Andrew Bichard
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2000
- Messages
- 1,451
I returned from WDW a few days ago, and have a few observations about wheelchair issues around the parks.
US/European Wheelchairs
I live in the UK, but visit WDW most every year. When I bought my powerchair I wanted a US chair so that I could get it repaired whilst on vavation, if necessary. I bought an Invacare Storm, a US brand. The electronics failed my last week at WDW and I called out a repair engineer. Apparently, most of the components on my chair are made in Germany, and not interchangeable with US made parts. The engineer was not able to find my problem by 'swapping out' components, because none fitted my chair.
Next visit I will travel with my manual and rent locally.
Jazzy Jet
The chair I rented whilst my own chair was out of action was a Jazzy 'Jet' model. Very manoeverable, but barely adequate range for a day in the parks. I never ran out of power, but I came close!!!
Talk about slow; have you ever been overtaken by a pregnant mother pushing a double stroller?
Ramps were a slight problem with this chair, which has six wheels, with the drive wheels in the middle. Every time I started up the ramp of a Friendship boat or low floor bus, the drive wheels lifted off the ground and I needed a push.
Big Stroller
Have you noticed how strollers are getting bigger every year? I call them Hummer strollers. Some were bigger than my powerchair even when folded.
Low floor buses
I hate backing blind onto these buses and always ask if I can go on forwards. For most drivers this was not an issue and they let me. Just one driver insisted I reverse. I believe that most drivers acknowledge that Disney's reversing rule is silly, even though it is company policy.
Jungle Cruise
I rode the wheelchair boat. It has a central loading platform level with the dock. You ride on foreward, they lock you down, then lower the platform and swing you 90 degrees to face foreward. There is no canopy above the wheelchair space, so you mightget wet in a storm.
A CM at the dock told me they are working the bugs out of this one boat, before adding to the fleet both at WDW and in California. I will ad a photo to the library in due course.
Mission Space
I didn't ride Mission Space, but went through the line and was shown the wheechair transfer seat. The seat nearest the door in at least one capsule swings forward & out to allow easier transfer from a wheelchair. The seat does not extend out beyond the door, so a sliding transfer would be impossible. If you can stand up from your chair, turn 90 degrees and sit down again, the transfer arrangement would work for you.
The manager told me that the transfer seat is not yet fully tested and therefore not operational. This is why some previous posters have said there is a wheelchair transfer facility and other have said there is not!
Taxi Cabs
I used a wheelchair taxi to take me shopping for groceries at Publix. I waited 45 minutes going, and one and a quarter hours returning. The dispatcher always promise 'ten minutes'. The drivers told me that therew are only eight or nine wheelchair adapted cabs on the road, covering the area from Sandford to Kissimee. Although all nine might be on the road at park opening and closing, most will be off the road in the middle of the day when their owner/drivers go home to rest. Mid afternoon, when I went shopping, there were only two on the road, hence the wait. The driver who brought me back suggested I call him direct on his mobile to make an advanced booking if I needed to travel again, rather than go through the Yellow Cab despatcher.
Am I allowed to post his name and number here, or is that considered spamming?
Tower of Terror Line
I can't transfer onto Tower of Terror, but I do like to go throgh the line with my wife when she rides, before taking the chicken exit. I can, at least, enjoy the pre-show.
The CM at the entrance said that only manual chairs were allowed through the lines. I explained my chair was smaller and more manoeverable than most manuals but he stood firm and offered to escort both of us through the fastpass line so my wife could ride withou my waiting for her. I explained this was not the point. I suspect the CM (or his manager) does not understand the distinction between ECVs and powerchairs and is applying a 'one size fits all' rule. Life is too short to complain officially.
Mickey's Philharmagic
I saw this twice, once at the AP holders preview, and again the next week when the opened the previews for everyone. At the AP preview the scents weren't quite right and the air bursts were not working. By the second visit, everything was working, though I think they still had to tweak the smell of apple pie.
