Brain injury and riding rides?

[SoonerSarah]

This isn't something that we discussed yet with her Neurosurgeon, mainly because there have been more pressing matters and because it wasn't something that we planned to happen for a while.

Does anyone know anything about brain injuries and riding rides? Kenley is only 2, so obviously she's not going on the big ones, but I know they can sometimes be a bit jerky and whatnot.

She does have an appt. with him in the middle of December, and we won't be going on our trip until a few weeks later, but I'd kind of like to start looking into it now.

 

[SueM in MN]

How is her head control? Is she pretty stable sitting next to someone?

Those would be the big things I would wonder about. The things I would ask the neurosurgeon about would be mostly whether her brain bleeds are stable because if they are, jerks may not have much effect on her brain. If she does not have good head control, you will need to support her head. In most cases, you will be able to do that by putting your arm behind her and snuggling her to you while she sits next to you.

For MK:
WDW Railroad - no problem. She would be able to ride in her wheelchair in first car at the front of the train. Slight bumps from going over the tracks, but no jerks.
Main Street Vehicles like the old time cars and trolley. She would need to ride in the seat and someone else in your party can follow with her wheelchair. No jerks.

Magic Carpets of Aladdin. There is a wheelchair car, but not sure if her wheelchair would fit or not (she may sit too low or the wheelchair may not fit in the space since it is designed for a standard adult type wheelchair). For the smoothest ride, don’t use the controls that tilt and raise the carpet. They sometimes move it too much or too quickly.

Tiki Room is a show, so no problem. She can stay in her wheelchair and will be directed to sit at the end of a row.

Jungle Cruise has a wheelchair boat, but you will have to check at the attraction if her wheelchair will work. I think it should. Not jerky.

Pirates has one drop in the dark. You can tell when it is going to happen, so you can brace. The landing does have a small jerk, but not that much. The ride has a short backrest that probably will not support even a small child’s head.

Splash Mountain has a 40” height requirement and a warning for people with back or neck problems. Several drops besides the big one. There is a jerk at the beginning as you start to drop and at end of the drop as you stop. The back of the seat comes to about bust height on most adults, so may be high enough to support a small child’s head.

Big Thunder Mountain RR has a 40 inch height requirement, a warning for people with back or neck problems and is quite jerky because you can be jerked around from one side of the seat to the other as the ride car goes thru extreme curves. It has a short back with no headrest.

Tom Sawyer’s Island has a raft to get back and forth to the island. There may be a jerk as you leave one dock and as you land at the other. I would not recommend you bother going over. I remember taking DD over in her wheelchair when she was little, but I recently went over there again and we must have done an awful lot of lifting and carrying her wheelchair, since the only place you can go without steps is to the bathroom and about 1/3 of the way into the mill. Everything else involves at least 3-4 steps.

Country Bear Jamboree is a show and she can stay in her wheelchair. Wheelchair seating is in the first row and the stage is a bit above you, so she may have to keep her head tilted up to see.

Hall of Presidents is a show and she would be able to stay in the wheelchair; wheelchair seating is in the back. Sort of boring for a 2 yr old, but good for napping.

Haunted Mansion is not jerky. She would be able to stay in the wheelchair during the preshow in the stretching room or you can ask to skip that if you think it would be too scary for her.

It’s a Small World has a wheelchair boat and she should be able to stay in her wheelchair for that. The CMs have made us take DD’s backpack off her wheelchair starting last Spring. The only possible jerks are caused when boats sometimes back up and bump each other. All the boats have very thick bumpers between them, so it is not a hard jerk usually, but you can feel it.

Peter Pan’s Flight is smooth with no jerks.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures is going to be gone - not sure just when. If it is still there when you go next, it is smooth, no jerks.

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a 3D show that she can bring her wheelchair in; wheelchair seating is in the back.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is smooth. There are horses that you could lift her onto and stand next to her, supporting her if her head control is OK. There are also chariots where you can sit on a seat.

Dumbo is going to be closing to move to the new Fantasyland - not sure exactly when. There is a Dumbo with a wider opening, but no wheelchair accessible Dumbo. For the smoothest ride, don’t use the controls that tilt or raise it.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has a wheelchair car. Not sure if she would sit too low in it in her wheelchair. That car can have the ‘bouncing’ motion deactivated. Bouncing occurs in the scene where Tigger occurs. It’s not a really jerky bounce, but definately goes up and down sort of suddenly. The other motions on the ride include floating as the rain comes down and floods everything. The floating is not jerky.
The regular ride queue has a lot of interactive activities for children that are accessible from a wheelchair.

Mad Tea Party is difficult to get into because you have to step over the saucer, then over the side of the teacup through a narrow opening. It spins, but is not jerky. When my DD was little, we actually used the Teacups to help lower her tone when she was too tight. It worked quite well.

Tomorrowland Speedway is very noisy and can be jerky. It also has a back and neck warning. The little gas engine cars have very hard to press accelerator pedals. If your foot gets tired and you let up a little on the pedal, the car stops. Also because many of the cars are being driven by children, it is fairly common the be rear-ended.

