Image Copyright © 2010 Disney
(06/18/2010) – Anaheim, California – The Disneyland Resort announced today that it will install sign language interpreters to its various dialog-based attractions at its two theme parks, Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. While American Sign Language communicators have always been available to park guests, this often had to be arranged by calling ahead. Now, guests can enjoy many attractions that were otherwise inaccessible to their fullest potential without having to make prior arrangements.
Guests visiting the parks may stop by City Hall at Disneyland or Guests Relations at Disney’s California Adventure for information on the ASL interpreters. To begin with, eight interpreters will be available on Monday and Saturday at Disneyland and on Friday and Sunday at Disney’s California Adventure. The interpretation will be offered for those attractions where dialog is the primary means of communication; this includes Jungle Cruise and Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland and Turtle Talk with Crush and “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” at Disney’s California Adventure. The offer will also extend to the parks’ parades, including “Celebrate – A Street Party” and “High School Musical 3: Senior Year”.
This is just one of several recent examples where Disney is attempting to make the guests experience equal for all visitors. While this is the first such expansion of the ASL program, Disney has also recently begun to ensure all attraction experiences are open for disabled guests. This includes creating wheelchair-accessible queue areas in newer attractions, as well as providing film-based “alternative experiences” for otherwise-inaccessible attractions, such as the walk-through of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which requires guests to descend a narrow, spiraling staircase into the submarine. Another recent announcement regarding The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (opening next year in DCA) regarded a Disneyland-first: the new attraction vehicles will allow guests to experience the ride without having to leave their wheelchair, thanks to specially-designed chariot-style ride vehicles.
-Report by Lucy Bonita-Napoleon