? about accessible rides

[starwood]

We may be traveling to WDW in April with friends who are going on a MAW trip. Their daughter has muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair with a ventilator. I'm trying to compile a list of rides she will be able to go on with the wheelchair/ventilator. They have never been to WDW before but we've been many, many, many times.

All suggestions are appreciated.

 

[spotdog]

Just wanted to send Pixie Dust and bump you to the top. I know that there are people on this board who can give the best advice and send you to helpful websites. ...On East Coast time..

 

[dclfun]

Christamae ( eternaldisneyfan) posted a great list. I am also in a wheelchair/ventilator- there aren't alot of rides you can access without transferring. Will someone be able to transfer this child and her vent? What kind of chair does she use, specifically the length, height- that will make a difference on a few rides like Buzz Lightyear and Aladdin since they have w/c vehicles but they are a very tight fit. ---Kathy

 

[starwood]

She has a motorized wheelchair and will be traveling with a nurse. I'm not sure of the size of the chair. It looks pretty big to me.

 

[LOLA2]

i WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RIDES ALSO? My DB 12 has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and has lost all use of his legs. He must be transferred to be and toilet but besides that he stays in wheelchair because he is just too heavy. He was put on steraroids when he was first diagnosed and gained a ton of weight plus it is dead weight so we try to lift him only when necessay. He went to Disney every year since he was born and just loves it as well as Universal. Last year we went and we going to try and transfer him he broke his leg 2nd day out there by running into a shopping cart which crushed one of his legs. Needless to say we did not try transferring him as any movement was extremely painful. Now he wants to go again but my mom is worried he won't have enough to do. If anyone knows of rides where they let the wheelchair roll right on please let me know!!

 

[biancamouse]

I'll try to help you the best I can. It depends upon the size of your wheelchair and ventilator. Based on our experience with a depth of the wheelchair of 44 inches from the front of his foot pads to the back of the battery, we had a tight fit on Pooh, extremely tight fit on Buzz Lightyear, no problem on Small World or Jungle Cruise, we transferred with oxygen on Haunted Mansion with no wheelchair, Peter Pan was a moving transfer (very difficult), we weren't able to do Pirates, we didn't try other rides at MK, but don't miss Mickey's Philharmagic show.
At Epcot:
Figment's was totally accessible. If you have an automatic wheelchair, they wouldn't let you onto the Universe of Energy ride. We did Living with the Land with no problem.The only other things we did at Epcot was to walk around World Showcase, but there are some other shows there I'm assuming would be totally accessible.
At MGM:
We mainly went to the shows with no problems, and we did the Great movie ride with no problem.
At AK:
We didn't go this time with him on the ventilator. But if we had we would have avoided the safari ride and stuck with the shows there too.

On a side note look at your park maps to find the location of the changing stations because they were invaluable for taking breaks and changing pullups, etc.

Hope this helps some.

 

[starwood]

Thanks - this is some good information to give them a head start in planning.

 

[slkant]

This is a subject that interests me too. I recall the previous post that gave a great description of accessible rides but would love more specific information on lengths, heights, types of wheelchairs used, and any other information that could help people more specfically determine if a particular attraction might work for them. I noted both height and length as important because, at least in my case, my Permobil wheelchair has an elevating feature. If I use it in combination with the tilt feature, I can move my feetrests back so that I use more height but less length.

 

[dclfun]

I have an adult narrow Permobil C500 with attached LP10 vent. It elevates, tilts, reclines, and has elevating footrests. The only attractions that are considered "rides" that are accessible to me are:
MK- Pooh, Small World, Jungle Cruise, MK train
Epcot:- Mexico "ride"
MGM- Great Movie ride, Backstage tour
AK- Safari, Train ride

Of course there are also the shows of which all are accessible but I would think it would be very frustrating for a child who could not transfer and whose chair was similar to mine to have only these few "rides" to experience especially when they will be visually bombarded with watching everyone else having fun on everything.
Kathy

 

[slkant]

I have an adult narrow Permobil C500 with attached LP10 vent. It elevates, tilts, reclines, and has elevating footrests. The only attractions that are considered "rides" that are accessible to me are:
MK- Pooh, Small World, Jungle Cruise, MK train
Epcot:- Mexico "ride"
MGM- Great Movie ride, Backstage tour
AK- Safari, Train ride

Of course there are also the shows of which all are accessible but I would think it would be very frustrating for a child who could not transfer and whose chair was similar to mine to have only these few "rides" to experience especially when they will be visually bombarded with watching everyone else having fun on everything.
Kathy

Thanks. I think I also have the narrow adult chair, or at least I seem to recall that the seat is both narrow and shorter than the standard size. I agree with your general comments as well. I'm glad that I'm an adult just tagging along with my niece and nephew for the fun, trying to participate in as much of it as I can but recognizing that a lot of things won't work.

 

[Kimmie5870]

DD14 wheelchair (converted to manual)is about 20-23" wide and she was able to ride


It's a Small World
Winnie the Pooh
Buzz Lightyear
Stitch's great escape
Alladins Magic Carpets
Jungle Cruise
Railroad
Liberty Square Riverboat


The Great Movie Ride
Backlot Tour


Some of the rides don't allow electric wheelchairs,and even if they did it could be very hard to get the chair into place.On some rides we had to push DD on and then lift the back of the wheelchair and turn to get into place.

DD uses an electric wheelchair at home but for our trips we convert to a manual chair.It's easier to get her on some of the rides,And with all the distractions I can just see DD running people over or running off a curb.



