Visually impaired children/dinner shows

[Abow75]

Will be traveling with my husband, 12 year old daughter, 9 year old daughter, and 3 year old son I April. My oldest and youngest children are visually impaired. They do have sight, but they are technically legally blind. We are hoping to see the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue when we are able to make reservations. Is there a way, when making reservations to request where we would be seated? We will also be using the Dining plan. Any suggestions? Should I call to make the reservation or will I be able to make the needed requests online?

 

[SueM in MN]

The only on-line accommodations listed are for wheelchair accessibility (since there are stairs to one of the seating areas) and need for sign language interpretation.
I would suggest calling in your situation to see what they suggest.

COPIED FROM THEME PARKS THREAD

Shoot...oh well. I'll mention it to the CMs and maybe FP the shows so we can get first seating. It wouldn't be the end all by any means, but again, I know my son would love he shows if he could see them.

DAS may still be helpful for you - it won't cut the wait, but when you do go into an attraction, you will be entering into the Fastpass Plus line.
That line usually has less turns, which might be helpful for your daughter.
You might want to look into using a stroller as a wheelchair for your 3 year old. That is a sticker (kind of like a luggage tag) that is placed on a stroller. The stroller can then be used in lines and buildings where strollers are not usually allowed. It would be treated just like a wheelchair. That is separate from DAS and you could choose for each attraction whether to use the stroller for that attraction or not.
Because he has a vision related disability, there are some shows you would not want to use the stroller for because the wheelchair accessible seating is in the rear of the theater.
Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. On the third page of that thread, there is a post listing where the wheelchair accessible seating is for different attractions.

Since your daughter is older, she may appreciate the audio descriptions that are available for some attractions. Here is a link to the Disney webpage about services for guests with vision impairments.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/visual-disability-services/

 

[OurBigTrip]

Will be traveling with my husband, 12 year old daughter, 9 year old daughter, and 3 year old son I April. My oldest and youngest children are visually impaired. They do have sight, but they are technically legally blind. We are hoping to see the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue when we are able to make reservations. Is there a way, when making reservations to request where we would be seated? We will also be using the Dining plan. Any suggestions? Should I call to make the reservation or will I be able to make the needed requests online?

Seating at Hoop-Dee-Doo is based on categories, with differing prices for each of the three categories. The link below shows where categories are located, and the corresponding prices.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...wilderness-resort/hoop-dee-doo-musical-revue/

When I made the reservation for our previous trip, the CM on the phone told me that where you are seated within each category is based on how early you make your reservation. I don't know if that is still the case or not.

 

[alexrules14]

My father is legally blind, and when we went to the spirit of aloha, I called and made the reservation over the phone and requested a spot at the front, and explained. We also paid for the tier one seating. I would always call and ask! We also ate at the coral reef, and although we had a reservation, when we checked in I asked for a seat at the glass because of my dad. It took maybe an extra 5 minutes to seat us, but it was worth it! I found the more we asked for that kind of stuff, the more they were willing to go the extra mile to accommodate!

 

[Abow75]

Thank you ll for your help. I'll discuss the DAS at guest services. I plan in bringing a stroller for my 3 year old anyway. He'll almost be 4 by the time we go, and I already can't remember the last time he sat I one, he likes to be on the go, but I'm bringing it just in case, so I'll see about the tag. Both of the kids do really well, despite their conditions, so I know we'll have a great time. I just want to make sure they can actually see the shows.

 

[SueM in MN]

A couple of other suggestions
At Animal Kingdom, the nature trails have CMs who do education and answer questions about the animals in their area. They also have some manipulatives, like animal bones that your children could handle.

Also at Animal Kingdom, there is an interactive play area called The Boneyard where children can 'dig' for dinosaur nones. Your son might like that because he would be able to feel the dinosaur bones.

And, lastly at Animal Kingdom, at the Conservation Station at Rafiki's Planet Watch they have some manipulatives and a petting zoo area. There is also an attraction there called Song of the Rainforest where guests sit in a darkened audio booth and listen on headsets to sounds of the rain forest.

At Magic Kingdom, the Haunted Mansion has an interactive queue which is especially appropriate for guests with visual impairments. You would miss that if you use Fastpass. It includes 'gravestones' and monuments that are statues or carved stones that can be felt. Many of them do something that can either be heard or felt - books that push in on one side, and pop out the other side; bas relief medical instruments with musical and ghostly sounds (see if the kids can figure our which by how they feel).

At Magic Kingdom, the Under the Sea has an interactive queue, but everything I noticed was visual, so I would do Fastpass there to bypass it. I have not been on the 7 Dwarfs Mine Car to see the interactive queue, but what I have seen online is interactive touch screens - you might want to check out videos online.

