Orange County sits between Los Angeles and San Diego, anchored by world-famous theme parks, a long stretch of Pacific coastline, and a growing arts scene in Costa Mesa. As a destination it’s heavily car-dependent, but most of its major venues have solid accessibility infrastructure — and a few stand out for going well beyond the basics.
This guide covers 9 of the best accessible options across the county, with notes on what each venue actually offers. For the full picture on any listing, follow the link to its page on Only Everywhere.
Theme Parks
1. Disneyland Resort
Anaheim | Prices vary by date and park
Disneyland is the anchor attraction for most OC visits, and its accessibility program is one of the most comprehensive of any theme park in the country. Accessible parking, drop-off, routes, restrooms, and companion restrooms are available throughout the resort. Wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) are available to rent. All Park & Ride shuttles are wheelchair accessible.
For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, assistive listening devices and captioning are available, and sign language interpretation is offered on a rotating daily schedule — check the Disneyland app or Guest Services for the current schedule.
The sensory toolkit is extensive: a downloadable Sensory Guide and Social Narratives for both parks are available on the Disneyland website before your visit. Cast Members receive sensory difference training.
The Disability Access Service (DAS) is available for guests with developmental disabilities who cannot wait in a standard queue. Note that as of June 2024, DAS is no longer available for guests with mobility or medical conditions — those guests may use Location Return Times at select attractions instead. Service animals are welcome throughout.
See full accessibility details →
2. Knott’s Berry Farm
Buena Park | Prices vary
Knott’s uses the IBCCES Accessibility Card system — register at ibcces.org before your visit, then present the card at Guest Services on arrival. Staff will walk through available accommodations for your specific needs.
Braille and large-print copies of the Guest Accessibility Guide are available at Guest Services. ASL interpreters are available for live shows with at least one week’s advance notice (email [email protected] to request). Scripts and score sheets are available at each show venue on request. Wheelchair and ECV rentals are available — book in advance on busy days as they sell out, and note they are not available during Knott’s Scary Farm.
Almost every ride at Knott’s accommodates wheelchairs. The park is fully cashless.
We’ve covered Knott’s in more detail in our guide to disability access passes at California theme parks →
See full accessibility details →
Performing Arts & Live Venues
3. Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Costa Mesa | Prices vary by performance
Segerstrom Center is Orange County’s premier performing arts complex, home to multiple venues including Segerstrom Hall and the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors, it’s the strongest option in the county: assistive listening devices are available in the theaters, a hearing loop system is installed in select venues, captioning services are offered for certain productions, and sign language interpretation is available for select performances.
Audio description is available for qualifying performances. Large-print and Braille programs are available with advance request. Reserved wheelchair seating and companion seats are available in all venues. Reduced-rate tickets are available for patrons with disabilities.
Staff are trained to support visitors with sensory differences. Visitors report that plaza-level entrances make navigation relatively straightforward for wheelchair users, and recommend arriving early to allow time for accommodation requests to be arranged.
See full accessibility details →
4. Honda Center
Anaheim | Prices vary by event
Home to the Anaheim Ducks, Honda Center has accessible parking, accessible restrooms, reserved wheelchair seating, and loaner mobility aids. Sensory bags are available for guests with sensory sensitivities. A private nursing room is on site.
For accessibility-specific requests, contact Guest Services in advance. The venue’s full ADA accessibility guide is available on the Honda Center website.
See full accessibility details →
Museums & Family Venues
5. Discovery Cube Orange County
Santa Ana | $15–$23
Discovery Cube OC is a hands-on science museum with over 100 interactive exhibits for children and families — and one of the better sensory-inclusive venues in the county. The museum is KultureCity certified, with trained staff and sensory bags available at the entrance for guests with sensory sensitivities. Loaner wheelchairs are available for guests who need mobility assistance. Accessible parking, accessible routes, and accessible restrooms throughout.
For a quieter experience, the museum offers Members Only Mornings on select days — early access before general admission opens, which significantly reduces crowd levels. Weekday mornings are consistently recommended by visitors for a calmer environment. Free admission for children under 2.
