Disney Dream and excursions with ECV

[Korileigh]

Hi - I am going on the Dream in a couple week with my mom who has MS and will be using an ECV. She can walk - just not very far. I am wondering how hard it will be to get her to the Blue Lagoon Dolphin excursion and to the beach at Castaway Cay? I know she can't take her ECV and we can ask for a sand wheelchair, right? Anyone who has any experience with this or tips please let me know. She wants to swim with dolphins and enjoy the beach.

Thank you!
Kori

 

[kcashner]

There are paved paths at Castaway. You don't ask for a sand wheelchair--there are a whole bunch of them, first come, first served. OK, warning. I took a friend who uses a wheelchair. I couldn't push the sand chair. My friend is not a large woman; I'm a 50 something, not in great shape. But this was seriously not do-able. Her own wheelchair was fine on the paths. She did say that she'd had problems with the big tire chairs before.

Don't know about that particular dolphin thing.

 

[Korileigh]

Thanks. Do you know if scooters can go on those walkways?

 

[neg58]

We recently did the Blue Lagoon trip and there was a little girl who was in a wheelchair. I'm pretty sure they just lifted her, chair and all, onto the boat. Her dad was a big guy and probably helped. If your mom can get out and walk a few steps, I'm sure they can just lift the chair and help her on the steps.

On CC, the path from the ship to the 'village' is paved, so that should be no problem at all. I'm not sure what your plans are from there. I don't think there is any way to get down to the water, but you could probably find a beach area right next to a walkway for her to transfer to.

Nancy

 

[tobikaye]

DCL Blue Lagoon Dolphin Information

The above link has the information about this adventure and the information indicates:

Wheelchairs need to be standard size and collapsible; no electric wheelchairs/scooters permitted. Guests must be able to board and disembark the vessel on their own.

Guests must have the ability to go up and down steps and ramps to access the platform.

So, if you can take a collapsible wheelchair, you could push her to the boat for the adventure. According to the information it is a 15 minute walk. I do not cruise until next December so I do not know how accurate that is or how easy or difficult a walk it would be.

 

[Korileigh]

Thank you!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Make sure you have a HCA stateroom. You really can't cruise without them. They really make life so much easier. I know they say that the stateroom hosts can store them for you but the walk-in shower, with the fold down seat and grab bar are essential.

Just take your time with the ECV in the hallways. If you are in the back of the ship, we found at times that it was easier to shoot up to a common deck and move the ECV from one place to the next. The hallways can get a little snug. Patience is key when using an ECV on board.

Also, DH takes his ECV off/on at CC. You will have no problems with the paved walkways. DH is able to walk on to the beach, he just can't walk long distances. So we usually park it just off the pathway. He also takes it to the BBQ and then back onto the ship when it's time to go back onboard. We've never messed with a sandchair.

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[Korileigh]

Thanks for the tips. She's not getting a HCA room so I hope it works ok.

 

[kcashner]

If she is in a regular room, there are some "nooks" in the hall with outlets where the scooter can be recharged. It will not fit thru a standard room door, so she will have to get off at the door and enter the cabin, then someone else will have to take it to a "parking place." You can't just leave it by the door--the halls are too narrow and no one else could get thru. You might call DCL and ask if there is an HA room available--much easier as the vehicle can enter the room (and there is space for it). Also, if she has bathroom needs, the HA bathrooms are very well equipped. In most HA rooms, there is a walk/wheel in shower, but NO TUB.

Yes, the scooter can go on the pathways on CC and can go on and off the ship on the ramp. There are wheelchairs on the ships that can be borrowed for guest use (first come, first served). This might be the answer for your excursion.