Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors every year, and a growing number of them are travelers with disabilities, neurodivergent guests, and families who plan their trips around access needs. 

As such, the city has been working intentionally to make travel experiences smoother. In 2023, Visit Anaheim was recognized as a Certified Autism Center™ by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), and the city (and its partners) continue working toward becoming one of the first Certified Autism Destinations in the country!

If you’re planning to stay in Anaheim, you can download the official IBCCES Accessibility App which gives visitors detailed, on-the-ground information about sensory, mobility, and communication supports across the city. 

Behind the scenes, the City of Anaheim’s Disability & Civil Rights Program is responsible for making sure our public programs, services, and facilities are accessible and ADA-compliant, with a formal grievance process in place. Thanks to these efforts, you’ll find accessible city parks, community centers, and local events designed so all guests feel welcome and supported in Anaheim! And that same spirit carries into the city’s local attractions, transit, and hotels.

Getting Around: Accessible Transit

OCTA buses run several routes across Anaheim and greater Orange County, and their entire fleet is ADA-compliant, with trained drivers ready to help make rides comfortable and safe.

Visit Anaheim’s accessibility resources can point you to airport shuttles, rideshare options, and other transit services that can accommodate mobility devices or additional assistance needs.

Theme Parks and Attractions Designed With Access in Mind

Disneyland® Resort has built out one of the most robust accessibility programs in the country. Guests will find wheelchair and ECV rentals, companion restrooms, and attraction access options that take into account mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive disabilities. Services at both theme parks, as well as their hotels and restaurants, include audio description and handheld captioning devices, sign language interpretation on select days, and the Disability Access Service (DAS) program for guests who have difficulty tolerating long waits in conventional queues, including many autistic visitors.

Sports fans are well covered too! Angel Stadium offers ADA seating throughout the ballpark, accessible parking, elevators, and assistive listening devices. The stadium has also introduced a dedicated sensory room for guests who need a quieter, lower-stimulation space during games. Nearby, Honda Center (home of the Anaheim Ducks) provides accessible seating, wheelchair escorts, assistive listening systems, and sensory bags in partnership with KultureCity for guests with sensory processing needs.

Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in downtown Anaheim ensures all its galleries wheelchair-accessible, with ramps and elevators, accessible restrooms, and service-animal-friendly policies to ensure guests can enjoy all their cultural offerings. Likewise, local venues like the Grove of Anaheim and House of Blues Anaheim are ADA-compliant and offer special services to accommodate accessibility needs during concerts.

And if you’re planning a visit to the Anaheim Convention Center, you can read all about their policies and features here.

Accessible Places to Stay in Anaheim

Many Anaheim hotels and resorts treat accessibility as a core part of the guest experience. National brands in the Resort Area offer ADA-compliant rooms with roll-in showers, visual alert systems, and step-free access to common areas. Great Wolf Lodge Southern California, for example, boasts accessible suites and waterpark features, including lift access at some pools and accommodations for guests with mobility, hearing, or visual impairments.

Many Anaheim accommodation options are also part of the Certified Autism Center network, so neurodivergent travelers and families can book with confidence knowing staff are trained in sensory needs and there are supports in place to make their stay more comfortable.