Amputee Ride Restrictions?

[janette]

I'd like to find the best address to write and get the ride restrictions for WDW & Universal Orlando for my 21yo nephew. He's a 10yr cancer survivor with a hip disarticulation of one leg, he does not use a prosthetic - prefers crutches for mobility and has virtually no physical limitations. He's climbed mountains, skied, rides a bike - just a regular active guy.

The Six Flags here restricted him from riding a few things but last year after the accident with the double amputee they have changed their policy and many rides he's ridden for years he's now prohibited from riding.

We are planning a family trip and I'm thinking it might be best to get a list of restrictions before we go - his type of amputation isn't very common so some ride operators may not know specific rules.

Should I send an inquiry to the general guest services or are there addresses that deal specifically with guests with disabilities?

Thank you for your help.

 

[livndisney]

I'd like to find the best address to write and get the ride restrictions for WDW & Universal Orlando for my 21yo nephew. He's a 10yr cancer survivor with a hip disarticulation of one leg, he does not use a prosthetic - prefers crutches for mobility and has virtually no physical limitations. He's climbed mountains, skied, rides a bike - just a regular active guy.

The Six Flags here restricted him from riding a few things but last year after the accident with the double amputee they have changed their policy and many rides he's ridden for years he's now prohibited from riding.

We are planning a family trip and I'm thinking it might be best to get a list of restrictions before we go - his type of amputation isn't very common so some ride operators may not know specific rules.

Should I send an inquiry to the general guest services or are there addresses that deal specifically with guests with disabilities?

Thank you for your help.

Universal Orlando has the information posted online at their website. You can email WDW by clicking on the "contact us" link from the Walt Disney site.

 

[janette]

This is all I can find on the Universal site

Certain hand, arm, leg, and joint elements may be required to ride safely. If you have any questions, please ask a ride attendant or visit Guest Services

I think the ride attendants will err on the side of caution if they aren't sure, I'm hoping that if we have the specific rules we at least know what to expect and can share it with them if needed.

 

[livndisney]

This is all I can find on the Universal site



I think the ride attendants will err on the side of caution if they aren't sure, I'm hoping that if we have the specific rules we at least know what to expect and can share it with them if needed.

There is a pdf you can download from their site under the Guest with disabilities link-however the site is under maintenance right now.


oooh got part of it to work LOL

Guests must remove prosthetic legs or feet before riding Dragon Challenge™, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ or Pteranodon Flyers® to prevent hazards or loss due to ride forces. Guests must remove prosthetic limbs before riding Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit® to prevent hazards or loss due to ride forces.

Prosthetic limbs should be properly attached before riding the following attractions to prevent hazards or loss due to ride forces: Revenge of the Mummy®, The Simpsons Ride®, Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster®, Incredible Hulk Coaster®, Jurassic Park River Adventure®, Flight of the Hippogriff™, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls®, Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges®, Doctor Doom’s Fearfall®. Any guest with prosthetic arms or hands will be required to ensure the limb is properly attached and be able to grasp the ride restraint. Certain hand, arm, leg, and joint elements may be required to ride safely. If you have any questions, please ask a ride attendant or visit Guest Services

Back to Top


and :

http://www.universalorlando.com/Images/RidersGuideUpdateFlyer_tcm13-10940.pdf

 

[LilyWDW]

Also know that things are always subject to change (as you already know due to the changes at Six Flags). So, make sure to check with someone before getting in line.

 

[SueM in MN]

Post 9 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has a link to the Universal website and to the Universal Rider's Guide. They are very specific in their information and in what abilities are needed to ride different attractions.
As others posted though, things are subject to change, so stop at Guest Relations at the park and ask at the attraction before getting in line. I don't think you will get anything more fom writing o them.

WDW has much less specific information; they just give very general warnings and have nothing in writing about amputations. You can find Links to the WDW information in post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread and also a list of attractions with warnings in post 23.
The 'wilder' rides at WDW are not as wild as at Universal or Six Flags, so my guess is that there would be no restrictions at WDW. There are no attractions where you hang, with legs dangling, for example at WDW.

There is contact information for WDW in the last post on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.
You might get more information from writing them, but my guess is that they will just send the general, non-specific list.

 

[smitch425]

There are no attractions where you hang, with legs dangling, for example at WDW.

Your legs do dangle on Soarin', but I would think that using the middle safety strap would allow him to ride with no issues.

 

[SueM in MN]

Your legs do dangle on Soarin', but I would think that using the middle safety strap would allow him to ride with no issues.

You're right about legs dangling there. I didn't include it since its not a wild ride and the OP said he doesn't use a prosthesis.
You are correct though that he might have some problems with Soarin' depending on just where his amputation is and how securely he sits.

If he's small, the middle strap may be OK, but they do generally ask that adults not use the middle safety strap.

 

[Traveliz]

You're right about legs dangling there. I didn't include it since its not a wild ride and the OP said he doesn't use a prosthesis.
You are correct though that he might have some problems with Soarin' depending on just where his amputation is and how securely he sits.

If he's small, the middle strap may be OK, but they do generally ask that adults not use the middle safety strap.

My daughter works at Soarin' I will ask her and report back.

I know there is some protocol because I remember her talking it about it once.

Liz

 

[Traveliz]

My daughter just got off work and says that if the amputation is above the knee they will ask him to wear center loop; if it's at the knee or below he'd ride without the strap.

Liz

 

[janette]

Thanks! I hadn't thought about Soaring, his amputation includes his hip so only has one leg. Maybe some of the dangle rides at Univeral have straps or something that will make them okay for him. We are hoping he'd be able to do the rides with shoulder harnesses, the ones with just a lap belt / bar like Big Thunder might be out. I'll try the guest services addresses and hopefully they'd have the protocol and they won't change it before this summer. I think any changes they've made as a result of the accident would be official by now.

 

[carj]

My son is an amputee, below the knee and wears a prosthesis. We went to WDW in 2008 and 2010, Dl in 2009.

I searched high and low for something in writing that would tell me exactly what rides might be a problem. We were more concerned with rides where his feet dangle because of the possibility of losing his prosthesis.

The best I could tell was that no matter what your limb loss, the critical determination seemed to be if you could brace yourself on the ride, with or without the prosthesis.

He was 7, 8, and 9 years old the years that we went and was able to ride everything that he wanted to ride.

I know that below knee is much different than hip disarticulation but if there is anyway that I could help, I would be happy to!