Sign Language At Disneyland (CA)

[KPeveler]

Hi all - First of all, I miss you all! I am doing so much better and I will be trying to be back on here soon. I had no idea surgery recovery would take this long (6 months out now) but I am very glad I had the surgery and things went really well.

Anyway, I am here mostly to post that recently my wife and I have been going to see the ASL interpreters at Disneyland. My wife is losing her hearing (unsure why or how bad it will get - she may lose her hearing entirely - she is currently only 32), and I have always been interested in learning sign, so we started going to see the interpreters.

First of all, let me say that they are AMAZING! Also, they welcome an audience. Usually there are no other families watching them, so they are happy to have anyone to sign to! Also, they are wonderful about answering questions, encouraging novice signers, and chatting with guests.

Second, here is the current schedule as I know it - It changes,but it is not available online ANYWHERE. In fact, you have to go to Guest Relations and ask for it special, and sometimes they even refuse to give you a paper copy - not great there, but they are improving.

The interpreters are at Disneyland park on Saturdays and Mondays. Their schedule remains pretty much the same, except sometimes Storybook Land moves

12:40 Jedi Training Academy (Interpreter on stage right)
2:00 Jungle Cruise (meet at ride exit)
4:00 Billy Hill and the Hillbillies (in Big Thunder Ranch - this show is earlier when in Golden Horseshoe)
5:10 Storybook Land Canal Boats (meet at wheelchair entrance)
6:30 Soundsational Parade (special area set aside across from Small World)

They move to DCA on Friday and Sunday. This schedule will be changing as they are adding two shows that are new. No word yet on when they start.
12:00 Turtle Talk with Crush
1:20 Aladdin (get there early, tell them you need interpreters!)
3:45 Minnie's Fly Girls (interpreters on right hand on platform)


Third - my wife and I have created a facebook fan page for the interpreters. This is our way of showing appreciation, sharing news and new show times, and connecting with other families we meet while watching the interpreters. Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/DisneylandASLInterpreters

If you are at all interested in ASL at Disney, come like our page! We really want to meet others. We are both novice signers, so no need for fluency or anything to come see the interpreters.

Anyway, long post! Hope to be back on the boards full time soon!

 

[Talking Hands]

Let Mark know about not being able to get copies at Guest Services. I will tell you schedules are not static and get switched around at times so they are usually sent out to guests who request them beforehand the week before their visit. I should get mine next week for my trip to WDW 9/6-10. I have to get to DL someday too.

 

[KPeveler]

Now that we are heading out of summer, the schedules will change again. There are families who know to ask for the schedule ahead of time, but nearly every week we meet a deaf person or family (or someone else who otherwise uses ASL) who had no idea there were interpreters at all. Even once a family
"borrowed" the little captioning device, which does not have info about interpreters btw, and they were told nothing about interpreting that day. They only happened to see the section for the parade and came to sit down.

 

[Talking Hands]

Now that we are heading out of summer, the schedules will change again. There are families who know to ask for the schedule ahead of time, but nearly every week we meet a deaf person or family (or someone else who otherwise uses ASL) who had no idea there were interpreters at all. Even once a family
"borrowed" the little captioning device, which does not have info about interpreters btw, and they were told nothing about interpreting that day. They only happened to see the section for the parade and came to sit down.

That's exactly why Mark needs to know that Guest Services isn't always willing to give out the schedule and are not informing guests that interpreting is available at scheduled times on certain days. Still happens at WDW too. I was at the 3pm parade in MK in March when one of my former students walked up to me and asked me about the interpreters. He had no clue that he could get a schedule. I gave him mine since we were heading home that evening. He is deaf with a hearing family. I have since spoken with his Mom and they will get the schedule next time they go up.

 

[KPeveler]

An update to the ASL situation at Disneyland:

There are still interpreters every Friday-Monday.

Friday and Sunday there are interpreters at DCA interpreting Turtle Talk with Crush, Red Car News Boys, Aladdin, and Minnie's Fly Girls (generally in that order).

Saturday and Monday they are interpreting Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, Jungle Cruise, the Parade, and Jedi Training Academy.

Of course, the schedule varies. Disney does not provide the schedule more than a week ahead, you can only get it in park (several deaf guests I have encountered said this is not helpful), and it is not published online.

The interpreters are friendly and open to discussion, either about their work or just chatting. They very much enjoy people who are interested in or learning sign, as well as catering to the needs of deaf or hard of hearing guests. There are several of us who are learning ASL or other forms of sign who visit the parks and follow the interpreters each week. There are often no guests who make themselves known as needing the interpreters, so they are very happy to have someone to be signing for.

In fact, they have encouraged us to "sign along" on the chorus for Soundsational, since we have seen it so many times!

In an effort to make the interpreters work more well known, and to show our appreciation, we have created a Facebook fan page, were my wife and I try to publish schedule changes as we get them. They are not always up to date, but we do try to help with planning before you get to the park. Come find us here: http://www.facebook.com/DisneylandASLInterpreters

Also, I have been attempting to video the interpreters and I have created a lengthy playlist on YouTube of Disneyland interpreters. Please keep in mind that I am VERY much an amateur, so sometimes my video skills are less than stellar. So here it is, for those who can sign, those who are learning, and those who love to watch!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC793A4A9FB54161B

I hope some DL visitors in the future will come see the interpreters and say hi!