When I went on a field trip to a theme park, one of my friends said that I seemed to know more about the park than anyone else in our group, even though I had never been there before. I was used to going to amusement parks with low vision and researching information in advance so that I wouldn’t get lost or “stand out” as having low vision; I would memorize menus, find descriptions and locations of rides, and learn where items were located in the park, because I couldn’t rely on signs or other environmental cues like everyone else. I thought that all of my friends did this too, and was surprised to learn I was wrong!
Over the years, I have gone to several theme parks and amusement parks with low vision as part of school trips, family vacations, day trips with friends, and even to visit friends who worked at various parks. As my vision has changed, so has my approach to researching theme park accessibility and previewing information in advance, which makes it much easier to focus on having fun with others. Here are my tips for visiting theme parks and amusement parks with low vision, including strategies that I use for getting in-depth theme park accessibility information for visual impairment, previewing accessible theme park routes, and learning more about low vision accessibility at amusement parks.
Check out theme park accessibility guides
Amusement parks are required to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and must be accessible to guests with disabilities. Many parks publish accessibility guides on their websites covering a range of disabilities, including visual impairment, physical disabilities, d/Deaf and hard of hearing access, and neurological conditions. These guides typically include information about accessible routes, ride boarding procedures, and other services for guests with disabilities.
Accessibility guides can usually be found on the park’s official website or by searching the park name alongside the phrase “accessibility guide.” Printed or alternative-format versions are often available at Guest Services inside the park as well. Another resource to look for is social narratives or social stories, which can provide descriptions of specific sensory characteristics of environments such as noise and light levels; these may be created for specific shows, rides, or theme park areas.
Related links
- Amusement Rides and the ADA (access-board.gov)
- Tips For Visiting Aquariums With Low Vision
- School Field Trips And Low Vision
Watch ride videos to get a preview of the park
One of my favorite tips for visiting amusement parks with low vision is to preview rides and other environments in advance, which can include searching for on-ride videos, ride throughs, full shows, or ride POVs. These first-person point-of-view videos show the ride from start to finish and can reveal important sensory details such as lighting conditions, sound levels, and the type of ride equipment used, providing important information about park accessibility for visual impairment that might not be documented elsewhere. Some videos are posted officially by the park, while others are filmed by guests using action cameras and posted online.
At smaller amusement parks, it is more challenging to find information about full shows or longer performances, but videos can still be useful for previewing what an environment looks like or how crowded an area is. Ride POV videos can also be found for specific types of rides such as water slides; this can be helpful for previewing similar rides at different parks.
Related links
- Web Search Tips and Operators For Low Vision
- My Favorite Web Browser Extensions For Low Vision and CVI: Reducing Visual Fatigue
- How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
Download a high-resolution park map
Standard printed park maps often have small text that is difficult or impossible to read with low vision. Downloading a high-resolution digital copy of the park map before visiting allows for zooming in on specific areas without losing image quality, which makes it much easier to orient to ride locations, restrooms, and food areas ahead of time.
Many parks also offer accessibility-specific maps that highlight accessible entrances and routes. These are often available on the park website or at Guest Services. Large parks such as Disney World and Disneyland offer large-print and braille maps at Guest Services, though a refundable deposit may be required.
Related links
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- Accessible Maps and Wayfinding Tools For Low Vision
Previewing theme parks in advance with interactive maps
Building a mental map of the park before arriving significantly reduces the cognitive load of navigating on the day of the visit. Creating a strong mental map involves researching major landmarks and their spatial relationships to each other, identifying key areas and their locations, and memorizing walking routes between frequently visited points.
Several theme parks in the United States are available on Google Street View and Google Earth, which can be helpful for previewing routes or park layouts ahead of time. To use Google Street View, search for a place or address in Google Maps and drag the orange Pegman icon to a place on the map. Some parks also have historic imagery that enables users to view the park at different times of year; select See More Dates after dragging Pegman for more information.
Another option is to view interactive theme park maps directly on the park’s website, which may also include realistic photos or 3D animations. Some larger theme parks offer their own GPS-powered applications for locating areas inside the park, such as the My Disney Experience app used at Disney World and the official Universal Studios app and Busch Gardens apps; I have personally used My Disney Experience and the Busch Gardens app, and found them difficult but not impossible to use with large print enabled on my phone. I have also used Google Maps, though not all park locations are visible on the map.
