Universal with Disabilities

[Tiiiigergirl]

How accessible are IOA and Universal Studios. I walk with a cane and need a wheelchair or electric cart for any distances at all. Also are the ECV's from Walkers and other places able to be taken apart to transport in a car? Thanks!

[Wheelsie]

GOODY!! A QUESTION I'M REAL GOOD AT!!!! :)

Ok here's the scoops....

IOA isn't as accessible as US is...as a rule! :)

You can do just about ANYTHING at US except for Back to the Future...as far as the rides go! :) There is a Hanna-Barbera movie presentation that I would advise walking into to get the full 3D effect (ask the person at the front bout that) if you go in that one in a chair or ECV you won't get to have the whole ripping whirling effect of it! :)

IOA on the other hand the only ride area that I found accessible was (and my personal fave anyways LOL) SuessLanding!!! this place even has a handi carousel!!! the Cara-SUESS-cel they call it! :)

As far as the ECV info Im sure someone can answer
that one for you :) I'm sorry that I cant


Anything else you'd like to know bout US/IOA you can either post here PM me or email :)

[TIGGERSMOM]

Here is one I know something about. The biggest problem with getting a wheelchair or ECV at IOA/USF is the distance from the parking lot.

The walkway from the parking sections to both parks is very long. It required multiple stops for one of our party. You cannot take the ECV/wheelchair past the turnstyles so the walk back after a long day can be daunting. Even using valet parking only saves you about half the walk.

[Wheelsie]

I couldnt agree more...that walk from the parking garage to the actual parks is HERENDOUS!!!

You'll definately want to rent from an outside source! :)

[Tiiiigergirl]

Thanks all. We are planning on renting from Walker's again this year. They were wonderful last year.

[Cheshire Figment]

The ECVs from Walker come apart into five pieces. First you remove the seat (this is on a post, like a swivel chair. Then you disconnect three cords which have quick releases. The two batteries are each in a separate case, which lifts off easily. Then you pull a lever which disconnects the motor/wheels from the body. Then the handlebar folds dows. The heaviest piece is about 39 pounds. Once you are used to it, taking it apart takes about one minute, and it takes about three minutes to put it back together.

[Tiiiigergirl]

Cheshire,

Thanks for your response. Actually I thought for a minute I was going crazy. I forgot I had asked that question and it was still on my mind. I thought wow spooky, someone is answering a question before I can even ask it. Whoops, I guess it has been a very VERY long day.

[SueM in MN]

I'm not sure about this, but I think someone posted about a year ago that some of the outside rental ecvs don't come apart for transport. I remember someone posting that you should let the company know when you put in your reservation that you want one that will come apart for transport. This might be outdated info; they might all come apart by now. But it's easy to ask and be sure.

[mamajoan]

Oh wow, I glad I checked in here. I am trying to plan another trip to Florida. This time without the Great Assist of booking thru DCL. I am sorely missing the ease of phoning in my request, then getting it all by mail. Staying onsite seems soooo much easier. This time we are going to IOA/US, renting a van and staying at a Ramada. I am glad to be forewarned of the parking lot marathon walk. Any other suggestions for attending these parks in a w/c?Thanks soo much!

[nancycels]

we had a really tough time at IOA... if you have an ecv, be aware that things that say
wheelchair accessible mean accessible only for a normal size/type wheelchair, ECV's are
not included! This means a lot of hassle at IOA! If you go to Posiedan, be sure you insist
on a wheelchair u can transfer into from your ECV, otherwise you will get killed inside
this ride! (see my post on IOA/Univ board) I'm off to the knee dr's now thanks to lack of
control inside this ride, and a wild 7 y/o(NOT MINE I MIGHT ADD <g>). Hopefully after my
extensive conversations with management some changes have been made and you will
be fine! we grabbed a regular wheelchr half way in to where the entrance was, our only
problem was we couldnt do that doing out! So, we stopped for a drink on City Walk!
Watch the bridges, some of them slope up, and my ECV would slide down the slope if i
didn't have enough momentum... can't pause on the way up! Also if you rent from
Universal be sure u get one w/a horn! Much as I hate using it, sometimes its necessary
to alert small children that u r there! Our favorite park for ECV use, and it has the BEST
ECV's is Seaworld! We were very impressed w/that park. We've done DIS in the past,
suggest staying off raised sidewalks, some of them deadend w/o a slope down and u
end up backing up. HAVE FUN!

