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Which Parks Stand Out for Their Creative Accessibility?
27 Plays2 hours ago
We welcome Nate back to help us talk through our Accessibility Deep Dive! He tells us the background for his experience with accessibility at theme parks, and we talk what systems work best, where parks can improve, and what parks are seamlessly tackling creative accessibility so that every guest can enjoy their park as equally as possible.
Check out Nate (and his brother!) on socials:
https://www.youtube.com/@Coaster_Focus
https://www.instagram.com/coaster_focus/
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts' Updates
00:00:00
Speaker
You are listening to the Inverted Creative Podcast. I'm Allison. I'm Bryant. And I'm Jen.
00:00:17
Speaker
Hi, guys. What is up? Hello. Hello. um So I want to start this episode off. We do not have Bryant with us again today and he will not be joining us again until after he and i both return from Europe.
00:00:34
Speaker
um He's doing okay. He just life comes before podcasts and he is kind of doing a little mental reset with his recovery. So he will be back with us after Europe much better mentally, physically.
00:00:49
Speaker
we we just want, we want him doing well. Yeah. his everyone's life before podcasts. So we'll have some of this stuff happen occasionally and occasionally. Yes, that was right.
00:01:02
Speaker
um And yeah, and we'll roll with
Nate's Return and Podcast Preferences
00:01:04
Speaker
it. So we'll have him. Yeah. I mean, and that's something like when we started this podcast, like I told Brian and Jen first off, like if anything is ever going on, if you can't record, we'll work around it.
00:01:16
Speaker
Your your health comes first. Exactly. And after an injury like that, ah reset is definitely needed.
00:01:27
Speaker
it's It's a rough couple of weeks, couple of weeks, couple of months. it's like It's a whole life change that you got to get used to. Yeah. So shout out to Ryan. Trying to find his normalcy once again, which valid.
00:01:41
Speaker
Yes. But today we have our fourth slash third slash third and a half chair with one and a half chair third and a half. We'll go with that.
00:01:51
Speaker
um If you listen to our episode, don't remember the episode number, but when we ah talked about holiday events and parks and we did a giant Europa and Fantasieland recap, we had Nate join us and he is back with us today. Yeah, I am back.
00:02:06
Speaker
Hello. Welcome back. and Thank you. My first question for you. Have you actually listened to an episode of our podcast? Yeah, the one I was in. wow So you're just obsessed with yourself. i do need a I do need to catch up and listen to like all of the episodes. I just i don't think I've like ever actually listened to a podcast besides this one. like Ever. i like i watch videos. I just i don't know.
00:02:32
Speaker
I'll get better at it. I will. you're You're more of a YouTuber than a podcaster. Yeah. Yeah. I need the visuals. and Not really. I could listen to a podcast, but then there's also music when I'm driving, you know?
00:02:46
Speaker
Yeah. yeah I like singing. I'm the opposite. I can never do a vlog just because I don't like videoing myself, but I'm fine doing a podcast. I just, I'm used to videoing myself at this point. I feel like it took some getting used to like listening to myself, but I don't hate it as much now.
00:03:02
Speaker
um Yeah. So like I started YouTube, not like coaster YouTube, but just in general, like when I was like 13, And at that point, like everyone hears their voice differently than what everybody else hears.
00:03:14
Speaker
But now it's the same. i don't know what happened, but they like combined. And now if I'm on video or I'm speaking out loud, I hear my voice the same everywhere, which is kind of cool.
00:03:27
Speaker
Because I don't have to be like, ew, that's my voice. so I'm still that way. but Yeah, I honestly, like, I do remember a point in time where I thought the same way. And now I don't think that anymore. I just hear myself talk. and i'm like Yeah, it's like the same. I don't know how they like synchronized. Yeah, I never put that together. But I definitely had that same shift.
00:03:47
Speaker
Yep. Weird. Couldn't tell you when it happened. Just randomly. Yeah, me neither. I just realized it happened when you were talking about it. Yeah. Yeah, for me, it's like I'm listening to somebody else. I know it's me, but like I'm listening to somebody else. And that's how I try to frame it when I listen. and try to listen from a listener's perspective. That's a weird sentence.
00:04:09
Speaker
um That made sense in my head. I thought, I mean, it made sense. Yeah, it made sense. audience From an audience perspective. There we go. That's better. Yeah.
Jen's Photography Journey
00:04:21
Speaker
listen yeah i'm okay um um i know i have a trip recap to get into but before i do that um jen do you want to plug your new little endeavor side project thing yeah oh i was inspired guys from from by the one and only thrills on film um If you guys haven't listened to the episode with Laurel, Thrills on Film, go back and listen.
00:04:51
Speaker
when and Listening to her talk about film photography is very fun. And she inspired me to find myself a little film camera.
00:05:02
Speaker
um And I searched for like months and months for the one that I wanted at a reasonable price because I was just trying it. um And I found it. And I made, i started with just like taking some pictures and seeing what they turned out to and I realized I really liked it and I didn't want to really bombard everyone with film photography if that's not what they're into so I made a new Instagram called generally underscore analog um where i am posting those pictures just to share them and get them out with the world um and two rolls of film in and I've already decided that I liked it enough that I invested in an SLR
00:05:44
Speaker
A vintage SLR, but still an SLR. So um I just got my first roll of film back through that.
00:05:54
Speaker
It needs to have like a couple adjustments from the camera shop, but um yeah, it's good to go. So I, that will be, if anyone's interested in film photography, mostly theme parks, but of course other stuff.
00:06:08
Speaker
um Corgis. Corgis, yeah. My last- Corgis are great. Yeah, my the first roll of film in my SLR camera was at a Corgi picnic. um So lots of Corgi pictures.
00:06:22
Speaker
um I made them into a reel. So you can go check out my Corgi pictures. um But I figured it was the perfect time to- One, it's a manual focused camera. So I was like, i was like if I can figure this out on a bunch of Corgis- I feel like... That move.
00:06:40
Speaker
Yeah. Like, I'm set for roller coasters if I can figure out manual focus on corgis. So... I haven't done a lot of manual focus on coasters, but um it is kind of easy to, like, zoom into where, the like, it's going to be and then just take a picture of the next train that comes by.
00:06:56
Speaker
So might even be easier than corgis. That's what I was thinking. I was like, I feel like... it might be a little easier, but my main thing was like when I took my original, um, camera. So I just started with like a little point and shoot.
00:07:11
Speaker
I had a couple images that I had an idea in my head and i I, knew what I was going for, but because it wasn't customizable and it was just a point and shoot, the shutter speed adjusted.
00:07:24
Speaker
So like I had a couple images where I was like, I really want this blurred, um And then it's like the shutter speed adjusted and it didn't blur and the picture turned out bad.
00:07:35
Speaker
But like, but if I had the capability to adjust the shutter speed so whatever I wanted it to be and learn how to do that, um I would have been a lot happier with those photos. So um we'll see.
00:07:47
Speaker
I've never... I've never used a film camera before now, so we'll see how it turns out. But I'm having fun with it so far. anyone wants to follow. and hack there's actually just did as you said it.
00:08:02
Speaker
Wait, what? I actually just followed as you said it because I didn't ask what the name of it was. so As you said it on the podcast, I followed you. Perfect. Love that.
00:08:12
Speaker
We'll link it in the description too. I say we. I'll link it in the description whenever I post that. um I think I've shared it on Inverted's Instagram stories at some point already. I think.
00:08:25
Speaker
Yeah. I don't know. I don't remember. don't remember But there is a really fun picture of Voltron. I think the Voltron picture is really what is that the one that had the lightning bolt kind of thing in it?
00:08:36
Speaker
Yeah. And it's like with the... um So it's... I used the specialty film called Tesla 2. um And it had lightning bolts going all through it. And i found like a palm tree was able to frame the palm tree.
00:08:54
Speaker
around like voltron and you could still tell very clearly it's voltron and i whatever happened everything was on my side i timed it perfectly and um i was really really proud of that picture and that's when i was like all right we're gonna make an instagram for this that's really cool yeah that's sick no that's a flamingo land
00:09:20
Speaker
yes it is sorry
00:09:25
Speaker
but yeah No, I purposefully said that because I knew you would follow up with that. Although the picture is really cool. Yeah, but we gotta get the jokes. Come on, be important. Yeah, the jokes. The jokes are important.
00:09:36
Speaker
And you can see that picture's insane? No, that's a Grunelund. Okay.
00:09:44
Speaker
I hate that. I interrupted my mind with that. It's incredible.
00:09:50
Speaker
um petticoat that's me i was going to say it's a legend now. And no that's a holiday world and Arnold's Park. ah Anyway.
Epic Universe Trip Highlights
00:10:03
Speaker
Really dumb puns aside. um So I have a trip report that I'm going to try to keep as spoiler free as I possibly can because I went to Epic Universe for the first time. um Granted, it's a lot harder to spoil things on a podcast than it is like on my Instagram where I can post pictures of everything.
00:10:22
Speaker
But yeah. um So ah me and Mike did a stupid and we knew it was going to be a stupid when we bought the tickets back in like October. um So we were there like day 10 of official operation outside of ah all the preview dates or whatever.
00:10:39
Speaker
um And we left work at 3 p.m. on a Friday, pulled up to Terra Luna Resort at 5 a.m. on Saturday, slept for an hour.
