How to Bring a Service Dog to Six Flags Magic Mountain

Written by: Lisa Jo Rudy, M.Div.

Service dogs are welcome at Six Flags Magic Mountain so long as they are, according to Six Flags, “trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” Of course, your dog must be housebroken and remain on a leash or harness and under your control while at the park — and the park has the right to ask aggressive dogs to leave. If you’re not sure what a task or disability is, check out our lists of service dog disabilities and service dog tasks.

Park staff do not have the right to ask for any documentation or a doctor’s note, nor can they ask you what your disability is. They can, however, ask whether your dog is a trained service animal. To smooth the road, it’s always best to use a vest, ID card, patch, and/or harness to clearly identify your service dog and distinguish it from an ordinary pet.

While you and your dog are welcome, a day at Magic Mountain does require some planning. Here’s a guide to making your visit the best it can be!

Consider Getting a Disability Card

You don’t need any special documentation to bring your service dog to Six Flags, and your service dog is welcome with or without a disability card. But you may, nevertheless, decide to apply for a disability card, as it can make your visit much easier and pleasanter!

A disability card allows you to access accommodations such as wheelchair access to rides. You can also qualify for the card if you have a disability such as blindness, autism, epilepsy, or one of many other visible and invisible disorders. That means that many service dog owners do qualify for and would benefit from having a disability card in hand.

Guests with cognitive disorders, disabilities, or mobility impairments who can benefit from accommodations can get the IBCCES Individual Accessibility Card (IAC) by registering on their site and downloading the digital card. This card is NOT specific to Six Flags, but they do honor it.

If you get the accessibility card, bring it along and present it to the guest services staff at the start of your visit. They will be able to provide you with further information about where and how to access rides.

Think About Your Dog’s Needs

Like anyone else, your dog will need to eat, drink, and relieve itself. Be sure you have a collapsible water bowl and plenty of food.

Remember to give your dog plenty of time in the shade. As service dogs are welcome at restaurants, shops, theaters, and arcades, you may want to plan some stops in those locations.

Six Flags has two relief stations for your service dog — but only one is inside the park. The outside relief station is located near the entrance; the inside relief station is near the Ninja ride toward the back of the park. You can get more detailed information on the Six Flags Magic Mountain Map.

It’s also important to consider your dog’s reaction to noise, crowds, and potentially alarming events. The sounds of roller coasters, screaming people, and loud music can be upsetting to a dog whose job is caring for someone who might find themselves in distress. If possible, expose your dog to some of these potential sensory overloads ahead of time to be sure they can handle a whole day at Six Flags.

Plan Your Rides In Advance

In most cases, your service dog is not allowed on rides. Moreover, staff are not allowed to watch your dog while you ride. This means you’ll need companions who are able and willing to look after your service dog when you ride. Magic Mountain allows you to use the “kid swap” option, which means your companion can go on the ride just as soon as you return to take charge of your dog. If you have a personal support person, they may ride with you. But of course, you’ll still need someone to look after your dog while you ride!

If you use a wheelchair or have physical disabilities, you will need to enter rides from an accessible location. You can find these on the park map or just ask a staff member. If you have an accessibility card you should speak with a guest services rep when you enter the park to get details on how to use it.

At Six Flags Magic Mountain, only the Magic Mover ride allows dogs. The Magic Mover is essentially a ride that takes people from the back to the front of the park — which means it’s useful but hardly exciting. It’s worth knowing that other Six Flags parks do have more rides on which dogs are allowed, including Capital Railways, Minutemen Motors, Tinseltown Train, Around the World in 80 Seconds, Flight School, and the Carousel. Dogs can also go through Haunted Mazes, though many dogs would find them overwhelming!

A Final Note

A companion willing to “child swap” with your dog
An accessibility pass if you need one
Food, water dish, and service dog accessories
A plan to get your dog to one of the park’s pet relief stations

If you’re planning a visit to Six Flags Magic Mountain with a service dog, take some time to prepare. You might want to have:

And, of course, don’t forget water, sunscreen, and, most of all, to have fun!

Written by: Lisa Jo Rudy, M.Div. | Public Access Theme Parks

About the Author: Lisa Jo Rudy, M.Div. has been writing on developmental disabilities and mental health since the early 2000s, when her son was diagnosed with autism. Lisa lives on Cape Cod, where she is the proud "mom" of two beautiful cats.