TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Museums & Attractions

New ‘Ultra-Accessible’ Theme Park Hopes to Break Ground Next Year in St. Louis

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The creators of Morgan’s Wonderland, a first-of-its-kind “ultra accessible” amusement park in San Antonio, Texas, now plan to bring the model to the St. Louis area.

Groundbreaking for the Spirit of Discovery Park, which will be located 40 minutes west of St. Louis in Wentzville, Missouri, is planned to take place next year.

“Many of us have fond memories of visiting theme parks as children, but not everyone can be so lucky,” said developers on the park’s website. “There are children and parents all across our world that have challenges that prevent them from enjoying theme parks and activities of many kinds.”

“Everyone at the park is going to have something that they can do and that they want to do, and all the needs of all of our communities will be taken care of, but we are focused on those with special needs,” Vann told Fox2Now. “They deserve it, they need it, our community needs it.” To learn more about plans for this innovative amusement park, read the coverage in Travel Awaits.

New season of Autism Friendly Performances on Broadway Announced

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Silhouette of actors against red curtains in theatre.

TDF, the not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts, presented the first in-person autism friendly performance of a Broadway show in almost 2 years with COME FROM AWAY on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Autism friendly performances provide access for families with children and adults on the autism spectrum and other developmental disabilities. The last autism friendly performance prior to the pandemic was on March 1, 2020 at HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD.

A full list of upcoming autism friendly Broadway performances is available in Jake Steinman’s recent LinkedIn article.

A Heavenly but Hair-raising Experience as Wheelchair User & Travel Agent Tries Skydiving

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Kristy Durso tandem skydiving over the State of Texas.

TravelAbility Advisory Board member and owner of Incredible Memories Travel Kristy Durso recently jumped out of an airplane – skydiving with Skydive Lonestar in Luling, Texas.

A wheelchair user, Kristy is proof positive of the demand for thrilling accessible activities within the travel industry and the opportunity for businesses that meet the needs of disabled travelers.

To check out Kristy’s blood pressure-raising experience, watch the video of her jumping out of the airplane.

Disney Theme Parks Announce Changes to Their Disability Access Service

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Castle at Disney World.

Disney theme parks are updating some of the policies and procedures related to their Disability Access Service program, which should make it easier for disabled people to experience the magic that is Disney.

The Disney Parks blog shared the following information about the changes:

We are also making some enhancements to our Disability Access Service (DAS) program, including new options to enroll in the program pre-arrival and for DAS participants to select attractions directly in the app. These options will be available in addition to our existing, in-person DAS program. Visit our Services for Guests with Disabilities page DisneyWorld.com and Disneyland.com for more details

To read more, see the original article from Inside the Magic.

The Future of Inaccessibility? Wheelchair Space Kitchen — A Parody Exhibit Opens in Denver

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The Wheelchair Space Kitchen gives a preview of what it’s like to be disabled.

There are parts of the Wheelchair Space Kitchen—just one of many rooms in Meow Wolf’s 90,000 square-foot Convergence Station, which opens in Denver on September 17—that won’t be accessible. A cabinet will be too high, a countertop too low. You might feel like you’re Alice in Wonderland, shrinking too small to reach a table or growing too tall to fit through a door. Some messages are written in Braille, and unless you read Braille, you’re out of luck.

This exhibit will give visitors an opportunity to feel what it is like to face obstacles — hopefully kindling in them a sense of understanding and empathy for those who face barriers on a regular basis, whether as a result of a disability or for some other reason. To read more about the Wheelchair Space Kitchen, see the original article in Thrillist.