🎵 "Life in the Fast Lane" –EOA Travel Hacks, (The Eagles)
Updated: Aug 22
Disability Passes & Living Life Anyway
One thing I promised myself when Alzheimer's entered our life:
👉 We were not going to stop living.
Slow down a little?
Sure.
Plan more?
Absolutely.
Need a bathroom every 45 minutes?
Apparently.
But stop living?
Nope.
One thing I've learned is there are a lot of disability accommodations available in the United States that nobody tells you about.
Not because they're secret.
Because most of us never needed them before.
And honestly?
Before Early Onset Alzheimer's, I never even thought about asking.
Now?
I'm asking for every bit of help available.
Not because I'm lazy or taking advantage of a system, you and I both know this is a disability, my spouse is functioning at age 7-12 most days.
Because getting through a day at Disney, an airport, a cruise ship, or even a restaurant sometimes takes Olympic-level planning.
✈️ Airport Hack
#1: PRE-BOARDING
This is hands-down my favorite travel accommodation.
And I didn't know it existed until Alzheimer's.
When you board a plane with someone who has dementia, you're not just walking down the jet bridge.
You're helping:
Find the correct seat
Stow bags
Get settled
Explain where the bathroom is
Handle anxiety
Distribute snacks
Get headphones situated
Answer questions
Sometimes several times.
For us:
Rob gets the aisle seat.
Every time.
Why?
Because he will absolutely need the bathroom.
Multiple times.
Without fail.
I usually sit across the aisle from him.
That way:
✔ He can get up easily
✔ I can get up quickly
✔ We're not climbing over strangers all flight
Trust me.
Learn from my mistakes.
And I always love a good responder who says "he doesn't look disabled, and I smile and say Alzheimers, you want to board with him?" because I am Gen X after all. I bite back.
#2: Airline Apps
Create an app account with airline, or when you buy passenger ticket, in passenger information you can now add in COGNITIVE disability, flags for the staff, and it gives pre boardining.
One of the best travel resources nobody talks about.
TSA Cares can help travelers with:
Alzheimer's
Dementia
Cognitive disabilities
Hidden disabilities
Call ahead before travel and request assistance.
It can make security significantly less stressful.
🌻 TSA Cares:https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares
🚗 NATIONAL PARKS PASS
We also learned last year when we went to Yosmite, NPS offers lifetime free pass to persons with disabilities.
Alzheimers and Dementia are disabilities.
You need to bring paperwork, or fill out prior to going and the person with disabilit must be with you to enter with it.
🌻 The Sunflower Lanyard (click here on amazon)
This may be the best thing you've never heard of. (I did not until a new friend Elise said something, which then sparked this blog post, plus we are traveling this month so I did TSA cares for the trip.)
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program is recognized by many:
Airports
Airlines
Attractions
Venues
Entertainment centers
The sunflower lanyard quietly tells people:
👉 "I may need extra patience or assistance."
No long explanation required.
No awkward conversation.
Just a visual cue.
And honestly?
The fewer times I have to explain Alzheimer's, the better.
🌻 Learn More:https://hdsunflower.com/us/
🎢 Theme Parks
Let's talk Disney.
Because let's be honest.
If we're still standing, we're still making memories.
Disney offers accommodations for some guests with developmental, cognitive, and other disabilities.
This may include individuals with Alzheimer's or dementia.
Benefits can include:
Alternative wait options
Reduced line stress
Better accommodation for cognitive challenges
Apply before your trip.
Do not wait until you arrive.
💵Next getting a IBCCE Card
This is one of those resources that I think is absolutely underused by EOA families.
The biggest misconception is that the IBCCES Accessibility Card is only for autism.
It isn't.
The program specifically lists Alzheimer's and dementia among the conditions that may qualify for accommodations.
What Is It?
The IBCCES Accessibility Card (IAC) is a free digital card that allows you to pre-register accommodation needs before visiting participating attractions. Instead of explaining your spouse's condition over and over at Guest Services, much of the review is done in advance.
For an EOA spouse, that can mean:
Difficulty waiting in long lines
Anxiety in crowds
Cognitive impairment
Need for extra processing time
Need for frequent bathroom access
Sensory overload
Wandering concerns
The card itself does not guarantee accommodations, but it streamlines the process of getting them. Each attraction decides what accommodations it will provide.
🎢 Places That Commonly Use the IAC
From current participating and referenced programs:
Universal Orlando
Universal requires guests requesting queue accommodations for non-mobility disabilities to obtain an IAC before receiving an Attraction Assistance Pass (AAP).
Universal Hollywood
Uses the same IBCCES process for many queue accommodation requests.
Six Flags Parks
Six Flags has publicly stated they partnered with IBCCES to streamline accessibility accommodations.
