I’ve been to a lot of theme parks, but Disney World still tops my list for accessibility. Other vacation spots may not have it all when it comes to wheelchair accessibility, but Disney World remains high on the disability community’s list for a reason.

After exploring Disney World on wheels for a few years, I thought it was time to break down what a visit to the theme parks really looks like. We’ll cover all four theme parks and talk about the highs and lows of wheelchair accessibility. Before we get into it, place your bets in the comments: which park will remain number one for accessibility?

Let’s go over some of the details before we roll right in. I use a manual wheelchair, so my opinion comes from that perspective. I’ve heard similar opinions from people who use power chairs or ECVs, but with larger chairs, you might have more issues getting on and off rides and fewer issues with hills or rough terrain.

Starting us off, we have criteria. We’re going to discuss all four theme parks based on the following:

• Parking: How close is it? Are there plenty of accessible spots? etc.
• Terrain: How easy is it to roll around? How are the hills? etc.
• Rides: Are there rides you can stay in your wheelchair? How easy are the transfers for other rides? etc.

On to Disney World’s newest park, which opened in 1998: Animal Kingdom!

Animal Kingdom

If you’re driving, you’ll probably start your day by parking. Animal Kingdom’s accessible parking is pretty close to security, and I can often find available spots, even if I come in the middle of the day. The overflow section is nearby if you need it.

Parking is fine, but there are some massive hills and rough terrain that can be hard to navigate. After you scan in, you’ll have to climb a very steep hill and then immediately head down toward the Tree of Life. Obviously, on the way out, you need to do the same thing! The ground also has a rough texture that is uncomfortable to roll around on. While it adds to the theming, it makes it a bit difficult, especially if you’re carrying a drink or food in your lap. There are a few other hills around, and overall, the park is very hot. It might have some of my favorite food, but it is not my favorite for navigating.

As I write this, Animal Kingdom has few rides open because of the Tropical Americas expansion in the works. The Indiana Jones ride should have the same transfer as DINOSAUR since it’s the same ride, and the Encanto ride will likely let guests stay in their wheelchairs, but Disney hasn’t officially confirmed that. Other rides, like Kilimanjaro Safaris, let you stay in your wheelchair for the shows, but others require a transfer. Some are pretty difficult because of low or awkward vehicles.

Our overall ranking:

• Parking: 4/5
• Terrain: 2/5
• Rides: 2/5

This gives us an overall rating of 2.6/5. There’s definitely room for improvement, but the parking lot is one of the easier ones to use.

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios parking is… interesting. The rows are one-way and very skinny, so if you’re driving a bigger vehicle, like a wheelchair-accessible van or truck, you might find yourself holding your breath as you pass through. There aren’t many spots, and if you come in the middle of the day, you might not find any. The overflow is right next to it, but it can feel far from security and add a few more minutes to your trek. If you need to park in overflow, you can ask a Cast Member to bring out a cone to block off an extra spot if you need room to take out your medical equipment.

The terrain is pretty great in Hollywood Studios because it’s mostly designed like a street! There are curbs, but plenty of cutouts, and it’s almost all flat. Galaxy’s Edge is a bit bumpy, like Animal Kingdom, but since it’s only one section, we can overlook it. Some attractions have steep hills to get to them, like Fantasmic or the front row of Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage, but for the most part, it’s flat.

Something I don’t love about Hollywood Studios is that only one ride lets you stay in your wheelchair: Toy Story Mania. A Cast Member at the ride once told me that sometimes they’ll find people in wheelchairs riding this one attraction over and over all day because it’s the only one they can access. Oof! The accessible ride vehicle for Toy Story Mania also features a big button, in addition to the cord, for people with lower hand dexterity and control. Other experiences, like shows, let you stay in your chair, and the new Walt Disney Studios has accessible drawing classes, but since Hollywood Studios is known for its rides, that’s a bit disappointing. Some rides offer transfer devices, like an aisle chair for Smugglers Run and a bench for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, but transfers are difficult; this park might be challenging. The new Monstropolis section will feature another show, which should have wheelchair spots, but the new roller coaster will require a transfer.

Our overall ranking:

• Parking: 2.5/5
• Terrain: 4/5
• Rides: 2/5

Overall, that gives us a 2.8/5. If transfers aren’t too difficult for you and you’re taking Disney transportation, it will probably rank higher for you. This park has some heavy hitters when it comes to rides, so it’s disappointing that some don’t offer better ways to experience them (I’m looking at you, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway!).

EPCOT

Starting off with parking, you get a pretty standard parking lot! There are plenty of accessible spots, and unless I come late at night when it’s super busy, I can almost always find one. It’s two-way traffic with wider lanes and plenty of van accessible spots.

