7 Accessible Travel Locations To Try This Summer
Summer is finally upon us, which means it’s travel season! However, when we live in a world designed for able-bodied people, it can make traveling difficult for some and discourage us from traveling in the first place. We’ve put together a guide of our favorite accessible travel locations as well as some tips to make traveling easier for you or someone you love.
Disney World (Orlando, FL)
When it comes to theme parks, The Happiest Place on Earth is a great option. Disney World in Orlando, Florida has a variety of wheelchair and ECV-friendly attractions, as well as services for guests with disabilities. Disney’s Disability Access Services (DAS) allows guests to schedule their visits to rides and attractions so they don’t have to wait in a long queue that could cause distress. There are also services available to assist those with visual disabilities, hearing disabilities, and light sensitivity. Service animals are welcome, and there are separate accessible parking lots for people with personal wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Morgan’s Wonderland (San Antonio, TX)
Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, TX, was designed for accessibility from the ground up and features a theme and water park 100% accessible to wheelchairs. Waterproof wheelchairs are available to rent. They also have a 3-acre accessible sports center and services for visitors with disabilities. Learn more about the Ultra Accessible Theme Park here.
Symphony of the Seas (Cruise)
Want to spend some at sea? Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas has accessible cabins that feature doors at least 32 inches wide, no doorsill to get into the room, ramped bathroom thresholds, grab bars in the bathroom, lowered sinks, roll-in showers, fold-down shower benches, hand-held shower heads, and more. Outside of the rooms, guests can enjoy lifts at the main pool and whirlpool, lowered playing tables at the casino, wheelchair seating in front and back of the Royal Theater, Studio B and Aqua Theater, Braille deck and stateroom numbers, assistive listening systems in theaters, and amplified phones. Sign language interpreters are also available if you provide 60 days' notice before the cruise departs. Other accessible cruises include Disney Cruise Line: Fantasy and Carnival Horizon.
La Jolla Shores (San Diego, CA)
Who doesn’t love a good beach day? La Jolla Shores is a family-friendly beach in San Diego, CA. There is a wide paved walkway between the beach and nearby Kellog Park, as well as an accessible bathroom and parking lot and powered or manual sand wheelchairs available for rent. The San Diego area is also great for accessible travel; the city is generally flat with a fully accessible trolly system and 64-80 degree climate year-round.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Feeling lucky? Many of the casinos and venues in Las Vegas, Nevada are wheelchair accessible, along with a majority of the attractions. The High Roller observation wheel is also wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair users can also access the Slotzilla Zip Line and the Zoomline, or a hot air balloon over the city. A fully accessible bus service can take you all around the city, as well as wheelchair-accessible taxis. Sidewalks along the Las Vegas Strip and in other highly trafficked areas are wide, well cared for, and extremely wheelchair friendly.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With accessible hotels, historic sites, restaurants, museums, and services available, travelers of all abilities can explore the city with a sense of independence. Many of the region’s public transportation stations are wheelchair accessible, including trains, subways, trolleys, and buses. Every bus has a lift or ramp and can be lowered to street level. Regional Rail cars and stations are also wheelchair accessible. Most of the city’s attractions are within two miles of City Hall and are accessible as well, including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Love Park, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the most wheelchair-accessible Hawaiian city. Some of Oahu’s beaches have amphibious beach wheelchairs available, so wheelchair users can roll on the sandy beaches and access the water. There are also beach wheelchairs available at Sans Souci Beach, Ala Moana Beach Park, and Kailua Beach, and beach access mats.
More Resources
When traveling with a disability, planning is everything. Check out these 19 tips for disabled travelers to learn more about how to prepare for vacation and save yourself some stress. There are also accessible travel agencies like Wheel the World, Accessible, Easy Access Travel, and Wheelchair Escapes that can do a lot of the planning for you and help ensure you have a successful trip.
Accessibility Travel Bloggers We Love
These travel vloggers give in-depth reviews on specific travel destinations and tips to make your trip successful.