A visit to an amusement park is a time-honored summer tradition, but accessibility limitations can make amusement park trips difficult. Luckily, there are some amusement parks that have gone above and beyond to keep their grounds handicap friendly. Here are our top five picks for the best handicap friendly amusement parks in the USA.

Morgan’s Wonderland

Morgan’s Wonderland, located in San Antonio, Texas, is perhaps the most handicap friendly amusement park in the United States. This park has an amazing approach to its guests with special needs, and the WaterWorks section of the park even includes recessed base pods for wheelchair accessibility.

According to the park’s policies page, the park provides free admission “to anyone with a special need. We try to be as open-minded as possible when a guest claims to have a special need… We do not require any proof of an individual’s special need. All we will ask is the diagnosis in order for us to honor the special rate.” What a great way to keep the park inclusive!

Holiday World

Holiday World is located in Santa Claus, Indiana, and is also a handicap friendly amusement park. While most rides are handicap accessible, this park provides an Accessibility Guide to help guests choose the rides that may be best for them. Restaurants, gift shops, and restrooms are handicap accessible and are located throughout the park. This park also provides free parking for guests with disabilities near the front gate.

Additionally, this park provides a calming room for guests who need a quiet break from the sensory stimulation of the theme park. The room includes bean bag chairs, a tent, a rocking chair, a couch, and adjustable lighting and music. Guests may reserve the room on a first come first served basis.

Darien Lake

Darien Lake, located in Darien Center, New York, has made many efforts to make the park handicap friendly. If you need to rent a wheelchair, wheelchairs are available on a first come, first serve basis. You are also welcome to bring your own wheelchair. There is limited wheelchair accessible parking by the park’s main gate. Guests who rely on wheelchairs can also be dropped off at the main gate using the drop off area.

The park also provides written copies of ride safety information for guests who are deaf or hearing-impaired.

Most of the park’s theaters, attractions, restaurants, and shops are wheelchair accessible. All of the rides require a transfer to the ride which must be completed with the help of the guest’s party. There are some special access entrances for rides which have narrow queues that make transfer difficult. The park’s Ride Accessibility Guide provides more detailed information.

Knoebels Amusement Resort

Knoebel’s Amusement Resort, marketed as America’s largest free-admission amusement park, is located in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. According to the park’s Guest Accessibility Guide, most rides, attractions, games, gift shops, and food stands are handicap accessible.

The park provides a special wristband which allows guests with permanent physical and mental disabilities to board rides through the exit gates. The guest and three additional accompanying guests may board rides through the exit gates, excepting the Flying Turns ride, where only the guest and one other party member may board. It’s important to note that if the guest requires physical assistance, then one of the people accompanying them must be able to help them, since staff are not trained to provide physical assistance.

Sesame Place

If you have kids, Sesame Place, located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, provides a fun and handicap accessible option. The park does offer disabled parking for $18 at the park’s entrance, but spaces are limited and sell out. If the lot is full, guests will be directed to the preferred parking section at the $18 general parking rate.

The park welcomes service animals, but service animals are limited to dogs and miniature horses. The service animals must remain leashed or on a harness at all times.

Sesame Place offers a Ride Accessibility Program that matches individual abilities of guests to the ride requirements. Additionally, the Special Access Program helps guests to enjoy park attractions, since some queue lines aren’t accessible to mobility-impaired guests. The Accessibility Guide provides more details.

Planning Your Trip

When planning your trip, make sure you review each park’s specific policies so you know what to expect. Make sure that your wheelchair or scooter is in good repair, and have a great time during your trip.