At Magic Kingdom, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has an interactive line aimed at small children. A lot of it is manipulatives including vegetable drums, 'bees' on a wire to guide to their hive. There is an interactive touchscreen 'honey writing screen'. Guests can get very close to it, but there may not be enough contrast for seeing what they are doing.

At Epcot, the Imagination ride has an interactive playground at the end. Much of it is visual, but there is a carpeted area that makes different animal sounds as you walk over it. There is also a music maker where guests move their arms between two uprights. As you move one or both arms, different sounds are created - higher if your arms are up high and lower as your arms are lower.

Also at Epcot, there are some drums kids can play at the Outpost area, in World Showcase between China and Germany.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Is there a way, when making reservations to request where we would be seated?
. . . you can order categories, but not specific tables
. . . tables are assigned in the order that you make your ressie
. . . to do otherwise would be unfair to other guests

We will also be using the Dining plan. Any suggestions?
. . . you can ONLY select Cat-2 or Cat-3 seats, unless at the late show
. . . if being close is important, then pay OOP and select Cat-1, or the late show Cat-1

Should I call to make the reservation or will I be able to make the needed requests online?
. . . you can make the ressie on-line

NOTE: Allowing people to select their tables would be unfair to those who
made early ADR's in order to get better table locations. As mentioned, unless
in a wheelchair, there is no special accommodations/allowances for disabilities
when it comes to table assignments. (Wheelchairs are limited to the first floor,
since there is no elevator to the balcony.) When I assign tables, we the only
consideration is the date/time the ADR was made.

 

[Abow75]

A couple of other suggestions At Animal Kingdom, the nature trails have CMs who do education and answer questions about the animals in their area. They also have some manipulatives, like animal bones that your children could handle. Also at Animal Kingdom, there is an interactive play area called The Boneyard where children can 'dig' for dinosaur nones. Your son might like that because he would be able to feel the dinosaur bones. And, lastly at Animal Kingdom, at the Conservation Station at Rafiki's Planet Watch they have some manipulatives and a petting zoo area. There is also an attraction there called Song of the Rainforest where guests sit in a darkened audio booth and listen on headsets to sounds of the rain forest. At Magic Kingdom, the Haunted Mansion has an interactive queue which is especially appropriate for guests with visual impairments. You would miss that if you use Fastpass. It includes 'gravestones' and monuments that are statues or carved stones that can be felt. Many of them do something that can either be heard or felt - books that push in on one side, and pop out the other side; bas relief medical instruments with musical and ghostly sounds (see if the kids can figure our which by how they feel). At Magic Kingdom, the Under the Sea has an interactive queue, but everything I noticed was visual, so I would do Fastpass there to bypass it. I have not been on the 7 Dwarfs Mine Car to see the interactive queue, but what I have seen online is interactive touch screens - you might want to check out videos online. At Magic Kingdom, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has an interactive line aimed at small children. A lot of it is manipulatives including vegetable drums, 'bees' on a wire to guide to their hive. There is an interactive touchscreen 'honey writing screen'. Guests can get very close to it, but there may not be enough contrast for seeing what they are doing. At Epcot, the Imagination ride has an interactive playground at the end. Much of it is visual, but there is a carpeted area that makes different animal sounds as you walk over it. There is also a music maker where guests move their arms between two uprights. As you move one or both arms, different sounds are created - higher if your arms are up high and lower as your arms are lower. Also at Epcot, there are some drums kids can play at the Outpost area, in World Showcase between China and Germany.

Thank you for your help. They should both be able to enjoy the parks to their fullest, especially if we can get up close seating I live in Delaware now, but I'm originally from Minnesota

 

[Abow75]

Is there a way, when making reservations to request where we would be seated? . . . you can order categories, but not specific tables . . . tables are assigned in the order that you make your ressie . . . to do otherwise would be unfair to other guests We will also be using the Dining plan. Any suggestions? . . . you can ONLY select Cat-2 or Cat-3 seats, unless at the late show . . . if being close is important, then pay OOP and select Cat-1, or the late show Cat-1 Should I call to make the reservation or will I be able to make the needed requests online? . . . you can make the ressie on-line NOTE: Allowing people to select their tables would be unfair to those who made early ADR's in order to get better table locations. As mentioned, unless in a wheelchair, there is no special accommodations/allowances for disabilities when it comes to table assignments. (Wheelchairs are limited to the first floor, since there is no elevator to the balcony.) When I assign tables, we the only consideration is the date/time the ADR was made.

Thanks...I'll aim for the late show. If not, guess I'll go oop. Before shows in the park, I'll try to get there early to get good seats and mention it to cm to see if they can help when possible. I'm certainly not trying to abuse the system, I just want my kids to be able to see the shows the best they can, otherwise there isn't any point in attending them.