Disney World is a vacation for everyone, no matter what special needs you might have. To make your vacation more enjoyable, here is everything you need to know about visiting Walt Disney World with special needs:
Disney Parks Disability Access Service Card
If you have a disability (either apparent or non-apparent) that would prevent you or your child from waiting in an attraction line, you can obtain the Disability Access Service (DAS) Card from Guest Relations at the main entrance to the park. If you use a scooter or wheelchair, you will not need to obtain the DAS card. Depending on the attraction, the Guest will either wait in the standard queue or receive a return time based on the attraction’s current wait time.
To use this card, any member of the DAS Cardholder’s travel party may visit the Cast Member at the entrance to the queue for the attraction. They will add a return time to your ticket or MagicBand. Your party is then free to do whatever you would like until it is your listed return time. For example, if the Peter Pan’s Flight queue has a wait time listed of 55 minutes, the Cast Member would add a return time down for 55 minutes from the current time. When it is time to return to the attraction, the Cast Member will direct you towards the appropriate loading area.
Keep in mind that the DAS Card can be used in addition to Disney’s Fastpass+ Service.
This post on the Disney Parks Blog discusses the Disability Access Service Card in more details.
Also read: Everything you need to know about: Disability Access Service Card (DAS) Pass at Disney World.
Wheelchairs
Guests may bring their own wheelchairs (or use a stroller as a wheelchair as long as it is tagged by Guest Services) or they may rent one at any of the 4 Disney Theme Parks. Wheelchairs are $12 per day and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Courtesy wheelchairs are available at the Walt Disney World Resort for guests with limited mobility to travel to and from disability parking and to the nearest wheelchair rental location.
When possible, the same queue is used for those in wheelchairs and the standing guests. Visit the Cast Member at the entrance to the regular queue or the Fastpass+ queue (depending on how you will be enjoying the attraction) for instructions on how to board the attraction if you are using a wheelchair or ECV.
More information on accessibility for wheelchair users can be found on the Disney website.
Hearing Disability
Walt Disney World Resort offers a variety of services for guests that have a hearing disability.
- Guest Room Amenities
- Assistive Listening
- Handheld Captioning
- Reflective Captioning
- Video Captioning
- Sign Language Interpretation
- Text Typewriter Telephones
- Written Aids
More information for guests with hearing disabilities can be found on the Disney website.
Visual Disability
Guests with visual disabilities can take advantage of a number of services including Audio Description devices, Braille guidebooks and stationary Braille maps. More information for guests with visual disabilities can be found on the Disney website.
Service Animals
Trained service animals are welcome in most locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. They must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times. Cast Members are not permitted to handle service animals.
For more information, contact [email protected] or (407) 560-2547.
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.