00:10:51
Speaker
in the car while was pouring down rain and raining sideways and that was the start to the day um so we got into early entry at epic universe um and we actually had a really good day minus the pouring rain for the first two hours or so um got on everything except for the the water ride fire drill and then whatever wing gliders thing Not Hiccups, but the other one that I... Oh, the one where people are trying to flip? Is it the Gerstler one? Yeah, the Skyfly thing that I legitimately have zero idea what the name is. I never even went up close to it.
00:11:29
Speaker
But... Yeah, we did. yeah I... Side to Ira Burke, phenomenal. Love it. um Hiccups was adorable, too. But ah it was a really good day.
00:11:43
Speaker
Stardust Racers is now my number three. Like, it's it's good. Is there a better side? It's right below Voltron.
00:11:54
Speaker
Voltron is two. Okay.
00:11:57
Speaker
I think me and Mike both put Stardust at three right below Voltron. Is there a better side of Stardust? We both liked green better. Is it green? It looks gold to me.
00:12:10
Speaker
but One yellow one's green. Okay. Apparently there's actual names for it. Photon and... something else i don't know but it says yellow and green on the ground so we went off of that okay whenever you do the split um you get uncomfortably close to the other train and track it's it's intimidating is the best way to put it but that's what king's dominion used to be shut up or used to be at caroines
00:12:43
Speaker
and Anyway, ah we with the help of um Nick Chandler via Christina, who we were able to hang out with um during the day, ah we got a couple Fast Pass Plus, Fast Lane, don't even remember what it's called, but we got on ministry twice and waited about 20 minutes each time, which was shocking because we went into the day not even knowing if we'd get on ministry.
00:13:09
Speaker
and And it's the best ride in the park, in my opinion. which is saying something when I have Stardust as my number three coaster. I was going to say like over the coasters. Yeah, it was really, really, really cool.
00:13:21
Speaker
um And then Christina and I also hung out and we went and got butterbeer crepes. Oh, I had a whole food day. It was great. um ah I could spend a while just talking about the food, but we had butterbeer crepes and then two rounds of, ah it was like a Prosecco elderflower spritz.
00:13:37
Speaker
I don't know. The drinks came out immediately and We finished them before the crepe came out, and so I needed Prosecco with my crepe, so we got another round. And it was delightful.
00:13:48
Speaker
Nice. ah We had one of the mac and cheese cones. We had the garlic steak pretzel thingy. um We had Pizza Moon.
00:13:59
Speaker
We ate a lot of food.
00:14:02
Speaker
and then we went up to the bar at Bar Helios at the end of the night and proceeded to have $25, or not martinis, cocktails. one $25 cocktails? Yeah.
00:14:13
Speaker
No way. That's how expensive that pricing is? Yeah, i think that i think the most expensive was like $25. I think mine was like $20? $20 is still wild!
00:14:24
Speaker
It's still a lot. And the unfortunate part is that it was at 10.30 at the end of the day after we had driven all night and I'm like, I am too tired to actually appreciate
UK Parks Plans
00:14:35
Speaker
this for what it is.
00:14:37
Speaker
No, like that. Oh, hold on. I have a picture of what i what drink I got. That drink better have been presented in a way that was like. It was beautiful.
00:14:48
Speaker
Mine was $20. It was Nectar of the Gods. And it was Cruzon Single Bail Rum, Grand Marnier. I don't drink a lot. I don't even know how to pronounce that. Peach yogurt syrup, lime juice and cane syrup.
00:15:01
Speaker
That sounds good, but it doesn't sound $20.
00:15:05
Speaker
$20. So that was $24? um Yeah, pretty much. No. Wow. yeah We did it just you know for the sake of saying we went there. and The view was absolutely gorgeous. like we Yeah, like when in Rome.
00:15:22
Speaker
Yeah. yeah But it was a really good day. We enjoyed it. And then we drove back home on Sunday. And we were very tired. Yeah, I would imagine.
00:15:35
Speaker
and would imagine. Sounds like a sick day, though.
00:15:41
Speaker
Flamingo land.
00:15:45
Speaker
You guys were kind of insane to do that. Yeah, it is kind of wild that you guys did that. I'm and trying to think of other puns, but I can't think of any more.
00:15:56
Speaker
All I can think of is Crazanity and like I can't work that into a sentence. Crazanity. Crazanity. Oh my god. That's wild. and One. Oh, wild one. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wild thing.
00:16:12
Speaker
True. Yeah. um Very soon we're also actually going to the UK. Me and Nate are going along with like 80 other people. but Yeah. What?
00:16:25
Speaker
what I said, me and like 80 other people are going. Yeah, no. Yeah. Also me and Nate are going. Yes, we are going. To nine of the 10 same parks.
00:16:39
Speaker
Yeah. if I'm going to Drayton Manor and you're going to Lisa Berg. Yes. Which I went to last year. So i was like, I'm just going to go to the add on Drayton Manor. I was more excited for Lisa Berg.
00:16:50
Speaker
Well, I mean, I. would be too. I think Lisa Burke's probably the better park. It also has Helix and Balder, which is like, holy crap. Those two together are like awesome.
00:17:03
Speaker
But, um, I don't know. I want more credits and the wave looks interesting and, uh, Drayton Manor. I'm going to the UK, so I'm just going to more UK stuff.
00:17:15
Speaker
It'll be good time. I'll make a land though. Unfortunately, and we, we genuinely tried. We tried. I think mostly just for the sake of the joke. How far is it from everything?
00:17:27
Speaker
It's kind of in the middle of nowhere. Yeah. It would have been like basically doing that instead of Drain Manor or Lisa Berg. Okay. Just kind of near that area. We tried to do it on like our first day that we had to kill, like instead of Wallaby, Belgium. Instead of going to Belgium now.
00:17:43
Speaker
Yeah. But somehow the like the puddle jumper flights were like easier. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it was a whole thing. But now we're going to Belgium instead. so Yeah, which is wild.
00:18:00
Speaker
Yes. But we will have a lot to talk about in a couple episodes after me and Brian both have our Europe trips while Jen sits at home doing nothing.
00:18:12
Speaker
Wishing that I was in Europe as well, but only at Europa Park. Yeah. And Schwaben Park. ah Schwaben Park? ah but
Accessibility Miniseries Introduction
00:18:23
Speaker
the What's the rollerball called? Wilde Hilda.
00:18:26
Speaker
willda hilda that's what it did oh My last trip there, we were supposed to go, and then like... We forgot some people were coming to Europa Park and we were like, the only time we can go is after we do the six hour drive back from Paris. And like, we spent the first five days I was there in Paris, like nonstop.
00:18:43
Speaker
And we got home and you're like, we cannot drive two and a half hours to Schwaben Park. Like we are exhausted. We need to stay today. So no Schwaben Park, but I need that park. I've never wanted to go to a park so bad in my life.
00:18:59
Speaker
That was almost kind of me with Bon Bon Land last year. glad I went there. That park also looks so good. it was so weird. And the dog park coaster is everything you would hope it would be.
00:19:13
Speaker
ah See, that's going to be like my next one I obsess obsess over. Like Schwaben Park is going to be right now. And then after Schwaben, I feel like that's that's on the running for the next park I obsess over. Yeah.
00:19:26
Speaker
I missed time at Bakken and Tivoli Gardens just to go to Bon Bon Land, and it was worth it. Oh my gosh, that's actually kind of wild, but... And I i ended up missing the Breakman coaster at Tivoli Gardens because I was dumb and didn't realize that it closed like an hour and 30 minutes before the park.
00:19:44
Speaker
Oh no! So I got Damonen and the Kitty coaster and... Milky Way. I don't know how to say it in Danish. so But yeah, I got the others.
00:19:58
Speaker
If I had gone in the order that I wanted to, I'd have done Breakman first, then Damonen, then worried about the other two later. But I didn't realize that they closed everything early and charged me $70 for it.
00:20:10
Speaker
Oh, geez. oh I am not a fan of Tavoli Gardens anymore. that's It's pretty. It looks pretty. Yeah, I'm go to be honest. I don't know anything about their coaster lineup. I do know that it's a beautiful park, though.
00:20:24
Speaker
There's a break man and an interesting B&M sit down and the other two are are floorless. Sorry, floorless. And then the other two are like. Exist. Yeah. i feel Ironically, one of them is a Tivoli, a zero Tivoli.
00:20:38
Speaker
No, it's not. Actually, it's a force. Never mind. I'm sorry. and but Wow. You lied to us. I'm sorry. It's not a Tivoli. Tivolis are the older ones. man he really know He's no Brian, is he?
00:20:50
Speaker
sorry I got a Mach powered coaster I think it's like it's probably a clone of something but yeah don't go in that line first and that line takes 30 minutes and you can ride a brakeman instead brakeman coaster brakeman coaster you know what I mean
00:21:13
Speaker
oh my drink is getting to me anyway so on that note um So this is, you know, now that we're 22 minutes into this or whatever, um the second episode of our accessibility miniseries. So this is our ah deep dive episode.
00:21:31
Speaker
um If you follow our social media, you already know what our next episode is going to be after this, but we will announce that shortly because ah there's a question that leads into it, which is exciting.
00:21:43
Speaker
um But I know Nate has a very good... understanding of this topic. i don't know if you want to kind of give a little intro as to why you're with us today, aside from the fact that you're just my friend.
