Product Description

America's most popular resort destination made it to the top of the charts for many reasons -- a hug from Mickey, a childhood revisited, a cleaner, safer, friendlier world... chief among them is Disney's hospitality. At Disney, every visitor is a guest, and Disney's parks, restaurants, cruise ships, and hotels strive to embrace everyone, regardless of any special accommodations they may require. In fact, when you think of it, virtually every family or group that visits Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line has a special challenge. It's hardly a one-size-fits-all world, yet at Disney everyone seems to fit. It's clear that Disney has a reputation for accommodating guests with obvious special challenges -- you'll see more wheelchairs and electric scooters in Disney parks than you're likely to see almost anywhere else. But Disney's hospitality extends further, to those with less visible requirements. Disney offers accommodations for those who know to ask: Devices to help a hearing- or vision-impaired guest enjoy a show * theme park maps and translation devices in six languages * "Special assistance" for children with autism or ADD * a sheltered spot to breastfeed an infant * chefs and waiters schooled to serve a wide spectrum of special dietary needs * rides sized to fit guests of various disabilities and dimensions... You could fill a volume, and indeed, that's what PassPorter Travel Press and authors Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma have done in this completely updated guidebook.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #505501 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 436 pages

Review
"Open Mouse" offers world of tips ... for people with personal concerns that include common and uncommon physical, mental and emotional disabilities as well as such concerns as diet, medical treatments, religion, and size issues. -- Orlando Sentinel, October 15, 2007

The second edition of this treasury of information brings with it a new title and a whole lot more. This may be the only Walt Disney World Guidebook anyone would ever need - especially when it comes to guaranteeing a wonderful vacation to help you remember the magic! -- MousePlanet.com, October 5, 2007

From the Publisher
The first edition of this guidebook garnered two national book awards -- a Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Travel Guide (Finalist) and a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year (Finalist).

From the Back Cover
It makes no difference who you are when you wish upon a star!

Learn how Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line open doors for vacationers with special challenges of all kinds!

PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line helps you plan the most magical vacation ever with these features:

* Coverage of 24 special challenge categories, embracing dietary choices and hundreds of medical and mental health issues ... including yours!

* Detailed descriptions of every Disney ride and attraction, with a special challenges focus

* Comprehensive information on Disney resort hotels to help you choose the best lodging and accessible rooms

* Insider tips for dining at Disney with a special diet, and how Disney caters to your requirements

* A boatload of tips on the Disney Cruise Line

* Tales and tips from dozens of travelers with special challenges just like yours!

* Honest advice so you can feel safe and comfortable on your adventure

* The information you need to travel with confidence

* Profiles of Disney travelers with specific challenges

* Everything you need to enjoy Disney to the fullest from one of the most trusted names in Disney travel

Featuring the expertise of award-winning authors Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma, editors of AllEars.net

Customer Reviews

Covers a broad range of "Special Needs"-Highly recommended
We discovered valuable information in this book each time we looked up a ride, show, eating area of the WDW complex during our recent trip to WDW. We used this guide every day of our trip. Our group included multiple members with a variety of special needs and we found that each recommendation in the book was "right on". The book offered great recommendations for essentially everything one might come across in WDW. This is a fantastic book for anyone who might have a special concern about dealing with any aspect of your WDW vacation.
The best elements of this book are:

1) Its organization: The book is organized so that one can look up information and suggestions either by the attraction or the "special need".

2) The broad range of "needs" covered: Whether you are concerned about easy fatigability, size, child related (and adult related problems) such as ADD/ADHD, Torrette's, autism-spectrum disorders, pregnancy (and fertility issues!), physical or emotional limitations, sun-sensitivity, chronic health problems or basically any area of concern that might affect you or your traveling group- you will find information here.

3) A large number of contributing authors with personal experience with each of the conditions.

4) Included information on the roughness or "scary factor" of the rides or shows- which will be helpful to anyone, not just people who identify themselves as having special needs.

5) Information of where to rent equipment: scooters, wheelchairs, vehicles capable of transporting scooters or wheelchairs, etc...and not just listing the places inside the park. We found that we were not the only people who rented from outside the park...no wonder- this saved the major hassle of tracking down equipment each day.

6) PRE-trip recommendations: Buy this book before you make reservations at WDW. Great suggestions on the accessibility of the various "resorts" and even hotels outside of the park are invaluable. For example, if a "zero entry" (wheelchair accessible) pool is important to you...the few resorts that have these are clearly noted. The places to stay that are on the Monorail line or closest to the area of WDW (eg. Magic Kingdom vs Epcot vs...) are clearly noted. Staying in lodging that best visits the needs of the members of your family or group is a "make it or break it" deal for your vacation!

7) The usual awesome "PassPorter" style of the book...with all the typical features found in this series.

Given the vast diversity of the population who visits Walt Disney World, and the number of people we saw using wheelchairs, scooter, special strollers, etc.- it is very likely that most visiting groups will find useful information in this book. Plus- the link to the PassPorter website gives even more helpful information.

Be sure to buy this book when planning your vacation! But even if your reservations are "locked in" you will find the book extremely helpful!

Not Detailed Enough On Disney's Cruise Line
This book provide great information on everything in Disney World. They provide it on Resorts, Dining, and Theme Parks. They did not update it fully for this year. For example it goes up to 2007 for the yearly celebration or Hollywood Studios' new parade but it included Toy Story Mania. The book hardly contained anything on Disney Cruise Line. It should contain more information on entertainment and food and activites onboard and Castaway Cay and prices but it did not. It should be called "Open Mouse for Walt Disney World" without having Disney Cruise Line added to the title.

Special Needs Interest
I think this book has valuable information. It is a good book. I am a person with health considerations and a big Disney Fan. I found this book and the Walt Disney World with Disabilities both very helpful. Since they are both good references for my needs with their own style and quality I used them both.