This Influencer Says She Was Denied Accommodations For Her Narcolepsy at Disneyland: ''Not So Great''

Disneyland is supposed to be one of the happiest places on earth, but what happens when your disability isn’t accommodated when you visit the parks? Influencer Rylie Shaw (@rylie_shaw on Youtube) experienced this firsthand when she visited Disneyland and she claims that she was denied use of Disney’s Disability Access Service (commonly referred to as DAS) for her narcolepsy.

According to Rylie’s video, titled “Why I WON’T be back to Disney!”, her day at Disneyland turned out to be “not so great,” since she claims that she was denied access for her narcolepsy. According to Rylie’s video, she was granted the DAS pass the last time she visited the parks, but was not able to take advantage of accommodations for her narcolepsy during her most recent visit. (1)

Disney did not immediately respond to Sleepopolis’s request for a comment on the matter, but we’ll update this story if we hear back.

For people with narcolepsy, waiting in long lines all day long can be seriously challenging, since narcolepsy can cause symptoms like excessive sleepiness and muscle weakness. If someone with narcolepsy wanted to visit a theme park like Disneyland, they might need accommodations so they can sit down to avoid standing in line for multiple hours.

Read on to find out more about Rylie’s less-than-stellar day at Disneyland, and how she navigated the parks while having narcolepsy.

How Did Rylie Navigate Disneyland While Having Narcolepsy?

During Rylie’s first trip to Disneyland, she said that she was able to sit on a bench or take naps while waiting for rides in a virtual queue. However, when she most recently visited she said that she had to stand for hours, and “often went extended periods without anything to sit on or lean against.” Rylie went on to say that she had to rely on the people she was visiting with to lean against them, and that she would take advantage of a bench in the queue when she saw one. (1)

According to Rylie, her “energy drained much quicker,” and she ultimately went to first aid at Disneyland to take a nap on some cots. She said that she ended up crashing for much longer than she anticipated, which cut into her time at the park. (1)

However, they were still able to fit in some of the rides that they wanted to go on, which included It’s A Small World. Rylie did say that since the ride was dark it did make her sleepy while she was riding it. (1)

How Did Rylie’s Narcolepsy Impact Her Time At Disney?

Reflecting on her trip, Rylie said she felt like she “just missed out on so much of the park” and she ended up having to go home from the park early.

Rylie continued on to share how the day emotionally impacted her, saying that the aftermath of a long day like what she experienced at Disney can be pretty tough. She showed videos of herself crying and with mascara-tear stains on her face, and the caption read “sorry Disney – not worth it loll.” (1)

What Is Narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a “chronic neurological disorder with symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness, muscle weakness, and fragmented sleep.” One of the most prevalent symptoms of narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness, which means that people who have narcolepsy are often seriously struggling to keep themselves awake during the day. (2)

If you believe you have narcolepsy, the best thing you can do is talk to your healthcare provider and they can set you up with the testing necessary to get properly diagnosed with narcolepsy so you can receive treatment. Additionally, if you have narcolepsy and you wish to go to a theme park like Disneyland, then you should consult your doctor to do what is right to keep yourself safe and healthy.

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Shaw, Rylie. August 21, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t1Je9vjsEuU
Slowick, Jennifer M., Collen, Jacob F., Yow, Allison G. Narcolepsy. National Center for Biotechnology Information. June 12, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459236/