Visit Florida: Facts for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Often people contact Florida Division of Blind Services to learn about our state's attractions. How accessible are the theme parks? What accommodations are available? Will guide dogs be allowed? This section is a response to some of these questions. New items will be added weekly. E-mail web.administrator@dbs.fldoe.org to provide us with new information.

Florida Theme Parks

Accommodations for people who are blind or visually impaired differ from theme park to theme park. Florida state law and the ADA requires guide dogs be permitted in all establishments, however, some parks prohibit guide dogs on specific rides. Many exhibits and rides have side doors for guests who cannot wait in long lines. Many parks will provide discounts to people with disabilities or allow a traveling companion to enter without charge. It is best to make this request prior to arriving at the theme park.

Details on accommodations for people who are blind or visually impaired are noted for the most popular Florida theme parks.

Walt Disney World - Orlando

Walt Disney World gets especially high marks from visitors with disabilities. Disney wants people who visit to enjoy their attractions. Walt Disney World consists of two water parks, lots of resorts, and four theme parks: Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and MGM Studios.

Accommodations at Walt Disney World includes:

  • Braille Guides: Braille guidebooks are available at Guest Relations in all four Theme Parks. These guides give Guests a general overview of the Theme Park. A refundable $25 deposit is required (must return item on the same day for refund).
  • Stationary Braille Maps: The four Walt Disney World® Theme Parks and the Downtown Disney area currently provide stationary Braille Maps that represent the orientation of the Park and the Downtown Disney area. These maps use large print with a clear Braille overlay and some additional raised graphics to highlight key landmarks and attractions. Braille Maps can be found at or near the Guest Relations Lobby and near the Tip Board at all four Theme Parks. Braille maps are also located in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace, Pleasure Island and West Side.
  • Audiotape Guides: Each Theme Park has cassette tapes that give Guests a sense of direction and a brief description of the attractions. Audio cassettes and portable tape players are available at Guest Relations in the Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney's Hollywood Studios™ and Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. A refundable $25 deposit is required (must return item on the same day for refund). There are two versions of these audio tapes:
  • The Audio Guide provides the Guest with a brief and general overview of the services available at the Walt Disney World Resort, as well as an orientation to the layout of the respective Park.
  • The Audio Tour provides the Guest with a detailed "guided" tour of the respective Park.It provides Guests with a specific route to follow, complete with distances between attractions and key stopping locations.

  • Special parking is available for guests at all four theme parks and all Disney World Resort hotels. Ask for directions at the entrances.

  • Valet parking is available at Downtown Disney and is free to guests with disabilities. Disney allows guide animals to ride on some attractions.

  • Designated "animal break areas" are located throughout the parks, and each park has personnel available to assist you with your animal. All WDW hotels have accommodations for guests with disabilities, including roll-in showers and "zero-entry" pools with special wheelchairs available. Be sure to ask for Special Reservations Department.

SeaWorld - Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all guests. Accommodations for persons who are blind or visually impaired at SeaWorld Orlando include:

  • Guest Services: Guest Services provides a variety of services including general information, ticket information, show schedules and information about services for guests with disabilities. If you have a guide dog you can have an Assistance Animal Kit that contains a bandana for the Assistance Animal, several Mutt Mitts to assist in cleaning up after the animal, and water with a small bowl.
  • Special Sitting: SeaWorld Orlando offers special seating in every theater. If you still have usable vision you can ask one of the SeaWorld Team Members to seat in this area. Even if you are carrying a cane, you may still need to tell the Team Member you have vision loss. Their current accessibility guide seems to associate vision loss with "assistance animals". Specifically, as a safety precaution, guests with guide dogs will be directed to available seating away from the area where a resident animal enters the stadium during specified shows.
  • Guide Dogs: Guide dogs are welcome at SeaWorld Orlando, a proud sponsor of Canine Companions. All guide dogs must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times. Water is available at Guest Services and all park restaurants. Although guide dogs are discouraged from riding any ride, guide dogs are allowed to ride on some. Guests services can let you know the name of rides where guide dogs are not permitted to ride. Guide dogs are not permitted in bird aviaries, ponds, rivers or other water attractions. In addition, guide dogs must remain at least 10 feet from the water’s edge. All guide dogs are required to remain at a reasonable distance (at least 6 feet) from the park’s resident animals.
  • “Break” Areas for Guide Dog: Assistance Animal Relief Areas are available in the following locations:
  • Sea Lion & Otter Stadium/Penguin Encounter
  • Pet Care Center at the Front Gate
  • Kennel Services: If you decided you want to ride some of the less tame rides and have a guide dog, you can board you dog at the Pet Care Center. The kennels are air-conditioned and staffed from park open until 1/2 hour after park close. The cost is $6.00 per day ($5.00 for Passport members - excluding Fun Cards). Park guests are required to bring pet food and to walk their dog during the day. You may bring a blanket for the pet's comfort. Please have a copy of your dog's shot record and updated rabies tag available when you drop your dog off. Kennels cannot be reserved in advance.
  • Behind-the-Scenes Tours: All park guests are welcome to book a Behind-the-Scenes tour. Please prevent contact between the Assistance Animal and the park animals. For further information on park tours, call (800) 406-2244 or look at available tours using the following Web site: http://commerce.4adventure.com/EStore/Scripts/Skins/SWF/Tours.aspx

