Disney World is an expansive theme park located in Orlando, Florida, providing a range of attractions, shows, and experiences for all ages and abilities. Access to the park and its facilities for guests with disabilities is a crucial aspect of Disney’s commitment to inclusivity. When you’re planning your first visit, understanding the accessibility services and accommodations available can enhance your experience and ensure a comfortable and enjoyable trip.
To navigate Disney World with ease, a guide will be your invaluable resource. Begin by familiarizing yourself with Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS), which is designed to accommodate guests who cannot wait in a conventional queue due to a disability. This system allows you to schedule a return time comparable to the current wait for an attraction so you can enjoy other park offerings in the meantime. Additionally, obtain a park map highlighting wheelchair-accessible routes, available at guest services, to efficiently plan your movement around the park.
Accessibility doesn’t stop at attraction access; it extends to other services such as sign language interpretation available at specific live shows with advance notice, and accessible transportation options throughout the Disney World resort. All theaters and transportation systems are designed to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Should you require assistance or have any questions, Disney World cast members are trained and ready to help, ensuring your first visit is as smooth and memorable as possible.
Planning Your Trip
When embarking on an exciting trip to Walt Disney World, careful planning enhances your experience, especially when considering accessibility needs.
Selecting the Best Time to Visit
Identify the period with fewer crowds to maximize your enjoyment. For instance, visit in late January or early February when the park usually sees lower attendance. Avoid major holidays and school vacation weeks, as they lead to a significant increase in wait times and congestion.
Accommodations and Reservations
Book your accommodation well in advance. Stay at a Disney resort for easy access to complimentary transportation services, which are designed to accommodate guests with disabilities. Check the accommodation’s accessibility features, such as wheelchair-accessible rooms or auditory assistance devices, to ensure they meet your specific needs.
Purchasing Tickets and Passes
Purchase your tickets beforehand online to secure any available discounts for you and your family. If you’re considering multiple visits throughout the year, an annual pass might be cost-effective, providing additional benefits to regular visitors and annual passholders. Choose from a variety of ticket options that cater to your travel plan, ranging from single-day to multi-day passes.
Disney World is a place of magic for kids and adults alike, and with the right preparation, your trip can be a smooth and memorable experience.
Understanding the Disability Access Service (DAS)
Disability Access Service (DAS) is a program at Disney World designed to assist guests who cannot wait in a conventional queue environment due to a disability.
Eligibility and Registration
To register for DAS, you must visit Guest Relations with your entire party upon arrival at Disney World. Provide details about the guest’s disability without disclosing the actual condition; this information helps determine eligibility for DAS.
- Visit any Guest Relations location throughout the parks.
- Discuss your specific needs with a Cast Member.
- Register the guest in need of the DAS directly, who must be present.
Using the DAS Pass
Once registered, you can use your DAS Pass at multiple attractions. To obtain a return time for an attraction:
- Go to the attraction’s entrance or use the My Disney Experience app.
- Request a return time comparable to the current wait time.
Use the My Disney Experience app to manage your DAS return times directly from your phone. In-person requests can also be made at Guest Relations.
- You may only have one active return time at a time.
- Return to the attraction within your allotted return time window.
- Upon arrival, present your DAS Pass to the Cast Member at the attraction.
DAS with Genie+ and Rider Switch
DAS is compatible with Genie+ service and Rider Switch. If you’re using DAS with Genie+:
- Book Genie+ selections while waiting for your DAS return time.
- Utilize both services to experience a variety of attractions with minimal wait.
For parties with someone unable to ride, Rider Switch can be combined with DAS:
- One part of the party waits with the non-rider while the rest of the party enjoys the attraction.
- Swap roles to allow the waiting party to enjoy the attraction without queuing again.
Navigating the Parks with Disability
Disney World is committed to providing a welcoming experience for all guests, including those with disabilities. To navigate the parks seamlessly, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the provided accessibility services and guides.
Park Accessibility Overview
Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom all have specific features to assist guests with disabilities. Collect a park map upon entering each park, clearly indicating accessible routes, attractions, and services. It’s important to note:
- Wheelchair Rentals are available near the main entrance of each park.
- Companion restrooms are clearly marked on the park map.
- Cast Members are trained and ready to assist with accessibility questions.
Utilizing the Accessibility Guide
The Accessibility Guide is an essential tool for a smooth experience. It includes:
- Details on attraction access and boarding procedures.
- Information on services for guests with visual or hearing disabilities.
Pick up an Accessibility Guide at Guest Relations when you first enter a park. Use it alongside the park map to plan your route and ensure an enjoyable visit.
Mobility Assistance Options
Disney World offers various mobility assistance services to ensure all guests can navigate the park comfortably. Your experience is a top priority, with wheelchair rentals and accommodations for personal mobility devices.
Renting Wheelchairs and ECVs
Disney World provides wheelchairs and Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs) for rent. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis from all four theme parks and Disney Springs. Rental prices may vary, and a refundable deposit is often required for ECVs. Here are the steps to rent a wheelchair or ECV:
- Locate a rental counter at the park entrance.
- Present a valid photo ID.
- Pay the rental fee and deposit (for ECVs).
- Collect your mobility device.
Remember, wheelchairs and ECVs cannot be reserved in advance. If you plan to park hop, retain your receipt to obtain a device at your next destination without an additional charge.
Using Personal Mobility Devices
You are welcome to bring your personal wheelchairs or mobility devices. It is important to note that these devices must fit within Disney’s guidelines for size and safety. Specifically, the width should not exceed 36 inches (91 centimeters), and the length should not exceed 52 inches (132 centimeters). For those using personal mobility devices, consider the following:
- Parking: Designated wheelchair accessible parking areas are provided close to the theme park entrances for convenience.