Related links
- Use Google Street View | Google Support
- Example of Universal Studios on Google Earth
- Smartphone Apps For Orientation and Mobility
Bring handicap parking placard/accessible parking placard, if applicable
In many states, individuals with visual impairments qualify for handicap parking placards (accessible parking placards) that are issued through the Department of Motor Vehicles. For parks with paid parking, it is illegal under federal law to charge an additional fee for using accessible or handicap parking placards or designated parking areas. Showing the placard at the parking entrance is recommended, as parks may have a designated accessible parking section or a shuttle service to transport guests from the parking lot to the main park entrance.
Using a human guide at amusement parks with low vision
Visitors with visual impairments who don’t regularly use mobility aids may find it more challenging than usual to use their vision effectively in an amusement park setting. Extended time in bright sunlight, the need to remove glasses on certain rides, and competing sensory input (e.g., rushing water, moving ride vehicles, or loud crowds) can all make navigation more difficult.
Having access to a human guide is especially helpful in these situations. A good human guide stays within arm’s reach and can help navigate unexpected obstacles. Some key principles for effective human guiding include:
- Announcing obstacles such as curbs, open water, low-hanging branches, or uneven pavement
- Using directional language such as “turn left,” “straight ahead,” or clock-face references (e.g., “at 3 o’clock”) rather than vague terms like “over there” or “right here”
- Ask before touching. A person with vision loss should not be grabbed without their consent unless they are in immediate danger
- Offering an arm rather than a hand. Holding onto a guide’s arm above the elbow is easier to grip and provides better spatial awareness while walking
Related links
- How To Be An Effective Human Guide For People With Vision Loss
- Seven Places I Don’t Take My Blindness Cane
- How I Talk About Disability With New Friends
Using a blindness cane (white cane) at amusement parks
Blindness canes (white canes) with large rolling ball tips are particularly well-suited for amusement parks, as they handle uneven terrain and long walking distances more comfortably than pencil or marshmallow tips. That said, the type of blindness cane someone uses isn’t nearly as important as how they use other orientation and mobility strategies like landmarks or other sensory characteristics to navigate a space.
A landmark is a familiar object, sound, scent, temperature, or tactile feature that has a known, stable, and precise location in the environment, or something that is always there. Landmarks are the anchors of a mental map and provide definitive points for confirming location, making turns, and verifying that a route is working as intended, and can make it easier to remember different locations. Some examples of landmarks that are commonly found in theme parks include:
- Tactile surface changes. This includes transitions from smooth concrete to brick pavers, cobblestones, or textured pavement at attraction entrances
- Slope changes like ramps, inclines, and terrain changes that signal entry into a new area
- Permanently installed structures: fountains, sculptures, statues, and rides with fixed locations
- Auditory landmarks such as the sound of a specific ride (a roller coaster’s lift hill, a water ride’s splash), crowd density, background music that changes between themed areas, or sounds of HVAC equipment. This can also include acoustic changes between open and covered areas.
- Scent landmarks can include food areas such as bakeries, popcorn carts, or barbecue restaurants have distinctive and consistent smells that can serve as reliable location cues
- Visual landmarks for low vision like high-contrast structures, distinctive building/ride shapes or silhouettes, large clocks or murals, and buildings with illuminated signage are easier to identify with reduced acuity than smaller or lower-contrast features. Rollercoasters with bright high contrast colors are a great example!
Learning to identify landmarks and using maps has helped me tremendously when it comes to visiting amusement parks with low vision, especially when navigating parks that I go to frequently with friends.
Related links
- Decoding The Tips of Blindness Canes
- Building Identification: College O&M
- Navigating Campus Construction: College O&M
- Going To Restaurants With Low Vision Assistive Technology
Keeping track of glasses at amusement parks
When going on rides at amusement parks, some visitors prefer to keep glasses on at all times by securing them with a sports strap or using prescription goggles, while others prefer to store them in a secure location when not in use. I typically keep glasses on until the last possible moment before a ride begins, then store them in a brightly colored, waterproof floating sports pouch that attaches to the waist or fits in a larger pocket. For slow-moving rides like It’s A Small World, glasses can typically stay on without issue. For faster or water-based rides, removing them helps prevent damage or lost glasses.
Going extended periods without glasses is disorienting and can cause eye strain or difficulty with balance, so keeping them on while in line and removing them right before boarding the ride is the most practical option. If a staff member asks for glasses to be removed while still in line, explaining that they will be removed before boarding and showing the storage pouch is usually sufficient.
Blindness canes and white canes are larger, so they require some more planning. When boarding rides that are not rollercoasters, a collapsible blindness cane folded in the lap or on the floor of the ride vehicle makes it easy to access when exiting without needing staff assistance. Leaving the cane on the ride platform is not ideal, as it can become a tripping hazard for other guests. For rollercoasters, the cane can be left with a non-riding companion or stored in the designated ride storage area. Asking a friend or staff member to retrieve the cane after the ride is a practical solution.
