Ariel's...Handicap accessible?

[pixie08]

Hi everyone!! I am absolutely in love with Ariel's @ Beach club but I have a guest coming who is in a power wheelchair. It seems from many pics I have seen that that there are stairs everywhere (especially to get in!) I am not sure if it is even anything you all have thought about or even noticed but has anyone noticed a ramp or alternative entrance...I will check it out in Aug but I hate to set my heart on it to be disappointed (the person in the wheelchair is my brother so it is important he is comfortable and everything is convenient) Thanks so Much

 

[twojo21]

there is an alternative entrance from the second lower seating area & i believe i saw another food/wait staff entrance near the tiled bar area of the main tier seating area with the fish & bubble blown glass chandaliers. i'll ask my em when i speak with her too because i'm not 100% sure how they would handle that.

the only thing is which ever entrance he uses he will be slightly confined to that area as the main tier seating area at ariels has stairs to the lower seating area, tile dance floor area near the aquarium & the entrance area, no ramps. my brother is also handicapped (autism) so i understand wanting your bro to be comfortable & still able to be involved in the festivities.

best of luck.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

I'm pretty sure if you asked Disney they will put in a couple of ramps for the stairs as both sets are only 2 or 3 steps.

 

[Kismetdreams]

Brian's Nana was in a wheelchair for the wedding and we had no problem getting her into the upper portion (where the dinner was), and Bri's brothers helped carry the chair down to the dance floor when we all started danceing. We even have photos of Bri and his brothers and others dancing with Nana. I believe that they brought her in via Martha's Vineyard (a bar connected to Ariel's by a doorway), which I think had a ramp to it's entrance.

 

[KT27]

Here is a copy of an email from Heidi @ Disney regarding wheel chairs (Dwayne's son is wheelchair bound):



Hi Katie!

Yes, Ariel's, is handicapped accessible. It has doors to each section that will allow someone to enter each part of the restaurant and there is a ramp outside the restaurant to allow someone to enter the main part instead of the outside doors for the lower levels. I have attached some sample menus for Ariel's and for the dessert parties at Epcot. Please see the special venue minimums for the dessert parties. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Heidi

 

[pixie08]

Oh thanks so much guys!!! It was really something that was on my minf and now I feel much better. I think some of you could be EM's @ disney because you all know so much LOL!!!!!
Thanks again

 

[SueM in MN]

Everywhere you go at WDW, you may see steps, but there will be ramps or elevators available too. Just look around. If you don't see them, ask a CM and they will point them out.
MK and the monorail resorts are the least accessible, because they are the oldest and were built before access was required by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). But even those have had ramps added. BC was built after the ADA took effect and hadd to built to be accessible.