Space Mountain has a 44 inch height requirement and a warning for guests with back and neck problems.

Astro Orbiter is a ride sort of similar to Dumbo (goes around in a circle), themed to a rocket. It is elevated high above Tomorrowland and I would probably skip it, just because the wait can be long with waiting for the elevator to bring guests up and down.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority is usually very smooth. The station is elevated one floor above ground and you would have to carry her up. This was one of my DD’s favorites until she got to big to carry up and too excited and spastic to stand with us supporting her on the moving walkway to go up and down from the station.

Carousel of Progress is a show in a moving theater. The wheelchair seats are in the front and she should be able to stay in her wheelchair, although she may sit a bit low to see the stage well.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has a wheelchair car, but her wheelchair may sit too low. The ride is not jerky unless you spin the car in a jerky way. Except for the first part of the ride, where the cars spin slowly into position, you are in control of spinning or movement of the car.

Stitch’s Great Escape has a 40 inch height requirement because the shoulder restraints contain the special effect (they are not to restrain you). I would not suggest for a young child because it is scary and every time I have been there someone has needed to take a child out.

Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor is a show where she will be able to bring her wheelchair in. Wheelchair seating is in the first few rows.

 

[SueM in MN]

For Epcot

Spaceship Earth is a slow, gentle ride. No jerking.

Ellen’s Energy Adventure has a wheelchair car, but it was designed for a standard adult wheelchair and has a small space. The rider also needs to sit up high enough to see over the rows of people ahead. Small children sit on the seats and we did that when DD was little.

Mission Space has a 40 inch height requirement, a warning for guests with neck and back issues and is very jerky in both the more wild version (Orange) and the more tame version (Green).

Test Track has a 40 inch height requirement and a warning for neck and back issues. The jerking comes at several points with going over bumpy block roads during “suspension tests” , sudden stops and swerves during “braking tests” with swerves during “handling tests” and at the end of the ride.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends (Finding Nemo) has a wheelchair clamshell, but not sure whether her wheelchair will fit. The ride is smooth.

Turtle Talk with Nemo and Friends in the Seas is a show with wheelchair seating near the front of the seating.

Soarin’ has a 40 inch height requirement. It simulates a hang glider and has very gentle motions. (in The Land).

Living with the Land is a boat ride with a wheelchair boat. Any kind of wheelchair should work. It is slow with no jerking. (In The Land)

The Circle of Life is a movie with wheelchair seating in the back. She should have no problem staying in her wheelchair for it. (In The Land).

Journey into Imagination has a wheelchair ride car, which her wheelchair may sit too low for. The ride is gentle with no jerking.

Captain EO is a 3D movie with some interactive elements - mostly the floor sort of vibrates at times to simulate rockets. Wheelchair seating is in the back. She may need to come out of the wheelchair and sit on your lap to see.

Gran Fiesta Tour starring 3 Caballeros is a boat ride (Mexico). There is a wheelchair boat which her wheelchair should work for. It is gentle with the only possible jerking if boats back up and bump each other (like Small World).

Maelstrom in Norway is a boat ride which has one drop. There is no height requirement or warning. It looks like it will be jerky at a point where the boat turns, but it is only slightly jeky.

Reflections of China is a 360 movie with the show all around you. Guests in wheelchairs can remain in their wheelchair. Other guests stand for the show.

The American Adventure is a movie/audioanimatronics theater presentation with wheelchair seating in the back. She may sit too low to see anything because there is a sort of wall in front of the wheelchair seating and may need to sit in your lap to see.

Impressions de France is a movie with wheelchair seating in the back. Her wheelchair may be too low for her to see and she may need to sit in your lap.

O Canada is a 360 movie like Reflections of China.

 

[SueM in MN]

For AK, the paths are all made to simulate the environment in the country you are “in”, so mostly simulating dirt roads that have had some mud on them. Some people find the paths to be bumpy, but most of the road features are rather small, so not huge bumps.

Oasis Exhibits - as you walk in from the turnstiles to the Discovery Island area, you pass exhibit areas with different animals and birds in them. Most people walk on by, but there are some interesting animals in there to see. For an adult in a wheelchair, some of the rails come almost at eye level; it may be better for a child. The path does include some things like rope bridges and small cave areas, but there are bypasses for all of them.

It’s Tough to Be a Bug is a 3D show with wheelchair seating in the back. It’s very dark, has some totally dark periods and usually has some children crying and/or leaving early. If she stays in her wheelchair, she may be too low to see. If she sits on a seat, there are several times when things from the seat poke you. At one point, wasps go in to sting people and you will feel a bump in the back. At the end, as the bugs ‘leave’, you can feel them bumping slightly on your butt.

Discovery Island trails circle the Tree of Life and are wheelchair accessible. Many different creatures in exhibit areas, plus you can see the carvings on the tree of life.

Festival of the Lion King is a music, dance and special performances show. Wheelchair seating is in the first 2 -3 rows. There is one dark song with a fire twirler. There is a lot going on, with multiple dancers, tumblers and singers.

