Plan for a thrilling day with these hearing loss tips.
Theme parks are a favorite destination of adrenaline fans everywhere. Parks like Disney, Universal, Cedar Point, Six Flags, and more are taking measures to ensure that people with hearing loss can fully enjoy thrills on roller coasters, rides, and all the other fun attractions.
Let’s cover some of the hearing loss accommodations at theme parks that will help you make the most of your trip, from the hotel to the rides!
- Assistive listening devices
- Sign language for live shows
- Look for captioning
- Dedicated awareness days
- Hotel accommodations
Let’s check out these hearing loss accommodations at theme parks!
Assistive listening devices
There are many different types of assistive listening devices. Parks might be able to provide captioning devices, headphones to amplify sound, or induction loops that can sync with hearing aids.
Cedar Point, for example, has wireless devices to amplify sound in certain venues. Before you go, check out the park’s website to see what services are available and if there is a cost associated with them.
If you wear hearing aids, you may want to consider removing them depending on your activity. For example, if a particular roller coaster involves high speeds or a lot of inverted circles, you may want to remove your devices and put them in a safe place so they don’t fall out. Also, be mindful of rides involving water as it can damage your devices.
Sign language for live shows
Rides aren’t the only entertainment you can find at theme parks! There are often live performances to enjoy as well. Since these often involve dialogue, many parks are prepared with options to help guests with hearing loss enjoy them too. For instance, there may be a sign language interpreter on the side of the stage. Or, there could be closed captioning so you can read along on a screen.
Look for captioning
Many parks have opted to enhance their exhibits, shows, and pre-ride experiences with captioning. You may have to look for a specialized monitor labeled with a “CC” symbol to find live captioning — if you need help locating this, ask a staff member!
Many parks also have handheld captioning options for visitors to enjoy captions right from their seats at a show, ride, or attraction. Disney, for example, has their own Disney Handheld Device that features both captioning and amplification abilities. Check with whichever park you’re visiting to see their offerings.
Dedicated awareness days
Some theme parks have dedicated hearing loss awareness days, which could be an ideal time to plan your visit! Although they usually aren’t held every year, it’s worth checking if there are any planned. Six Flags is the most common theme park to host Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Days, and Knott’s Berry Farm has been known to as well.
Private groups for people with hearing loss may also arrange trips to places like Disney, if you’d like to plan a trip with others.
Hotel accommodations
If you’re traveling overnight for your theme park trip, it’s important to book your stay at an accessible hotel! Guests staying at resort hotels associated with a theme park can request accommodations like phone amplifiers, bed shaker notifications, strobe light smoke detectors, a TTY telephone, and assistive listening devices. Staying at a different hotel? Here are some accessibility considerations to ask about before you book.
While many destinations now offer hearing loss accommodations, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are both on our list of best vacations for those with hearing loss.
If you’re looking to plan a family trip, also check out these hearing-loss-friendly vacation destinations with grandkids.
