Handheld Captioning

[Talking Hands]

Disney rides are very visually interesting but now Disney has gone beyond expectations and added hand held captioning to rides that cannot be interpreted, closed captioned or use reflective captioning.
Before this weekend I had never understood 50% of the words to Haunted Mansion. With the handheld captioning I was to enjoy all of the narration as well as know what the sound effects are. I was thrilled.
In the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT you and go to City Hall and leave a $100 deposit (credit card will do) and obtain a handheld captioning device. They turn the device on and as you approach a ride you hold the device chest high and it automatically turns on and gives you the narration to the ride. You do have to hit the backlight button to see the screen but that is all you have to do. It is basically automatic.
I highly recommend this device and look forward to using it on more rides when I am able. The broken ankle and foot kept me off quite a few rides this trip since I could not transfer safely to the ride vehicles.

 

[SueM in MN]

It sounds neater from your description than when Safari Steve had posted about it (and it sounded pretty neat then).
Thanks for the first hand report.

 

[Mazzy]

Hi Lisa

I've been waiting to hear about the hand held system and am pleased to know that you found it a great help.

In the Disney Magazine Summer edition it showed a system, well the feature was about it's foreign language system, but it did mention under the photo that it was available with captions too for the deaf. Is this the same system you used, or another one for closed captions I wonder?

I'm really looking forward to our trip in December and re-doing all the rides and actually knowing what is being said this time!

Sorry to hear about your broken hand and foot, I do hope that you heal quickly so you can take full advantage of the new system next trip

Thanks again for posting.

 

[Talking Hands]

Mazzy it is the same one I used. You will love it. Knowing the words adds so much to the ride. YOu may want to ride twice. Once to see the words and again to get all the visuals.

 

[SueM in MN]

Lisa, do you have a list of attractions that have the handheld captioning. The article that Mazzy saw just sort of mentioned the closed-captioning as a comment, without much info. I went to the Disney website disability info, but they haven't updated it yet.

 

[Mazzy]

Here you are Sue, as kindly sent to me by email by Mark Jones. Look's great doesn't it?


Handheld Captioning
This portable captioning system uses a wireless handheld receiver to display text in locations where fixed captioning systems are impractical, such as moving attractions.

Receivers are available through Guest Relations and may require a $100 refundable deposit (must return item on the same day for refund).

Handheld Captioning is currently being tested at the following locations:

MAGIC KINGDOM Park:
Walt Disney World Railroad
Adventureland-Pirates of the Caribbean
The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management
Liberty Square-The Hall of Presidents
The Haunted Mansion
Fantasyland-Peter Pan’s Flight
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
“it’s a small world”
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland-The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (open seasonally)


Epcot:
Spaceship Earth-Spaceship Earth ride
Universe of Energy-Ellen’s Energy Adventure
Test Track-Briefing Room pre-show
Imagination!-“Honey, I Shrunk the Audience”
The Land-Living with the Land
Mexico-El Rio del Tiempo
Norway-Maelstrom (ride portion only)
The American Adventure-The American Adventure
Canada-“O’ Canada!”

Disney-MGM Studios:
Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream*

Can't wait to use this system in December

 

[Talking Hands]

Thanks Mazzy for that. I was in class last night and didn't have time to post. Plus when I got home I needed to shower and with this cast on my leg it takes forever and I am exhausted by the time I finish. Can't wait until it comes off.
I hope they expand the handheld captioning to the Studios and Animal Kingdom. It is really great and easy to work with. All the deaf I met Sat at MK were really enjoying it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks to both of you. It sounds great and there are lots more attractions covered with it than I thought for something that just was put in use.
Hope you don't get too exhausted, Lisa.

 

[Mazzy]

Lisa - it must be difficult for you at the moment, I hope you don't mind me asking but how did you break your bones? I hope it isn't too long before the cast is off and life becomes easier for you - have they given you a date for removal? I bet you can't wait to get back to WDW and enjoy the new system fully

It would be great if they had the system for the Safari ride in AK as I have ridden this twice, second time I asked for a script, which the CM didn't have, went off to ask, and by that time we were seated on the ride and off we went, so I've ridden it twice now without getting any of the information, so I'm hoping they will extend the system and I can ride again and third time lucky

Sue, yes it is a nice surprise isn't it, that there are so many attractions covered. We have nothing of the kind over her in the UK, oh if only I lived nearer to WDW!

 

[SueM in MN]

We've been on the Safari ride a number of times and a lot of it is unscripted, depedning on which animals they come upon. But, I could see this system working there pretty well too.
There are parts where a "park ranger" in an airplane talks to the driver. The "ranger" part is recorded and the driver part is scripted. Those parts could be put on the new machines pretty easily. The radio parts seem to be triggered somehow by the driver, so they could also trigger the handheld devices. A beginning and ending announcement could be triggered too - other than the driver saying his name, those are pretty standard. If they included some information about the animals triggered by what part of the ride you are on, you would get most of the information that hearing people get. The driver's script is not the same on each trip, but they know which animals are likely to be in which area, so that info could be provided.
It's neat to see how technology is being applied.

 

[Talking Hands]

Mazzy
I lost my balance and fell down a step and landed on the left leg shattering the fibula and breaking the tibia and the 5th metatarsal. I'll be in the cast a minimum of 2 months. No weight bearing at all. Hopefuly the cast will come off mid July. Right now it is a real nuisance as I can do little without help and my kids are not all that helpful (figures). Husband does his best but he has to work. Plus we are waiting for his mother to die as she is in really poor health in a nursing home. This is definately a rough year

 

[SueM in MN]

That sounds like a really terrible break, Lisa. Here's some healing pixie dust to help you get through.

 

[Mazzy]

Gosh Lisa, you certainly made a good job of that break didn't you?

Sorry to hear about your husband's mother, it sounds like you are having a bad time at the moment.

Lots of pixie dust coming your way

 

[Amphigorey]

Hi Lisa,

I'm glad to hear about your positive experience with the handheld captioning devices. I heard about them a while ago in Eyes and Ears, and I've been wondering how well it works in practice. It sounds like they did a great job.