Disney-MGM Studios for the Vision and Hearing Impaired By Lisa Fritscher  Walt Disney World is known the world over as a beloved family destination. From the top-notch entertainment to the thrilling rides, from five-star dining to recreational activities, Disney provides a vacation experience that is difficult to beat. Most families plan their trips eagerly, their only concern figuring out the best days to visit each park. But for those dealing with a physical disability, planning is often tempered by concerns.
Hearing and vision impairments affect all areas of daily living, and entertainment is no exception. Guests with these issues may worry that they will miss a significant portion of all Disney has to offer. Fortunately, visitors to Walt Disney World needn’t worry at all. Disney’s guest service is legendary, and the parks are fully equipped to ensure that all guests, regardless of disability, are able to enjoy their Disney vacation. Additionally, Walt Disney World offers a total sensory experience: sound, sight, touch, and even smell combine to create the magic. Thus, a guest who has impairment of one sense can still utilize their remaining senses for a totally immersive experience. Upon arriving at Disney-MGM Studios, make your way directly to Guest Relations, located just inside the park entrance. Describe the nature of your disability to the Cast Member at the desk, and he or she will provide you with the assistance that you require. Guests with visual disabilities may choose a Braille guidebook or an audio tour of the park. A per item deposit is required, and will be refunded if you return the item the same day. Braille maps are also available free of charge. The audio tour provides a guided walking tour of the park. It is quite detailed, and includes helpful information such as the distance between attractions. There are also descriptions of each attraction. For guests with hearing disabilities, listening devices that amplify the sound tracks of the attractions are available. A deposit is required, and will be refunded when you return the device the same day. A park guide map is available that will show which attractions participate. Additionally, some attractions offer reflective and video captioning, or have scripts available. Ask individually at each attraction. *Tip* Service animals are permitted throughout the property. While at Guest Relations, ask the Cast Member to point out on your guide map the service animal break areas and explain the service animal break policy in detail. You must remain with the animal at all times. *Tip* Service animals are permitted in every attraction unless ride safety regulations prohibit them. At attractions that do not permit service animals to ride, procedures are in place for the animal to remain in a safe location while you ride. Ask at each attraction, as procedures vary. Generally a member of your party must wait with the animal. *Tip* Sign language interpreters are available with two weeks advance notice. Additionally, some shows are interpreted at certain times. Guest Relations can provide you with a guide map that lists the interpreted show times for the day of your visit. Disney-MGM Studios is Walt Disney World’s movie park. Guests have the opportunity to travel inside some of the most beloved films of all time. The park is divided into six themed areas, each representing a different portion of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The areas are as follows: Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, Mickey Avenue, Streets of America/Commissary Lane, Echo Lake, and the Animation Courtyard. Hollywood Boulevard This is the main entrance area to the park, designed to transition guests from the real world to the Golden Age of film. Hollywood Boulevard offers shopping and dining options, as well as Streetmosphere actors portraying many Hollywood stereotypes. *Tip* Navigating this street is sometimes difficult, as crowds tend to stop and watch the improvised Streetmosphere shows. Keep your service animal close to your side and use caution when walking the crowded streets. Sunset Boulevard This area is home to the thrill attractions, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Due to safety restrictions, service animals are not permitted on these attractions. Inquire at each ride regarding waiting areas for your service animal. *Tip* Fantasmic, the evening spectacular, takes place nightly in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. Try to see the second show of the night, as crowds will be significantly smaller. Be prepared to wait in line for up to two hours on popular evenings. Service animals must be on their best behavior while in line, as they will be tightly packed into a small area with a large number of people. *Tip* All other attractions, shopping, and dining here should pose no particular difficulties for guests with visual or hearing impairments. Mickey Avenue Home of the production facilities, this portion of the park gives guests a look behind the scenes of filmmaking. Service animals are permitted in all attractions here, and guests with hearing or visual impairments should find no particular difficulties. Streets of America/Commissary Lane This is the home of stunts and special effects. Service animals are permitted in all attractions, and most utilize reflective or video captioning. Please inquire at each attraction for details. Echo Lake In this area, more stunts and effects are to be found. Due to safety restrictions, service animals are not permitted to board Star Tours. See a Cast Member for information on a safe waiting area for your animal. The other attractions here allow service animals and pose no particular difficulties for guests with visual or hearing impairments. Animation Courtyard The flagship attraction of this area is the Animation Tour. All attractions here permit service animals, and many utilize reflective or video captioning. Please see a Cast Member for details. Disney-MGM Studios provides guests a chance to immerse themselves in the Golden Era of filmmaking. Sight, sound, touch, and smell combine to create a truly interactive, one of a kind experience. With a bit of advance planning and the use of adaptive devices, all guests, despite hearing or visual impairments, can fully enjoy this park. |