[faeflora]

Wow....I just had two friends who I work with at the theatre return from IOA and the first comment they made to me was..."IOA didn't look very accessible in any way shape or form"..this from two able bodied individuals...I guess at trip to IOA will have to wait for me until the improve some...

2 days until WDW and DI :bounce: :bounce:

[Tiiiigergirl]

I read Nancycels post on the Universal board. I actually had a post all worked out in reply too but then my foot hit the off button on the computer and I lost everything. Ah well a spastic body may have kept me out of trouble.

I read her report with an open mind but the real problem was that a couple of other posters said they had problems and didn't elaborate. But what really frightened me was that the really boorish and insensitive comments were made by an employee. He actually made the comment that he wanted ECV's banned from the park! I decided to call Universal personally to the number listed on the official web page for questions about disabilities. The guy there, lets call him Chris, started out friendly enough but as soon as I started asking about accesibility he turned cold. He mumbled on about yes it was accessable and that I could change to a regular wheelchair if I wanted to come. IF I WANTED TO COME!?!? I guess I don't. We have cancelled our reservations at Universal. Luckily I was still holding some for Disney. Some inner voice I guess. I do not spend that kind of money to be treated rudely. I'm just happy I found out ahead of time.

[nancycels]

i hate to discourage anyone from trying any of the parks, but we did have a tough time at IOA. Others have noted they had a great time(see universal bd) and to be fair, not all replies were borish, but...if that one person was an employee, well, guess i know now why i prefer sea world and disney!
IOA was great for the rest of my family. The scenery alone is quite something, and we got some interesting pictures. The coasters are to die for, if you are a coaster fanatic, and there's a flume ride round every corner. Some of it is very imaginative, others just the usual. DH and kids loved Spiderman. But we may have just hit it on a really bad day so don't totally rule it out, just be prepared for possible glitches! And be forewarned about the lack of ECV accessibility. Much as I understand their point that an ECV isn't TECHNICALLY a wheelchair, according to the ADA, I think that is something that needs to be verbalized as each person buys a ticket or rents an ECV from Universal. If I am using something in place of a wheelchair, I guess I just expected that they wd be accessible to ECV's rented at Universal at least!Granted, a warning like this won't save everyone problems, but they won't be expecting as much! Next time I'll read the fine print! So, don't rule it out totally, just beware! And celebrate if you have a fabulous time!

[Tiiiigergirl]

Nancycels,

I didn't cancel my trip based on what you said alone. In fact it was mostly what was said by the employees and the tone they said it in. Actually the employee I spoke to on the phone tipped the scale. He probably could have saved the trip if he would have been even the tiniest bit enthusiastic. Instead he dumped cold water in a big way. Vacations are way too expensive to risk running into that kind of trouble. I think part of the problem could be that IoA is geared to a younger crowd that for the most part has excellent health and they can not conceive of themselves of ever being anything but young, fit and healthy. At any rate for the kind of money we are spending we are not going to buy into trouble.;) Don't worry about feeling like you were the cause of us cancelling. You were not. You just pointed me in that direction and I did some investigation on my own.

I agree that not all of the comments were offensive. Sorry if I left that impression. Just that the worst ones were made by an employee. He or she admits it.

I just finished my letter to Universal. It goes in the mail tomorrow.

