A story in the March/April 2023 Funworld issue explored attraction accessibility for guests with sensory impairments. To extend upon this focus, Funworld is turning its attention to how attractions—especially smaller ones that may lack the financial resources of larger, more established destinations—create enjoyable experiences for disabled guests.
Allison Zuck is a project leader and architect for PGAV Destinations in St. Louis with Crohn’s disease. After her diagnosis years ago, she underwent several surgeries that resulted in an ileostomy, a stoma in the abdomen where digestive waste is passed out of the body and into a pouch. As someone who has learned to live with a disability, Zuck shares her story with Funworld to provide unique insight into physical access needs at attractions.
While owners and operators may initially feel intimidated by the prospect of addressing physical accessibility shortcomings, Zuck encourages her colleagues working in the attractions industry to start simple.
“There are many options to increase accessibility without a significant financial burden,” she says. “First, information that outlines the accommodations an attraction provides should be accessible to guests prior to their visit. This may include a map that highlights accessible entries, routes, restrooms, aid stations, and any other provisions. This information should also include contact information for any additional questions guests may have. If a guest is in a wheelchair and doesn’t have the upper-body strength to make it up a steep ramp, or the guest is using a walker or cane, they could contact that number for assistance.”
For guests in wheelchairs, Peppa Pig’s Balloon Ride at Peppa Pig Theme Park in Winter Haven, Florida, features a vehicle that allows individuals to remain in their wheelchair and roll directly on and off the ride basket. The vehicle came about through the joint effort of Merlin Entertainments’ design department, Merlin Magic Making in Lake Wales, Florida, and ride manufacturer Technical Park in Melara, Rovigo, Italy.
There can certainly be a financial expense to accommodating guests with disabilities, but Zuck points out, “Twenty five percent of the population has some form of disability, so I don’t feel that finances or the size of the attraction are reasonable excuses to ignore the needs of a quarter of the population and, therefore, a quarter of potential customers.”
This was on the mind of Jordan Munsters, president of High Caliber Karting and Entertainment in Okemos, Michigan, following a severe vehicle accident in 2020 that left him unable to walk due to nerve damage. He was in a wheelchair and endured months of extensive therapy, and all this occurred while his family entertainment center (FEC) was shut down due to COVID-19.
Despite experiencing loss and injury, Munsters realized something important, according to Jacki Krumnow, the venue’s director of marketing. “After Munsters’ accident, he and the rest of the owners realized something was missing in the entertainment field and in their own facility, and that’s handicapable go-karting. It took months to get up and operating but providing a resource of fun for everyone was the goal. High Caliber did it because it was the right thing to do.”
Munsters eventually regained the ability to walk, but that didn’t dull his enthusiasm to develop a special go-kart that would allow guests in wheelchairs to enjoy a ride. It took a year of work, but the dedication paid off.
“We kind of went all out for it,” says Munsters. “We brought in a fire department crew and they helped us be prepared for getting people in and out of karts. We build the entire harness system for getting in the kart. We had to test all this stuff and how to make it work, and once done, we didn’t have to make many changes. We spent a lot of time figuring it out up front because we couldn’t afford to screw this up.”
The result was a go-kart operating system within the vehicle that eliminates the need to use regular brakes and gas pedals by placing the operating mechanics behind the steering wheel. The guests are seated in the go-kart via a specialized lifting sling. Once strapped in, they can drive onto either of two high-speed tracks, providing some individuals the ability to drive for the first time since being in a wheelchair.
“For me, the biggest thing wasn’t the physical part of it or discomfort, but how would people feel about it emotionally,” says Munsters. “But they love it. Most people don’t even think accessible go-karting exists. But people who know about it rave about it and can’t believe we cared so much. We got tons of attention and media coverage because of it. People care that you care.”
He minces no words in saying that ADA compliance is a minimum accommodation and encourages attractions to extend their efforts further. While the financial commitment of making accessibility modifications may at first be a deterrent, Krumnow urges smaller attractions to look beyond the up-front costs.
“The rave reviews we got after the debut meant we hit the ball out of the park. Our video went viral on Facebook, so we had thousands more people find out about both High Caliber and the inclusion we’re now offering. It was an expense, but even though we did it for the right reasons, we benefitted financially from the exposure. It opens the door to an entirely new guest.”
Developing the go-kart cost the FEC about $18,000, and around $30,000 after testing. Krumnow suggests that if smaller attractions are looking to implement accessible changes in their facilities, they should explore government grants that offer assistance.
High Caliber Karting has gone further than the modified go-kart and offers other accessible attractions. The facility features wider double doors at every entrance, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and an online 3D tour on the website of Able Eyes for individuals to view before visiting the facility. Able Eyes provides virtual walking tours of public space interiors like parks, museums, hotels, and restaurants for both accessibility and marketing.
How to Aim for Accessibility
Allison Zuck, project leader and architect for PGAV Destinations, shares a list of actions that attractions can take to improve their physical accessibility.
- Navigate your facility with disabled individuals to get their feedback and integrate them into the design process.
- Provide tickets for specific entry or a timed entry program to avoid the necessity of standing in long lines.
- Provide places to sit and water stations throughout an attraction.
- Provide flexible seating, such as some seats with armrests and some without, and intersperse accessible seating throughout a venue instead of only at the front or back.
- Ensure accessible routes, like elevators, have the same story experience as the main route by including sounds, visuals, and other theming.
