You’re excited about your Disney vacation, your park tickets are bought, and then you remember – you wear glasses. Will they fly off on Space Mountain? Can you wear 3D glasses over them? And why do your Disney PhotoPass pictures always have that weird glare?
If you see me in photos, you’ll notice something… I’m rarely in glasses. I’m actually colorblind (#FunFact), so the only time I wear glasses is when I’m feeling blah or when I’m spending a lot of time in front of a computer. But my partner? She literally can’t function without glasses. So this guide is for all of you who can’t just “take them off and deal with it.”
What You Really Need to Know
Before diving into the details, here are the big things to remember:
- Bring a backup pair if you can (seriously, you don’t want to lose your only glasses on Tower of Terror)
- Get a strap for thrill rides – they’re not fashionable, but they work
- Take your PhotoPass pictures at a slight angle to avoid glare
- Always check your photos in the My Disney Experience app right after they’re taken
Thrill Rides: Will Your Glasses Survive?
High-Risk Rides (AKA “Hold Onto Your Glasses!”)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
- 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds
- Dark environment
- As my friend Jill says: “I can see literally nothing. I get it that it’s in the dark, but I can’t see any of the theming and I can’t see what’s coming.”
Expedition Everest
- Here’s a pro tip: When a ride says “secure loose items,” that’s Disney-speak for “your glasses might become a projectile”
- One guest’s sad tale: “I’ve never seen Disco Yeti because I need my glasses to see”
Tower of Terror
- Multiple drops
- “What goes up must come down…loose items should be stored away. I would hate to lose my glasses in the Twilight Zone” – Jill
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
- Water + glasses = frustration
- “Anyone who’s ever worn glasses knows what happens when you wear them in the rain. Splash Mountain makes me wish my glasses had windshield wipers” – Jill
Space Mountain
- Surprisingly not terrible!
- “Actually, Space Mountain isn’t that bad because EVERYONE is in the dark. For my personal comfort, I take my glasses off for that ride. There are some sharp turns and sudden drops.” – Jill
Glasses-Friendly Rides
Good news! These rides are usually no problem:
- Tron Lightcycle Run
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Soarin’
- Test Track
- “it’s a small world”
Article Continues Below
Getting Great PhotoPass Pictures (Despite Your Glasses)
Ever seen a JJ Abrams Star Trek movie? You know those lens flares? That’s what your PhotoPass photos might look like unless you:
- Tilt your head slightly when posing
- Check your photos immediately in the My Disney Experience app
- Ask for a retake if you see glare (way easier to fix while you’re still there!)
The 3D Attraction Dilemma
Remember in school when the 3D movie days were the worst because you had to wear those glasses over your regular glasses? Welcome to Disney’s 3D attractions!
The struggle is real, especially if you have a small nose – those 3D glasses will be hanging on by sheer willpower. Here’s where you’ll need to double up:
- Muppet Vision 3-D
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Flight of Passage
- It’s Tough to be a Bug
- Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Toy Story Midway Mania
- Star Tours
I’ll keep updating this guide as I get more feedback from friends and family. If you’ve got any glasses-wearing tips for Disney, drop them in the comments below!