Disability Assistance at Universal Orlando Resort

Our family loves going to theme parks. But with Beth’s physical limitations, medical needs, and cognitive disabilities, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the day without disability assistance. We’re very grateful for the ways that Universal Studies Orlando supports guests with disabilities. We learned a lot more this trip about disability access at Universal Studies and Islands of Adventure. We hope these 7 tips help save you time and energy and make your day even more enjoyable!

1. Plan Before You Go

As you plan your trip, review the Full Disability Accessibility Information.

This is a wonderful guide that you can Download.

Find specific information about these needs:

Download the app before you go. Bring your phone charger, because you will need to use the app throughout the day for several reasons.

2. Pack Lots of Snacks and Drinks

Bring plenty of your child’s and family’s favorite drinks and snacks! As of the date of this post, the park does allow this and even encourages you to in the guide above. Save money and the time of standing in line at the refreshment counters.

If you decide to buy the souvenir refillable cup, you can also go up to Slushie counters and get Free Slushies every 10 minutes all day! The staff all told us something different, but we found out that Slushies are included.

3. Head Straight to Guest Services

You can visit Guest Services at whichever park you visit first. The line at Universal Studies was long, wrapping around several times. Bring your loved one with disabilities with you.

Make sure to inquire about assistance for all of your family member’s needs even if the staff member doesn’t offer that particular service.

Ask questions. The only reason we knew to request the special tag for Beth’s wheelchair was because we had learned the hard way. Before you go, imagine your child going throughout the day in the park and any obstacles you might run into.

Request One or Both of the Main Services Your Loved One Needs

1. Attraction Return Times

You will be asked why your loved one is unable to wait in the standard queue. We provided the different factors that would make it impossible for Beth to wait in long lines. The representative is unable to inquire about specific diagnoses.

You can use this same pass for all the days you will be visiting the parks.

2. Wheelchair/Physical Handicap Access

If your loved one needs to stay in their stroller or wheelchair up to where you get on the ride, make sure to request this card that signifies the stroller or wheelchair as a wheelchair. Beth’s ride is a wheelchair, but people often assume it’s just a stroller.

If you don’t have this card, staff at attractions will likely ask you to park the chair in stroller parking and not allow you to use the handicap entrance.

This will result in waiting in line, walking long distances, and climbing lots of stairs without access to elevators. We learned to request the accessible entrance at every attraction. Because the times we didn’t, the walk was very long.

4. Plan a Schedule of Rides

On the app, you can check the wait times for rides. They were very accurate. If the wait time is 25 minutes or less, you will be allowed to go ahead and enter the Express Pass entrance. However, sometimes we were not allowed this assistance if we already had a return time on the card. The policy was inconsistent at different rides. Each time they will scan this card like an Express Pass.

We planned out receiving a return time for the longer waits then went to the restroom, ate, watched a show, or rode a ride nearby with a short wait time.

Things to keep in mind:

You can only have one return time open on the card.
If you decide to get a return time at a different attraction, they will mark through the previous one.
If you have a current return time, the automatic entry if there’s a 25 minute or less wait time may not apply
There are different check points throughout the ride line, and the card might be scanned again.
Even with the attraction wheelchair access, we sometimes still waited in line and pushed Beth’s wheelchair long distances up hills.

Look for specifics about each ride.

Notes about certain Attractions:

The Bourne Stuntacular: This show was really neat, but get there early to get a seat. They close the doors at showtime. Also, there are very loud noises like gunfire and explosions. These stunts scared Beth. So, bring along sound reduction headphones if your loved one is sensitive to loud noises.
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem™: Both times we’ve visited the park, even with both the ride access pass and wheelchair, we waited in line a long time for this ride-and quite a bit in the hot sun.
Hogwarts™ Express: If your loved one is able to transfer, the staff will place the wheelchair in another car and have it ready for you when you arrive at the other park.
Flight of the Hippogriff™: Definitely plan to use a return time on the ride pass for this one. Both times we visited the park and ended up waiting miserably in the hot sun–even in the wheelchair accessible line.
Pteranodon Flyers: There was no wheelchair access to the ride. None. So we were unable to ride. The area that you usually go through was closed for renovations. The previous time we visited the park, we found the disability access challenging for Beth’s wheelchair. And the regular line is a long walk with steps.
On Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™: If needed, inquire about the queue that allows for the conveyer belt to stop when you step onto and off of the ride.

On Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ we received this pass about halfway through the journey to the ride.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™: You can request that they stop or slow down the conveyer belt for stepping on and off the ride.

This handy list of icons for each attraction will help you prepare. It’s on the bottom left corner of the maps.

You can also set your preferences on the app.

5. Sensory Room and Play Areas

From the website: “A Quiet Room is available at Universal Studios Florida, located at Health Services – Production Central at the front of the park. This room offers a quiet and low-stimulation space for Guests. It is equipped with rubber floor tiles, an activity wall panel, dimming lights, and two hiding tunnels.”

These are great play areas to check out:

Fievel’s Playland™
Jurassic Park Discovery Center
Camp Jurassic
Curious George Goes To Town℠

We all had a blast at the Curious George Goes To Town℠ splash area and ball factory!

We always buy light up, spinning, or bubble wands before we go to the park in order to save $20! We pull these out when Beth is following directions well.

6. Prepare for Narrow & Congested Areas

Most sections of both parks were wide and easy to navigate. However, the Harry Potter sections of the parks were congested, and the crowds were difficult to maneuver through on the small streets.

The restaurants in the Harry Potter areas are no exception. Most of the restaurants in the park require you to first order on the app. Then they will grant you entrance once you can show that your order is ready.

We had a great experience at Richter’s Burgers.

They have a handicap line that doesn’t wind around. It was busy though and difficult to find a table like at every other restaurant.

7. Locate the Companion/Family Restrooms

Universal Studies offers several family restrooms. Islands of Adventure does not. And in both parks, the companion restrooms are difficult to find. I actually never found one of them in Islands of Adventure though I walked around the area looking, because I didn’t realize it was with the first aid station.

In Islands of Adventure there are only two–both at the first aid stations–one at the Port of Entry, near First Aid and Lost and Found and the second one is in the Lost Continent First Aid station, across from Oasis Coolers.

This one was easy to find in Hogsmeade at the main restrooms.

Pick up the physical park maps. They are different from the ones online and note the family restrooms.

Look for this red circled symbol.

At Universal Studies, the companion restrooms are located:

Near the lockers and first aid at the front of the park
Next to Fast & Furious in New York
On 8th Avenue, between Mel’s Diner and the exit to Shrek, across from the Transformer’s building
Between Animal Actors theater and side entrance to Fast Food Boulevard in Springfield
In Diagon Alley

Disability Assistance at Universal Orlando Resort Share on X

We hope these tips help your family enjoy your trip even more!

What’s one tip you have for Universal Orlando Resort?

Please share your idea in the comments.

Blessings,

The Evans Family

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Kristin Faith Evans, MA, MS, LMSW

Kristin is an author, a speaker, a mental health therapist, and a special needs mom. Her greatest passion is walking with others on their journey to deeper faith and emotional healing. As a Licensed Masters Social Worker and with her Masters in Christian Education, she has served in youth, camping, and retreat ministries and is experienced in Christian counseling, couples and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, and crisis counseling. Kristin lives with her husband, Todd, and their two children in the Nashville, TN area. When she is not enjoying life with her family, writing or working with clients, you can find Kristin training for triathlons, reading, or simply being out in nature. Visit her author website at www.KristinFaithEvans.com.