After you scan in and go left or right of Spaceship Earth, you’ll face a fairly steep hill (not as bad as Animal Kingdom), but you get to go down it at the end of the day. There are a few random ones around World Showcase, too, but they aren’t too terrible. I will say the World Showcase is a commitment since it’s about 1.2 miles all the way around. Boats in the middle can take you back, but they’re not always open, so once you’re in, you’ll need to commit to the 1.2 miles.

EPCOT also has quite a few rides you can do in your wheelchair! There are six different rides, including Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, one of the park’s most popular rides. Test Track has a separate loading zone where you can transfer without everyone watching you, but it is a particularly low seat and a bit hard to get out of. A few of the other rides are a bit awkward, like Frozen Ever After and Soarin’ Around America, but if you can’t transfer, there are plenty of rides and other activities you can do without getting out.

Our overall ranking:

• Parking: 4.5/5
• Terrain: 3.5/5
• Rides: 4/5

Overall, that’s a 4/5, which is pretty great! Despite the long time commitment of the World Showcase, it has a great parking lot, and it’s easy to get on quite a few rides.

Magic Kingdom

Parking at Magic Kingdom isn’t great for most people because you need to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), not directly at Magic Kingdom. Once you park, you’ll go through security, then take the monorail or ferryboat to get to Magic Kingdom. If you have access to Disney World transportation, I highly recommend using the bus because it takes you straight to the park. There are plenty of accessible parking spots, though, and a small hill to push up.

For the most part, Magic Kingdom is pretty flat! There are a few hills but nothing too terrible, and honestly the hardest part is all of the people. This park tends to have a few bottlenecks that are difficult to get through, especially on Main Street, U.S.A., but almost everywhere is smooth concrete and easy to roll over.

There are also six rides where you can stay in your wheelchair, including the Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and “it’s a small world,” which are probably on your list. “it’s a small world” even has a figure who uses a wheelchair! Again, a few shows let you stay in your chair, and most other rides are fairly easy to transfer into. TRON Lightcycle / Run even has two standard roller coaster seats in the back if you don’t want to climb on a bike. Be warned: Space Mountain has very steep hills on entry and exit, and the transfer can be difficult since you’re so low in the vehicle!

Our overall ranking:

• Parking: 2/5
• Terrain: 4/5
• Rides: 4/5

That’s an overall rating of 3.3/5. Parking is a huge damper on the day, but Disney World’s transportation can make it a bit easier. There are plenty of ride options to experience everything, which is always a win.

How do the parks stack up against each other? Here are our final ratings:

4th: Animal Kingdom — 2.6/5

3rd: Hollywood Studios — 2.8/5

2nd: Magic Kingdom — 3.3/5

1st: EPCOT — 4/5

Overall, I think that gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect in the parks! If you can transfer onto rides easily or use Disney World transportation, it might feel a bit different, but this should give you a broad idea for your next park visit. Accessibility is different for everyone, and you can find more information on the Disney World Accessibility Page.

A few other notes to keep in mind when traveling to Disney World can affect your thoughts and opinions on the trip.

Transportation

As a local, I drive to the parks every day, but you shouldn’t overlook Disney’s free transportation. The buses, ferryboats, monorail, and Skyliner are all accessible. For the bus, bus drivers will lower the ramp and have you roll right up. There are usually two spots available, and I’ve found the bus drivers are very good at having other guests move and make space for your chair. They’ll also have you board first, which makes life a little bit easier. If there are other wheelchair users on board, you’ll have to wait until the next bus, but I have very few issues.

For the monorail, transportation Cast Members will pull out a ramp and have you board a specific car. They are also very good at having other guests wait to board and making sure there is room for you. They even hit a button to tell other Cast Members at your next stop that you will need the ramp, and it’s rare not to have a Cast Member waiting there for you. It can be hard on busier nights, and there is a major ramp to get up and down from the station, but it’s pretty consistent, and you can typically fit one to two chairs into a car. Heads up: the EPCOT monorail station has an elevator you can use instead of climbing the massive ramp.

The Skyliner has a separate accessible queue, so you’ll only have to wait in line with other mobility aid users, which is pretty great. The Skyliner car is separate and stationary, so you can board without it constantly moving. You can only fit one wheelchair, and it can be a bit tight if you’re traveling with more people, but it’s still a solid option.

The ferryboat will always have my heart because it doesn’t require any additional cast members or ramps, so you can get on and off on your own. You simply roll on and roll off, easy peasy. Smaller boats have ramps that come out, while others might have you step over a small step to enter. I tend to avoid the smaller boats at resorts, but the ones in EPCOT and the ones that go to Hollywood Studios and the EPCOT area resorts are often great options.

In the meantime, make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more tips and tricks on how to have the best Disney World vacation yet. We have planning guides for everything you need to know so you’re ready for anything Disney World can bring.

DISNEY JUST FILED A GAME-CHANGING PATENT FOR RIDE ACCESSIBILITY

What do you think the most accessible park is? Tell us in the comments!