ETA: dclfun...... When you combine shows and attractions with the rides that DD could do,They kept us so busy that DD never felt like she missed out on anything. Heck, I missed out on a couple of my favorite rides because we wanted to do ALL of DD's favorites and knew we wouldn't have time for any extra's.Thats what I love so much about Disney

 

[dclfun]

ETA: dclfun...... When you combine shows and attractions with the rides that DD could do,They kept us so busy that DD never felt like she missed out on anything. Heck, I missed out on a couple of my favorite rides because we wanted to do ALL of DD's favorites and knew we wouldn't have time for any extra's.Thats what I love so much about Disney
__________________
I am at the point of being very bored in the parks as I've seen each show a gazillion times. I count myself fortunate for that and for living close enough to get to WDW so often. I am mostly thinking of this being a child's "wish" and not getting to ride Dumbo, etc...rides that are shown so often in videos and thus perhaps being disappointed in what cannot be done vs. enjoying what can. I know it's all in the perspective, but the thought of a child not getting a full dose of "magic" is what would concern me, esp. if that child has expectations of getting to participate in a certain attraction. ---Kathy

 

[allie_to_you]

i WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RIDES ALSO? My DB 12 has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and has lost all use of his legs. He must be transferred to be and toilet but besides that he stays in wheelchair because he is just too heavy. He was put on steraroids when he was first diagnosed and gained a ton of weight plus it is dead weight so we try to lift him only when necessay. He went to Disney every year since he was born and just loves it as well as Universal. Last year we went and we going to try and transfer him he broke his leg 2nd day out there by running into a shopping cart which crushed one of his legs. Needless to say we did not try transferring him as any movement was extremely painful. Now he wants to go again but my mom is worried he won't have enough to do. If anyone knows of rides where they let the wheelchair roll right on please let me know!!

Here are some rides that I know they let you just "roll right on." My DH is in a wheelchair also and can't transfer so it's frustrating with all the rides where you have to transfer. It limits what we can do together, but luckily there are still a number of rides you can do without transfering. Here are the attractions/rides I know for sure where you don't have to transfer and all the shows have wheelchair seating.

Animal Kingdom
1. Kilimanjaro Safari -- great ride, kinda bumpy but they lock you down good and tight
2. Rafiki's Planet Watch -- You get on a train to take you over to conservation station. You can ride on the train in your wheelchair.

MGM
1. The Great Movie Ride -- Might have to wait a bit longer for wheelchair accessible vehicle
2. Backlot Tour

EPCOT
1. The Living Seas -- I'm not sure if the new ride with the "Clammobiles" will have a wheelchair vehicle, but if not, I think you can bypass it to go into the aquarium part.
2. The Land Boat Ride
3. Universe of Energy
4. Mexico -- To board this ride, enter through the exit

Magic Kingdom
1. Railroad
2. Jungle Cruise
3. Magic Carpets of Alladin
4. Liberty Square Riverboat -- enter through exit
5. It's a Small World
6. Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
7. Buzz lightyear Space Ranger Spin
8. Stitches Great Escape
9. Carousel of Progress

Hope this helps. Have fun!

 

[allie_to_you]

i WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RIDES ALSO? My DB 12 has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and has lost all use of his legs. He must be transferred to be and toilet but besides that he stays in wheelchair because he is just too heavy. He was put on steraroids when he was first diagnosed and gained a ton of weight plus it is dead weight so we try to lift him only when necessay. He went to Disney every year since he was born and just loves it as well as Universal. Last year we went and we going to try and transfer him he broke his leg 2nd day out there by running into a shopping cart which crushed one of his legs. Needless to say we did not try transferring him as any movement was extremely painful. Now he wants to go again but my mom is worried he won't have enough to do. If anyone knows of rides where they let the wheelchair roll right on please let me know!!

One other bit of advice. Call Disney and ask them to send you the 4 guidebooks for guests with disabilities. These are free and they outline every ride/attraction and let you know which ones can be ridden in a wheelchair, where you have to transfer, etc.

 

[shovan]

Here are some rides that I know they let you just "roll right on." My DH is in a wheelchair also and can't transfer so it's frustrating with all the rides where you have to transfer. It limits what we can do together, but luckily there are still a number of rides you can do without transfering. Here are the attractions/rides I know for sure where you don't have to transfer and all the shows have wheelchair seating.

Are they really allowing the power chairs on these rides? Do they handle it differently if you use a scooter or a power chair. My DH 50 who has limb-girdle MD has just changed rom a 3 wheel scooter to a power chair. This last trip with his new chair we went for the Food & Wine Fest & really didn't try any rides. We had noticed on previous trips with the scooter that many of the rides that my DH used to be able to drive right on in the scooter, that they are now making us transfer him to a regular non-electric WC. So unless we had enough family along to transfer him, he's unable to ride. It seems to be very hit or miss as to which rides they''d insist that he transfer. On the same trip we even tried a ride more than once & been told go right on or no he has to transfer! We've been told that it's due to the rental of ECV's & people who can't drive them! Ugh!

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

We just got back a few days ago. It was our first time traveling with DS who is wheelchair bound, however he can make some transfers. We had a great time. Even the 3-D shows are great, because you can get many of the effects without transfering into a seat. My son is 21. He was last at Disney as an able bodied kid when he was 11. He had a blast. Eventhough there are things there you can't do. There is so much to do that it shouldn't be disappointing. Even able bodied people who get motion sickness or whatever can't do everything. It was a magical week for us. I hope your friends have fun.