00:21:58
Speaker
Yeah. And a Fousey. um Well, I can actually go into a little bit of backstory because I just realized this is a bit of an origin story for me.
Accessibility Challenges and Experiences
00:22:07
Speaker
um So my brother is um like two and a half years younger than me. And he has um something called Dravet syndrome and autism.
00:22:18
Speaker
um So everyone's pretty much familiar with autism and all the forms that can take, but probably you haven't heard of Dravet syndrome before. um It's, the way I can describe it is it's a rare form of epilepsy. So he has seizures mostly when he's asleep. He can't have them when he's awake.
00:22:33
Speaker
It's happened many times, but, um, that's something he deals with. He's also cognitively about like two years old and, um, developmentally his feet are like, um, flat and like didn't completely form like normal. So he wears, um, uh, braces, um,
00:22:55
Speaker
I don't know the medical term for that, but like, like braces, foot braces right um for that. Um, so the origin story is, um, my brother has no fear.
00:23:07
Speaker
So like, um, back when we were like little kids, um, I, we went to holiday world, um, which is my home park. I'm from Southern Indiana.
00:23:17
Speaker
And I was like a little scared to ride some of the coasters. I ended up riding Raven legend and voyage, but, um, we didn't know how my brother would react.
00:23:28
Speaker
And we were like, well, this, this kid has no fear. So he was tall enough and we put him on, I believe it was Raven first and the dude, he loved it. He absolutely loved it. And we were like surprised that he, I guess we're not surprised, but we were like shocked at how much he loved the ride.
00:23:46
Speaker
Um, and, um, he, like I said, he has no fear. So he just, doesn't even question it. He'll ride anything. And also found out like medically, it's kind of actually good for his vestibular system to ride roller coasters. So like, that's ah like almost a health benefit.
00:24:03
Speaker
um so interesting And then that kind of made like, and then I kind of got more into coasters kind of part of, as part of that. And then we went to Hershey park, we went to universal, we went to mall of America. So we started going different places and then I took off with it and became,
00:24:19
Speaker
me who gets a hundred plus credits every year. But then also like my brother, my mom, my dad, we all ride coasters. My brother loves them about as much as I do. And, um, they're all nearing 300 credits themselves each individually.
00:24:34
Speaker
so But yeah, so it's kind of a family endeavor. But throughout that, um, we have learned a lot about the accessibility, like ADA a passes, um, ramps, elevators, what different parks have what or what parks don't even have anything at all. Cause there are some, most of them are like really small, not chain parks, that kind of thing.
00:24:57
Speaker
Um, But yeah, that's kind of like why I have so much knowledge on it. I've been to so many parks and ridden so many coasters with my brother and admittedly gotten on some kiddie coasters that have height limits because they let him ride. So I just go with him because i someone has to be with him to ride. He can't like ride by himself.
00:25:16
Speaker
um So I have admittedly gotten some kiddie coasters that wouldn't normally be ridden with him. And so did he. So, um, yeah, uh, that's, that's the backstory there. I got, I will, we'll get into it, but, um, yeah.
00:25:31
Speaker
Do you have any idea what his crud count is? Um, let me pull it up. I actually have it like, cause I'm a nerd. So I've kept track of everything. So Seth's rollercoaster count. It's hot. Like it's pretty high.
00:25:44
Speaker
um after the 288. I was going to laugh if it's higher than Jen's, but yes, yes it is. It is higher than mine. Let me see what mine is. 288 and his most recent was Twist and Shout at Family Kingdom Amusement Park, which is that wild mouse.
00:26:01
Speaker
like That was last year. me see my stats. I'm at 213, so I'm higher than I thought, but he's got lot on me. he's He's been on the grind with me for quite a while on on riding coasters.
00:26:17
Speaker
I'm looking through Busch Gardens Tampa, Williamsburg, Kings Dominion, all the Disney World parks, Adventureland Iowa, Lost Island, Family Kingdom, and Myrtle Beach.
00:26:30
Speaker
Dorney Park. He's ridden talent at Dorney Park. Heck yeah. Let's see. Hershey, Kennywood, Silver Dollar City, Nickelodeon Universe, Canada's Wonderland. He's been everywhere.
00:26:41
Speaker
Wow. Six Flags New England. then I know you've said he's nonverbal. Do you have any like indication as to what his favorite coasters are? Like what are his top coasters? um Honestly, he knows he knows the quality coasters. He knows which ones are the best.
00:26:57
Speaker
Like you can tell when he has a better reaction versus I don't think we've put him on an SLC ever. or at least not since I've ridden them and realized how bad they are.
00:27:08
Speaker
and um So like there were some he'll skip, like for sure. Like for example, Lost Island, like we did not write, he did not write no Pucco. My dad and I did and regretted it, um but he didn't.
00:27:20
Speaker
um But I mean, he loves, i probably Fury, probably Fury 325 is probably his favorite. I would, and that's just based on the reaction. Like we'd come off and he's got like,
00:27:32
Speaker
tears running down his like back on his face because like all the wind and he's like drooling it's got slobber going back and he just he'll like shake his head and and um he does lean over and um bite and pinch us and that's not a bad like that's a good reaction he does that when he's excited so um but yeah um sometimes we've rated coasters on how many bites it gets Like bad coasters, he might not bite you at all, genuinely.
00:28:01
Speaker
And then on good ones, he'll he'll maybe do it a couple times. So, yeah. It sounds like he's not enjoying but he'll be like laughing. He does this thing where he's like, like I can't do it. But he like laughs like that. he like breathes in. And yeah.
00:28:17
Speaker
So he knows what's good. i mean. Yeah. That's fascinating. i love it. His 200th coaster, by the way, was Leap the Dips at Lake Montpark. I don't even have that.
00:28:28
Speaker
I don't have that either. What the heck? um I just, I remember that because I was like, I wonder what, how many credits he's at. And I counted it and it was, that's what it was. i was like, wow.
00:28:41
Speaker
Wow. yeah I'm a little jealous. Yeah.
00:28:47
Speaker
That one does not have any accessibility. However, it was pretty easy to walk. He can get out and he can walk. He just doesn't walk all day at the amusement park because that would wear him out. So he rides in into like a full size, like adult stroller most the time, but he's, he can walk easily from like place to place. So we just got up to the station. He walked in, sat down the like, no restraint kind of helped with that too.
00:29:11
Speaker
And he, he, he holds on sometimes. So he held onto that one. probably because we put his hands there and he grabbed on but yeah yeah that i feel like also like i never heard of that ride really having a line because i feel like it didn't we went in 2020 i also just feel like if you're not a thusie that ride seems kind of wild Yeah, my dad almost like flew out of the back of it. I've got a video on my channel like of um' I have a GoPro and he just like comes out of the seat and up towards me. I'm like, holy crap.
00:29:49
Speaker
Oh my gosh. Yeah, so I feel like the general public is not like...
00:29:59
Speaker
aware yeah like i just and or i feel like they ride it once because it's close and it's really cool and then they realize that's kind of scary and they never ride yeah it's a little sketchy no restraint and if you're it's amazing how it's just a front row and a back row in one car and they're so different front row is smooth and it's like not gonna launch you and then the back row you might like get launched forward incredible oh i want to ride it so bad Well, hopefully we'll get to in the future. it's I hope it reopens.
00:30:33
Speaker
yeah I hope it reopens. Yeah, me too. I have Skyliner, but not leave the dips. I have Skyliner too. We did not like that. I liked it. I didn't like it.
00:30:46
Speaker
andt I also didn't like Little Leaper. That was also there. Couldn't find a ride operator to operate it, even though we bought a ticket for it. Oh, that's that's unfortunate. Yeah, I think the ticket is still on our fridge.
00:30:59
Speaker
Just waiting one day. well One day.
00:31:05
Speaker
and then Jen, I know you have some experience in this topic as well with your, I know we touched on that our last episode with Caitlin, but with service dog handling.
00:31:15
Speaker
Yeah. so um my um experience with um accessibility is a little bit different. panic sometimes. panic really badly and I have panic attacks and because of that I also handle a service dog.
00:31:31
Speaker
My service dog, I've talked about it a lot, she is at this point um medically washed which means she got hurt and she can no longer work because she was hurt. It's not fair to her.
00:31:43
Speaker
um So I don't currently handle a service dog any longer but I did handle her for um about two years before she was hurt and That's where a lot of my experience comes from. and um And then of course. Hidden disabilities. With some panic.
00:32:02
Speaker
um Stuff there. So different ends of the spectrum. But still accommodations for both.
00:32:12
Speaker
Y'all are both definitely a little more. Knowledgeable on this than I am for sure. But that's what we like. Is to have varied experiences. Yeah. And it's kind of.
00:32:23
Speaker
the goal of this accessibility series is to bring to light some of the different situations you can encounter at theme parks. Um, everybody, no matter who you are, deserves to have fun at a theme park equally.
00:32:37
Speaker
And that's where accessibility comes in, I think. Yeah. Um, so of course I have to do my little bit of research for some of these things. Um, I know we've mentioned inclusive design was one of the phrases used in the last episode with Caitlin and just kind of a vague, not a vague, but broad definition design philosophy that focuses on creating products and environments that are usable and accessible to the widest range of people, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or circumstances.
