5 Tips for Enjoying Theme Parks With a Disability
Living in the Central Florida area, I tend to visit theme parks very frequently. My favorite theme parks to visit are Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios because of the themes of the parks, which are Marvel heroes and classic Universal movies. My favorite recent add-on to the parks would have to be the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” since I am a huge Harry Potter fan.
The thing I liked most when attending Universal for many, many years before moving to Central Florida was that they helped people with disabilities have an excellent experience by making sure we were comfortable and felt welcome there. However, in recent years, things have changed in the theme parks.
When I was a kid, park guests with disabilities had a lot more support and accommodations. Unfortunately, able-bodied people started taking advantage of disability accommodations to get around waiting in lines. This is very upsetting for people like myself who genuinely have a disability and can’t be in the theme parks or under the hot sun all day long. Quick piece of advice, don’t be a jerk!
With spring break coming up, here are some tips on how to visit theme parks successfully when you have a disability.
1. Bring a doctor’s note explaining the in and outs of your disability. This note can also help them help you with navigating through the parks. Unless they’re new, most employees have a good idea of the layout of the park. It can also make it easier for you if you struggle to explain your condition, or have issues with anxiety.
2. Always have your prescribed medicines on hand when you plan to spend the whole day at a theme park. You never know when your disability will decide to act up, for example, in my case, when my cerebral palsy wants to have a party at the parks. Along with your doctor’s note, keeping a note about your medication can be a huge help if you ever need assistance, especially if you’re having issues due to your disability.
3. Analyze the rides and simulators you can get on that are comfortable for you and your disability. I mostly enjoy the rides that have a screen in front of them. It’s like you are in a movie, but you are sitting down with minimal movement compared to the roller coasters with the big drops. It’s always good to understand what you can and cannot handle. There’s nothing wrong with knowing your comfort zone and what limits you can push outside of it if you’re feeling bolder!
4. Take your time and don’t stress about what you can or can’t do. This short period of time is meant for you to enjoy yourself and what the park offers. You can make notes of what activities/rides you want to do next time if you can’t make them this time around. It gives you something to look forward to as well!
5. Bring your own drinks and food if you can’t eat certain things due to your disability. If you’re unsure, call the park ahead of time and explain your situation, and why bringing your own food is vital to you enjoying and going to their park.
I hope my tips can help you make the most of your theme park adventures this upcoming spring and summer. A little planning and preparation can make a big difference in your time at a park.
Getty image by Smaehl.
Tylia L. Flores is a twenty-eight-year-old born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Despite her condition that affects her mobility, she does not allow it to affect her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world. In doing so, she hopes to help others with disabilities realize that they, too, have the potential to make their dreams come true. Tylia is not only an author. She’s a radio show personality and a disability activist. Tylia has written about disability-related topics for Yahoo Life, Your Tango, The Mighty, ReadUnwritten.com, Words Between Coasts Project, Wednesday, Spilwords, and Goble Thrive. Worth Living Among her other appearances are Disability on the Spectrum and Why I was Afraid of Sexuality. Previously, Tylia was nominated to Diversabilities list of the most influential Disability Impacts of 2022. Additionally, Tylia holds the position of chairman in the creative director role for the North American Association Of Cerebral Palsy Advocates. She serves as a mentor for the Disability EmpowHer Network as well. Tylia also works for Write It Up Publishing as a sensitivity reader focusing on disability representation. Tylia has also been involved in many movie press releases for Samuel Goldwyn Films Come as you are Piece of me which was the short film directed and written by award winning filmmaker Bruna Cabral as well as the film adaptation of the book Calvin can’t fly by Jenifer Burnes Tylia is also a keynote speaker at 2020’s Cerebral Palsy Awareness conference. She has also been a guest speaker at Northeastern State University Broken Arrow where she talks to college students about disability and inclusion in education. She has also been a guest speaker at Plantation Middle School, where she discussed inclusion and disability with classmates. Tylia is fully certified in Education for All: Disability, Diversity, and Inclusion through Cape Town University. She’s also certified in Understanding Diversity and Inclusion through Purdue University. She’s also certified in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Tylia hosts the Stomping On cerebral Palsy radio show with DJ Ty on Asheville FM with DJ Mouse during the Come On In the Kitchen segment once a month she also helps the staff behind the scenes, help bring awareness to disability awareness and inclusion within the radio broadcasting industry .
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