Making the Most of Disability Accommodations at Universal Studios: A Personal Review

So, picture this: we're all geared up for our Universal Studios getaway. I've got two kiddos with different disabilities, so we knew we needed to sort out some special arrangements ahead of time. Cue the process of registering for an individual accessibility card through IBCCES, who partners with Universal Studios to make sure everyone gets the fair accommodations they need

while visiting the parks. I made sure to have all our proof of disability handy because, you know, they like their paperwork. This was submitted online through the application process. Next, within a few weeks of visiting the parks, I had a chat with the Universal Studios staff beforehand to make sure they were clued in on what accommodations we needed.

Once in the park, it was straight to guest services to obtain our access card. Now, here's the lowdown on how that card works: You head to the express lane of a ride. The employee there will either let you in line or give you a return time. This is how it's decided. If the wait time is longer than 25 minutes for standby, they give you a return time. If it's shorter, you breeze through the express lane. But, here's the kicker: while you're waiting for your turn, you can't snag another return time. So, it's all about strategizing your wait time. We found it handy to grab a return time for a long line and then fill the gap with a shorter ride or some snacks.

Now, you might be wondering why we'd go through all this hassle. Well, let me tell you, for some folks like me, for example, with my bathroom urgency, thanks to my meds, waiting in an enclosed line for 45 minutes is just not an option. With the access card, I might still have to wait, but at least I've got access to food, water, and, most importantly, a restroom.

Getting the pass itself was a bit of a hassle, though. Waiting in line for something in order to skip the lines felt a tad ironic, especially with my son, who's on the spectrum, getting antsy. But hey, sometimes life throws you curveballs. We got through it in about 45 minutes, but it did leave a bit of mark on the rest of the day. My son was already hitting his limit as we were entering the park around 10:15 AM.

Now, let's talk about finding quiet spots in the park. My son was on the brink of a meltdown, so I went on a mission to find a serene spot to chill. But, the only quiet spaces that I was aware of were in different parks. Not exactly convenient. It turns out that there are quit a few quiet areas in both parks, I just wasn't aware. Next time, I'll be sure to have the areas mapped out in my mind in case a pit stop is required during the day.

In general the passes worked well to help us access the rides that we wanted to. However, between the heat and sensory stimulation, my son was pretty grumpy for most of the day. However, after a good night's sleep, my son bounced back. On day two, having those passes from the get-go made all the difference. We dodged the long line at the start, and the rest of the trip went a lot smoother. So yeah, overall, the accessibility passes were a game-changer for us, and I fully recommend going through the process to obtain one for you or your loved ones.