Where are you going on your family vacation this summer? Popular destinations include beaches and amusement parks. The problem is that not all amusement parks were designed to accommodate children who have special needs. Morgan’s Wonderland, on the other hand, was designed to be a friendly place for children who have special needs, their families, and their siblings to interact and have fun.
Morgan’s Wonderland is located in San Antonio, Texas. It is the World’s First Ultra Accessible Family Fun Park that was specifically designed for children and adults who have special needs, (as well as their family members), to enjoy. It truly is a unique and wonderful place to be.
Many amusement parks feature loud, fast moving, mechanical rides, (like roller coasters and tilt-a whirls). These types of rides can be overwhelming for children who have sensory issues. Morgan’s Wonderland is different. You won’t find any of the typical amusement park rides there.
Instead, the entire twenty-five acre park offers shared play experiences, where people of all abilities can play, learn, and share, together, in an environment that is both safe and fun. Even if you don’t happen to live in or near San Antonio, Texas, it will be worth the trip for your family to visit Morgan’s Wonderland as part of your family vacation this year.
The price of admission is very reasonable. All individuals who have one or more special needs are admitted to the park for free. This is true for both children and adults who have special needs. The parent or caregiver who is accompanying the person who has a special need can get in for just $10.00. All other family members can enter Morgan’s Wonderland for $15.00. Children under the age of two get in for free, as well.
All guests are given a special wristband that has Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology embedded in it. If one of your family members become separated from the group, you can locate that person by scanning your own wristband into any of the scanners that are located throughout the park. All wristbands are checked when people leave the park, as a safety precaution. This is an especially helpful technology for parents or caregivers of children who have autism, and who have a history or wandering.
One of the attractions is a Sensory Village. This area looks like an indoor street scape. Inside are several different kinds of imaginative play areas, complete with props, for people to explore. The Butterfly Playground is an outdoor playscape that has a double ramp that was created to be wide enough to fit two wheelchairs, side by side. The entire area was designed for kids with cognitive and physical special needs. There is also a train that guests can ride which goes around a scenic lake and through rest areas that were designed to look like different countries.
Image by Nan Palmero on Flickr