Visiting Walt Disney World with a disability by Aaron Tanner

This October, Walt Disney World turns 50 years old. The magical theme park opened outside Orlando, Florida, on October 1, 1971, to much fanfare and forever changed the tourism landscape in the Sunshine State. Many might not know that one of the early sites considered for Walt Disney World was outside Tallahassee near Wakulla Springs. Imagine driving from North Alabama to Panama City Beach during the summer and having Walt Disney World just two hours away had that plan come to fruition.

I visited Disney World with my family twice in my younger years. The first time was at six years old and the second time at thirteen. Although the park was fun, it could be overwhelming at times. Personally, I prefer older roadside attractions, such as Rock City and Silver Springs, that were popular before Mickey came to dominate the Southern tourism industry.

For families and individuals with special needs, Walt Disney World is a disability-friendly park. There are many different options for visiting and getting around the Happiest Place on Earth. Guest services can handle almost any type of disability. By no means will this blog cover every resource available at Walt Disney World but a general overview.

One of the biggest challenges for someone with a disability is waiting in line to ride the rides. Fortunately, Walt Disney World, where one can register with Disability Accessibility Services, both in person with guest relations at the park and video conference call, and receive an approximate return time to return to the ride when it is their turn to board. This way, those with special needs can visit other areas of the park without having to stand in line for a long time.

Overstimulation and meltdowns are a genuine possibility at a place as big and action-packed as Walt Disney World. Fortunately, the attraction has many guest services for those with Autism or other cognitive disabilities. One can rent strollers, purchase tickets in advance outside the park or take advantage of the park’s rideshare program where a person in one party can ride the ride and swap with another person in the party to watch anyone in their group who is special needs. Should one get sensory overload, break stations are available at all four parks.

For those with hearing disabilities, Walt Disney World offers handheld devices that amplify sound through headphones and provide closed captioning. Select monitors at attractions offer video captioning. Sign language interpreters are also available at live shows at all four parks on select days.

Individuals with visual disabilities are also welcome at Walt Disney World. Those eating at one of the attraction’s many restaurants can request braille menus for those with visual impairments. There are braille maps and guidebooks available through guest services. Also, portable handheld devices are available for rent that give audio descriptions of specific features within the park.

There are other services available at Walt Disney World for those with special needs. Those with mobility issues can rent wheelchairs or electric conveyance vehicles to move throughout the park. Service animals are allowed inside the park for those who use one. There are also assistants available at some restrooms, all of which are disability assessable. Walt Disney World also has options available for those with dietary restrictions.

Although Walt Disney World goes above and beyond to accommodate those with special needs, seeing the Magic Kingdom or Epcot is not feasible for many individuals and families in the Tennessee Valley. Thanks to technology, one can still enjoy the Happiest Place on Earth from the comfort of their own home. Not only can one visit the park virtually via Google Street View, but one can also ride the rides on YouTube, with an experience of like one is there at the park.

Walt Disney World is a massive attraction that can be daunting even to those who are not disabled. With proper homework and planning, people with special needs can enjoy a magical place that has entertained the young and young at heart for half a century. For a link to the different disability services available at Walt Disney World, click here.

Have you ever visited Walt Disney World? Comment in the section below.