See full accessibility details →
6. Pretend City Children’s Museum
Irvine | $15
Pretend City is the standout sensory-friendly option in OC for families with young children. The museum has a dedicated sensory room for children who need a calm retreat, and runs Sensory-Friendly Sundays on the first Sunday of every month — reduced capacity, dimmed lighting, and lowered noise levels. Social stories and visual guides are available on the museum’s website to download before your visit. Staff are trained to support children with diverse needs.
The compact layout makes it easy to navigate with strollers or mobility devices. The museum is designed for children ages 0–8, and the hands-on nature of all exhibits means children of varying abilities can engage at their own pace.
Visitors recommend weekday mornings or Sensory-Friendly Sundays if your child is sensitive to noise and crowds — standard weekend days can get busy.
See full accessibility details →
7. Nixon Presidential Library
Yorba Linda | $19–$29
A federally operated National Archives facility on nine acres in Yorba Linda, with permanent galleries, a historic birthplace home, a formal garden, and the Army One helicopter on the grounds. As a federal facility it meets ADA and federal accessibility standards — paved and level pathways connect the museum building, gardens, and outdoor exhibits, making it one of the more navigable outdoor museum sites in the county.
Loaner wheelchairs are available. Audio guides and audio descriptions support visitors with visual impairments, and assistive listening devices are available for programs and events. Large-print and high-contrast signage throughout. Staff are trained to assist visitors with a range of accessibility needs.
Visitors note the grounds are largely flat and easy to navigate by wheelchair, and that the parking lot is close to the main entrance. Weekday mornings tend to be the quietest. Most visitors can comfortably explore within two to three hours.
See full accessibility details →
8. Orange County Museum of Art
Costa Mesa | Prices vary; free for children
OCMA — now the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art — is a contemporary art museum on the Segerstrom Center campus, opened in a new purpose-built facility in 2022. The building is designed for full physical accessibility: step-free entrances, elevator access to all floors, wide gallery pathways, accessible restrooms, and a flat route from the Segerstrom Center parking structures to the entrance.
Service animals are welcome. Reduced-rate membership options and community programs offer free or discounted entry. If you’re already visiting Segerstrom Center for a performance, the museum is a natural add-on — same campus, same accessible parking.
See full accessibility details →
Beach
9. Crystal Cove State Park
Newport Beach | $15–$20 parking
Crystal Cove is the most accessible beach option in Orange County, with a combination of features that makes it genuinely usable for visitors with mobility limitations. Free loaner beach wheelchairs are available at both the Historic District and Lower Moro areas on a first-come, first-served basis. A wheelchair-lift-equipped shuttle operates between the Los Trancos parking lot and the Beachcomber Café loading area — persons with disabilities ride the shuttle free of charge.
Designated accessible parking spaces are available at all parking lots, with five dedicated spaces in the Historic District. The Historic District and Lower Moro beach areas are the designated accessible sections. Restrooms are adjacent to all parking lots throughout the park.
Visitors report that the free beach wheelchairs go quickly on busy summer weekends, so arriving early is strongly recommended. The Lower Moro lot offers the most direct beach access via a tunnel, and the shuttle is noted as particularly helpful for visitors who have difficulty crossing Pacific Coast Highway on foot.
See full accessibility details →
Planning Your Visit
A few things worth knowing across all OC venues:
Orange County is car-dependent. Most venues have accessible parking, but transit options between attractions are limited. Plan around driving or rideshare.
Pre-register for theme park access programs before you go. Disneyland’s DAS requires advance registration via video chat, available 30–60 days before your visit. Knott’s IBCCES card must be obtained before arrival. Neither offers day-of walk-up registration.
Sensory-Friendly Sundays at Pretend City are the first Sunday of each month. Worth checking the schedule if you’re planning around a specific visit.
Beach wheelchairs at Crystal Cove are free but first-come, first-served. Arrive early on summer weekends.
The Segerstrom campus in Costa Mesa combines three venues in one trip — Segerstrom Center for the Arts, OCMA, and South Coast Plaza are all within easy walking distance of each other with shared accessible parking.
Browse the full directory of accessible venues in Orange County at OnlyEverywhere.com.