Gentle, not-very-scarey coaster/thrill ride?

[michellex2]

I'm wondering if there is a coaster ride that would be doable for my elderly mother. She is very frail, uses her own wheelchair (but can transfer with enough time and assistance), and bruises very easily due to meds that she takes, so a rough ride is out of the question. She also would probably be frightened by big or even medium drops.

I think that she could do Soarin' from the descriptions I've read, but I wondered if there was a gentle kid's coaster type ride in any of the parks?

Any input would be appreciated. Here's a picture of her in Epcot during our only Disney visit last year:

 

[happygirl]

you might try pirates of the caribean sp??

 

[eblack0409]

Pirates of the Caribbean would probably be good, as well as It's a Small World, Peter Pan, the Haunted Mansion isn't really scary, it's just dark....Carousel of Progress would be a good one too...

Hope this helps!

 

[PrincessAurora]

Due to your mothers frail state and her bruising easily, I would not recommend ANY coasters. Soarin' is NOT a coaster so that would be fine. Even the kids coaster in Toontown MAY be a little rough but if I was going to recommend one, that would be the only one. I would suggest going there, taking a look, perhaps riding it yourself first to judge how her body would take it.

Hope you have a wonderful time. There are soooo many other attractions that she will lvoe.

 

[i like stitch]

I'm wondering if there is a coaster ride that would be doable for my elderly mother. She is very frail, uses her own wheelchair (but can transfer with enough time and assistance), and bruises very easily

IMHO, avoid the coasters. I rode the barnstormer in toontown last month and it was too much for me. I'd suggest soarin.

 

[Disneyholics5]

Given you mother's frail state and easily bruised I would not suggest any coaster type rides. All the rides already listed would be great, and you also have Buzz Lightyear, Dumbo (if you could ride with her), Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, the Jungle Cruise and Alladin's Magic Carpets all in the Magic Kingdom. Soarin in Epcot would be fine but be sure to keep your arm in front of her (IMHO), also Universe of Energy and Journey to Immagination also in Epcot. There are so many rides that she will be able to enjoy. Go and have a great time - all the parks have rides she can go on, not to mention all the sights to see.

 

[markºoº]

You will need to skip the safari ride in Animal Kingdom as this is a VERY rough ride. You are in an actual truck that drives around and everybody gets tosses around a bit.

Also out at AK would be Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl.

I would also skip Goofy's Barnstormer. Although it is only a 1 minute ride, this is still a roller coaster with sharp turns, drops, and a quick stop.

The Great Movie Ride at Disney-MGM Studios would be fine.

 

[minkydog]

Don't forget Spaceship Earth and WED peoplemover(what is that thing called?) And teh monorail is always good for a few rounds.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If she is in a wheelchair, she should be able to load right on the safari vehicle in her chair. If you sit right behind the driver (where the wheelchair space is located), the right isn't quite a bumpy. The further you are to the back, the more you bump around. We took my mom on the safari and she liked it. She was 84.

 

[Eljay]

In Epcot, the boat rides in both Mexico & The Land are wheelchair accessable. You just wait for the specially equipped boat & roll on board. Oh yes, Soarin' will be perfect for her! It's thrilling but gentle.

 

[dwkwootton]

I'm not sure on Pirates ... the first drop, especially if not totally expected, might prove a bit rough on a frail person with a tendency to bruise. And since your gut reaction is that she may be frightened by a medium drop, I would strongly consider bypassing Pirates even though most of the attraction is nice and smooth. I'm also thinking that the Safari Ride in AK can be very bumpy and might not be a good choice for you. Maybe its best to go the better safe than sorry route? There's so many other great attractions to enjoy as mentioned above. And there's Jungle Cruise, Hall of Presidents, Spaceship Earth, American Adventure, the live entertainment in the WS, as well as wonderful shows like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Fantasmic, etc etc!

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Don't forget Spaceship Earth and WED peoplemover(what is that thing called?)QUOTE]

It's called Tomorrowland Transit Authority. That has some sharp turns, but if you are eated on the left side (facing front), she can brace herself. I think you also have to transfer, and it might be difficult. The train and the ground are moving. They might be able to stop it, but I'm not sure.

Pirates, you can tell when you are going to drop. And it's pretty tame.