[nancycels]

Tiiigergirl, glad i didn't totally cause u to miss IOA. I can't believe(make that can but wish i cdn't believe) that any employee wd talk to any individual that way! Sometimes some sensitivity training would not go amiss! Some employees just don't get it! I'm sorry Universal isn't a bit more open to the disabled community... as i pointed out to one manager i spoke to, they cd be in a car accident tomorrow, and be the next disabled tourist! HOPE you have a GREAT TIME in florida! Highly recommend Sea World as an additional park if you are looking form something non-DIS for a day. Second day was free when we were down just after the 4th this year, ck w/them to see if they run it all the time! This was the best thing they cd do for people who are in wheelchairs or who are walking, but using a cane etc. It gives you that extra time you wdn't have usually w/o buying a 2nd ticket! This is a real boon for those of us who move a bit slower than the rest! <g>

[Tiiiigergirl]

Nancycels

I definitely do not want you to feel bad. I think this is important information for everyone to have. You are exactly right in that anyone can become disabled tomorrow. We just never know. I just want to spread the word so that folks can do the research. If I get a response I will post it and I hope you do the same. I am sure upper management would be appalled but middle mgmt and front line people appear to have set themselves up as judge and jury. THat is what scares me about going. Driving up I appear normal and it isn't until I go to stand that it becomes apparent that I have big problems. I'm starting to repeat myself but I feel I owe you thanks not you owing me any kind of apology.;)

[Mickeyworker]

I have read your responses with interest. It is nice that many give Universal the benefit
of the doubt.......but........if they are going to make money by renting ECV's, then they
have to make the facilities compatable with this mod of transportation.

I have been using an ECV for about 4 yrs and either take mine, or rent from Walker,
every time I go to Disney. Since I am not totally dependent on it (just for long walks),
I can park it outside a restaurant or it there is room inside, park it out of the way.

I have been to City Walk once for dinner at Emerils. We were early so we stopped
to have a drink in Margarettaville. They have one of the most interesting wheelchair/
ECV's access's. First of all the entrance is partially hidden behind a street vendor.
Then it is narrow. It goes straight for about 10 feet, then a very sharp right turn,
for another 8-10 feet, another sharp right...4-5 feet to the porch area, only to find
that the entrance on to the porch is blocked by a tall table and stools.

Not very hospitable and I have not been back.

[wajones1903]

I'm planning on going to IOA after thanksgiving with someone in a wheelchair. Does anyone have ANYTHING positive to say about IOA? He loves rollercoasters and would be devastated to find out he wouldn't have access.(He has Cerebal Palsy if that helps anyone to understand what he will need). I was unaware that at IOA this might be a problem. He can usually transfer himself, but when he can't there are two others going with us(including myself) who have no problems transfering him. He really wants to ride the Hulk and Spiderman, did anyone else have problems with these?

[Tiiiigergirl]

I still don't have any news from Universal. I wrote them over 3 weeks ago and have not heard a thing. As much as I too wanted to do Spiderman, I feel good about our decision to avoid Universal. In all fairness Nancycels said she really liked the looks of the park. She just had some trouble with some of the employees. I really don't know what to tell you, except that if they do write me, I'll let you know.

[Tiiiigergirl]

Well I just heard from Universal and I am underwhelmed. They did not address my concerns about the employees at all. They just wasted an entire page of paper and ink in telling me that they are fully ADA compliant. I never stated that they weren't fully compliant but that their employee training might be a problem. All they said was that their staff is specifically trained to help their guests who may need assistance. That's it!

On an interesting side note they also said they were including a disability guide for my review. Unless it's invisible they didn't.

I know I am very glad we cancelled all our reservations for Universal.

[SueM in MN]

That sounds like a very disappointing reply. Thanks for sharing it.
Wish you had gotten better news.
Actually, we haven't been back to Universal in about 5 years. We had been there twice, but were disappointed with the treatment we got. The lines were fully mainstreamed, but we had a small, not very patient, child with multiple disabilites who uses a wheelchair and her normally spastic little body is like a rag doll when she gets hot. We had to wait in all the mainstream lines and when we asked if we could wait somewhere inside, so she would not get overheated, wee got the "We are fully ADA compliant and all our lines are designed for wheelchair users to wait in them" explanation. When we wanted to take her out of her wheelchair for the Flinstones movie which was a moving theater, we were told that the theater was fully ADA compliant and she had to sit in the non-moving area and remain in her wheelchair. So she got to watch all the other people moving around while she sat still! We were not too impressed with the park and each time I mention going back to see if it has improved, no one wants to go.

