Patch Parents: Autism-Friendly Attractions To Visit In California
CALIFORNIA — April is Autism Acceptance Month. From movie theaters to theme parks, there are many autism-friendly attractions to visit throughout California. In San Diego, for example, Sesame Place San Diego became the first theme park in the San Diego region to be designated as a Certified Autism Center in 2022. The Chula Vista-based theme park offers online pre-planning resources, a ride accessibility program, complimentary noise-canceling headphones, quiet rooms and sensory guides. SeaWorld San Diego, also owned by United Parks & Resorts, has a variety of accessibility resources as well. The park's ride accessibility program allows visitors to use a virtual queue system instead of waiting in traditional lines. "At SeaWorld San Diego and Sesame Place San Diego, inclusivity is at the heart of what we do," Tyler Carter, park president of SeaWorld San Diego, told Patch. "We are committed to ensuring that every guest, regardless of ability, can create lasting memories with their loved ones. Providing accessible options isn't just an initiative — it's a fundamental part of our mission to make our parks welcoming for all." These are just some of the many autism-friendly attractions in the Golden State. AMC Theaters AMC Theaters offers sensory-friendly films. The movie theater chain partners with the Autism Society to feature movie showings where the lights are turned up and the sound is turned down. Moviegoers can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing. The Sensory Friendly Film Program is available on the second and fourth Saturday for family-friendly films and Wednesday evenings for mature audiences every month. Aquarium of the Pacific Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach offers Autism Families Morning and Night events on select dates throughout the year. The events are designed for families with children or adults with autism. Children's Discovery Museum Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose offers a variety of programs and resources for families with autistic children, including Play Your Way evening events designed for kids ages 2-15 on the autism spectrum. The museum also has sound-reducing headsets at Admissions, a quiet room on the first floor, and a social story with pictures so children can get familiar with the museum before their visit. Chuck E. Cheese Chuck E. Cheese hosts Sensory Sensitive Sunday events on the first Sunday of every month at participating locations, opening two hours early to provide children with sensory sensitivities and their families a quieter, more comfortable experience. Locations offer dimmed lighting and lowered volume. Chuck E. Cheese will host its annual national Sensory Sensitive Sunday event from 9-11 a.m. Sunday, April 27, at locations across the U.S. and Canada, with 20% of sales from the day up to $30,000 benefitting nonprofit organization Autism Speaks. Disneyland Parks Disneyland and Disney California Adventure offers Disability Access Service to support autistic park-goers. DAS offers return times for rides as an alternative to waiting in conventional lines. The parks also have pre-arrival resources, downloadable guides and other services. iFLY iFLY offers All Abilities nights to give people with physical or cognitive challenges the opportunity to indoor skydive. The indoor skydiving chain provides proper accommodations, additional assistance, and a trained iFLY instructor that personally guides All Abilities flyers through the indoor skydiving experience. Legoland California Legoland California is a Certified Autism Center across the Carlsbad-based theme park, water park and two on-site hotels. All staff have undergone autism sensitivity and awareness training. The theme park offers an Assisted Access Pass at guest services that helps limit the amount of time spent waiting in a specific line by assigning ride times throughout the day. The park also has sensory guides, a sensory room in Fun Town within the Duplo Family Care Center, and a Sensory Sensitive Hour from 1-2 p.m. daily at Lego Ferrari Build and Race to offer a quieter experience. San Diego Children's Discovery Museum San Diego Children's Discovery Museum in Escondido offers Sensory Friendly Mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Sundays. The events are geared toward families with children on the spectrum or with sensory sensitivities. Other sensory accommodations include designated quiet spaces in the quiet room and outdoor welcome garden, sensory bags available for check out at the front desk, and a social story to see what a visit to the museum looks like. San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari Park The San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park both offer accommodations and tools for visitors with autism and different accessibility needs. If a person with a disability requires an attendant, a complimentary pass will be provided for the attendant. The zoo also offers accommodations for individuals in wheelchairs or who are deaf or hard of hearing. The San Diego Zoo offers sensory bags with fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones and other resources that are available for check out at the guest services booth located at the entrance. Weighted lap pads are also available for check out at the entrance of the zoo. Regal Cinemas Regal Cinemas offers sensory-friendly movies. The movie theater chain's My Way Matinee gives everyone the opportunity to experience a movie with the lights turned up and the volume turned down. Moviegoers are free to dance, sing, shout, talk or walk around while watching the latest films. Sensory-friendly showings take place on select Saturdays each month at participating locations. SeaWorld San Diego SeaWorld San Diego provides a variety of accommodations to support guests with disabilities, including those with autism and sensory sensitivities. The park offers accessibility resources such as the Ride Accessibility Program, which gives visitors a special access pass allowing them to use a virtual queue system instead of waiting in standard lines. Additionally, SeaWorld provides an accessibility guide outlining ride requirements and show accommodations. Sesame Place San Diego Sesame Place San Diego became the first theme park in San Diego to be designated as a Certified Autism Center in 2022. The certification requires ongoing, specialized training for Sesame Place employees, focusing on sensory awareness, motor skills, program development, communication and emotional awareness. This allows the park to be better equipped to serve autistic people. As a Certified Autism Center, the park offers a variety of services and facilities for autistic visitors. This includes online pre-planning resources, sensory guides and the Ride Accessibility Program. Visitors in need of quiet time and relief from sensory stimulation can use the park's quiet rooms and complimentary noise-canceling headphones. Sky Zone Sky Zone hosts Sensory Hours at participating locations. Sensory Hours provide a quieter, toned-down jumping experience for people with special needs at the indoor trampoline parks. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert is a Certified Autism Center. Staff have been trained in methods to ensure visitors with autism or sensory needs have an engaging visit. The Living Desert has sensory maps that provide information and highlight areas that may be loud, crowded, interactive, smelly or dark, as well as quieter and more peaceful areas within the park. The zoo and desert botanical garden also offers sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones and other resources available for check out at the admissions windows or the guest services office. Urban Air Adventure Park Urban Air Adventure Park offers Sensory Friendly Play at certain days and times at participating locations. The events are designed for children with autism and special needs to enjoy time at the adventure parks without loud music and flashing lights. Patch Parents is written by Patch Editor Kristina Houck, a mom of three boys. Have a story idea? Email kristina.houck@patch.com.
Apr 28, 2025 | www.patch.com
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