When I visited Disney World and Disneyland as a college student, I wanted to check out the audio description devices at Disney Parks that provide visual descriptions of select attractions and an audio map for navigating the park. While there weren’t too many instances where I was completely alone in the park, I appreciate having audio description to answer questions for me instead of constantly asking questions to friends or family members about “obvious” visual things, especially when they don’t know the answers to my questions either. Here is how to use audio description at Disney parks for guests with visual impairments, along with other how to use audio description devices at Disney parks.
What is audio description?
Audio description, sometimes referred to as descriptive audio or described video, is an additional narrator track that provides visual information for people who otherwise would not be able to see it. Audio description is designed for visually impaired audiences, inclusive of blind, low vision, and other forms of visual impairment/visual processing disorders that may use audio description to provide additional context or clarification for visual information.
In Disney parks, audio description is pre-recorded with a natural sounding voice and is activated automatically using beacons throughout the park. Closed audio description is used, meaning that only the person with the audio description device can hear the audio description tracks— open audio description is commonly used for streaming video and can be heard by everyone, no specialty technology needed.
Related links
- Fast Facts About Audio Description
- Streaming Audio Description For Performing Arts Videos
- How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
How to access audio description at Disney parks
To access audio description at Disney World or Disneyland, guests will need to use a Disney Handheld Device provided through Guest Relations. Each device works in one specific park and cannot be taken outside of the park it is assigned to. Each Disney park has at least eight Disney Handheld Devices available at any given time, and devices must be returned before the park closes.
I have heard people use the following terms to refer to the Disney Handheld Device at Disney parks when requesting devices, including:
- Descriptive audio device
- Handheld accessibility device
- Device for the blind
- Blue and yellow accessibility device
- Audio description device
In order to request a Disney Handheld Device, guests will be required to provide the following:
- $25 USD deposit, payable by card or cash. This will be refunded when the device is returned at the end of the day.
- Government-issued ID that lists guest (or accompanying adult) name and address. I used a Virginia ID card, which was copied by Disney to protect against device theft.
- Optional, but highly recommended: A pair of wired headphones that connect to a 3.5mm headphone jack. While the Disney Handheld Device has headphones, they honestly aren’t very comfortable to use.
Guests can request a Disney Handheld Device by going to Guest Services at the park they are visiting. If they plan to go to another park, they will need to return the device at one park and pick up a new device when they get to the other park.
Related links
Overview of the Disney Handheld Device hardware
The Disney Handheld Device is slightly larger than a cell phone and comes with a lanyard that can be worn around the neck for hands-free use. The blue device features yellow high-contrast buttons with tactile shapes/edges on the right side and edges of the device. Disney Handheld Devices for audio description have the following buttons:
- The two volume buttons are shaped like triangles and can be used to increase or decrease the volume— guests may have to do this frequently when listening to description at attractions
- Audio description menu is navigated using rounded up/down/left/right buttons, with a small circle in the center for selecting items
- The square button provides users with information about where they are in the park, along with the audio description menu
- The diamond button provides a device overview and tutorial on how to use the device
- The screen is not functional for audio description— the same handheld device can be used for captioning, and it does not provide any information for audio description navigation or large print menus.
When a guest walks into an area that has audio description, an audio alert/earcon sound will play telling the user where they are (e.g. Tomorrowland) and provide options for navigating the audio description menu. For rides, the audio description track will begin automatically when the ride begins to move.
Disney Audio Description Menu
The Disney Handheld Device provides information for guests using an audio description menu. This is played as an audio track— no information is displayed on the device screen. I’ve linked a list of places in Disney parks that support audio description at the end of this section.
AREA DESCRIPTION/DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The area description provides information about the layout of an area of the park as well as key visual elements. For example, when walking through Main Street USA, guests can hear about the buildings along the street and how they are spread out. The detailed description provides more information about items or “easter eggs” that guests may not otherwise notice, with one example being the firehouse where a candle is lit in honor of Walt Disney.
ATTRACTIONS
The attractions menu shares what rides/shows are in the area and provides pre-descriptions that share ride information and safety considerations. Any attractions with audio description will have the description automatically play when guests are on the ride or in the audience for the show.
RESTROOMS
Where’s the bathroom? The audio description menu provides locations for the restrooms, such as behind It’s A Small World or at a specific gift shop. It does not provide walking directions for how to get there.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
The food and beverage option provides more information about restaurants, what they serve, and sometimes even have menus listed. Menus can also be found online or in the Disney Parks app in large print/screen reader friendly formats.
MERCHANDISE
I didn’t go to the gift shops, but the merchandise menu provides information about nearby gift shops and descriptions of several of the products. Prices are not included— I recommend using a visual assistance app or digital magnifier to read prices.
ENTERTAINMENT
The entertainment menu provides information about character meetings and parade options, including times for events and locations for character meet-and-greets. Guests cannot search for specific events or characters, or find information about events in other sections of the park, they can only listen to the audio recording for the area they are in.
SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREAS
Self-explanatory. This provides information about where service animals can use the restroom or take a break.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Supplemental information provides device regulatory information and other device information that is used by Disney employees to troubleshoot devices— guests will not need to use this section.
Related links
- Disney Parks Audio Description | Disney Parks website
- How I Use Google Assistant While Traveling
- Making Clothing Stores Accessible For Low Vision
- Going To Amusement Parks With Low Vision
My personal tips for using Disney Handheld Devices with audio description
From one Disney Parks visitor to another, here are tips I wish I knew before using the Disney Handheld Device for the first time and helpful information to keep in mind:
- Audio description devices tend to run out of battery about halfway through a day at the park (usually after 4 or 5 hours). Plan to go back to Guest Services to grab a replacement/fully charged device so that the battery doesn’t run out halfway through a show.
- Bring your own headphones! This is huge for ensuring a comfortable experience. Bring a wired pair that can connect to a 3.5mm headphone jack.
- For adults looking to use an audio description device at Disney that don’t want to wear the lanyard, I recommend bringing a jacket with inside pockets which can fit the handheld device, like a denim jacket
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
- Clothing Shopping Tips For Sensory Processing Issues
More posts on Disney Parks accessibility for visually impaired visitors
- Meeting Disney Characters With Low Vision
- Accessible Maps and Wayfinding Tools For Low Vision
- Going To Amusement Parks With Low Vision
- Visiting Holiday Lights With Light Sensitivity
Published May 8, 2019. Updated January 2025