00:33:10
Speaker
And that's very true for theme parks. Whether you have a service dog or you're in a wheelchair, everybody should have access to but this release of theme park but so that was my ah psychology lesson for the day um but you know there's there's ways for theme parks to do this very creatively in a way that speaking of service dogs uh
00:33:42
Speaker
Jen disappeared for a second because Ahsoka is barking. um As she does. um
00:33:50
Speaker
But like there are definitely ways that theme parks, especially like the immersive parks, can creatively make accessibility easier so that even if you do require some assistance, you still get that same immersive experience.
00:34:05
Speaker
And it's definitely something I've seen at like Universal and Disney. I mean, not firsthand, but just kind of witnessing it a little bit, but yeah, I will say, I don't even know if I need to really talk about universal and Disney because of how good of a job they do like both of them.
00:34:22
Speaker
um I mean, they're definitely different than all the the the rest. um Like, especially Disney is just really good at, it's basically like fully virtual queue. It's almost like a fast pass. Like, I mean, I just think Disney does it really well.
00:34:40
Speaker
um So I don't know how much I'll talk about them because I might talk more about what things should improve and experiences. But most of my experiences have been positive with it, I will say, which is good.
00:34:51
Speaker
um I do have have to bring up, I'm going try and stay as positive as possible in this one. But um have have you guys tried to um get DAS accommodations since the changes?
00:35:07
Speaker
I have not. Yeah. ah They changed after 2022. That's the last time I was there. Okay. So, um, I asked because their, their approval is extremely difficult now, even for nonverbal and wheelchair bound people.
00:35:26
Speaker
Interesting. Um, which is really unfortunate because there's a lot of people that really need it. Yeah. I know once i was like, I think my thing was kind of like once approved,
00:35:36
Speaker
Yeah, once approved, it's an incredible system. i think, um yeah, as someone with ah a panic disorder, i or like, that has issues with panicking, like,
00:35:51
Speaker
I do think sometimes it's not incredible because of where it merges in, but outside of that, it's incredible for the rest of the time. Yeah, that's perspective I don't have, because we just, I mean, we go where we need to, and Yeah, like um ones that always come to mind when I think of Disney's accessibility and what can improve is like Haunted Mansion.
00:36:12
Speaker
um You get put into the stretching rooms and then out into that cattle chute, which is terrible. um Guardians, I've actually had multiple panic attacks when trying to get out of the second pre-show.
00:36:25
Speaker
that is like I have not been on Guardians, so I can't... Yeah. Yeah, I haven't either. um Getting out of the second pre-show is very similar with a cattle chute, but it's like the worst cattle chute on property. It's like really... Is it like clustered and like really ah claustrophobic, I guess?
00:36:44
Speaker
Yeah, so it's like they let out the whole entire big room and then bring you into a a really tiny hallway, so the entire giant room of people is trying to get into the little hallway and everyone's pushing and shoving. Yeah.
00:36:54
Speaker
um And then after they do that and you're already through that part. So if you get through that part, perfect. But then when they let out the next pre-show, everyone's running. o um Which causes issues. So um actually the last time I tried to ride Guardians, I didn't even get to ride it. I completely and utterly panicked and had to ask multiple cast members to let me out as I was fully having a panic attack and no one would help. but I ended up just like walking out.
00:37:26
Speaker
I ended up backstage. like Finally someone did grab me, but like I ended up backstage walking myself out of the ride. ah yeah But it's like, that's from my end of the spectrum. I think that Disney does have some improving to do um But for the most part, like that's very limited as to what attractions that you're looking at.
00:37:46
Speaker
Because other ones are fantastic. Disneyland might be the best accessibility I've ever seen because they have a lot of exit access. Um, which is great. Ironically, I've been to Disneyland, but my brother hasn't been out there, so I can't really speak on accessibility out there.
00:38:04
Speaker
But, um, actually with you mentioning like the, the cattle pan area and like the tight quarters that actually gets really hard sometimes with the stroller. Like, um, it's not the same as you your panic situation, but it's, it's, um, sometimes like it's really hard to maneuver that through there. And especially if people are running or moving around,
00:38:24
Speaker
people are tripping or running into us and it's more of a physical fight, like to get out of there. Like it's, it, it's cumbersome with a, with a, a stroller like that.
00:38:35
Speaker
Or if my brother's like walking and he like has to walk back somewhere, um he can fall over pretty easily if he gets like bumped. Cause he's relatively unstable when walking. He walks well, but if he gets bumped or trips or something, he can go down pretty easily. And that's actually something that can trigger,
00:38:52
Speaker
a seizure for him. So there is more safety that could be had there as well. So I did think about that while you were mentioning that. So that, that is an area of improvement for sure that they could have.
00:39:05
Speaker
Yeah. I think overall their program, once you can get accepted is, is it's definitely one of the better ones for sure. Yeah. um But you could tell like and part of it is that the park's not really designed for it, but it does make me,
00:39:20
Speaker
a little bit more, I don't even want to say upset, but skeptical when like newly built rides also don't take into account those types of accommodations. um And at the very beginning of Guardians, they used to actually let you skip that second pre-show if you had issues, but then so many people found out that you could do that, that they no longer allow you to do that no matter what.
00:39:42
Speaker
Okay. Um, their new philosophy is that if you can't sit through the second pre-show, then you shouldn't be riding the roller coaster, which I think might be the worst take in the world. Yeah. That sucks. Um, don't like that.
00:39:53
Speaker
Yeah. I used to like, i know that we talked about my service animal, um, For those who don't know, she's a corgi. She's 12 inches off the floor.
00:40:04
Speaker
um She's not very tall at all. She's vertically challenged. Not easy to view. um And even after pleading cases where it's like, I can handle the second, like if I have to, I can i can try my best. I can make it through the second pre-show.
00:40:21
Speaker
um However, when people push and shove and force their way, it's not safe for my dog. And um their recommendation was for me to hold my 30 pound dog.
00:40:34
Speaker
And if I wasn't able to hold my service dog in the air for the entire duration of the pre-show and walking into the queue, then I shouldn't be riding. And I was like telling someone they need to carry their service animal is awful.
00:40:46
Speaker
Yeah, because there are larger service animals, for sure. Well, the larger service animals, I do- Well, I guess they made me notice better, right? Yeah, you can see them a little better. The issue with with small- And Ahsoka's a- If you have like a 10-pound or 15-pound service animal, I feel like it's a little bit more, but she's 35 pounds.
00:41:05
Speaker
Yeah. I'm not holding that dog. And she doesn't want to be held. That's the other thing. I'm not going to do something she doesn't want to do, and she does not want to be held. Yeah. Not a fan of being held. um So like for newer attractions, I just feel like it's it's definitely not as acceptable to not have great accommodations for everyone.
00:41:28
Speaker
but but okay sorry that was my rant the rest i saw i'll try and be more positive i guess i mean i can kind of piggyback on my rant a little bit i'm not gonna beat up on disney it's gonna be knobles and actually i think i thought of six flags st louis as well which not necessarily exactly six flags st louis but um i'll go into mine and it's it's not i guess it's not horribly negative either but Cause Knoebels overall did a pretty good job.
00:41:55
Speaker
Um, Phoenix twister, um, flying turns, even, um, where my brother like had to ride with my mom, like she was behind him and had like, hold on all of that, like went really well.
00:42:07
Speaker
Um, it was impulse. That was the problem. And the problem is what made me frustrated because it absolutely makes no sense. So, um, they have a rule on impulse and I guess there's some other coasters out there.
00:42:23
Speaker
Particularly ones where your legs are hanging down, which impulse doesn't even really have that. It's a zero and your legs are like on the ground, but that's a, that's a, mute that's a moot point. But um where you can't have like leg braces slash prosthetics, anything like that, which my brother does have leg braces. They come off. He can walk with shoes without them.
00:42:45
Speaker
but we have them on because they help with structure helps them walk, going to the bathroom, getting on rides, all that stuff. If he had to get out of the stroller, it's easier than having him just open ankle, you know, whatever he can still walk with it.
00:42:58
Speaker
What made me frustrated was we had to, I don't remember if there was stairs or an elevator, but we got up top and he was ready to go, like ready to get on and he gets excited. So like he's, he tries to like grab the gate and look and he's ready to get on the ride.
00:43:14
Speaker
Um, And the ride op comes over to us and like points out that he has the braces and says, you can't ride with the braces. And um for example, I've on Dominator, my brother rode literally with his socked feet because they said the same thing.
00:43:30
Speaker
And they were like, we were like, can we take them off? And then they were like, yeah. So we just took them off and put them on, which is still kind of weird, but I get the, it could hit somebody maybe. Even if it's my dad, they have to be liable for that. So I get that part. But um so we're like, okay. So we take them off and put his shoes on, like um on his feet regularly.
00:43:51
Speaker
And then they stopped us again and said, no, he can't ride. We already saw them on his legs. And I was like, what? Like he can, what you are seeing him walk without braces.
00:44:03
Speaker
You know, he can ride with like out them. I get that they're not allowed on the ride. That's why they're off. And basically he didn't get a right impulse. I wrote it by myself. I was frustrated.
00:44:14
Speaker
um I guess I got to utilize the ADA and skip the line myself. They at least let me do that since they let some of us write it, which was just me because of my mom, my brother and myself.
00:44:26
Speaker
But he was the one he wanted to write it. Like he was ready to go. And then that's just, I think that's a really dumb reason if he can take them off and still ride with that. Like,
00:44:38
Speaker
with just shoes, you should be able to do that. Um, it's just to support. It's literally just a support. Like I said, I get why you want to take them off on some rides. It could hit people, whatever they're hard.
