These fun-filled destinations make accessibility a priority
When it comes to traveling while disabled, too often figuring out how to adapt to unfamiliar settings is up to the traveler themselves. Everything from entry steps and missing curb cuts to overstimulating sensory input and even walking tours and displays that lack options for the blind and deaf can create accessibility obstacles that present a significant challenge to enjoying various parts of the journey. The following destinations, however, have robust services to support disabled visitors.
Legoland, Winter Haven, Florida
Since 2018, Legoland has placed a significant focus on updating their services for guests with disabilities. There are available wheelchair rentals, as well as a tag to designate that a stroller is being used as a wheelchair. For guests with mobility issues or who may have difficulty waiting in lines, there is a Hero Pass distributed by the park to help bypass queues. Those with food restrictions will find a carefully laid out guide to the various dining options at the park, and encounter chefs trained and ready to adapt menu items for specialized diet needs. There are also quiet rooms, weighted blankets and noise canceling headsets available at regular intervals around the park, as well as illustrated social stories that help caregivers introduce a day at Legoland to their autistic child.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
With a special attention paid to the unique needs of every visitor, Dolly Parton’s eponymous amusement park has a Ride Accessibility Center, available for guests to visit upon arrival, that is staffed by hosts who help explain the safety regulations of each ride and explore the options available to visitors with different mobility limitations based on their specific needs. An illustrated social story provided by the website helps prepare autistic guests for a visit, showing everything from ticketing and queues to finding friendly park employees. Every other month, a disability advisory panel meets with Dollywood staff to discuss park access, leading to changes like better signage, seating, training and the inclusion of adult changing tables.
Sesame Place, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
The accommodations available to families visiting Sesame Place are wide ranging, from a Ride Accessibility Program that matches visitors with appropriate rides based on their specific mobility requirements and distributes passes for those who struggle in queues, to a break area specifically for service animals. For hearing-impaired guests, a Text Telephone Device is available upon arrival along with sign language interpretation if arranged two weeks in advance. Sesame Place functions as a Certified Autism Center, with over 80% of its staff trained in autism support skills. There is even a character, Julia who displays more neurodiverse behaviors during the costumed character parade, holding onto a comfort object and staying back from crowds, showing kids a reflection of diverse behavior.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 9:00 AM.