Much better second time around, and great that they have added a wheelchair accessible show.
Andrew
US/European Wheelchairs
I live in the UK, but visit WDW most every year. When I bought my powerchair I wanted a US chair so that I could get it repaired whilst on vavation, if necessary. I bought an Invacare Storm, a US brand. The electronics failed my last week at WDW and I called out a repair engineer. Apparently, most of the components on my chair are made in Germany, and not interchangeable with US made parts. The engineer was not able to find my problem by 'swapping out' components, because none fitted my chair.
Next visit I will travel with my manual and rent locally.
Jazzy Jet
The chair I rented whilst my own chair was out of action was a Jazzy 'Jet' model. Very manoeverable, but barely adequate range for a day in the parks. I never ran out of power, but I came close!!!
Talk about slow; have you ever been overtaken by a pregnant mother pushing a double stroller?
Ramps were a slight problem with this chair, which has six wheels, with the drive wheels in the middle. Every time I started up the ramp of a Friendship boat or low floor bus, the drive wheels lifted off the ground and I needed a push.
Big Stroller
Have you noticed how strollers are getting bigger every year? I call them Hummer strollers. Some were bigger than my powerchair even when folded.
Low floor buses
I hate backing blind onto these buses and always ask if I can go on forwards. For most drivers this was not an issue and they let me. Just one driver insisted I reverse. I believe that most drivers acknowledge that Disney's reversing rule is silly, even though it is company policy.
Jungle Cruise
I rode the wheelchair boat. It has a central loading platform level with the dock. You ride on foreward, they lock you down, then lower the platform and swing you 90 degrees to face foreward. There is no canopy above the wheelchair space, so you mightget wet in a storm.
A CM at the dock told me they are working the bugs out of this one boat, before adding to the fleet both at WDW and in California. I will ad a photo to the library in due course.
Mission Space
I didn't ride Mission Space, but went through the line and was shown the wheechair transfer seat. The seat nearest the door in at least one capsule swings forward & out to allow easier transfer from a wheelchair. The seat does not extend out beyond the door, so a sliding transfer would be impossible. If you can stand up from your chair, turn 90 degrees and sit down again, the transfer arrangement would work for you.
The manager told me that the transfer seat is not yet fully tested and therefore not operational. This is why some previous posters have said there is a wheelchair transfer facility and other have said there is not!
Taxi Cabs
I used a wheelchair taxi to take me shopping for groceries at Publix. I waited 45 minutes going, and one and a quarter hours returning. The dispatcher always promise 'ten minutes'. The drivers told me that therew are only eight or nine wheelchair adapted cabs on the road, covering the area from Sandford to Kissimee. Although all nine might be on the road at park opening and closing, most will be off the road in the middle of the day when their owner/drivers go home to rest. Mid afternoon, when I went shopping, there were only two on the road, hence the wait. The driver who brought me back suggested I call him direct on his mobile to make an advanced booking if I needed to travel again, rather than go through the Yellow Cab despatcher.
Am I allowed to post his name and number here, or is that considered spamming?
Tower of Terror Line
I can't transfer onto Tower of Terror, but I do like to go throgh the line with my wife when she rides, before taking the chicken exit. I can, at least, enjoy the pre-show.
The CM at the entrance said that only manual chairs were allowed through the lines. I explained my chair was smaller and more manoeverable than most manuals but he stood firm and offered to escort both of us through the fastpass line so my wife could ride withou my waiting for her. I explained this was not the point. I suspect the CM (or his manager) does not understand the distinction between ECVs and powerchairs and is applying a 'one size fits all' rule. Life is too short to complain officially.
Mickey's Philharmagic
I saw this twice, once at the AP holders preview, and again the next week when the opened the previews for everyone. At the AP preview the scents weren't quite right and the air bursts were not working. By the second visit, everything was working, though I think they still had to tweak the smell of apple pie.
Much better second time around, and great that they have added a wheelchair accessible show.
Andrew