00:44:51
Speaker
Um, they're like hard plastic, but once you take them off, if he can still walk and he can like up to the visitor's discretion, if they can still ride like that and it's not presenting danger, like obviously not somebody with no legs, but, um,
00:45:08
Speaker
I think they should be able to. That seems similar situation at Six Flags St. Louis was we went through the ADA line, like up the ramp, up the exit ramp.
00:45:19
Speaker
He had the stroller parked in there, which that's a tight hallway on the exit of Mr. Freeze. um I guess I didn't mention it was Mr. Freeze, but it's Mr. Freeze. um We got up there. He's parked people walking around us. Like I said, it's kind of congested in there.
00:45:36
Speaker
We got him out. We got him all the way down and sat into the car before anybody else does. um And with those premier trains, like it's kind of hard to get his foot in there because it's stiff when he's got the braces on.
00:45:50
Speaker
So we get them all the way under those stupid little foot pads. The nineties premier rides trains had literally um restraint down, buckled everything. They come over and said, yeah, he can't ride because of the braces. Yeah.
00:46:06
Speaker
And we're like, well, what if we take him off? And they said yes. So we did take him off. He did ride. But that is just that's obliviousness, I guess.
00:46:17
Speaker
Like they should have known that before, I guess, is is what I'm saying. um They should have said something when you come up like, hey, you can't ride with braces before we get out of the stroller, before we even sign like the paper of this is your time to ride any of that.
00:46:34
Speaker
They don't, you don't come up to someone already in sitting down and say, you can't ride and like make them get up and out. I don't think we ended up riding it actually because he'd ridden it dozens of times before.
00:46:46
Speaker
Also never with this issue. I guess I should mention that. Um, maybe there was a real change or something, but yeah, I don't think we ended up riding it cause too hard to get them in and out.
00:46:57
Speaker
So we took like an extra five minutes. I don't think they sent a train for a solid 10 minutes. because of us and that was kind of on purpose. I was a little bit frustrated. Yeah, that seems is that seems really silly. And also, like, but I don't... In that case, i know I, like, really don't understand how braces could pose a... Yeah, because your feet are down and they don't move and I don't know what the rule was, but I remember making mad. The same type of ride vehicles at Disney where they tell you to put your bag in the bottom of the train, like, and you can't have like braces on your feet.
00:47:29
Speaker
Or even, like, Wallaby Belgium. I know it's in Europe and I haven't had any accessibility experience in Europe, but Tiki Waka at Wallaby Belgium, I had my camera bag underneath my feet and it's kind of open and I almost lost it. Like it almost just went.
00:47:45
Speaker
And I was like, um that was the closest I've ever gotten to like losing something on a ride, but they made me ride with it. And like, that's kind of the same thing. It's like, you know, it's not going to fall off. It's not going to hit somebody, but they're definitely...
00:47:59
Speaker
Structural thing, like stopping him from being restrained. Right. mean It's silly. It's not even like a GoPro. Like some parks don't care and they let, let me use the GoPro strapped to my hand or strapped to my chest and some don't let it at all. Like I get it.
00:48:13
Speaker
Not complaining at that at all. But like, once again, It's not the same as that. it can't come They're not coming off. i don't know what you're like I don't know what their concern is, really, I guess is my thing. Because he's always riding with family.
00:48:27
Speaker
So if they're concerned about a leg going and hitting somebody and it's a hard plastic leg, that's on us. I mean, I know maybe there's liability with that, but I don't know. I don't know legal stuff.
00:48:39
Speaker
yeah You just know your own experiences. Yeah. And even for just an able-bodied person, those premier trains are so difficult. Yeah, those suck. Also, the new ones suck.
00:48:50
Speaker
Yeah. They're the same thing. They're also just as bad. They're just really hard to get in and out of. Yeah. They're too tiny. Like, too together. I hope Alp and Fury's better.
00:49:02
Speaker
Like, wider. Yeah. I've heard it is. A little bit. They've started to slowly get a little bit wider.
00:49:11
Speaker
Um... But yeah, that's that's my complaints. But I guess we can talk. We can definitely be more positive now about it overall. Yeah. um So we I want to talk about good examples of um yeah parks that are truly embracing accessibility and inclusive design.
Ultra-Accessible Parks Spotlight
00:49:32
Speaker
um so One of them, um I found out about this place when we went to the Golden Ticket Awards in September. And they won some kind of award. I forget what it was for. But we were like, Morgan's Wonderland. I've not heard of that before.
00:49:47
Speaker
And so we looked it up. And I'm like, this is an incredible place. I'm so glad this exists. um So they are branded as the ultra-accessible theme park. I think they're considered the first and only.
00:50:00
Speaker
um Where they are genuinely built for accessibility and so everyone can join in. um and know when we posted a request for listener comments and questions, Coaster Cuzzy's said, see Morgan's Wonderland. So many more parks should be adopting their practices as the norm.
00:50:18
Speaker
And I yeah totally agree. Yeah. um And here's where we can say our next episode in our accessibility series, our finale of our accessibility series,
00:50:31
Speaker
we will actually be talking to the park president of Morgan's Wonderland about their inclusive design and creativity in the park to include absolutely everybody. And I am very, very excited about this interview.
00:50:45
Speaker
um We actually, you know, by the time this episode comes out, we'll have already recorded. We record with him. As of today, we record with him on Thursday in two days. um And i'm I'm so excited for that interview.
00:50:59
Speaker
It's going to be, really interesting and informative, I think. Yeah, I'm extremely excited to have them on as well. I love all of their messaging, their everything about that park I fell in love with at the moment I found out about that park.
00:51:14
Speaker
I know I posted about their mission statement earlier today. me find that real quick. You would think I'd be more prepared. um um Their mission statement on their website says their mission is to provide a fun, clean, and beautiful environment free of physical and economic barriers that all individuals, regardless of age, special need, or disability can come to and enjoy.
00:51:37
Speaker
Like they have a zip line that wheelchairs can go on. Yeah, that's awesome. Incredible.
00:51:45
Speaker
think I heard about this pretty early on just because like I usually hear about accessibility things um and <unk>ve we've yet to go, ah but like definitely on the bucket list, it seems awesome.
00:51:59
Speaker
Yeah, I really want to go check it out. um If you don't know about them, they're based in San Antonio. um So I know I want to plan a San Antonio trip at some point. ah San Antonio, Austin, when Cota Lane opens.
00:52:12
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, when? you I mean, honestly, I want to do a... Cota Lane's supposed to open... I don't even know when. i feel like they've been supposed to open for, like, years. That's true. Yeah.
00:52:27
Speaker
But I want to do roller coaster rodeo next year at Fiesta Texas, and I might try to work something in with that. Ooh, that would be perfect. Yeah. So I would love to go visit them at some point.
00:52:38
Speaker
Yeah, we're very excited for that interview. That's going awesome. um Kind of curious to look at some of the other rides that they have there. Because it's also more than just a theme park. There's a new water park. A new water park that just opened.
00:52:54
Speaker
Yeah. yeah um It's a very like they cover out a lot of different areas I feel like. Yeah. They have a Inspiration Island as their water park.
00:53:07
Speaker
Morgan's Camp. There's a multi-assistance center and then a sports area.
00:53:13
Speaker
I will say if there's one thing my brother likes more than roller coasters, it's water. Just like um getting splashed. So he definitely needs to go there. Oh yeah. He needs to go.
00:53:25
Speaker
Yes. Accessible splash park. Yeah. Yeah. That sounds perfect. Cause I'm, I'm sure I, I feel like accessibility at a water park when there's mobility is probably a nightmare.
00:53:40
Speaker
Yeah, I don't think my brother's ridden a lot of, like, water slides or anything, because it's almost impossible to, like, get up there. Yeah. um Like, he's ridden Mammoth and Wildebeest, because that's, like, bottom loading and with the lift hill.
00:53:53
Speaker
Yeah. anything else there, he's usually just in, like, the the splash area or the, like, wave pool. Yeah. So, I'm very intrigued by an ultra accessible.
00:54:05
Speaker
um It says they have they offer waterproof wheelchairs provided by the park, free of charge. um provide complimentary waterproof bags for ventilators and O2 watercolor, watercolor covers for guests who need to cover tracheas.
00:54:18
Speaker
Oh, that's, that's awesome. Yeah. That's really cool. It's so cool. Yeah.
00:54:25
Speaker
Yeah. That's incredible. I love that. I love it. Oh, they'll be cool to get on and um talk to them about their experience and building the park and all. And just how they think of these design decisions and,
00:54:39
Speaker
With accessibility at the forefront. As opposed to an afterthought. Like a lot of parks seem to do. Or no thought about. Yeah. yeah on
00:54:54
Speaker
Another really good um example. Of one that we have here. Is Peppa Pig Land. There's a. Couple Peppa Pig Lands. um I think two in the states right?
00:55:06
Speaker
Yes. and yeah One in Germany. but Hi Ahsoka.
00:55:13
Speaker
um I actually just went to the Peppa Pig Land about two weeks after it opened in Texas and Allison pointed this out which I won't steal your thunder here if you want to talk about it.