Sesame Place
One of the early adopters of the program.
Other Participating Attractions
Many Certified Autism Centers and participating attractions listed through the IBCCES network use the card. The list changes regularly, so it's worth checking before any trip.
🧠 Why I Think This Matters for Alzheimer's
For someone like Rob, this isn't about skipping lines.
It's about preserving dignity.
Imagine not having to repeatedly explain:
"He has Early Onset Alzheimer's."
"No, he's not intoxicated."
"No, he's not being rude."
"He's trying."
The card gives staff a heads-up that accommodations may be needed before a difficult situation develops.
📋 What You'll Need to Apply
Generally:
📸 Recent photo
📞 Contact information
🩺 Healthcare provider information
📝 Documentation supporting the accommodation request
The focus is on the accommodations needed, not necessarily forcing you to disclose every diagnosis detail.
The card is typically valid for one year🎢 Universal Orlando
Universal also offers disability accommodations and attraction assistance programs.
Again:
Ask before your trip.
Don't assume.
🎭 Concerts & Sporting Events
Many venues now offer:
Accessible entrances
Companion seating
Quiet areas
Disability accommodations
Call ahead.
Ask.
The worst they can say is no.
🚢 Cruises
Cruise lines vary dramatically.
Ask specifically:
Alzheimer's accommodations
Wandering concerns
Cognitive disabilities
Priority boarding
Emergency procedures
Laynard with emergency info on, room number, disease etc.
Carnival, Celebrity and Royal all allowed us to board early and access our room early.
Do not assume the cruise line understands dementia.
Spell it out.
🏨 Hotels
Ask for:
✔ Ground floor rooms
✔ Rooms near elevators
✔ Walk-in showers
✔ Mini-fridge for medications
✔ Quiet locations
Little things matter.
🍽️ Restaurants
This one sounds simple.
It's not.
My tips:
Ask For:
✔ Quiet corner booths
✔ Early reservations
✔ Seating near exits
✔ Simple menus
✔ Well-lit areas
Check about noise levels, loud music and other distractions are hard for Alzheimer's brain to concentrate (I have learned).
💡 Restaurant Trick
If your spouse struggles reading menus:
Pull it up online before you go.
Decide before arriving.
One less decision.
One less frustration.
One less opportunity for anxiety.
One of our best investments.
Rob wears a medical bracelet.
When words aren't working...
When he's frustrated...
When he's overwhelmed...
He simply points to it.
People immediately understand.
No embarrassment.
No long explanations.
Just grace.
🧠 My Biggest Tip
ASK.
Ask every time.
Ask at:
Airports
Hotels
Museums
Zoos
Theme parks
Restaurants
Cruises
Events
Don't assume you don't qualify.
Don't assume Alzheimer's isn't a disability.
Because it is.
And these accommodations exist so people can continue participating in life.
💔 Why This Matters
The disease already takes enough.
It takes:
Words
Independence
Confidence
Memory
Don't let it take experiences too.
Not yet.
Not if you can help it.
🎵 Why "Life in the Fast Lane"
Because even though life has changed...
We're still moving.
Still traveling.
Still making memories.
Still finding ways to say:
👉 Alzheimer's can ride along.
But it doesn't get to drive.
✈️ My Travel Checklist
Before Any Trip:
☐ Request TSA Cares
☐ Pack medical bracelet
☐ Bring medication list
☐ Request pre-boarding
☐ Research disability accommodations
☐ Pack extra snacks
☐ Bring water bottle
☐ Plan bathroom breaks
☐ Download maps
☐ Have emergency contacts available
☐ Take a deep breath
☑ Make the memory anyway
💡 EOA Caregiver Travel Hack
My Dream Combination
🌻 Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
➕
🆔 Medical Alert Bracelet
➕
🎢 IBCCES Accessibility Card
➕
✈️ TSA Cares
That combination covers:
Airports
Security checkpoints
Theme parks
Attractions
Public interactions
And reduces the number of times you have to explain Alzheimer's to strangers.
✅My EOA Tip
Don't wait until your spouse is Stage 6.
The best time to use these resources is often Stage 4 and Stage 5, when your loved one still enjoys travel but struggles with:
Crowds
Waiting
Anxiety
Communication
Decision-making
That's exactly when these accommodations can help you continue making memories.
For your readers, I'd actually build an entire post around:
💬 Disclaimer
I’m not a doctor, lawyer, therapist, or expert—just a wife trying to figure this out one day at a time. Everything shared here is based on our experience and things that have helped us along the way. Take what helps, leave what doesn’t, and always check with professionals when needed. I also use AI to help clean up my writing, organize thoughts, and pull together resources because honestly… caregiver brains are tired too. If something here helps another family feel less alone, then it’s worth sharing.
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