This is a post from the disABILITIES FAQs thread regarding where the accessible seating is for shows.
For the ones with accessible seating in the back, ask a CM if you can stand OR where to stand if you need to during a show. In some cases, there is 'overflow' seating behind the accessible seating, so you would not be able to.
All theaters have spots designated for mobility devices (wheelchair,
ECV, rollator, stroller as wheelchair ). Usually this will be a 'parking spot' with a chair/seat next to it for a companion. There may be only one companion seat per mobility device; the rest of your party may sit in the next row or anywhere in the theater.
Guests using strollers as wheelchairs may need to switch to a theater seat (or parent's lap) to be high enough to see.
Loading/entrance is almost always from a waiting or preshow area on one side of the theater. Unloading/exit is almost always across the theater on the side opposite from the entrance.
Some shows have separate waiting areas so that CMs can get a count and don't send more guests with mobility devices into the theater than there are spots for them. Your whole party can wait together. In most cases, you will wait in the regular line (or Fastpass Plus line if you have Fastpass) and then be separated out if needed.
Those guests are sometimes brought into the theater 30-90 seconds before the other guests; this allows the CMs to get them into to their spots before the rest of the guests come in as a large group.
Guests with mobility devices will be sent to those waiting areas without needing
DAS. Guests without a mobility device would need to explain their needs to a CM at the attraction.
Transferring to a theater seat:
- if there is only one companion seat per wheelchair spot, you may not be able to transfer and have a companion sit next to you. If you plan to transfer, you may want to be on the end of a row; the mobility device can be left in the spot and you can sit in the row ahead.
- some children may sit too low in the stroller or wheelchair to see over the other guests; the child can sit on an adult's lap while the stroller/wheelchair is parked in the wheelchair spot.
- parking the mobility device and sitting in a seat closer to the front is sometimes possible. Availability depends on how steeply ramped the floor is and whether a wheelchair is able to be parked outside of the emergency exit path.
In some theaters, it is not possible, for those reasons (theater does not meet ADA requirements for accessible slope or wheelchair egress).
Parking on the exit side of rows is usually not allowed because it blocks exit from those rows for other guests (potentially blocks exit from 2 rows).
Parking may be allowed on the loading side, but guests will need to take their mobility device to either the very front or very rear to exit.
These attractions have accessible seating only in the back of the theater:
- Hall of Presidents at MK You may be able to park in the rear and walk to the front. Ask the CM at the entrance and the one seating guests with special needs.
- Mickey's Philharmagic at MK The mobility seating is in the rear, but the theater is small, so you are not that far from the screen. Sitting farther back allows view of a wider field of the screen than sitting in front.
- Stitch's Great Escape at MK The theater is not that deep. There are spaces for mobility devices to park in the rear, which is the top row of the round theater. All other seats are down short, narrow flights of a few steps. Much of the action takes place in the dark and the view from the back row may not be much different than closer to the front. The theater is dark, so walking around to get a spot would be difficult.
- American Adventure at Epcot The seating is in the rear and there is a very steeply sloped floor from the rear to the front. CMs are likely to NOT let you park and walk to the front because of the slope. You could ask the CM who is seating guests with special needs, but expect to be told no. When Epcot first opened, they did allow this, but because of the steep slope, I have been told they are no longer allowed to.
- Impressions de France at Epcot The accessible seating is in the back row and there are not that many spots. The theater in general is not that large. You may be able to park at the rear and walk down toward the front or park your wheelchair on the aisle toward the front. Ask the CM, but again, you are likely to be told no because of the slope of the floor. The screen is around you to about 180 degrees. As you go down further to the front, you will see less of what goes on to the sides, so back is actually better for most people. We have had issues with general guests sitting in the wheelchair area in this show many times when we've gone. The FRENCH CMs have not been particularly helpful in these situations.
- Imagination Theater at Epcot The preshow area has a raised viewing area for guests with mobility devices. This leads to the mobility seating in the rear of the theater. Inside the theater, the path is blocked, which prevents guests from moving to/from those last rows.
- Circle of Life at Epcot The seating for guests with mobility devices is at the back of the theater. Going down any further involves going down steps to be seated and up steps to leave the show.
- Ellen's Energy Adventure at Epcot The mobility seating is in the back of the rear theater car. You can ask the CM if you can park the mobility device and then you would be able to walk in and sit in any row.
Guests using strollers as wheelchairs would generally park them because the wheelchair space is small and the sides of the car would be too high to see over.
Your mobility device will be waiting where you unload.
- Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studio Guests with mobility devices enter along with the other guests, so it would be difficult to park a mobility device at the rear and then walk further to the front. As guests from one show are leaving, guests for the next show are starting to arrive, so you need to be quick getting back to your mobility device.
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Hollywood Studio Similar in how it loads to the theater to Muppets 3D. The waiting area is dim and busy. Guests with mobility devices are advised to follow the black floor line and stay near the wall on the left. It is dark and tight inside the theater, so staying in the mobility device is best. Parking a mobility device may interfere with access to exits because of small space.
- Walt Disney: One Man's Dream at Hollywood Studio There is an optional movie at the end of the walk thru exhibition. Mobility device setting is the back row. It may be possible to park on the end of a row closer to the front and transfer to a seat if you park on the entrance side.
- Movies at Star Wars Showcase at the Studio. There is a movie at the start with seating in the rear
These attractions have accessible seating in the front for all guests with mobility devices. No need for a DAS with a mobility device because that is where you would go anyway:
- Country Bear Jamboree at MK - There is a ramp to the front row and all guests with mobility devices sit in the front. The stage is slightly above head height, so guests with mobility devices may have to crane their necks to see.
- Tiki Birds at MK The theater is in a round room, with benches arranged around a small center show area. The mobility seating is in the front row. The show characters will be in front of, above, to the sides and behind guests. Most are in front and directly above.
- Carousel of Progress at MK The mobility seating is at the end and spaces in the middle of rows at the front of the theater.
- Laugh Floor at MK The mobility seating is in the front several rows. Guests with mobility devices enter about 30 seconds before the rest of the guests. A CM will direct you to a specific spot to park in, depending on how many guests are in your party.
- Enchanted Tales with Belle The theater is very small, only about 5 rows of benches. Mobility seating is in the second row with benches designated for companion seating next to mobility spot.
- Turtle Talk at Epcot The mobility seating is at the ends of rows at the front of the theater. The only places farther front are sitting on the floor, which is for children.
- Festival of the Lion King at AK All of the mobility seating is at the front since the other seating involves going up and down steps.
These attractions have seating in the front and rear - you don't need a DAS with a mobility device. Just tell the CM seating guests with special needs that you need/want to sit in front.
- Reflections of China - 360 film at Epcot There is no seating here unless you bring a mobility device. They do have lean rails that you can lean forward or against. The film takes place all around you and you can go where ever you want in the theater, without needing to talk to a CM. You will have less people around you if you are in the rear of the theater. Guests in mobility devices farther in the front may have obstructed view because of people standing in front of them.
There are no lean rails there, the CM who introduces the film will be in the front. At China, as you come in, the rear is to the left.
- O Canada at Epcot Another 360 film, similar to China in the way it works.
- Frozen Sing a Long at Hollywood Studios
- Beauty and the Beast at Hollywood Studios Ask the CM at the rear of the theater who is directing seating. The level of the stage is at floor height for the front row, so you may need to crane (stretch)your neck.
- Great Movie RideTheater ride car has seating for guests riding in mobility device in the very back of the ride car. Guests who are able to transfer may sit in the very front row. Loading and unloading is in the some spot, so if you transfer, mobility device will be in the same spot when you get off. This is not really a theater, but some people may consider it one. All guests must be seated during the shoe.
- Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios This is a night show, with the majority of the wheelchair seating at the top row. There are a few spots in the very front row. If you want to request them, be prepared to come early (an hour or more, depending on the crowd) and be prepared to get wet from spray from water screens and spray during certain parts of the show.
- Bug's Life at Animal Kingdom The majority of mobility seating is at the rear. There are a few mobility spots in the very front row; those are accessed thru the Fastpass Plus line.
Some guests find those seats too close. Some of the action is above you and some find the 3D effects annoying when sitting that close. Be aware that a giant grasshopper (Hopper) comes out a stage to the right of the screen and giant spiders drop from the ceiling. These may be too close for some guests' comfort.
- Flights of Wonder Bird Show at AK The majority of the mobility seating is in the rear, but there are also designated spots In the first row. During the show, birds fly across the stage and at some points, birds will fly across the audience from the stage in the front to a trainer in the back of the theater.
- Nemo Show at AK The majority of the mobility seating is at the rear.
There are a few front area seats; access is down steep switchback ramps. These seats have limited view because part of the stage juts out toward the middle. Some guests may also find by need to crane their necks to see.
There are only 2-3 mobility spots in the middle of theater. They are not available if it is raining since opening the access doors allows rain in, making the floor slippery for performers.
- Rivers of Light at AK Mobility seating in both the front and rear in both the Fastpass and Standby theaters.
