The Complete Universal Orlando Guide For Guests With Disabilities

First things first: When in doubt, don't hesitate to seek help or knowledge from a Universal employee, which they call Team Members. They're happy to assist you in the event that you forget something from this guide, or if a situation arises that you didn't anticipate. Approachable Team Members stand at the entrance of every attraction and can provide everything you need to know about what to expect inside the experience and any protocols that might be in place to assist you.

If you're staying onsite at one of Universal Orlando's resort hotels, upon check-in Team Members will initiate a text thread with you. Don't worry; they won't spam your phone with unwanted messages. If you have questions on the go, or need to request something specific for your room while you're out, you can text the courtesy number and Team Members can help you figure things out.

Guests requiring mobility assistance at Universal Orlando can rent a wheelchair or an Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV, also called a scooter) directly from Universal at each theme park's entrance (wheelchairs and ECVs), or at the main parking facility (wheelchairs only). At Volcano Bay, guests can find wheelchairs at the water park's concierge booths. Additionally, every restroom is wheelchair-accessible.

As for attractions within the park, policies vary. Universal provides designated seating at live shows and parades for accessible viewing. Some rides can accommodate guests remaining in their wheelchair, while other rides require the guest to transfer into the ride vehicle's seating. Refer to page 8 of Universal's Guide for Rider Safety and Accessibility for a complete list of these attractions, or consult the Team Member and/or safety sign outside each attraction's entrance. All queue lines are wheelchair accessible, save for Pteranodon Flyers at Islands of Adventure.

As for ECVs, Hogwarts Express is the only attraction in Universal Orlando that permits guests to ride in a scooter. It's also the only attraction that allows ECVs in its queue. For other rides, guests with ECVs will need to either ask for a Team Member's assistance to obtain a complimentary wheelchair to sit in while onboard (if the ride accommodates wheelchairs), or transfer to the ride vehicle's seating. Notably, guests must be 18 or under to rent an ECV from Universal.

For guests with autism spectrum disorder and other cognitive disabilities, many areas and attractions at Universal Orlando can be overstimulating. Universal provides an extensive digital pamphlet that notes specific sensory triggers (like fear of heights, sensitivity to strobe lights, etc.) for each attraction to help guests plan their visit. You can also consult the safety information sign at each attraction's entrance. Use these tools as your cheat sheet for what's inside the ride to help you decide if it's for you.

If you or someone in your travel group needs a breather, visit the dedicated Quiet Room inside Health Services at the front of Universal Studios Florida. This room was designed with sensory sensitivity in mind, with features like dimmable lights and rubber floors. Access to the Quiet Room is walk-up only (no reservations). Universal also suggests the following outdoor areas to decompress, which typically don't attract heavy crowds: New York Public Library steps and Central Park in Universal Studios Florida; the lakeview lower landing of the Port of Entry plaza and Me Ship the Olive at Islands of Adventure; and Taniwha Pathway and Volcano Cavern Pathway at Volcano Bay.

Universal recommends that guests with cognitive disabilities bring ear plugs and a calming item, like a toy or blanket, that may make their visit more comfortable. The resort also suggests that guests carry identification with contact info of someone traveling with them.

The artists who create Universal Orlando's rides and shows are expert storytellers. As such, the narrative often begins the moment guests enter the queue. In line for many attractions, some form of media not only keeps guests entertained while waiting, but also helps set up the story they're about to experience. In a number of these attractions, its queue monitors are equipped with closed captions.

When enjoying the live productions throughout Universal Orlando, guests with hearing disabilities have several complimentary options available to them. If you email signlanguageservices@universalorlando.com at least 14 days prior to your visit, Universal can arrange for American Sign Language interpreters to accompany the performances you'll attend. Alternatively, upon arrival at each show's venue, you can ask a Team Member for a show script to borrow during the performance.

Universal allows trained Service Animals to visit the park with guests who need them. Most calm attractions — and even a few mild thrills, like The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man — allow Service Animals to ride onboard with you. Some attractions don't allow Service Animals inside, but may provide a temporary kennel area to use while you ride.

Areas for your pet to rest and do their business are marked with an icon on park maps. At Universal Studios Florida, you'll find these locations near Animal Actors On Location, as well as near the vacant amphitheater formerly home to Fear Factor Live (between Diagon Alley and Men In Black Alien Attack). At Islands of Adventure, one Service Animal rest area is on Marvel Super Hero Island near Doctor Doom's Fearfall and another is in Seuss Landing behind One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. A third is nestled in the depths of The Lost Continent, behind the Mystic Fountain near an empty performance venue that previously hosted a Sinbad stunt show.

You're just days away from that trip to Universal you've been planning for months, and... you get injured and your doctor says you need a cast. An unexpected circumstance like this right before vacation is a huge bummer, but guests wearing casts can still experience many Universal Orlando attractions.

As long as you can still use the ride's regular restraints with your cast on, you're good to go. For most attractions, this means you'll need to be able to safely fasten some combination of a seatbelt and/or a lap bar. For a few others, like Doctor Doom's Fearfall or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you'll need to be able to ride with a shoulder restraint pulled down from above you.

The only ride where casts are an absolute no-no is The Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure. This is for the best. Don't tell the green guy, but we're prone to skip the coaster on most trips because of how rough it is anyway.

Your roller coaster train just arrived at the climactic battle between Harry and Voldemort toward the end of Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Harry's dragon roars a blast of fire, and Voldemort's skilled hand emanates powerful magic in retaliation. Then... everything stops, and a distinctly non-magical announcement overrides the overhead speakers. "We're experiencing technical difficulties at this time. Please remain seated until a Team Member arrives to evacuate you from the attraction."

When evacuations are occasionally necessary, Universal Team Members assist guests in safely exiting the ride vehicle, heading backstage, and returning to the public-facing guest areas. That being said, back-of-house areas may contain corridors or stairs that guests with disabilities might not be prepared to traverse on their own. If you require further assistance to disembark, tell the Team Member who comes to escort your group and they'll provide an alternate solution, like a different route or the aid of accessibility tools.

Don't let the possibility of an evacuation scare you. Universal may choose to clear out an attraction for any number of reasons. Just because an evacuation is happening doesn't mean you're in immediate danger, nor does it always imply an emergency. In our travels, we've been evacuated from rides twice. While both experiences were, of course, not what we wanted to happen, personnel handled the circumstances efficiently and helped everyone unload safely.