Clear up IASW question for me...

[pixie08]

So recently I have been reading that if you are in a motorized wheelchair you have to transfer to a manual chair to board the wheelchair boat at IASW.

Now I am confused by this because as of just a few years ago my brother was able to ride this in his motorized chair. His chair is on the longer side but not too wide (unlike an ecv). Is it the size that is an issue or a new rule?

I know of a man who sued when stuck on IASW at DL so I thought maybe that was the change? My brother can not transfer (easily) so if this is a new rule I want to make sure before booking FP's.

Thank you!

 

[SueM in MN]

I would be interested where you read that because it is not correct unless it changed since the end of April 2016.

Power wheelchairs are handled the same as manual wheelchairs as long as they fit into the same size space as a manual wheelchair. The size 'box' is generally about 32 inches wide and 48-52 inches long.

The only other constraint is that some power wheelchairs with the driver is too heavy - generally for attraction ride cars, the weight limit would be about 600 pounds.
This was information I got directly from Disney Disability Service.

Guests DO need to transfer from an ECV to a manual wheelchair in order to use most of the wheelchair accessible ride cars.

There is sometimes confusion where guests using ECVs call them 'motorized chairs' or even power wheelchairs.
The specific concerns about ECVs include:
- most ECVs can't turn as sharply as a power wheelchair
- many people have/use 3 wheeled ECVs, which are not as stable as power wheelchairs
- ECVs are relatively top heavy and easier to tip then a power wheelchair.

 

[pixie08]

Thanks so much Sue! I knew you would know the specifics. I couldn't imagine things changed that much.

I read it on a blog but I think as you mentioned people are not clear on motorized chair vs ecv.

 

[OrthoDad]

Thanks, Sue. My son, Benjamin, has also been reading some posts somewhere (I'll find out where), where he has been afraid that he will need to transfer from his power chair to a manual chair, which makes him nervous. We have had some CMs who have not been clear with the differences between a power wheelchair and an ECV.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am pretty sure there are some where my daughter's new power chair would not fit - a Permobile F5VS - because of how widespread the rear casters are. A specific one I think would be an issue would be Buzz Lightyear and possibly Imagination.
Small World would not be an issue.

There are CMs who might not realize the difference between an ECV and a power wheelchair (pwc having a joystick and ECV not should be a dead giveaway, but some CMs equate ECV with no one pushing it).
Most of the things I've seen in the past were either people using ECVs, as I mentioned, seeing the manual wheelchair icon on the map and assuming it meant only manual or bring told it was not allowed without asking any farther (for an attraction where I know it is allowed).
You may want to ask what the procedure for power chair is at the entrance (assume it's the same as for manual chair). If you run into any issues, ask for the lead.

There is only one attraction I am aware of where manual wheelchairs are allowed, but power wheelchairs are not - Ellen's Energy Adventure. They did at one point, but access to the ride car spot is a very narrow, very steep ramp with no side guards. The wheelchair space inside the ride car is narrow and not very deep. Getting out involves backing down the narrow steep ramp. From what I have heard, someone backed out and went off the side of the ramp quite a few years ago and they no longer allow power wheelchairs because of that incident.

For what it's worth, before they removed pieces that stuck out on the floor of the accessible Magic Carpet, nearly every time we riode, the CMs told us DD's manual wheelchair would not fit and she would need to switch to one of their wheelchairs. This was even after we told them she had ridden in her wheelchair multiple times. We were told more than once that we were probably mistaken, but they would try her wheelchair. It fit just fine.