Splash Mountain with a Wheelchair

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bsb

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jan 23, 2013

• Apr 26, 2015

• #1

Hi! I will be going to Disney with my sister who is in a wheelchair soon and was wondering is she will be able to go on Splash Mountain. I have been many of times and she has always skipped it since the line has stairs. I feel like I read somewhere that there is an alternate entrance for wheelchairs with an elevator but I can no longer find where I read it. She can't walk at all but we can transfer her into the log if we can get her up there. Does anyone know if this is possible? Sorry if this has been answered, I did a quick search and did not see anything. Thanks for any help!

 

Carnator

Mouseketeer

Joined

Sep 5, 2005

• Apr 26, 2015

• #2

Yes there is an alternate way to go to avoid the stairs. There will be a CM before the stairs that will direct you. There is not an elevator

 

L

lizard1

DIS Veteran

Joined

Apr 24, 2012

• Apr 27, 2015

• #3

You enter the line normally, but there is a CM before you get to the stairs. The CM will divert your path and you will enter the ride from the exit.

 

nikkislaght

DIS Veteran

Joined

Feb 19, 2012

• Apr 27, 2015

• #4

No elevator, make sure when you get to the exit you follow the line round to the left.

 

Glittercat

Mermaid on Wheels! ^_~

Joined

Dec 5, 2010

• Apr 27, 2015

• #5

Splash Mountain is a good ride for those in wheelchairs as long as her body can take the bumps and drops. The CM's have always just taken my chair and had it ready when the ride is over. Hope she loves it!

 

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bsb

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jan 23, 2013

• Apr 27, 2015

• #6

Thanks everyone!! She has been on other log type rides at other non disney parks and really loves it. She has always been a little sad not being able to ride it so this is going to really exciting for her. Thanks again!!

 

POOHsie

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 4, 2010

• Apr 27, 2015

• #7

Splash Mountain is one of those rides where you step down into the ride car. I have a problem with this -- not getting in, because gravity takes care of that -- but exiting the ride car. When you exit, there's nothing to grab on to, if you wanted to use leverage to assist yourself upwards. The CMs can't help (Disney rule). The able-bodied in your party will have to exit the ride car first, grab Sis's arms/shoulder and pull her up and steady her. Meanwhile, her chair will be parked very close by. Someone can grab it fast and have it ready. The CMs will keep the ride car stopped until your Sis is safely out.

As mentioned, the handicapped enter the ride thru the exit. Watch for the exit crowd coming at you -- they're not expecting you to be there. Stay close to the wall. When you take a look at how the ride car is laid out, perhaps watch a few cycles, then decide on apparent difficulty. Frankly, I've given up on that ride. I love it, but it's so difficult for me to exit, and I don't want to burden family any more. It's one of the most difficult ride exits for somebody with leg incapacity in WDW. The other nearly-impossible ride exit is Space Mountain at WDW. I've heard the one at Disneyland is much better for handicapped people to handle.

Best Wishes for your WDW visit!

 

SueM in MN

combining the teacups with a roller coaster

Moderator

Joined

Aug 23, 1999

• Apr 28, 2015

• #8

This is the Splash Mountain boarding area at WDW. After waiting in the regular (or Fastpass line, if you have Fastpass or are using DAS), you will board from the opposite side compared to where this picture was taken. Your wheelchair will remain pretty much where you parked it when you got in.

The ride cars have a high step in and out and the space inside is tight. As was mentioned, gravity is your friend getting in and your enemy getting out. It is much harder for most attractions to get out than getting in.

 

B

bsb

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jan 23, 2013

• Apr 28, 2015

• #9

Hmm, now I am wondering if this will be too hard. My sister is paralyzed from the waist down so she cannot stand at all. My husband and myself usually carry her on and off the rides that she needs to transfer which is usually ok but that does look like it would be hard. The only other ride we have had an issue getting her on and off was kalli river rapids, does anyone know how this compares with that?

 

BillSears

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 1, 2003

• Apr 28, 2015

• #10

I'm a T8 paraplegic and in my younger days I was able to drag myself out of the boat and then go from the floor up into my wheelchair. Now I'm just too old for that. If you guys can get her out of the boat and to the floor and then from the floor into her chair it might work. This ride and Space Mountain are the worst for me since there really isn't any way to get right back into your chair from the ride. They ride vehicle is just too low.

 

POOHsie

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 4, 2010

• Apr 28, 2015

• #11

bsb said:

Hmm, now I am wondering if this will be too hard. My sister is paralyzed from the waist down so she cannot stand at all. My husband and myself usually carry her on and off the rides that she needs to transfer which is usually ok but that does look like it would be hard. The only other ride we have had an issue getting her on and off was kalli river rapids, does anyone know how this compares with that?

Click to expand...

One problem with Splash Mt and Space Mt is there's no side door that opens up the side of the ride car so the disabled person (and an assistant) have more room to maneuver to get in and out. The space between one row and the next is tight.

There was a recent thread about Kali River Rapids. I didn't realize they had an assistive set of portable "bump steps" to use for entry/exit, for those who may be familiar with using them at a Disney pool or elsewhere. Here's the whole thread, which includes pics.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/kali-river-rapids-w-mobility-issues.3397573/

 

SueM in MN

combining the teacups with a roller coaster

Moderator

Joined

Aug 23, 1999

• Apr 29, 2015

• #12

Here's another picture that shows the tightness.

It's actually an old picture - they added restraints since this picture was taken, which makes it even a little tighter.

 

SueM in MN

combining the teacups with a roller coaster

Moderator

Joined

Aug 23, 1999

• Apr 29, 2015

• #13

bsb said:

Hmm, now I am wondering if this will be too hard. My sister is paralyzed from the waist down so she cannot stand at all. My husband and myself usually carry her on and off the rides that she needs to transfer which is usually ok but that does look like it would be hard. The only other ride we have had an issue getting her on and off was kalli river rapids, does anyone know how this compares with that?

Click to expand...

I would personally rate it harder than Kali.
Kali has a narrow 'door', but the door goes pretty far down. Splash doesn't have a door.

We can still get our daughter onto Kali fairly easily. We gave up on Splash because trying to lift her over the side and then kind of slide/slither her down was too hard. Getting out is even worse because it is so low and there is nothing to brace against.
If your sister is able to transfer like Bill described, it might be doable, but hard. My daughter has cerebral palsy and has a lot of spasticity, so she can't help at all. But, someone who can help might be able to do it.
A lot also might depend on size - my DD is tiny; 5 feet tall and about 80 pounds. A more average size adult may have more difficulty .