Walt Disney World is one of my favorite places on the planet, and more specifically I really love Magic Kingdom. Sure, it is the more kid-friendly of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World, but it's also the most accessible in my opinion. There are accessible rides that you can actually ride while remaining in your power wheelchair and plenty of other supercalifragilistic things to do as well. Here are a few reasons why I absolutely love rolling right nown the middle of Main Street USA (if you sang this line, you're a true Disney fanatic like me).
The Rides
Let's get right to it: quite a few of the rides are wheelchair accessible! During my most recent visit to Magic Kingdom, I was able to remain in my power wheelchair for the Jungle Cruise, It's a Small World, The Many Adventures of Whinnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Journey of the Little Mermaid. On these five rides, I was able to roll into the ride car (or boat in the case of the Jungle Cruise and It's a Small World) and the ride attendant then made sure that my wheelchair was secure before starting the experience. Some of these rides are certainly geared toward children, but it's okay to let your inner kid out every once in a while, right?
Check out this video to see the wheelchair accessible rides in action:
The Shows and Attractions
In addition to the accessible rides, Magic Kingdom also has shows that are accessible. Trust me, as a wheelchair user you will not get bored for even a minute at Magic Kingdom. The number one show that you must see? The Happily Ever After fireworks show! It's every night and is truly the greatest fireworks show that you'll ever witness. The Festival of Fantasy Parade is every day (usually at 3:00pm) as well, and is such a fun experience with people dancing and all of your favorite Disney characters making an appearance. For wheelchair users, there are reserved accessible seating areas for both the fireworks show and the parade. Just ask a Disney cast member and they will point you in the right direction.
Other accessible attractions that are favorites of mine include the Carousel of Progress and the Hall of Presidents. The Carousel of Progress is a show that lets you "travel" through the 20th century to view how technology, and our daily life, has changed and improved. It's incredibly fascinating and one of my favorite shows at any Disney park. And the Hall of Presidents is a show that tells the history of the United States and every U.S. President makes an appearance in their audio-animatronic form.
Additional Tips for Your Trip to the Happiest Place on Earth
Disability Access Pass
As soon as you arrive at Magic Kingdom, head to Guest Services and request the disability access pass. This access pass will be synced to your MagicBand, which you will use to get on and off rides. With the pass, for example, if the Jungle Cruise has a 90-minute wait time, you can go to the ride, they will scan your MagicBand, and you can go back to the Jungle Cruise 90 minutes later and get straight on the ride. The pass lets you avoid waiting in the sometimes massively long lines, so you can enjoy other parts of the park while you wait or just relax for a bit.
Companion Care Restrooms
Whenever I'm traveling, I always look for companion care restrooms. Not only are they more spacious and accommodating, but as a male wheelchair user who frequently travels with female care attendants, companion care restrooms enable us to avoid the awkward glances of us going into the female- or male-only restrooms. You can find a list of where companion care restrooms are located at all Disney parks at this website.
Wheelchair Rentals
If you or someone that you're traveling with needs a wheelchair rental while exploring Magic Kingdom, they are readily available. You can go to the rentals desk at any park and rent a manual wheelchair or a powered scooter. Wheelchair rentals are $12/day ($10/day for multiple days), and electric scooter rentals are $50/day.
As you can probably tell, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is tremendously accommodating for wheelchair users. Whether you want to enjoy the rides, see a beautiful fireworks show, or something different, there is something for everyone. Start planning your own trip to the happiest place on Earth!
About the Author
After being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, Cory Lee's thirst for adventure never ceased. He went on many trips around the U.S. when he was younger, and then started taking things internationally when he turned 15. Since then, Cory has traveled to 21 countries across six continents, all while managing to start up his travel blog Curb Free with Cory Lee, where he shares his accessible, and sometimes not-so-accessible travel adventures with others. Cory is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). He has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, in a nationwide segment for CBS News, Lonely Planet, and many others. His blog won the 2017 Best Travel Blog Gold Lowell Thomas Award. He hopes to inspire other wheelchair users to roll out of their comfort zone and see all of the beauty that the world has to offer.
Cory Lee's ride is a Quickie QM-710.
Most of the stories here on LiveQuickie.com were submitted by readers. Do you have a story to tell? We'd love to hear it. Submit your story here.