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Disabilities and Disneyland- Theme Park Accessibility

Writer's picture: Annie KrollAnnie Kroll
Disney Castle

I went to Disneyland last week, and also was able to go two years ago. As a kid, I could manage some of my autism symptoms with the help of my parents. Now that I know I have hereditary spastic paraplegia and need accomodations with standing for long periods of time, I have had to plan out much more of what I do. This blog, I want to give some of the tips I have learned to make amusement parks more enjoyable. I am using Disneyland as my theme park example because it is by far my favorite amusement park, but please use these tips for other theme parks as well.


 

1. Use the disability assistance support services of the amusement parks.

Disneyland has a guest services station, where guests can go and describe their disability, and get customized services to make the day accessible. One of the services they had is that guests can virtually wait in line, while physically doing something else. This meant that I could sit somewhere else, rather than stand, while waiting my turn to ride the rides. That was really helpful because I had the ability to walk around the park independently because I didn't need to stand in one spot for long periods of time. I can wait with a group, so I don't need to sit alone. Disneyland is actually getting rid of this service for guests with a physical disability starting June 18th. I am quite upset about this, because the services for guests with physical disabilities only include paid wheelchair rentals. I am hoping to email that department and plead my case, but I doubt it will go anywhere. I hope other theme parks have some sort of equivalent for guests with disabilities. I also want to note, that I brought a note from my doctor that I used for school to prove I was not lying, but I don't think that was necessary.


 

2. Only go to amusement parks you enjoy, and go with people you like.

When I was in high school, I had a "friend" invite me to Six Flags because he wanted my wheelchair pass to skip the lines. My feelings were hurt because I knew I was not invited for me. If he had known me well, he would not have invited me because my close friends knew that I got too motion sick to make large roller coasters worth it for me. I was only invited because my accommodations were considered to be beneficial. This time, I went to Disneyland with my partner and my parents and it was fun. I felt appreciated for my company, and was around people who had appreciation for me. It then felt nice that my accommodations happened to also benefit others I cared about. Now I try to make sure I plan activities I know I will enjoy, with people I like. Using my disability accommodations as a favor feels inauthentic, and also just not very fun.


 

3. Splurge on perks you know you will benefit from, like line cutting extras if you can.

The main perk I used was Disney Genie+ to skip some of the lines. Disney Genie+ does not work the same as the sitting down accommodation. This pass lets you book fast pass tickets at a way later time, that does not correspond with current line wait times. I used both services, and both were helpful for different reasons. I only went to Disneyland for one day, so buying the Genie+ pass helped me book some rides that I knew I wanted to hit, and could skip the longer line. However, some rides completely booked up and all that could be used was my sitting down accommodation to avoid standing in one spot for over an hour. Having both made such a difference in being able to get as many rides in as I could. The last time I went, I did not do Genie+ and I got way less rides in which was a bummer. Part of that could be my own fault though, because this time I got in around 8am, and last time was closer to 11am.

Each person will have perks that are important for them, and might need related accommodations. I absolutely hate parades, and try to beline as soon as I hear the parade music. The parades were so disruptive to the rest of the park, I personally don't understand why they are so big and noisy. With my autism, parades are way too loud for me and I shut down. But if you like parades, it might be worth it to spend your money for parade perks, if that exists. I try to go in with a plan, so that I know what to expect from my day. It helps me know financially what is happening, and it helps me set up expectations for my autism.


 

4. Plan on doing more than just riding rides

I was so stressed out that I wasn't going to be able to ride all of the rides I wanted to get in for the day. Leading up to my visit, most of my research was for riding certain rides at certain times, and trying to plan out the most efficient day. However, once I got to the park I realized how much other stuff I enjoyed doing. I liked shopping, finding fun food places, and looking for hidden mickey mouse symbols (I have attached one below, it was a small sketch in the concrete). Once I was able to redefine what could be fun once I got to the park, I was able to relax more and put less pressure on myself and others to have the day go a certain way. I talk a lot about physical accommodations, but one of the biggest things I struggle with the most in regards to autism is changing a plan once I make one. Putting in the time to mentally work through the idea that this day might go differently than I had planned allowed for me to be more present and relaxed on a day that was meant to be a vacation. I don't think I did this perfectly, but I noticed that I was able to notice when I started getting stuck on a plan, and then talked to my group about wants for the day. I highly recommend having flexibility with yourself for any long activity day.

Mickey hidden in concrete
 

5. Try to keep the following day free of in person plans if you can.

As I write this now, I am exhausted. I walked over 16 miles, which I never thought I could do. My back is sore, my neck is sore, my feet hurt, and I am tired. I am so lucky I was able to book the day after to mostly just rest. I feel more prepared to tackle the rest of my weekend, which just so happens to be slightly busier than normal with Father's Day coming up. Unfortunately for my mental health, I forget that I am disabled, as much as sometimes I would like to, which means I always need to build in more rest days than those around me. I am trying to shift my focus into viewing taking care of myself as empowering, but I have work to do there because I would rather be doing something else. Overall, it was a very fun trip, and I am glad I was able to find ways to make it work for me and my body.


 

Thank you for reading this week!. If you have any questions, comments, or fun stories about Disneyland, please reach out at @Anniekrollblog over on Instagram or Facebook. I hope to see you next week!

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