Wearing Hearing Aids at Disney Parks

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I got my hearing aids in September 2018. We had a trip to Disney World planned just one week later. Aside from worrying about the sensory overload that came with wearing hearing aids for the first time, I was also concerned about keeping them safe. Hearing aids are expensive! My audiologist assured me I’d be fine, and I was. Now there are two of us in my family who wear hearing aids to the parks, and I’ve learned a few things about how best to take care of these amazing, pricey devices while having a magical vacation. This is the information I wish I’d had to ease my fears before that first trip.

One of the first concerns I had was getting through security at the airport and in the parks. Metal detectors have always made me nervous for some reason. I have had zero issues wearing my hearing aids through any metal detector anywhere. Disney World’s security process has changed, and it’s easier than ever to get through.

I posted a while back about what I pack in my parks bag, and in that post I referenced needing some hearing aid supplies. My hearing aids are rechargeable but can also run on disposable batteries, and my son’s run solely on disposable batteries. I keep a pack of batteries on me at all times. I also keep a hard case or two, as well as a plastic zipper bag in case I need something truly waterproof. (I actually carry lots of bags, because we always seem to need them.) Since our last trip, I’ve had a JuJuBe Paci Pod attached to my bag to hold hearing aids or whatever else I might need it for. My children think it’s hilarious (since we’re way past the pacifier days), but it works! For myself, I carry a pack of wax guards. For my son, who wears ear molds, I just bought a set of cleaning tools in a handy little case. None of this takes up much space at all, but it’s all useful.

Side note: On our most recent Disney trip, I left my charger at home and used disposable batteries the whole time. With early mornings and late nights, I didn’t have to worry about my rechargeables lasting an entire day. I realize not everyone can do this, but if you can, it might be worth it. It was for me.

It’s good to have a plan for rain, too. Especially in Florida. We carry either disposable ponchos or the nicer Disney ones. I also have a couple of packable rain jackets. Having those gives me a sense of security when dealing with somewhat unpredictable weather. I didn’t mind the rain so much before, but now I have something to protect.

I think for me, knowing when to take out my hearing aids on rides was what intimidated me most at first. I take them out for all water rides for sure. I also take them out for rollercoasters and anything that has big motions, like the up and down motion of Tower of Terror. I know that there are a lot of people who don’t take them out on anything but water rides, but I just prefer to err on the side of caution. Still, there are an awful lot of rides where I don’t even worry about it.

There are a lot of things about wearing hearing aids that no longer intimidate me, and traveling to amusement parks is one of them. Whether you’re new to wearing hearing aids or new to Disney parks, I hope this helps give you a little extra confidence going into your trip. If you have any tips of your own, comment below and let me know!