00:55:26
Speaker
I didn't I mean I didn't think about it from like a sensory standpoint but like the queue line for Daddy Pig Coaster um is like themed to the house which is up on a hill and there's grass over like all of the walls and everything, which is a cool sensory experience.
00:55:43
Speaker
um Also pretty much all ramp. I don't, I don't recall seeing any stairs or anything there. I like, it was pretty much all ramp. Um, I did, my brother did not come with me, um, on that one.
00:55:58
Speaker
it was just my mom and I, but, uh, actually, and then myself, I was the only one at Peppa Pig. Cause she was like, I'll just stay at the hotel and you go do that. And then we'll go to Trader's village. Um,
00:56:10
Speaker
Yeah. ah But I already have like an eye for these things just because of my experiences. So um having like all the ramps was cool. The exit was like pretty close and easy to get to to board people that have accessibility needs as far as wheelchairs go or like walking short distances.
00:56:30
Speaker
So those are things I noticed about Peppa Pig Land. you know, it was legitimately I was watching your Texas vlog and you pointed out the grass on the queue lines and i'm like oh yeah they're like heavily focused on sensory things um and i was going through their website um so they have they are a certified autism center meaning it's undergone training and has implemented measures to create a more accessible and inclusive environment and then there are sensory guides and i remember seeing these kind of in front of a couple of the things that they had there um
00:57:03
Speaker
But it rates each attraction based on its potential impact on the five senses. Touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell. um I think that's so cool. I feel like I might be making this up now, but I might not be.
00:57:16
Speaker
i felt like it smelled good in there. And it was like open. Maybe it was just because it was spring and in Texas. but It smelled new. It did smell new. Yeah. And there was definitely touch, sound, and sight. So like for sure. i don't i didn't taste anything.
00:57:31
Speaker
Yeah. I think I went there like a couple weeks after you did. Yeah. Yeah. Like I went, I went in March. It opened March 1st. I went on the 16th. I was there like April 7th, I think. Yeah. So we both went in like the first month.
00:57:47
Speaker
Yeah. it's still very fresh, but I mean, I've also done the one in Orlando. have not been there yet. I just knew, but I mean, pretty much same thing. um But yeah, like having those guides for sensory is so unique.
00:58:03
Speaker
To know how your kid is going to respond to everything. yeah I do think that is, um it's, what is it? I never remember the letters.
00:58:14
Speaker
It's like IBCCES. um I think that's an IBCCES designation and Legoland, all of their parks have the exact same scoring system and are also sort of certified. So another like Just another brand that follows a very similar guideline. Okay. International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards. Is that right or is that something else?
00:58:40
Speaker
I think that's something else. I think that's something else. Well, no. it says Delivers Global... Accessibility Card. No, there is an IBCCES Accessibility Card. Yeah. Training certification for the fields of autism, neurodiversity, and accessibility. Yeah. So that is it.
00:58:53
Speaker
That is it. um But yeah. So I think... So they have a program that gives requirements for them to get their autism center is center designation. And I think that sensory guide is included.
00:59:07
Speaker
so Legoland is another brand that has it. um
00:59:12
Speaker
I can't remember who else. um
00:59:20
Speaker
As we're all typing. yeah Yeah.
00:59:26
Speaker
Let's see. ah I did think this one, but I wasn't 100% sure. And we'll talk about them a little bit more. um But Sesame Place as well. Yeah, I saw that you had added that note on there, and that was a good one.
00:59:39
Speaker
Yeah, I added them for actually and a different reason. um But we'll get into that. and Side note, my brother loves Wacky Taxi. Another one I have not been on.
00:59:52
Speaker
Apparently that's hard to get I've been to that one three times, and I can't get that credit. I'm um' not to make you jealous or anything, but all three times I've been there, I have ridden it.
01:00:03
Speaker
I've only been there once and it was closed. But Jen's gotten a snow ride on Vapor Trail. I did get a snow ride on Vapor Trail. It's been a while since we've mentioned that. Vapor Trail was only open two the three times I've been there.
01:00:17
Speaker
ah It was open all three times. I've only ever ridden Vapor Trail. I mean, it's fun. it's It's fine, but I want to ride Oscar's lap taxi. That's all I want.
01:00:29
Speaker
i drive an hour to get there and it's closed. I'll get it this year. i hope you get it this year. that It's a good ride. I'll get it eventually. Yeah. And then our stupid New York trip will stop there.
01:00:45
Speaker
It's on my way to Six Flags Great Adventure, which... Anyone who doesn't know me, I really don't attend that park that much. I grew up in that park and I liked it then, but that park just drives me crazy at this point.
01:00:59
Speaker
So i I go sometimes. It has some pretty good rides, but like I just, I go like every once in a while. and don't want to drive an hour and a half when I can, yeah, go to Dorney.
01:01:13
Speaker
And ride Talon at Dorney Park? And ride Talon at Dorney Park or Hershey. Like, I don't know. don't know.
01:01:21
Speaker
Not a big fan of that park. But when I do make it to that park. Yeah. oh That's fair. It's gone downhill. Yeah. I think it's just that it was so good. Like, I'm really excited for what the future holds for that park. I wish it the best. I hope it'll be fantastic.
01:01:38
Speaker
um I have a lot of hope that it will be fantastic. But for the last, like, five or six years, you could not pay me to go to that park.
01:01:48
Speaker
Rest in peace, Kingda Cop. Yeah. Cosking. um Got a little derailed here. Yeah. A little bit. No pun intended. Glad we had the same brain on that one.
01:02:03
Speaker
That was a good one. Yeah, so back to certified autism centers. Yeah. Yeah, that scoring system is absolutely fantastic. I think it's a great thing to implement into parks, especially that are more family-centric, more than thrill-centric.
01:02:30
Speaker
Sorry, I'm looking things up literally as I'm trying to talk, but it's related. um Another one that somebody mentioned to me on Instagram, and I'd kind of forgotten about it until recently.
01:02:44
Speaker
um My friend Jeff commented, um and he said, the Give Kids a World Village in Orlando has a carousel that has animals that a wheelchair can be rolled into, so kids who can't walk can still feel like they're participating in the ride.
01:03:00
Speaker
Which, yeah, that's really cool, too. And that's that's a ride that's really easy to do that. I think we should see a lot more of those. Mm-hmm. Like a carousel, everyone can enjoy it.
01:03:11
Speaker
And if you make it where wheelchairs are can ride it, then even more people can enjoy it. Like every literally everybody that point. And it's not changing the ride experience. The ride experience is exactly the same.
01:03:23
Speaker
Especially when you're a kid getting on a carousel. like like Sure, it's fun that it goes up and down. But like a lot of the time the kids are more concerned about what animal they're getting.
01:03:34
Speaker
Yep. Or what color horse. Like, they really don't care if it's moving or not moving. Like, they want the pretty horse or their favorite animal or whatever. So making that accessible for people in wheelchairs to have that same excitement instead of sitting on a bench is, like, it's such an easy accessibility thing.
01:03:55
Speaker
Yeah. Well, they could get fancy and make, like, the floor go up and down. Yeah. ah That would be even better. Somebody hire me to do that. I'm an engineer.
01:04:07
Speaker
Let's go. so um On a related note to um my trip that I did, Epic Universe, on a Constellation carousel, it's not an elevated platform. It's all flat and level.
01:04:19
Speaker
um And there's like multiple platforms within it that rotate. um So like there's that level of accessibility there too. You don't have to have to step up for any reason it's just it's all flat i don't know i don't know if there's ones that like you can roll a wheelchair into but you might be able to transfer out of a wheelchair into one of the seated ones still yeah more easily at least yeah yeah i mean i know i've lifted my brother onto carousel plenty of times and like that like like i said he can walk but he doesn't understand how to get on a horse yeah
01:04:57
Speaker
Um, this is another one and i know I talked about it before, um a couple episodes ago before our accessibility. Um, but the Yoshi ride at Epic, this isn't going to be a spoiler.
01:05:10
Speaker
Um, but their wheelchair accessible vehicle. So I feel like a lot of the times when you have a wheelchair accessible vehicle, things like that, you really lose your theming aspect.
01:05:21
Speaker
of the ride vehicle um for functionality. So like thinking of all the different clamshells, things like that. um And the accessible vehicle vehicle for wheelchairs at Yoshi's, um instead of just being plain or trying to mimic what everyone else is in, they actually make it like it completely its own style vehicle and then have Yoshi like looking over the side in the vehicle with you. So you still get like a really inclusive experience that doesn't feel like less, if that makes sense.
01:05:57
Speaker
Yeah, that is really cool. I really like that touch. It's something that like, It's sure it's a completely different design because it kind of has to be, but still something that like you're riding with Yoshi.
01:06:11
Speaker
Like it's such a cool experience instead of just having like a plane ride vehicle.
01:06:17
Speaker
It was, it is a really cute ride, by the way. I'll have to tell my parents and brother are going to Epic Universe next week. I am unfortunately not going. But yes. You're coming to my house instead.
01:06:30
Speaker
No, like during the week when I'm at work. So even better. I'm so sorry. not Not to like really, but imagine going to Ohio instead of Epic. The reason I'm, i yeah. So I just have the Saturday. i have to work is the reason i'm not going to Florida.
01:06:49
Speaker
But you get to come see me. Yeah, that's true. You get to see Talon Cat. Yeah, that too. Talon Cat. Yeah. Oh my god. Are you so excited to ride both Nemesis inverts?
