Visually Impaired 9yo can't do 3D shows

[forever 35]

Hi, Hoping for advice. My DD is visually impaired. Blind in one eye and limited in the other. She has difficulty with ramps, going down stairs in crowds, etc. I have heard about some vision pass? Anyone with experience. I would love to prepare her for what to expect. She has some some vision but needs binoculars at sporting events and the like, the more things in front of her it makes more difficult. She can read does not need braille books. Distance is the biggest problem and depth perception. I am concerned with Fantasmic and know we can't do 3D. I really want to see Philharmonic (sp?). Anyone with thoughts or recommendations? Thanks Disney family!

 

[taximomfor4]

I have a dd with some vision impairments also. We are unsure about the extent, as she compensates pretty well but she has terrible depth perception. We still take her into the 3D shows -- sometimes she wears the 3D glasses, sometimes she doesn't. Those shows have sounds and smells and water splashing out at you, not just 3D effects on the screen. Mickeys Philharmagic is one of our favorites!

When you get to WDW, stop at Guest Services and bring your daughter. Explain to the CM there about what her vision needs are. They will help you out.

Have a magical time!

 

[SueM in MN]

If you look at the information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards), I think that would be helpful to you. People have reported kind of mixed reviews about using the GAC to be seated in the front of shows. Some have had good results and some have reported better luck just telling the CM they need to sit near the front.

Another item on the disABILITIES FAQs thread that would be helpful to her would be a link to a past thread about boarding rides. You could request to be allowed to use the wheelchair boarding area - by doing that, the CMs could stop moving walkways for you, etc. There is also a link to the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities in the disABILTIES FAQs thread. There is one specifically about visual disabilities, but it's mostly about braille.

For Fantasmic, a GAC should be helpful to sit in the front, but you'll still need to get there early. Also, bring along something to protect yourself from the mist. Part of the show involves movies projected onto a screen made of water mist. If the wind is blowing toward you, the mist can give you quite a shower. There are some things, she will notice even without being able to see. There are several sequences that involve fire - hot enough to feel. And the music from the show is very beautiful.

For Mickey's Philharmagic, she should wear the glasses, even with vision only in one eye. Without the glasses, the movie is blurry, even for people with 20/20 vision. Most of the thigs in that movie are very large, so that should help her. And, even if she can't see anything, the music is very good.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Fantsmic will be no problem. In fact, she will enjoy it. But - Mickey's Philharmagic is a 3D - and it has a lot of spinning on the screen even without the glasses. We had to leave it after about 5 minutes due to my vision problems. Sorry.

 

[forever 35]

I also thought about the parades? Any suggestions. I do have us doing 1 character breakfast so she will definately meet some princesses. She is very anxious about not seeing everything. We will definately try at least the 1 3D show and if that is positive the others. Any suggesion as to which one? My thought was the Philharmonic. Thanks.

 

[Schmeck]

There's wheelchair/handicapped areas for parades, but they fill up fast, and you are not guaranteed a good viewing area. I'd just plan to get a good spot before the parade starts, even if it means standing/sitting on the curb an hour or so.

My DD12 also has no depth perception/binocular vision due to a birth defect. She loves the 3-D shows, wears the glasses (as stated before, so they're not blurry) and just enjoys the other effects.

The trip right after she had eye surgery was great, as she could somewhat see the 3-D effects. Now, her eye is only at about 75%, so she lost that ability.

 

[SueM in MN]

The wheelchair areas for parades are no closer to the 'action' than just getting a spot by the curb, so they may not be helpful for you at all. The wheelchair users are usually arranged at the front and people not using wheelchairs behind them, so she may actually be farther from the curb using the wheelchair viewing areas (since the idea is that people standing can see over the top of people sitting in wheelchairs).
One thing you don't want to do is sit by wheelchair users for most of the shows. Many of the wheelchair viewing areas are in the back of the theaters, so if the CM seats you with the wheelchair users for some shows (where they are in the front - like Festival of the Lion King), assume that may not always be the case. We've heard people argue with the CM in some shows where they want to be with the wheelchair users and the CM is trying to tell them they don't want to be.

 

[forever 35]

Thanks everyone! I am sure we are going to have a great time. I will plan on us trying the 3D shows I did not realize they had several special effects. How cool is that!