Volume 3, No. 9. May 9, 2003
Playfulness
The day before Holiday
World & Splashin’ Safari begins its daily operations for the season,
the park’s employees experience one of their more important and enjoyable
orientation sessions. On that day, the Santa Claus, Indiana, theme park opens
its gates to 2,000 children with disabilities who can enjoy any attraction in
the amusement park they wish.
The annual Play Day, now in its 11th year and scheduled for May 14 this year,
is run in coordination with the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville,
Indiana. The center, which serves about 30 counties in southern Indiana, southern
Illinois and western Kentucky, sends invitations to that region’s schools.
All the children with disabilities—whether mobility, mental, visual, aural
or other disability—arrive in school groups for the day which lasts from
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (14,00). Admission is $7 per child, the entire fee going toward
the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.
“For us it’s a wonderful way to start off the season in that there’s
so much joy that day,” said Paula Werne, Holiday World’s director
of public relations. “Kids are bouncing with excitement. Santa says he
has to get ready for the day because he gets so many bone crushing hugs. He’s
bruised in the ribs afterward.” Pam Kirk, the Rehabilitation Center’s
public relations director, also described watching the children as they enter
the park’s gates. “You can just tell from the excitement that they
have looked forward to this all year. It’s a big day for a lot of those
kids.”
Play Day is not, however, solely a feel-good day. It allows Holiday World employees
an opportunity to work with guests who have a variety of disabilities. Not only
can the hosts and hostesses practice ride loading and service situations, but
the experience helps allay many of their fears and encourages them to treat
such customers with the same respect and dignity afforded guests without disabilities.
“Everyone who works that day has this new comfort level,” Werne said.
“It’s like, ‘That was OK, I’m OK now.’”
Play Day, in fact, grew out of the park’s efforts to improve its accessibility
for people with disabilities. While developing its training manual and auditing
its facilities, the park approached the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center for
advice. “That led to the idea of doing something special for kids with
disabilities who might not be able to enjoy a quality amusement park, because
it was too difficult to do so, or maybe the families couldn’t afford it,”
Kirk said. With Play Day, “People could come and enjoy themselves at a
leisurely pace, and the staff could concentrate on making it accessible. This
particular day provides them an opportunity to take a fresh look every year
at accessibility.”
Though a training opportunity for Holiday World’s staff, the days usually
run smoothly, Kirk said. “I’ve been attending Play Day eight years,
and I can’t think of a time when I’ve seen a need to step in because
they do such a great job. The park is, I believe, one of the most accessible
in the country. The whole staff makes it a priority, and they welcome people
with disabilities every day they are open.”
The Rehabilitation Center also benefits from the occasion. The funds gathered
on that date go toward purchasing therapy equipment the center otherwise would
not be able to afford in its operational budget. “That one day of the year
gives back (to people with disabilities) for years and years,” Kirk said.
It looks like it will continue to do so for years to come, too. “Holiday
World came up with this idea themselves and they perpetuate it,” Kirk said.
“We don’t go back to them and say, ‘Would you please do that
one more time?’ They always come to us and say, ‘This is the date.’”
THE LOOP is written and produced by Eric Minton, Minton Enterprises, LLC. To see more examples of Eric Minton's work and Minton Enterprises services, visit www.ericminton.com.
©2003, Minton Enterprises
LLC
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