Give Kids the World Village unveils new swing attraction

Give Kids the World Village has unveiled its newest attraction: a wheelchair-accessible swing ride that seats nine people.

The ride is named “Kelly’s Sunny Swing,” in honor of a child who visited the resort in the early 1990s. The ride was officially opened with a ceremony attended by families staying at the Village, staff, volunteers, and members of the media.

“It’s so important that we make everything as accessible as possible for our visiting families,” said Pamela Landwirth, CEO of the Village. “We’re very excited to unveil this new attraction. It’s going to bring a lot of joy to a lot of folks.”

The brightly-colored swing – topped with a rainbow and smiling sun – features eight standard seats and one specially designed to accommodate riders using wheelchairs.

Kaylin, a 9-year-old who visited Give Kids the World in 2014, was one of the first to experience Kelly’s Sunny Swing after its grand opening. “It was hands-down one of my favorite rides at the VIllage,” she said.

Kelly’s Sunny Swing is the fourth wheelchair-accessible attraction at Give Kids the World, joining a carousel, child-sized train, and a pedal-powered flying ride. The swing was designed and donated by Zamperla, an Italian design and manufacturing company. This is the third ride that Zamperla has given to the village.

“Mr. Zamperla has become a dear friend,” said Landwirth. “They share our passion for giving joy to children and our passion for accessibility.”

To learn more about Give Kids the World Village and the work that they do, visit GKTW.org.