? about wheelchairs and boats

[Disneycrazymom]

I know that I have read before that wheelchairs may have trouble with the MK boat from the TTC, my question: Is that also true for the boat to Wilderness lodge? I can't place where Wilderness Lodge is and can't figure out if that is the same water way. We were thinking of eating at Wispering Canyon before MVMCP and then catching the boat back to MK. Is this a good plan? Thanks again!

 

[Wheelsie]

IMO....Id eat IN the park..that way when everyone else is being let in you're already there

but agian that MHO

 

[Andrew Bichard]

DisneyCrazyMom,

My last visit was December 2000 when I stayed at Wilderness Lodge with my Electric Wheelchair.

I know that LisaPooh has reported a problem getting on and off the big ferry that goes between TTC and MK with her own chair (a Jazzy, I think), but I didn't have a problem with my Invacare that I couldn't solve with a good run at the ramp. Parts of the ramp are too steep to get restarted on if you stall. Keep the power on and you should be OK!!

The Wilderness Lodge is a different route altogether, using different docks. There are two types of boats, the smaller one requires you to step down to the deck, and the larger one, though having level entry at Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary may not have level access at Magic Kingdom dock. Unless things have changed since last December, the only way from Wilderness Lodge to MK, is to ask the captain of the larger boat to divert to Contemporary, and take the Monorail from there. If the small boat comes is on the route, ask him to radio the bigger boat and have him divert to WL to pick you up.

This is a *BIG* pain. You would *REALLY* have to want to eat at Wilderness Lodge. Wheelsie's advice is good. Getting from WL to MK in a wheelchair is about the slowest resort to park trip anywhere at WDW if you have a wheelchair.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Thank you both. My plan IS to stay in the park to eat if at all possible. I can not try to get those ressies until 60 days out and I was working on a back up in case I am not one of the lucky ones. I am worried they will fill up on Nov. 29 with other Dis conventioners! I will not be trying to get to WL, it sounds like way too much effort. Maybe Chief Mickey's would be better. Then if we can get into LTT or Crystal Palace I can cancel Chief Mickey's. And if we end up there the transportation is fine.(walk or monirail).

Thank's again.

 

[SueM in MN]

We took the boat from MK to WL with my DD's manual wheelchair in September of 2000. We were on the big boat and had to lift her wheelchair onto the boat at the MK dock. We also had to lift it to get off the boat at WL (but not as much). The water levels were very low then and have gotten better since then. There were signs at both docks to indicate that wheelchairs and ecvs could not use the boats. The only reason we were able to was that the boat CMs at MK didn't see us until we were lifting her onto the boat.
The dock at the TTC can be a problem with differing water levels according to CMs I have talked with (this was confirmed by Safari Steve, a MK CM). The waterway is the same one as the WL boat is on. The dock at TTC and MK for that boat has a deeper channel and seldom is a problem according to the CMs, but if the water is especially low, it can be.

 

[firemanmark]

My 71 year old father will be in a manual wheelchair as he cannot walk long distances due to circulation problems. Will we be able to take the wheelchair on the boat (let's say from BC to MGM) if he walks on the boat unassisted with his cane and my mother folds up the wheelchair, or is the rule absolutely no wheelchairs on the boat? Thanks --Mark.

 

[Nanajo1]

I don't think there is an absolute rule banning W/Cs and or ECVs. It depends on water levels. I think if someone can carry the w/c on board it shouldn't be a problem. It would be much like someone folding a stroller wouldn't it? Have a great trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

It shouldn't be a problem in your father's situation. There usually isn't a problem with the boats by MGM, Boardwalk and Epcot from what I know.
When there is a problem with the boats, it's because the dock is too high or too low compared to the boat. When that happens, a wheelchair can't just be rolled. We have seen people get out of their wheelchairs, walk onto the boat (someone can assist to steady them, if necessary) and then the wheelchair is lifted onto the boat.
When the dock and the boat don't line up, power wheelchairs or ecvs won't be able to go on because they are way too heavy to lift onto the boat.