[Tiiiigergirl]

Whether Universal admits it or not I think they realize that especially for IOA that their big market is the younger crowd. Typically (although we all know better) people in that age group are healthy and active. I don't think they care that they are alienating (sp?) the disabled comunity because we are not the demographic they are targeting. I have come to the conclusion that they do not care if the disabled attend or not. They feel they have done their job in making the facilities ADA compliant to avoid lawsuits. Yuck! Who needs them when we've got Disney!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[EUROPA]

Tiiiigergirl sorry to hear about Universal's reply. I spent several post on the Universal board trying to defend nancycels point of view from what seemed to be a Universal employee. It was really a hard battle, as this person did not care at all about the trouble that one might have if they were required to use an ECV. It really is scary to think that these people may really work there. What was really upsetting was that there appear to be two other employees that post on the board also that had little or only minor things to say on the subject. Typically in the past I had thought of these people as intelligent and thoughtful and respected their replies to topics. The only thing that I remember them saying in Universal defense was how much money a certain ride vehicle that was accessible cost the company. Which leads me to think that maybe universal is really not that concerned with these types of guest needs nor do they really care.

I really enjoyed my visit to IOA and Universal last year and we are planning on going back this year as well. Unfortunatly it seems that Universal was not built with the same philosophy that Disney was. I would definitely send a reply back stating everything that you have found along the way and inform Universal because of these reactions by their employees and the brief contact that you have had about the subject, that you will not be spending your vacation with them.

Often companies do not know they have a problem until the guest points it out.

Good luck

[nancycels]

i got a 3 line letter back from universal!! after all that craziness!!!! no 'we're trying to improve our facilities' or 'thank u for yr feedback' or anything! total waste of paper and stamp! sorry i seemed to have deserted the ship! but i got so ticked off at the attitude of the 'so-called' universal employees!! we won't go back, or if my daughters want to go, i'll just hang out at the pool that day!... but that shdn't stop anyone else who wants to go..just be aware and know what CAN happen there if u aren't fully mobile, or god forbid, using an ECV!
i was truly amazed at how insensitive the attitude of many were who posted!(and i thank all who attempted to support the position of anyone who has to use an ecv!) and while i wdn't wish having to use and ecv or wheelchr on anyone, i really think that all the employees at IOA shd have to spend an entire day navigating every ride thru the park, entering rest rooms, restaurants etc. than they'd have a vague idea of just how frustrating it can be! i never really wanted to start what my husband now calls 'the universal wars' lol, just wanted to let everyone know that there are some major glitches involved in this park so no one else wd be caught unaware!

[suzysezso]

