Planning a family trip should come with an honorary doctorate in chaos management. As someone who grew up and settled in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, navigating the big city has always been a little outside of my comfort zone. Add to that three children, a long and complex list of disabilities and diagnoses, a wheelchair and a schedule that is built around medical routines, and that discomfort jumps into a world of uncertainty.
My boys, Jaden and Wesley, are now 10 and 13 and share very few genuine interests even though Jaden copies everything his big brother does. Nella is 9 and much more easily entertained, but her world of dancing unicorns does not match her brothers’ idea of “cool.” All of this, along with working around picky eaters and complicated sleep schedules, is standard in travel planning for parents. The greatest obstacles for us are the physical barriers created by the new environment.
Jaden has spina bifida. Informally known as a “snowflake” condition, the disease is a little different for everyone who experiences it; for him it includes not having any feeling from his knees down as well as bathroom needs on a schedule due to a man-made bladder. While he’s able to walk short distances with his thigh-high orthotics, he primarily uses a wheelchair to get around outside of home and school.
Jaden is proud of his spina bifida, and we’ve all embraced it as a part of what has made him who he is. But crowded sidewalks, most taxicabs and subway stations don’t seem to share our enthusiasm—and New York City has all these things.
Don't let that scare you. I know how it can feel to descend in a subway elevator, hoping that you’re hopping on the right train and that the elevator works on the other side. It’s also incredibly empowering to master all of those barriers that you thought would hold you back—to rise unscathed from an accessible subway; to load your family into an accessible taxi; to join the crowds for a new experience and to enjoy it.
If your fears mirror mine in any way, let our itinerary serve as an accessible guide to New York City with kids. It may not be completely seamless, but I can guarantee it will be fabulous.
Harry Potter New York Store
Day 1: Times Square, the Subway, the Harry Potter Store and Eataly
Pulling up to the
The seamless handoff at the hotel garage may cost a little more, but it saved us having to deal with one-way streets to find parking and then lug bags to the hotel.
Our first stop was not exactly an NYC attraction, but I’ve learned that giving the kids something they really want is a great way for them to dive into vacation mode. So, Chick-Fil-A it was! We had options in every direction, but we walked toward 42nd Street because I knew we were heading to the accessible subway next, and that it was the perfect route for
Navigating the accessible station at Times Square
If you filter your route on Google maps for a wheelchair accessible route, it should only lead you via accessible stations, and it even includes a tiny arrow icon to direct you to the elevator. The MTA app also includes a map of accessible stations, and, hypothetically, should mark if any of them are nonoperational. Thankfully, we never got to test that feature!
The subway was the part I had been dreading most, but all I had to do to enter was tap my phone on Apple Pay. My last train experience was Japan, where we had to calculate fares before each ride, but the NYC subway is a flat $3 no matter where you’re going. Simple! The phone tap did take a little bit of finagling on our first journey, because there are four of us and only one phone, but we quickly learned to tap and send two kids through before helping Jaden through the accessible gate.
The Times Sq-42 St station was simple to navigate—just follow the blue wheelchair accessibility icons! The energy from the street follows you below ground and the kids were dancing along to the music from performers along the way. The platform is clearly marked with an accessible boarding area for wheelchair users. This area has a much smaller gap between the train and the platform. This ended up being the easiest station, but the simple start gave me a nice confidence boost to get through the journey.
With that small win behind us, we took the R train to
Making room for a spontaneous detour
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
The schedule for our first day in NYC was very laid back, which always gets us in trouble. It felt like we had all the time in the world, and there was just so much to see. A streetside map announced that we were less than a block from the
Hangin’ with Hagrid at the Harry Potter New York Store
Accessible elevator at Harry Potter New York Store
Harry Potter New York Store
As for our original destination, the Harry Potter Shop did not disappoint. A guided tour unlocked details we would have completely missed. In addition to pointing out movie artifacts, including Emma Watson’s time turner from The Prisoner of Azkaban, our guide was able to share behind-the-scenes knowledge on props, characters and storylines. And Dumbledore’s enchanted staircase is not the only way to access the store’s three levels. Find Hagrid and you can travel by Floo powder down the elevator. Before leaving, we made use of an accessible restroom. The lines are long, but the single stall restrooms are spacious and wheelchair friendly. We exited the wizarding world with butterbeer, ice cream and chocolate wands, all before dinner.
Dining at Eataly for a kid-friendly Italian feast
La Pizza & La Pasta at Eataly
The iconic
Summoning an accessible taxi to the hotel
Accessible taxi
Tackling the last bit of our day was simultaneously the most overwhelming and the simplest part of the day. I was worried about finding an accessible cab. Before my trip, I wasn’t even sure how to do it. Would I have to have my 10-year-old throw his arm out by the corner so drivers knew we needed an accessible car? But one app was all we needed. The Curb app works like other rideshare apps, only it has a plethora of accessible options. No long wait. No “no vehicles available” message. Three minutes and we were loading up to head back to the hotel. If you can’t pop down a curb in your chair, wait by the corner.
New York Marriott Marquis
Accessible room features at New York Marriott Marquis
Stumbling out of the cab with happy tummies and sleepy eyes, the hotel room felt like a finish line. We were delighted to see the accessible room door—a rare treat in hotel accessibility. Unfortunately, when we tapped it with our key card, nothing happened. The rest of our room, however, was perfect: low beds with space for a Hoyer lift underneath, automatic window curtains, a roll-in shower, a roll-under sink and plenty of space for turning a wheelchair around.
Breakfast burritos from Dos Toros in Bryant Park
Day 2: Bryant Park, the Museum of Broadway and a Home Run of a Surprise
A stop for breakfast burritos at Dos Toros on the way to
Singing along at the Museum of Broadway
"The Producers" exhibit at Museum of Broadway
After breakfast, our next stop was the
"A Chorus Line" exhibit at Museum of Broadway
The museum is three stories and a guide will help you navigate via elevator. Accessible restrooms are available on the first floor. But there was no part of the museum that we had to miss. The layout was spacious and easy to navigate and, with timed entries, crowds are kept to a minimum.
The kids wanted to know where we were headed for lunch, but I was keeping Opening Day at
Navigating Yankee Stadium on Opening Day
The moment the elevator doors opened, the energy hit us. The music was pumping, the crowds were electric. It took less than a second for Jaden to realize where we were going, and then his enthusiasm outshone the entire crowd’s. Nella’s reaction to the surprise was not quite as enthusiastic, but she recovered quickly. (I think she was hoping for a surprise that had more to do with unicorns and less to do with baseball.)
While all gates at Yankee Stadium have elevators and are accessible, check the stadium’s
It was impossible not to get swept up in the energy of the game. I resisted the urge to buy peanuts and Cracker Jack, knowing the kids wouldn’t eat them, but the bucket of chicken tenders and french fries met the spirit of the day just as well. My boys went absolutely wild watching Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer. That alone was bucket-list worthy for them. Once we knew the win was clearly New York’s, we slipped out just before the game ended, hoping to beat the crowds back to the subway. Plenty of other fans had the same idea, but it felt like the perfect amount of camaraderie heading back downtown with people swapping stories from the game.
Saying good night to NYC
How do you follow Opening Day at Yankee Stadium? Heading to Danny Meyer’s rotating restaurant over the top of Times Square,
After the thrill of the day, settling into a mellow evening of live jazz, stunning views and unforgettable meals provided a good balance.
Jennifer Allen is the founder of