- Tram services: When available, wheelchair-accessible trams can transport you from the parking area to the park entrance.
- Navigate through the park knowing most pathways, attractions, and facilities are wheelchair accessible.
Following these guidelines ensures a smoother visit for you and other park guests.
Services for Guests with Visual Disabilities
Walt Disney World offers a range of accommodations for guests with vision disabilities, ensuring you have an enjoyable and accessible experience.
Assistance for Mild to Moderate Vision Loss
You can take advantage of handheld captioning devices that provide text captions in sync with the audio of live shows and attractions. These devices are particularly useful for guests with partial vision loss who can read large texts. To use handheld captioning, request a device from Guest Relations at the theme parks. There is no additional charge, but a refundable deposit is required.
Services for guests with mild to moderate vision loss also encompass reflective captioning. This accommodates you by showing captions reflected onto an acrylic panel. Obtain reflective captioning at select theater-style attractions with fixed seating by consulting with a Cast Member at the entrance.
Services for Guests with Blindness
Your service animals are welcome in most locations throughout Walt Disney World. You can take them on certain attractions with you while others have designated waiting areas for the service animals. However, make sure that the service animal is under your control and on a harness or leash at all times.
Additionally, Audio Description devices offer narrations for guests who are blind or have low vision. These devices describe visual elements, such as actions and scenes, of select attractions. Audio Description devices are available through Guest Relations at the theme parks and require a refundable deposit upon pick-up.
Services for Guests with Hearing Disabilities
Disney World offers a range of services to accommodate guests with hearing disabilities. These services are designed to enhance your experience and ensure you can enjoy the park’s attractions and entertainment to the fullest.
Assistance for Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss
If you have mild to moderate hearing loss, assistive listening systems are available. These systems utilize a receiver to amplify sound through headphones or an induction loop, allowing you to adjust the volume to your comfort. To obtain a receiver, visit Guest Relations, and remember to return the device at the end of your day.
Sign Language Services and Captioning
For guests requiring sign language services, Disney World provides Sign Language interpretation at specific live shows on designated days. Check the park’s schedule or Guest Relations for available times. Additionally, captioning devices are present, offering written text display of dialogue and sounds during films and pre-recorded shows. You can request captioning devices at the Guest Relations desk near the park entrances. Ensure to collect your device before the performance and return it afterward.
Cognitive Disabilities Accommodations
Disney World offers specific accommodations for guests with cognitive disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum, to enhance their park experience.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
You can obtain a Disability Access Service (DAS) card, which allows guests with autism to schedule a return time for attractions similar to a FastPass. This reduces wait times in lines. Visit Guest Relations upon arrival to set this up.
Break Areas and Quiet Spaces
Identify specific break areas throughout the parks by picking up a park map marked with Quiet Spaces. These designated areas provide a less stimulating environment for you or your family member to decompress.
Amenities for Convenience
Disney World provides various amenities to ensure convenience during your visit, including specially designed restrooms and options for strollers.
Companion Restrooms
Companion restrooms are available throughout Disney World parks for guests who require assistance. These facilities accommodate more than one person, so if a guest needs help from a member of their party, there is sufficient space and privacy. Place a request at Guest Services for locations of companion restrooms.
Stroller as Wheelchair Tags
At Guest Services, you can obtain a “Stroller as Wheelchair” tag. This tag allows you to treat a stroller like a wheelchair, permitting it into queues and attractions where standard strollers aren’t normally allowed. Remember to display the tag visibly on the stroller to ensure its use as a mobility aid is recognized by staff and fellow guests.
Experience Enhancements for Disabled Guests
To ensure an inclusive experience, Disney World offers accessible services and assistance to guests with disabilities. These services are designed to accommodate guests’ needs, facilitating their full enjoyment of the park’s attractions and entertainment.
Queue Management and Rider Switch
If standing in standard queues is difficult due to a disability, you can utilize the Disability Access Service (DAS). With DAS, you’ll receive a return time for attractions based on the current wait time. To use DAS:
- Register at Guest Relations upon arrival at any of the Disney World parks.
- Select an attraction and receive a return time equivalent to the current wait time.
- Enjoy other park features until your return time, then head to the FastPass+ entrance for the attraction.
Rider Switch is another helpful system for guests with a disability who cannot board a ride. While one member of the party waits with the guest unable to ride, others can enjoy the attraction. Then, they switch without the need to join the main queue again. Rider Switch can be combined with DAS for added convenience.
Special Access to Attractions and Entertainment
For attractions that utilize a tier system, Genie+ selections allow guests to choose available access to preferred experiences. Here’s how to access this feature:
- Purchase Genie+ through the My Disney Experience app.
- Prioritize attractions and entertainment according to your preferences.
- Book an access time within the available selections for your tier choice.
Guests looking for special access to shows and parades will find designated viewing areas. These areas are reserved for guests with disabilities, providing an unobstructed view. It is recommended to arrive early to ensure space, as these areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additional Tips for a Magical Visit
To enhance your Disney World experience, focus on interaction strategies and wait management techniques.
Interacting with Cast Members
Ask questions directly—Disney World cast members are well-trained to assist. For guests with a disability, cast members can provide details about accessible attractions, such as Peter Pan’s Flight, ensuring a magical experience for all.
Managing Long Waits and Busy Areas
Utilize the Disney World app to monitor wait times and strategically plan visits to popular rides like Peter Pan’s Flight. For those with a disability, Disney’s Disability Access Service may reduce the need to wait in long lines.