Its a small world is also nice. There are a lot of easy rides that she should enjoy. Not many thrilling ones though.

Have fun down there!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Pirates, you can tell when you are going to drop.

Not anymore. I was VERY disappointed when I went on POTC this past weekend and discovered the drop is now COMPLETELY in the dark (can't see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face dark). It's not nearly as much fun as it used to be--I wish they wouldn't mess with rides that way!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I should add--I think the Safari ride at AK would be fine for your mom. At Epcot, I would recommend the ride in Mexico--no drops at all. The ride in Norway goes backwards for a bit and has a small but fun drop at the end--I don't think my 81 year old mom would like it, but maybe your mom would! Spaceship Earth would be great, as would the ride at The Land. Soarin', definitely!

In Magic Kingdom--Tommorrowland Transit Authority is fun, but the ride never stops--you have to transfer into the car while the ride moves. Same with the Haunted Mansion (another fun, no-drop ride). I watched a couple transfer an elderly woman from a wheelchair to a TTA car and it was pretty scary--take a look before you consider this, and see if you think your mom is capable. Small World and Peter Pan would be great!

MGM--I agree that the Great Movie Ride would be fun (no drops).

 

[MrShiny]

The drop in Pirates at WDW is very mild. Even though it is dark, you can tell when it's coming (right after you are told "Dead men tell no tales." Nothing like the drop in the DL version of the ride!

Soarin' is a definitely smooth ride. Avoid the Mountains, the Safari Ride, Kali River Rapids, Tower and RnR Coaster. Malestrom has a drop, but it isalso very small and smooth.

Definitely avoid Star Tours and Dinosaur. The shaking in the Backstage Tour at MGM is pretty mild, so that might be OK. I'd steer clear of Test Track and Mission Space. Anything I've forgotten, just look to see if there is a warning or any sort on it.

Oh and don't let her sit back if she sits in a normal seat in "It's Tough to be a Bug!"

 

[SueM in MN]

[It's called Tomorrowland Transit Authority. That has some sharp turns, but if you are eated on the left side (facing front), she can brace herself. I think you also have to transfer, and it might be difficult. The train and the ground are moving. They might be able to stop it, but I'm not sure.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority station is on second floor level. To get up there, she will need to leave her wheelchair on the ground and go up a steep, moving ramp (like an escalator, but flat, without steps). Sometimes, the ramp is stopped, but it is not stopped for people to board. Once you get to the top, there is a moving walkway which moves along at the same speed as the tram moves. They can slow it, but not stop it. To get off, there is another moving walkway and then a steep moving walkway back down to floor level.

If she is in a wheelchair, she should be able to load right on the safari vehicle in her chair. If you sit right behind the driver (where the wheelchair space is located), the right isn't quite a bumpy. The further you are to the back, the more you bump around. We took my mom on the safari and she liked it. She was 84.

There is room for one wheelchair to be loaded on each handicapped Safari van. The wheelchair is tied down to the floor with straps, but it is still quite bumpy. My DD is thrown around a lot when we go on the Safari. I'm just happy she has her seatbelt on.

The Barnstormer is not very tame for a kid's ride. The first drop is pretty high. The main difference between it and any of the more "adult" roller coasters is that it's shorter.


If she doesn't mind going in circles, Aladdin at MK in Adventureland and Triceraptops Spin in Dinosaurland in AK are nice. There is a wheelchair accessible car for both those and most wheelchairs can be loaded right on. (the back seat is removable and rolls right off to make room for the wheelchair).

 

[michellex2]

Thanks much! This is great and I'm going to print this thread out to take with me. The info on the moving ramps is wonderful as one of those almost did her in on one ride in MK. If it wasn't for a large, strong man who basically scooped her up as we were about to run out of walkway, we would have been toast.

My Mom did do the Safari ride in her wheelchair which was fine as I have extra padding in her chair to protect from bruising (and she loved it!). She could not have done that ride if she would not have been in her own chair without significant bruising. In fact her enjoyment of that ride is why we're staying at AKL this return trip. We only did Epcot and AKL last trip and MVMCP one night.

It sounds like all of the coaster rides would not be good for her. Thanks again for all of the ideas! It's VERY helpful.

 

[Tigger113]

The BarnStormer in Mickey's Toontown fair