Accessibility
First and foremost, California's Great America is about fun. Fun for everyone! Here you'll find everything you need to know about navigating and enjoying the park and all of its experiences for those with disabilities. And if you can't find the answers here, feel free to download our Guest Accessibility Guide, contact us, or stop by Guest Services.
We work closely with the manufacturer of each of our rides and our policies incorporate the manufacturers’ guidelines as well as the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). We hope that this Guide will help Guests make the best choices to ensure a safe, comfortable and convenient experience at the park. If, at any time, Guests need additional assistance or a further explanation of our policies and guidelines, they should feel free to ask any Great America Employee.
We are proud of our reputation for providing reasonable accommodations to Guests with disabilities through our Attraction Accessibility Program. To provide equal access for all Guests, we have developed a program that allows Guests with mobility restrictions or cognitive impairments to access attractions.
Information about where Guests access the ride is posted on each attraction's Safety Guide sign. All Guests are required to meet all riding requirements for every attraction, including height and health restrictions to safely ride/participate.
The following procedures apply to Guests who wish to participate in our Attraction Accessibility Program:
Guests with mobility restrictions or cognitive impairments who request reasonable accommodations are encouraged to obtain the IBCCES Accessibility Card (IAC) by registering at IBCCES Accessibility Card or via the Accessibility Card mobile App. Once a Guest has filled out the online application and uploaded necessary documentation into a secure online portal, they will be able to access their digital Accessibility Card. Guests will present the IBCCES Accessibility Card to Guest Services upon their arrival at the park to express their accommodation needs. Some questions are asked to ensure that the Guest has the required physical criteria in order to safely experience attractions. Following that conversation, the Guest Services Associate will provide the details needed to participate in the program.
California's Great America's Attraction Accessibility Program is designed to provide equal access to all Guests and does not provide immediate boarding on to attractions.
Note: Only IBCCES can issue the IBCCES Accessibility Card, and not California's Great America.
Braille and large print copies of the Guest Accessibility Guide are available at Town Hall. There are a limited number of guides available on a first-come, first-served basis.
If requested at least 1 week in advance, California’s Great America will provide American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for live shows featured at our live entertainment venues. California’s Great America understands, however, there may be rare occasions where an ASL interpreter request cannot be made this far in advance. In those circumstances, California’s Great America will endeavor to provide an ASL interpreter but if an ASL interpreter is unable to be secured within that shortened time, it will provide a reasonable alternative.
To request ASL Interpretation services, please complete the request form.
Upon arrival at the park, please check in with Guest Services to review our show schedule and determine your preferred showtimes and selections.
California’s Great America offers assistive listening device, a lightweight wireless device that aids in the amplification of sound at our stage shows. These are recommended for guests with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. To use the system, guests should obtain a receiver at the Town Hall Office. For show venues where this system is not available, please inquire with venue staff for assistance in prioritizing your seating location.
White Canes can be used to access many of our attractions. White Canes may need to be collapsed and safely secured, stored or left with a non-rider on attractions where they could be a hazard.
Guests with casts and braces will be restricted from riding rides where the cast or brace will not fit safely inside the ride unit or where it will present a hazard to the Guest or others or where it is prohibited by the manufacturer of the attraction. Guests with full arm (elbow restricted) and full leg (knee restricted) casts or braces are restricted from MOST rides and water slides at South Bay Shores. We suggest you delay your visit until the cast is removed.
Please refer to the Guest Accessibility Guide for further information regarding casts and braces.
Guests with any type of prosthesis should not ride unless they can ensure the device is properly secured and will remain in place during the ride. If there is any concern of the prosthesis becoming dislodged during the ride, Guests should visit Guest Services for assistance. Braces with exposed metal parts are not permitted on the water slides in South Bay Shores.
Guests with leg prostheses are not permitted to ride Flight Deck or Patriot.
Guests with any prosthesis are not permitted to ride Railblazer or Shark Reef Plunge.
Guests with certain amputations may be able to ride Flight Deck or Patriot with the use of a separate full body harness provided the Guest has remaining leg and arm remnants to be secured by the harness. Guests should check with Guest Services to determine if they are eligible to ride using the full body harness.
On Flight Deck or Patriot Guests with any upper extremity prosthesis must ensure the device is properly secured or removed prior to riding.
Service animals are welcome at California’s Great America. A service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks for a person with disabilities. Service animals must be controlled with a restraining device and must display appropriate behavior at all times while on our property. There is a limit of one service animal per Guest. A relief area is located behind the Tradewinds merchandise store.
Due to the nature of most rides, service animals must remain with a non-riding member of your party. We are not permitted to take control of your service animal. Guests may take advantage of our Rider Swap policy for staying with the service animal. Service animals may be taken on the Carousel Columbia, Character Carousel, Delta Flyer/Eagles Flight, Flying Ace, Star Tower and the Pumpkin Patch. Service animals must be leashed, under the owner's control, fit on the floor of the ride vehicle, and seated on the floor, not the ride seat.
Service animals are not permitted in water attractions, wet decks, wading pools, or lazy rivers.