01:07:02
Speaker
Yes. yeah We're going to have a flat Nemi, I believe, to take pictures of Nemi in front of Nemesis. Nice. That's so good.
01:07:14
Speaker
Also, I think Mike is trying to make Nemesis a milestone, so there's that too. Fair enough. Anyway. It's a far cry from accessibility. Um... I thought I had, does Tron have like a wheelchair accessible seat or just like a transfer seat or something like that?
01:07:32
Speaker
I feel like I remember there is one. there So there is, it's a transfer, um but it's a standard ride vehicle. So um just your like your standard two sitting seats, but it does have a transfer base.
01:07:45
Speaker
um Like Slinky Dog, where the side comes down, you could transfer onto it. um into the restraint but i don't think it's at the back of every vehicle i think it's at the back of like half of the vehicles but it has one car at the back of the vehicle that has a sit down accessible seat yeah even little things like that can make a huge difference yeah yeah like getting i mean i haven't been on tron so me neither i was i feel like i've seen pictures of it though of that specifically
01:08:20
Speaker
One time Coaster Studios recorded a POV of that and you can just see my my booty because I'm right in front of them. I watched that and I was like, wow, I'm really just watching the back of my body the entire time. This this is real interesting.
01:08:35
Speaker
Is that on YouTube? Because I'll have to go look for it. It is on YouTube. He did cut the part where i I was like making a fool of myself waving at his GoPro though. yeah So but I was like, this is just me.
01:08:48
Speaker
Thanks.
01:08:51
Speaker
I'll send it. it's it's a very It's a very comical. No one else probably noticed it because it's just a random person in front of them. But it's it made me laugh because I'm like, that's... Wow, look at me.
01:09:02
Speaker
and look at me go.
01:09:07
Speaker
Did you have more on the Sesame Place Sunflower program? I did. So... um One thing that I really like to like, I had just learned about this last summer. So the, um, hidden disability sunflower program is mostly based, I believe in Europe.
01:09:27
Speaker
Um, and their whole philosophy is, um, having a designation for hidden disabilities if you want it and making them, um I don't want to say like more visible, but also like having a designation. So their thing is a sunflower.
01:09:47
Speaker
So there's a lot of different programs. So I think that you can like apply for it um and they have standards and then they have kind of like an accessibility card similar to IBCCES,
01:10:02
Speaker
um but specifically for hidden disabilities. And the whole point is that like, when you're wearing the sunflowers, it's supposed to indicate to the businesses and the theme parks that you do have a hidden disability.
01:10:18
Speaker
So, um, just give some type of indication that it's there. Um, it is a lot larger in Europe. That's where I found out about it. I had a friend who had a hidden disability and she explained the whole entire program to me.
01:10:35
Speaker
I fell in love with it. It's, it's, incredible in my opinion. I love it. Um, and the first, and as far as I know, only theme park in North America that supports it is Sesame Place in Pennsylvania. This is the first year that they support it.
01:10:51
Speaker
Um, and they're, I think it's a certification that they have to get, um, that just trains a little bit additional on hidden disabilities because it is a little bit different.
01:11:08
Speaker
Um, because someone with a hidden disability, panic disorders, ah sometimes autism, um, it isn't something that you can see.
01:11:19
Speaker
So having that indication, i most of the time people wear a lanyard, um, and it's an indication for those that are certified to know, um, that you might need a little extra care. You might need to be a little gentler with them, communicate a little differently.
01:11:34
Speaker
So I was extremely excited to hear about this coming into the States and I really hope other parks um also look into that and accommodate for that.
01:11:46
Speaker
It doesn't seem like something super inconvenient, but it hasn't made its way here as much. yeah I'm reading on the hidden disability sunflower website says it's a simple tool for you to share that you have a hidden disability voluntarily simply by wearing the sunflower you're just letting everyone know that you might need extra help understanding or just more time yeah so um i believe that on the park level they're trained to recognize that um to get that designation so very exciting um
01:12:29
Speaker
I hope I really hope more parks do this because i don't know anyone who willingly will come out, especially when you're in a situation where you're having a crisis or you're having an issue. I don't know anyone whose first thought is to ah share that information.
01:12:48
Speaker
um So it's very important. I think that people are trained on that and to know, and that if you, if you want to wear it and showcase that it's it's very helpful, I think. Yeah. I was curious why they did a sunflower. they actually have a section on their website for why do we choose a sunflower says we search for a discrete sign that is clearly visible from a distance as well as being distinctive, joyful, and dynamic.
01:13:14
Speaker
We chose a sunflower as it suggests happiness, positivity, and strength as well as growth and confidence and is universally known. It's such a simple thing that makes a huge difference. Yeah. And,
01:13:26
Speaker
I really like, like, I think about Europa Park and when you're walking around Europa Park, um there are a good amount of people that were that have the lanyard um and just have it out. And it's something that I never would have known what it meant, but now knowing what it means, it it's just such a simple tool to...
01:13:48
Speaker
Not have to ask for additional time, additional help, more ways of under ah explaining whatever you might need. um Yeah, i I really like it. It's one of my favorite programs I've learned about recently.
01:14:05
Speaker
And hearing more about it, I would love for more of like the general public to be aware of it. Because I think it just kind of creates more empathy. Like if you understand, hey this person might need a little bit more time, a little bit more support.
01:14:17
Speaker
you'll be more understanding if, you know, they're taking an extra 30 seconds to get into a ride vehicle. Yeah. And even just like in day to day life, because sometimes it's it's just a matter of like, i sometimes it's just a matter of like needing things explained differently. So your brain might process things differently and you might need to try it three or four different tries to help understand um which like for a lot of people isn't the case you can explain something one way they understand it we're good to go but um sometimes with specific hidden disabilities it's a little bit harder to comprehend unless it's said in a way that your brain can process it
01:15:08
Speaker
so i love that yeah so if anyone sees the hidden sunflowers just know that that person might need some additional time um
01:15:18
Speaker
yeah it's something i really love that they're taking advantage of not taking advantage of that they're supporting and they're teaching their employees how to support yeah i would really love to see more parks utilize that yeah make it more as well yeah i think it's really good yeah i really like that program i really do I was like, i I think that I almost, I think I might have cried when Sesame Place posted it. Like, I was so excited. I was like, I can't believe that they're doing this. Like, I loved it.
01:15:56
Speaker
So. I'm trying to remember. I know, like, we talked to Gabriel pretty early on as a podcast. Did he mention anything about that or, like, the implementation of it? I don't recall. um don't fully remember. I think I may have brought it up with them.
01:16:11
Speaker
um i think that I brought it up with them when we talked about choosing to do it or like how they got the designation.
01:16:23
Speaker
um i would have to go back and look. um I think we brought it up though.
01:16:35
Speaker
i remember. That was while ago. Yeah, I'm pretty sure we brought it up with them, but I can't even find where this episode is.
01:16:46
Speaker
Oh, wait. It pretty early. Yeah. fire or something
01:16:52
Speaker
Yeah, i I found it here, but I don't know if it's in our notes. I do think we brought it up, though. I forgot I keep literally show notes from every single episode we've done.
01:17:05
Speaker
All in one document. Yeah, all in one document so we can look at it. um It's not in the document, but I'm pretty sure we did touch on it. Okay. Yeah. I wouldn't be shocked if we... Yeah, I was far too excited, i think, not to bring it up. And they had, i think it was pretty newly um supported at the time that we had him on. So I'm pretty sure we talked about it.
01:17:33
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah.
01:17:36
Speaker
So I know um one other question that we got um was more for you, Nate. um I don't know if you've heard of Mike with the mullet, but he... he Maybe. Maybe. don't know if you've heard of him before. um But he said, what is something you wish more parks would implement to make going to the parks with your brother easier?
01:17:57
Speaker
And i was kind of I was looking at this question and kind of thinking about it. And I was just kind of thinking through how each... how each park or chain does their like time system on how like my brother's biggest thing is he can't wait in line mainly because well and additionally take the stroller through lines which a lot of people have with wheelchair access obviously um but like even standing in line even though he can walk and all that he just he doesn't understand that concept um so i'm trying to think of like my best improvement here and this might be
01:18:35
Speaker
kind of a like a overall improvement and for parks for everybody. But um honestly, like sometimes lines and like, even if you're waiting right at the very end to get on, sometimes operations can take five minutes or something like that.
Overcoming Accessibility Obstacles
01:18:53
Speaker
Some sort of like, For my brother specifically, cooling, like more fans, more air, maybe like mist or something. My brother gets overheated very easily.
01:19:04
Speaker
um One of the medications he takes for his drugs causes him to basically not sweat. almost at all. So he gets red and he gets hot really easily. And that's probably the biggest struggle at amusement parks, honestly, just because of how far we've come with ADA and access. And yeah, we've had those issues and moments, but really the biggest thing is keeping him like, um,
01:19:29
Speaker
I guess, safe or healthy with um how how his temperature is or how the environment is. He can get overstimulated. um So kind of, I guess, trying to make that go transition from the time we come back with our ride time to getting him on the ride.
01:19:48
Speaker
um something to help with that would probably be my like number one suggestion. Um, like I said, parks, try, i get it it. gets hot in a lot of places, especially in America.
01:20:01
Speaker
Um, but like something maybe specifically for ADA, like with fans and, and missed if they need it. something like that would probably be the biggest thing for him.
