Efteling theme park has launched a new accessibility feature that provides synchronized subtitles for spoken narratives throughout the park via its official mobile app.
The subtitling service covers three major attractions—Baron 1898, Danse Macabre, and Villa Volta—as well as 16 fairy tale installations in the park’s iconic Fairy Tale Forest that feature narrated stories. The feature is available in Dutch, English, German, and French.
Visitors can activate the subtitling feature through the Efteling app by selecting “More” and then “Subtitles.” Once started, the system automatically recognizes which narrative is being played and synchronizes the text with the audio heard on-site, allowing deaf and hard-of-hearing guests to follow along with the stories in real time.
The fairy tales with subtitle support include classic stories such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Rapunzel, and The Little Match Girl, among others.
Development with Accessibility Experts
Efteling collaborated with accessibility organizations including Bartiméus and groups of individuals with lived experience to develop the feature. Jolanda de Boer, a hard-of-hearing resident of Vlaardingen, served as an advisor on design and user-friendliness and was among the first to test the system.
“I participated in the research because I think it’s important that everyone can visit a location and enjoy it just as much as anyone else,” de Boer said. “With subtitles, I get so much more from the stories. For example, I didn’t know the story of Langnek, the icon of Efteling, until I used subtitles. But also with an attraction like Danse Macabre, the experience is completely different if you don’t get the narrative. Now you can, and that’s really great.” (Quote translated from Dutch)
Audio Description Coming Later
The park announced that audio description services will be gradually introduced later this year for the Fairy Tale Forest and select attractions. This feature will provide narration of visual elements for visitors with visual impairments.
Efteling is allocating time and resources for the project in collaboration with its sole shareholder, the Efteling Nature Park Foundation, which has supported the park’s mission of accessibility and preservation since its establishment in 1950.
