DD and I are in Williamsburg, VA and just finished a day at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. They have a procedure similar to the DAS, which we have used before, but it was the first time we have used it since the GAC went away, so I was paying extra close attention to how it worked and I came away with several observations.
I should start by saying that while DD has significant issues with stamina and pain (as well as a few other things), she is generally able to ride most different types of rides and is a bit of a theme park junkie. (Will ride all of the WDW roller-coasters and similar ones, but not much wilder than them). Because of this we have visited lots of different parks. So, here are my observations:
Other places just don't have nearly as many guests with disabilities. Obviously the Disney parks have more guests overall - I am saying percentage-wise. We joke about the fact that when it was time to get a wheelchair for DD, we went "shopping" at WDW, because that is the only place that you routinely see lots of people in wheelchairs, especially personal wheelchairs.
For example, today at both parks, we saw one other child in a wheelchair - and two additional people in personal wheelchairs. We've noticed similar things in Hersheypark, Seaworld, Dollywood, and even Universal - no place came close to Disney. (And the same goes for other "visible" disabilities and even some of the subtle ones).
Some of that may be the type of rides, but I think that a big piece of it is also Disney's reputation for being so disability friendly. In a way, Disney did go above and beyond and people with disabilities responded by flocking to their parks. I find myself wondering if they will see a difference with the changes they are implementing. Hopefully less people faking, but maybe less people with disabilities. visiting as well - and that would be a shame.
Another thing I specifically noticed is that it is more than just ride access. We did not *wait* to ride anything and everyone was nice enough (we have had problems at BG in the past); but, there just wasn't the same level of "smoothness" in disability access. I had to push her uphill, against oncoming traffic to get into several rides. Signs weren't clearly marked. I've noticed at the Universal parks, for example, that the curb skirts seem to be further apart and it can be hard to get off the sidewalk. Other places have tried to have us board through exiting people. Today at the waterpark, no one could give us any idea how many stairs were needed to get to any of the slides. You get the picture. It *is* nice to get to ride without waiting, but it's also nice to not feel so "different."
Anyway, that's my thoughts for tonight!
I should start by saying that while DD has significant issues with stamina and pain (as well as a few other things), she is generally able to ride most different types of rides and is a bit of a theme park junkie. (Will ride all of the WDW roller-coasters and similar ones, but not much wilder than them). Because of this we have visited lots of different parks. So, here are my observations:
Other places just don't have nearly as many guests with disabilities. Obviously the Disney parks have more guests overall - I am saying percentage-wise. We joke about the fact that when it was time to get a wheelchair for DD, we went "shopping" at WDW, because that is the only place that you routinely see lots of people in wheelchairs, especially personal wheelchairs.
For example, today at both parks, we saw one other child in a wheelchair - and two additional people in personal wheelchairs. We've noticed similar things in Hersheypark, Seaworld, Dollywood, and even Universal - no place came close to Disney. (And the same goes for other "visible" disabilities and even some of the subtle ones).
Some of that may be the type of rides, but I think that a big piece of it is also Disney's reputation for being so disability friendly. In a way, Disney did go above and beyond and people with disabilities responded by flocking to their parks. I find myself wondering if they will see a difference with the changes they are implementing. Hopefully less people faking, but maybe less people with disabilities. visiting as well - and that would be a shame.
Another thing I specifically noticed is that it is more than just ride access. We did not *wait* to ride anything and everyone was nice enough (we have had problems at BG in the past); but, there just wasn't the same level of "smoothness" in disability access. I had to push her uphill, against oncoming traffic to get into several rides. Signs weren't clearly marked. I've noticed at the Universal parks, for example, that the curb skirts seem to be further apart and it can be hard to get off the sidewalk. Other places have tried to have us board through exiting people. Today at the waterpark, no one could give us any idea how many stairs were needed to get to any of the slides. You get the picture. It *is* nice to get to ride without waiting, but it's also nice to not feel so "different."
Anyway, that's my thoughts for tonight!