Camp Mickey-Minnie Greeting Trails are all accessible.

Kilimanjaro Safari does have a warning for guests with neck and back issues, but there is no age or height restriction and infants do ride. There is a dedicated wheelchair/handicapped boarding and unload area, which usually involves an additional wait. There is one tiedown spot in the front row on each of those trams that can accommodate a wheelchair. A stroller style wheelchair could not be tied down unless it has a transport option with tiedown spots. The ride can be very rough, even in the front seats because the tram is being driven on simulated mud roads with ruts. Exactly how bumpy it is depends on which ruts the driver hits. People have written that the ‘handicapped tram’ is not as bumpy, but I have been in both the handicapped and non-handicapped recently (even riding in the same row) and can say there is no noticeable difference. If you go, you may want to hold her next to you and support her between 2 adults, even if her wheelchair could go on.

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is fully accessible and there are viewing spots where someone in a wheelchair can see into the observation areas. You may want to lift her up for some things so she can see better.

Wildlife Express Train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch has a number of accessible spots on different train cars. If she sits low, she may not be able to see during the ride. Passengers sit sideways to the travel of the train. It is smooth, except for the gentle bumps from tracks.

Paths to get from the train to the Rafiki’s Planet Watch (RPW) area have observation areas for cotton top tamarins. These are viewable from a wheelchair.

RPW Conservation Station has different interactive exhibits, some of which would be viewable from a low wheelchair and some she may need to be lifted out for because she would not be able to reach as far as an adult or older child. There are also some sound booth exhibits that are accessible and there are character greetings.

RPW Affection Station is wheelchair accessible. The 2 things I would warn against from experience are to be prepared to wipe off/clean her wheels after leaving there and that some of the animals may be a bit friendly and like things hanging from wheelchairs. My DD’s wheelchair has been chased by goats or goat like animals that like to chew on things (like rubber tires), so my DD refuses to go into petting zoos any more. There is a handwash station inside the fence so you can wash up when going and coming. (A CM right there enforces hand hygiene).

Flights of Wonder is a bird show with wheelchair seating in both the front and the rear and she would be able to stay in her wheelchair and still see the show. A child in a wheelchair would not be able to see much from the rear viewing areas. The area is outdoors, but is roofed with kind of a cloth, tent-like roof. There will be some birds flying overhead, but they are under control of the trainers and the flight is fast.

Maharajah Jungle Trek - kind of the same advice as the Pangani Forest.

Kali River Rapids has a 38 inch height requirement and a warning for neck and back. It is a water ride on an inflatable raft, which is free floating in sort of water paths. There are times when the boat hits up against the side of the path, drops a foot or 2 suddenly or turns so you don’t know whether you will be going down forwards or backwards. Riders can get anything from a few sprinkles of water to totally soaked.

Expedition Everest has a 44 inch height requirement and a warning for neck and back. It is actually pretty smooth for a roller coaster.

Finding Nemo - The Musical is a wonderful stage show with singing and performers using huge puppets to portray the characters. There are 3 areas of wheelchair viewing; at the back row of seating, in the middle of the theater (a few seats) and in the very front row on the right side facing the stage (part of the Nemo Dining Package). The back row gives a good overview of the entire stage; the middle row gives a good view of most of the stage and the front row is close, but you can only see that side of the stage well (and since the stage is above eye level, you spend most of the show looking slightly up). Depending on how high she sits in her wheelchair, she may be more comfortable and able to see better if you are holding her.

Primeval Whirl has a 48 inch height requirement and warning for neck and back issues. I have not been on it since it was renovated, but looking from outside, it appears to be the same as it was before renovation - a combination of a roller coaster and random twirling. It is very rough and my youngest DD was not held in place by the restraints since she can’t brace with her legs. Her older sister was on once and says she never wants to do it again - it was that bad. I also have no desire to go on.

Triceratop Spin has a wheelchair accessible dino, but some wheelchairs will not fit. Otherwise, similar to Aladdin’s Magic Carpets.

Dinosaur has a 40 inche height requirement and a neck and back warning. It is very rough and jerky and much of it takes place in near darkness.

 

[SoonerSarah]

She did not come home with a wheelchair. If she had been older (heavier), they would have given her one I suppose. For now we do fine with a stroller, although we did have to buy a new stroller.

Her bleeds are all stable. Her neck control is fine, her trunk control is very good although she still has the occasional problems. Balance and stability are still problems.

We are probably concerned about it for no reason.

 

[I Love Pluto]

My son-in-law had brain surgery. He rides more things than I can (with epilepsy) - even the coaster Mountain things. He doesn't have the ability for height of any kind. Be careful, please, on things like Buzz and Peter Pan at MK. But - he can ride the teacups without any issues. We can sit in the top row at theater attractions.

I guess each person is different, and I don't have experience with a brain-injured 2-year-old. SueM in MN has done a GREAT JOB in explaining ride entry and what to expect.

I hope your little one has a great time!