Guests with visual disabilities can now be more fully immersed into Disney attractions and storytelling through a new Audio Description service created by Disney engineers. The service, which launched November 1, is enabled through wireless technology via a handheld device available to Guests visiting the Resort.
Audio Description provides narrated audio for Guests with visual disabilities by describing visual attraction elements such as actions, settings and scene changes, and works seamlessly with existing show audio. This service is available at nearly 20 attractions at Disneyland® Park and Disney’s California Adventure® Park.
As part of the testing process, Audio Description service was evaluated by members of CastABLE, a Diversity Resource Group (DRG) composed of Resort Cast Members with disabilities.
“Experiencing the Audio Description service almost brought me to tears,” said Brenda Woodrum, a reservation sales agent at the Walt Disney Travel Company in Anaheim and CastABLE member who has been visually impaired since 1996. “For me it was an emotional experience, especially when I got onto Pirates of the Caribbean. It brought back memories of all the rich detail that I could see when I was younger. There was so much magic that I was missing, but this new technology brings it all to you.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive work environment, the Disneyland® Resort supports six DRGs, which have combined memberships of approximately 1,500 Cast Members. DRGs provide valuable insight and feedback to Resort leaders on products and services currently in development.