01:20:13
Speaker
Additionally, from like a ride manufacturer standpoint, and I get, we've written a lot of rides that are five, 10, 30 years old, but like easier ways to get in and out for sure.
01:20:26
Speaker
Like even not even just like for like wheelchairs, but as we mentioned earlier, Mr. Freeze, those trains suck, but getting him into Fury 325 or, or Even I-305 is not that bad, um except for the front. I think the front's where you have those feet dividers. Those are a little weird.
01:20:46
Speaker
um But stuff with more open seating is a lot easier. um That's kind of from a manufacturer standpoint, not from a park standpoint. But it does say parks wouldn't implement, so I'll kind of stay more on that, I guess.
01:21:02
Speaker
But yeah, that' that's probably the biggest thing I can think of.
01:21:07
Speaker
I will say with the the different ADA passes I've done throughout the years, I think my first experience with it was Holiday World, where you would walk up and they would see you and you get the little time on the paper first, like right away, and they give you whatever the entire wait time was.
01:21:25
Speaker
And that I don't think is the ideal system because now I've seen a way where you come up and you ride the first ride right away and then you wait for its time afterwards That's pretty good, but I think probably my favorite one, and I'm not like the fast pass ones. There's been a few where you just like, just get on, on everything.
01:21:48
Speaker
Um, but probably the best method to do that is like, wait a percentage of the time elsewhere. Maybe not the full time because that can kill a whole day.
01:21:59
Speaker
Um, ride first, then wait the time and then go to the next one. So that way you can be up there and ready when the time expires for the next ride. Plus, um if it's a percentage of the weight, you're not.
01:22:14
Speaker
I know that is getting in front of some people, I guess, but it's not killing the entire day where you're just sitting there and you don't have anything going on to do necessarily. But um as far as how the ADA passes work, I think that's probably the best method of all of them that I've seen.
01:22:31
Speaker
Yeah, i i think it's Busch Gardens that does that one where you have to let it go and get a return time and you wait the full time. And my biggest issue with that is like if you if you do have mobility issues or anything like that, you have to go to the attraction. And if it's a two-hour wait, it's you like...
01:22:50
Speaker
You have to go back to that attraction. You have to backtrack. Maybe, maybe you have to go across the park. Like those gardens, you have to go like to draft bar to go somewhere air conditioned where you can yeah wait in a comfortable spot. And that's pretty far.
01:23:03
Speaker
Right. And it's, it's not like, I mean, I think in general it's better than waiting in line. I mean, yeah, definitely it is. And that's what the point of it is. It's so people don't have to wait in line. It's supposed to avoid that.
01:23:16
Speaker
Um, So it's not like these people that are waiting two hours in line in the normal line aren't also burning a lot of their day. That's a whole like ride wait time issue.
01:23:28
Speaker
But um having to go up there twice was kind of the weird thing. I think with the initial ones, you have to go up there, get the time. And then you're like, okay, come back later. Yeah, I like it more when you get to ride.
01:23:40
Speaker
i it's Cedar Fair, I don't know what Cedar Fair does now, this year. Most recently, I know, yeah. Yeah, but um before that, they did the, you get you go to the first attraction, ride first, then do their wait time, which I just think it's...
01:23:58
Speaker
It's just so much easier that way. And thinking specifically with like people with autism, people who get super overstimulated, adding extra walking to their day to go yeah back and forth also can have, that can be a huge detriment on their day.
01:24:19
Speaker
But I guess, I don't know if this is possible, but it could be if like across the board, like any park kind of develops the same or similar system so that they're consistent.
01:24:33
Speaker
Disney maybe be an exception. Universal, maybe those like really big ones are an exception because they've got their own thing, virtual queue, whatnot. Yeah. That would be cool too. If you could just like pick a ride, you don't even have to go up there somehow digitally.
01:24:47
Speaker
And then you get your time later. Like they did kind of in COVID for like everybody. Which I didn't think that worked well when that was all you could do. But if that was like an ADA thing, it might work well.
01:24:58
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, honestly, if they could get across the board, like independent parks, chains, you know, SeaWorld and Six Flags or Cedar Flags or whatever, and and ah like Palace Parks, and if all of them could kind of be somewhat consistent across the board, that would be nice.
01:25:18
Speaker
Yeah. i know it's a big ask, but yeah. i agree.
01:25:26
Speaker
I had a thought forming, but I couldn't figure out the words for it, so never mind. Fair enough. That happens to me all the time. I think that brings us to the end of our actual planned content.
01:25:40
Speaker
yeah I do have trivia answer. do we have a trivia question? Yes. Yes.
01:25:52
Speaker
say nate you've been on a lot of obscure things too maybe you yeah if you have one and you want to jump in but um i do have one i just have to remember what it was i i found one um okay so trivia question last week did we get any submissions no we didn't oh well a question last week was um through the conversation we mentioned um multiple parks.
01:26:22
Speaker
I think we mentioned all three that offer kennel services for service animals. And we asked what were at the three parks, park chains mentioned that offered kennels for service animals.
01:26:33
Speaker
And that is Disney parks, universal parks, and um United parks or SeaWorld parks, um whichever name we want to go with. So no submissions. So no one got it, but um that was the answer our trivia question.
01:26:49
Speaker
So Florida.
01:26:54
Speaker
I mean, that's a good place to have that one. Right. Yeah. But I was just thinking like all those corporations have a lot of their stuff in Florida. Yeah.
01:27:07
Speaker
Yeah. We'll see ah who was listening to that episode. If you remember those. So I do have to ask here. the The trivia question is that it's about the the episode that we just did?
01:27:22
Speaker
Or is it like anything? I don't know. So it's usually just about the subject that we talked about. Okay. um So it can be anything. and we try to keep it like theme park related, but about the subject.
01:27:35
Speaker
I don't know if I have something off the top of my head. Yeah, i don't have anything accessibility related necessarily. I have a pretty simple one, which we did not mention on this episode.
01:27:46
Speaker
um But like this is American-based. But what legal framework mandates the amusement parks or that amusement parks provide accessible attractions and facilities for those with disabilities?
01:28:02
Speaker
So I don't think we mentioned it at all. feel like doing a test question more than trivia. Yeah. Yeah, no, but that's honestly valid. That's trivia. and i Yeah, it's valid as trivia too, right?
01:28:13
Speaker
I also feel like it is a pretty easy one. yeah I do think a lot of people probably know it. um So bonus points if you can also tell us what that mandate, the main thing that mandate says.
01:28:27
Speaker
So yeah. There you go. Yeah. I'm not as good at coming up with
Trivia and YouTube Channel Plug
01:28:31
Speaker
trivia questions as b Brian. Yeah. I don't think well answer like we'll give that answer next week or next episode when we talk to Richard, but yeah we'll try to remember post-Europe trips.
01:28:45
Speaker
Yeah, and then I swear the questions will get better. Brian's better this. He really is. Even on the fly, he's always better at this. If I have time for to prepare, you guys could like reach out to me. I might be able to come up with something for you, and you guys could just say it.
01:29:03
Speaker
Yeah, we put you on the spot this time. Yeah, I didn hadn't thought ahead about trivia. Yeah, I didn't think about it until the start of the episode. But um here we are.
01:29:14
Speaker
Yep. It brings us to the end of our episode. allison stealing my By the way, I'm going to plug my channel here at the end. If you want to see my brother riding roller coasters, there's a lot of videos with him in it.
01:29:28
Speaker
Probably my favorite one is him riding a swamp Fox last year at Myrtle beach, which
Episode Wrap-Up and Upcoming Content
01:29:33
Speaker
is a fairly recent video because he doesn't get the whole concept of putting his hands up, but he like, he loves to wave at people.
01:29:40
Speaker
So he was excited and he was waving at me and we go over a big drop and his hands just went up and that's in the video. So is that one that you sent me? Yes. That's one of the pictures I sent you was a screenshot from that. um I'll send it to you too, Jen.
01:29:54
Speaker
Anyway, coaster focus on YouTube. Um, Not all the videos have him, but like a lot of them that I ride and get on ride film on, he's in SeaWorld, Family Kingdom, stuff like that. So if you want to see my brother riding coasters, go check it out.
01:30:10
Speaker
I do want to go see your brother riding coasters. That's going to make me so happy. You can skip me rambling in the videos too, if you want.
01:30:21
Speaker
I'm just here for your brother. yeah Forget you. Honestly, I wouldn't blame you.
01:30:28
Speaker
Well, hopefully ah this episode has been very informative to everybody who's still listening to us. Yeah. Thanks for listening. Thanks for listening. Hope you learned something. Hope you can take these take this knowledge into future park visits and think a little bit more about accessibility and
01:30:49
Speaker
And maybe think a little more inverted. Yeah. Hashtag think inverted. Hashtag think inclusive. Yes. Heck yeah. And next episode we will have our interview with Richard from Morgan's Wonderland.
01:31:04
Speaker
And then probably after that we will have just an episode of Europe Trip Recaps.
01:31:11
Speaker
Yeah. With me just... yeah Just chilling. Jen just muted and Yeah, guys, um, I was in Pennsylvania.
01:31:25
Speaker
But you can ride Tal at a Dorney Park. But I can ride Tal at Dorney Park, so who actually wins? ah Nemesis. All right, well, that brings us to the end, guys.
01:31:38
Speaker
Thanks so much for listening. Yep, and we will see you next time.