Universal Studios - Orlando

Universal Studios goal is to provide the best accommodation possible to all of our guests.  Specific accommodations for people with vision loss include:

  • General Information: Park guide information, park restaurant menus, Universal CityWalk® restaurant menus and attraction scripts are available in large font and embossed in Braille at the Guest Services lobbies at Universal Studios® and Islands of Adventure.
  • Service Animals: Service animals are welcome in all of our restaurant and merchandise locations, attraction queues and most other locations throughout Universal Orlando®. Additionally, there are specific entry/boarding requirements for each attraction to assist the owner in making an informed decision about their animal’s safe admission. Universal Studios apologized that service animals are not able to ride all rides due to the nature of the experience:  However, portable kennels are available for your animal while you enjoy the ride. You can contact an attendant at any of the rides or shows for assistances. Walking areas are available for your service animals throughout the park.

Detailed information is available by reading the Riders Guide for Rider Safety Guests with Disabilities (pdf).

Busch Gardens - Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens is committed to providing to ensuring access for guests with disabilities and providing an enjoyable experience for all of our guests. Safety is the only consideration that takes precedence over fun.

  • Access Guide: A special needs access guide is available at the Guest Relations near the main entrance of the park.
  • Service Animals: Service animals are welcome at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. All service animals must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times. Safety requirements prevent service animals from riding rides other than the parking lot trams, Skyride, and the Serengeti Express train.
  • Kennels:  On-site kennels are located at the front of the main parking lot across from the first tram stop. The air-conditioned facility is staffed from park open until one-half hour after park close, and the cost is $7.00 per day ($6.00 for Passport members, excluding Fun Card holders). Park guests are required to bring their dog food and to walk their dog during the day. You may bring a blanket for the dog’s comfort, and a current shot record and rabies tag is required.
  • Parking: Parking spaces for those vehicles with a valid handicap permit are provided directly in front of the park's main entrance.

Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center won't keep anyone from reaching for the stars. Visitor guides are available in alternative formats, including Braille, large print and audio tape. Access for guests with visual disabilities include:

  • Visitor Guides: Visitor guides are available in alternative formats, including Braille, large print and audio tape.
  • Audio – Description: Descriptive narration is available for those who are blind or who have low vision for the IMAX movies,:“Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D ” and “Space Station 3-D”. Narrated descriptions provide information about essential visual elements of the action being presented on the screen. Please ask an IMAX usher for these devices.
  • Guide tours: Guided tours are provided for our guests who are blind or who have low vision. Four week advance reservations are recommended by calling (321) 449-4218 (voice) / (321) 454-4198 (TTY), or via FRS at 1-800-955-8770 (voice) / 1-800-955-8771 (TTY), or email DMorriso@dncinc.com.

Museums

There currently is one listing.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens - Jacksonville

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and its award-winning education center, Art Connections occupy adjacent buildings overlooking the three acres of The Cummer Gardens. The museum ensures that persons who are blind can appreciate art. Below are some some results of their efforts to include everyone:

  • Once a month, Women of Vision, an arts and literacy program for women who are blind or visually impaired, visit the museum to study art history, create their own works of art and write their memoirs using the museum's studios, galleries and gardens.
  • It has a hands-on sculpture time-line where visitors can touch replicas of important works of sculpture from different periods in art history.
  • An outdoor container garden filled with fragrant and touch-friendly plants is available for visitors.
  • Touch tours of selected sculptures are given in the galleries. Three-dimensional replicas and tactile drawings are used to supplement the original objects on the tour. Please call (904) 355-0630 for tour information.
  • Large-format text for highlighted works in the permanent collection is available at the front desk.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is located at 829 Riverside Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida. Go to their Web site at http://www.cummer.org/accessibility/art_edu_blind.cfm or call (904) 355-0630 for tour information.