Wow this thread was a distressing surprise to me-

This past June I visited Universal and IoA with 2 disabled people in my party, namely my son who has autism, and a friend from out of state who among other health problems is wheelchair bound due to her weight (nearly 400 pounds)>
Unlike most posters to this thread we had such a positive experience we actually stayed a day longer than our original plan!
By the way-Our original plan and reservation was with Discovery Cove, I had made VERY clear about the limitations of my party when I booked, and only after arriving there did we discover that the swim was NOT accessible to my friend, plus they never told us wetsuits and snorkle gear were a requirement or I never would have booked as my autistic son cannot tolerate anything like that- it took a threat of legal action to get a refund! So we only arrived at IOA as an unplanned second choice that day.
My friend was travelling with a manual chair so the long walk to the rental area was not so bad, and when we got there we rented an electric cart for her and I used her manual chair to keep my son grounded instead of renting a chair as is my usual procedure (Also consider that if you are walking before or after renting a chair, there IS the "people mover" conveyor belt that covers most of the distance except for the actual Citywalk area. There is also a small area before the Citywalk that rents the manual chairs only).
Throughout the day we found the employees very helpful and considerate, even holding up one ride (the popeye river raft ride) so my friend could climb in and out at her own slow pace instead of on the fly as everyone else was required to do. She did not go on all the rides, but we found most of them accessable anyway, especially at UA.
(One major exception is the Dudley Do-Right log flume ride, which I would not recommend to anyone without full physical dexterity anyway, since even I found myself feeling like I was about to be thrown out of the boat we were riding in.- It is very difficult to manuver a manual chair to the disability access point, an electric chair would be impossible, and no seat belts on the ride)
At one point when we checked in at the rental area again to see if we needed to change chairs to move over to UA, an employee that was going over there saw how tired I was and gave me a ride in an extra chair while my daughter pushed my son!
Even at the end of the day when we went to return the rental chair, an employee offered to escort us to the parking garage and then drove the cart back himself. He told us that if we came any other time and requested this service and willing to wait for an employee that was available(we were among the last stragglers to be leaving that night), we would usually be able to get this done for us, and sure enough when we stayed the extra day and requested it, they did it again!
So sorry most of you had bad experiences. I hope my good experience was not as rare as it now seems.

[nancycels]

Suzy, I am so glad someone has had a positive experience at IOA! We all know ALL
EMPLOYEES can't possibly be as bad a the few bad apples some of us have encountered,
but its nice to know universal doesn't just hire a lot of people who have a poor opinion
of anyone using an ECV!!! unfortunately those few have ruined more than a few vacations!

[Tiiiigergirl]

Let's hope they have some good people in there. They need to have some decent people in there to train the others on what is the appropriate way to behave.

[Daisimae]

We were actually at Univ and IOA a year ago today. I rented an ECV from Randy's Mobility, because of my FMS, CFS and Arthritis. We were there for two days and had a very positive experience.

There wasn't anything in either of the parks that we couldn't ride or enjoy. I found the CM's helpful and even saw two people in ECV's working at the Sinbad show in IOA. Didn't have any problems with Poseidon either. I carried a large poncho that I put one and draped over the ECV to keep it dry. We didn't even have as many problems with guests ignoring me and trying to run ahead of the ECV in lines as we did at WDW. The park was not crowded and we walked on to just about every ride there.

Our biggest problem that day was DH getting sick after riding Dr. Doom and the Hulk one after the other, first thing in the AM. That caused him to miss Spiderman, as I went on it during the second hour of his recovery. So he has something to look forward to for next year.

As far as I can figure, will we be back at IOA/UNIV one year from today in 2002. I hope we have another good experience.

Daisimae ;-)

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for posting. We want the good as well as the bad so people can see both sides of how things can be.

[nancycels]

gives one hope for others who will head to IOA!! I'm glad u had a positive experience with
them! It means they aren't all bad apples! <g> I must have really hit the 'highlights' lol... i'm
a not as ticked off now, but i'm still disappointed with their attitude which i felt was really
unwarranted and way out of line! maybe putting a yellow poncho over my ecv and wearing one wd have made
it stick out enough that i cd have avoided the 'craziness' that ensued!

[Wheelsie]

If I haven't already ...to this thread...I'd like to post my thoughts.
I went in Dec of last year...and IMO...I was treated better at US/IOA than at WDW (and that says ALOT)
Every "CM" (dont know what US calls em) I came in contact with was MORE than accomidating..2 were handi...and one of them was so wonderful to me I went straight to Guest Services and filed a commendation.
This "CM" not only directed me to the ride I asked her about...SHE RODE IT WITH DH AND ME!!!!!! :) Now how's that for service?

So, no. Not all US/IOA experinces are gonna suck.
Heck a week after we got home we got a nice letter in the mail (form of course) letting us know that she would be duelly given the credit she so richly deserved!

And I will tell you, I have not come in contact with even 1 handi WDW CM, nor have I had enuff of a call to go directly to Guest Services to make my thoughts known on any nice WDW CMs.