I went to Disneyland with a disability — here’s what I think of ‘priority cards’

Olivia Ter-Berg went to Disneyland and tested out what the Priority Card really does for guests with disabilities (Picture: Supplied)

If you’re heading to Disneyland Paris with a Priority Card or Easy Access Card because you have a disability and you’re wondering how it works, don’t worry — I’ve got you!

Hello and welcome to my TedTalk on something I don’t see in the media enough.

Before we get into it, some housekeeping. I have a disability called clubfoot, which affects my ability to walk long distances.

I am not a wheelchair user. My perspective is that of someone who is mobile but uses mobility aids (crutches) quite regularly.

I recently went to Disneyland Paris with my best friend to celebrate our 30th birthdays, and like many people with a disability, I was worried about the amount of standing around and how this would affect me.

I racked up nearly 90,000 steps over my three days at the happiest place on Earth, over 40,000 of them using crutches. As you can imagine, I came home with arms of steel. But the thing that saved me was my Priority Card.

This little gem made my trip a whole lot easier. So, I am here to tell you how it works, how to get one and what how it could be improved.

Like many people with a disability, Olivia was worried about how much she’d have to stand around in queues (Picture: Supplied)

What is a Disneyland Priority Card?

The Priority Card is a special pass for Disneyland Paris visitors with officially recognised disabilities.

It provides priority (though not necessarily immediate) access to everything from rides and shows to parades, character meet-and-greets and checkout lanes.

It’s valid for the cardholder and up to four companions for rides and shows, or the cardholder plus two companions for parades and firework viewing areas.

You can also get an Easy Access Card, which gives you an allocated return time so you can go and enjoy other areas of the park while you wait.

This isn’t the fully-fledged disability pass, but it allows holders to skip lines for rides at certain times, and to wait alongside disabled visitors and those who have forked out for ‘Premier Access’ (the successor to the now-defunct fast-track ticket).

Those can be anywhere from €110 and €230 for an all-day pass.

What happens once you have it?

Just head to the priority access entrance at every ride.

On some attractions, including Ratatouille and the Tower of Terror, this may be through the exit, while others use a separate queue alongside guests with Premier Access.

Priority queues are a lot shorter. The best example was Frozen Ever After.

The wait was always anywhere between 90-130 minutes for the regular queue, but I went three times and the longest I waited was 10 minutes.

Staff were friendly and helpful, and made me feel cared for rather than causing them hassle, which I sometimes feel self-conscious about.

I could take my crutches on most rides, and when I couldn’t, staff kept them safe and had them waiting when I got off.

They were misplaced on one ride, but only for a few minutes.

The Priority Card gets you easier access to some of the best views in the park (Picture: Getty Images)

Access to the evening shows was the real game changer.

People queue for hours for a good spot, but with the Priority Card, we turned up about half an hour before showtime and could see perfectly, unrestricted.

That said, both shows could improve the accessibility of their seating.

While the access is great in terms of location and not having to wait around, there is a significant lack of chairs.

As someone who uses crutches, I would have appreciated the option to sit. I ended up on the floor for parts.

Otherwise, my only gripe is that it would be good for accessible queues to have more overhead coverage.

It was raining quite heavily as we waited for Crush’s Coaster, where there is barely any. My crutches and the ground got slippery which was a bit unpleasant.

Overall, however, I had an overwhelmingly positive experience as someone with mobility problems.

It’s one of the most accessible places I have visited, and I felt that I received first class treatment.

Disneyland Paris sets a high standard for other theme parks to follow.

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