Theme parks are a brilliant day out with lots of fun for all the family. In the UK, we have many amazing theme parks to visit. However, if you, a friend or family member has a disability, you might have some concerns about the facilities and assistance available to you whilst at one of the UK’s many theme parks.
UKS Mobility have ranked each of the UK’s biggest theme parks from least to most accessible based on a range of factors including: their park facilities, number of accessible pathways and entry fees for visitors and their carers.
View the results below!
– Sandcastle Waterpark has the best facilities in three out of four categories. It came first for most facilities for physically impaired, most facilities for hearing impaired, most facilities for autistic guests and most facilities for visually impaired.
– Adventure Island came in last place for both fewest faclities for visually impaired and fewest facilities for visually impaired. It was also in the bottom 3 for fewest facilities for autistic guests.
– Although Flambard’s was in the bottom three for fewest facilities for visually impaired, they came first for best overall accessible facilities.
To determine which UK theme parks have the best accessible facilities, we created a points system divided into the following sections: General facilities, Facilities for hearing impairment, Facilities for autism/ learning difficulties, facilities for physical impairment and facilities for hearing impairment. Within these sections we included a variety of different measuring factors that each theme park was judged against based on the facilities they offer.
For each measuring factor, the most favorable option received one point, less favorable received 0.5 points and unfavorable received 0 points. These points were then added up to give each theme park a total score in each of the 5 sections as well as an overall score.
Outside of the categories that these 19 measuring factors were sorted into, we also awarded an extra 1 point for every extra facility listed on a theme park’s website not included in our ranking system. In total, 7 extra points were awarded to the theme parks.
The points were awarded as follows:
GENERAL FACILITIES (Total points: 8)
Disabled parking: 1 point awarded
Disabled toilets per km2: 0.1-1 points awarded
First aid centre: 1 point awarded
Ticket discount: discount ticket: 0.5 points, free ticket: 1 point
Ticket discount for carer: discount: 0.5 point, free ticket: 1 point
Accessible pathways: 1 point
Accessible changing areas: 1 point
Mobility scooter friendly: 1 point
HEARING IMPAIRMENT (Total points: 2)
Hearing/ Induction loops: 1 point
Ear defenders: 1 point
AUTISM/ LEARNING DIFFICULTIES (Total points: 3)
Sensory space/ quiet room: 1 point
Quiet hour: 1 point
Ride access pass: 1 point
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT (Total points: 3 points)
Guide dogs/ assistant animals allowed: 1 point
Wheelchair hire: 1 point
Ride access pass: 1 point
VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (Total points: 3)
Park signs with clear, contrasting colours: 1 point
Clear map with contrasting colours: 1 point
Ride access pass: 1 point
Extra points awarded to:
Gulliver’s World: guide for guests with special needs (1 point, facilities for autism/ learning difficulties)
M&D’s: large format map available (1 point, facilities for visual impairment)
The Milky Way Adventure Park: large format site map and guidelines are available (1 point, facilities for visual impairment)
Sandcastle Waterpark: audio commentary (1 point, facilities for visual impairment), large print map (1 point, facilities for visual impairment)
** This post was originally published on https://www.uksmobility.co.uk/blog/2019/09/the-uks-most-least-accessible-theme-parks/
