needs. We want to help you plan your trip and anticipate any potential problems so they can be avoided.

2) Know your limits and be realistic.

This goes for anyone traveling, but especially families with special needs. If your child can only manage 4 hours of school before having sensory overload, do not plan to cover Magic Kingdom in a day. You can always add more activities, but a physical or mental breakdown can derail an entire trip. Make sure to schedule rest breaks, plan for the weather (hot, cold, rainy, etc.), and be flexible.

3) Look for value not cost.

This is one of the key vacation planning tips for special needs families. There will always be something cheaper. Instead of focusing on strictly cost, look at what you are getting. Yes, hotels further from Disney are cheaper, but if you have a wheelchair, coolers, medications, and emergency information to carry, is it worth it to use valuable energy just packing and getting to the park? Plus, if you are planning to take rest breaks during the day, staying offsite adds more energy zapping travel to and from. Consider the needs of your family and ask us what options are available. We want you to get the most value for your spending, so ask us how you can save while still getting top value.

4) Be prepared to travel with your special need.

We don't mean packing supplies, we mean be mentally prepared. Whether this is your first vacation as a family or the first since a diagnosis, traveling with a special need can require mental preparation as well as physical. While vacations are often used to escape everyday life, there is no escaping your disability or illness. Recognize that your special need will be coming too and be prepared. It may not be the dream trip you always imagined or the same as vacations used to be before getting sick, but it can still be a great time away as long as you adjust your expectations.

5) Relax and have fun!

Easier said than done, we know, but try! You want this to be a great trip and it can be, just relax. By doing your research up front and allowing Trippin' with Jamie to handle the details, you are free to focus on making memories with your family. Know that things may not be perfect for the whole trip but decide to enjoy whatever comes. Traveling with special needs can be unpredictable, but embracing each moment and celebrating small victories can make any trip special.