Related links
- Wearing Tinted Glasses for Low Vision
- Veronica’s Four Eyes: All About My Glasses For Low Vision
- Twelve Blindness Cane Storage Solutions
Going to amusement parks with light sensitivity
Some rides incorporate strobe or flashing lights as part of the experience, while others may produce unintentional flashing effects due to environmental factors. These can include:
- Small gaps or slits in a ride structure that create a strobe-like effect at high speeds
- Fast-moving images that may trigger motion sickness or vertigo
- Glare or flickering on water surfaces
- LED lighting that appears to flash due to ride speed
- Camera flashes from ride photography
- Fireworks or light shows visible from the ride
Information about flashing lights and other sensory effects is often included in ride safety postings at the park or on the park’s website, which helps with making informed decisions about which rides or areas to visit.
Asking questions about strobe lights or flashing lights at theme parks
When assessing whether a ride or show is appropriate for someone with light sensitivity, it helps to ask specific questions about the lighting characteristics, such as:
- Color of the lights
- Strobing intensity (are there multiple flashes, or just a single flash?)
- Location of the lights within the ride or show
- Timing details, such as when the lights start and stop, and whether there are auditory or visual cues that signal them (for example, after a specific line of dialogue in a show, or when the ride passes a particular section of track)
As a real-world example, one ride at a park where a friend worked featured three quick flashes of white light at the start of the ride, followed by two flashes of red light after the second left turn on the cart. That level of detail makes it much easier to decide whether a ride is safe for me to go on.
A note on night events and light shows
Some amusement parks host evening events centered around light displays, which may include strobing or flickering effects. Researching these events in advance, watching preview videos, and reading guest reviews can help with planning which areas of the park to visit and which to avoid.
Related links
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
- Visiting Holiday Lights With Light Sensitivity
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- Flashing Lights and Photosensitivity in the Classroom
Disability passes at amusement parks for visual impairment
Some amusement parks offer virtual queue systems like a Ride Accessibility Program (RAP) or Special Access pass where guests with disabilities can reserve their place in line for specific rides, though each park has specific criteria on what disabilities qualify for this program; blind and low vision visitors may not qualify for the disability passes based on visual impairment alone.
When my family went to Disney World, we received preferential seating for shows (towards the front) and I was allowed to ride many rides twice in a row without having to get back in line. These were the main accommodations offered for visiting Disney with low vision, besides the accessible maps and audio description device. At places like Busch Gardens, I was allowed to use accessible seating and arrive at shows early to find a place to sit, but never had any other passes for lines or similar.
Related links
Audio description and transcripts for amusement parks
Audio description (also called descriptive audio) is a narrated track that describes visual content such as actions, settings, scene changes, and key visual details for audiences who are blind or have low vision. At theme parks, audio description can be applied to rides, shows, parades, and general park environments. Audio description is distinct from assistive listening systems, which amplify existing show audio for guests with hearing aids. Audio description adds entirely new narrated content that is not part of the original show audio.
Disney parks offer handheld audio description devices that can be used in select shows and rides; synchronized audio description tracks will play on the device in supported areas. That said, users will need to rent an audio description device at the park— I have an entire post on this process below. Most amusement park staff I meet have no idea what audio description is or confuse it with captioning tools, so it’s helpful to research information about park accessibility for visually impaired guests in advance and learn the names of different services.
Universal parks do not offer audio description, but do provide copies of attraction scripts available in large print and braille formats. While some transcripts may be available online, Universal does not provide digital copies of attraction scripts; providing the digital scripts as an HTML or other responsive layout file would be incredibly helpful for guests with visual impairments.
Related links
- How To Use Audio Description at Disney Parks
- Fast Facts About Audio Description
- Performing Arts Centers and Low Vision: College O&M
More resources for visiting amusement parks with low vision
- Applying sunscreen can be difficult when it’s hard to see or feel whether it has been applied evenly. Wearing protective clothing such as hats and longer sleeves can be helpful for reducing the risk of sunburn; I share more about choosing comfortable clothing in Clothing Shopping Tips For Sensory Processing Issues
- Some theme parks like Busch Gardens offer options for requesting companion service with a minimum of 14 days notice; this can be helpful for traveling to theme parks with low vision. I share more about my thought process for requesting human guides in Tips For Using A Human Guide At A Conference
- I don’t go on many amusement park rides because of my other conditions, but I did get to meet several characters when I went to Disney a few years ago! I share a few helpful tips in Meeting Disney Characters With Low Vision
Published June 1, 2018. Updated May 2026