getting on difficult rides with one leg

[dcbond]

Ruptured Achilles- 5 weeks post surgery - can't put any weight on one foot - so will be transfering from wheel chair or crutches to rides. Looking for someone that has had experience tyring to get on the following rides using only one leg for weight - would have to lower in, and lift out somehow without pressure on one foot. Is it even possible?? Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's flight, tower of terror, etc.
I have read enough to know these are very difficult to do in my situation, but has anyone actually done it? sit down on deck, then scoot in to car, / lift out of car enough to sit on loading deck, then stand up when exiting? Anybody that has tried in my condition, would be great to read about
thanks.

 

[rewardsinlife]

Yes, I can help you a bit. I have a leg that doesn't answer to what I tell it..basically dead weight and too weak to stand on at all for too long. I frequently use 1 leg transfers to get In and out of rides b/c it is easier.

- tower of terror- easy transfer. Roll wheelchair right into the ride and slide over to the seat which is available on the front. Make sure to tell CM you can't walk.

- splash mountain- hard transfer. Put wheelchair right by log. The back seat is easiest to get into.put your good foot into the log on the seat..or as close to it as you can while still sitting in the wheelchair. Then stand and transfer all weight to that foot in log. Make sure to stabilize yourself with rt. hand on back of log so you dont fall over! Move other leg into log and slowly crouch down on good leg while sliding the bad one into the side until you are in a full seated position. Same method getting out just reverse it.

Peter pans flight- never been on this ride actually. Sorry cant help with that transfer.

Space mountain. - medium. Nice thing is that you can take all the time u need b/c of the separate car. Ask for the front seat as it has more room to manuever( this goes as well for the Matterhorn and pirates if you want to do those). This one I actually have help from family. Park wc, then hop over with family on other side to stabilize. Squat down on good leg to a sitting position facing in a forward direction on the side of the car. Once seated, both legs should have no weight no them, and should be moved to the inside of the car..if not already there. Grab back of seat with rt. hand and left hand on the side of the car in front of where you are seated to push off and lower yourself...slowly..into the seat. Vice versa to get back out.

There are probably easier ways...but this works the best for me. Hope it helps!

 

[Michigan]

The moving walkway on Peter Pan's Flight doesn't stop so you would have to be able to jump in on the fly.

 

[dcbond]

great info and much appreciated - so it IS possible!
thx

 

[POOHsie]

Getting in these rides is quite doable, because you can use your arms to hang on to the ride car while gravity helps you get down. But these rides will be difficult to exit. I have one prosthetic leg, and I use it for balance, but not for any stepping or assistive movement. It would be easier for me than you to exit these rides, but believe me, they are difficult for me. I don't do Splash, Test Track or Space Mtn any more. I tried them once in my condition, and they were too difficult to do again.

First, it will make a difference which leg is bad. Some of these "drop into" rides exit from the left of the ride car, some from the right side. Splash is left side, Test Track is left side. POTC is right side. RNR is right side, Space Mtn is right side. You might be able to grab onto things in the ride car in order to get your good leg up onto the seat, but then it's one more step up to floor level. How to proceed with nothing to hold on to? You would have to pivot your good leg either right or left. The ride seat has room enough for only one leg. So where does the bad leg go during all this maneuvering? A companion can get out first and grab your arm and steady you while you jump up with one leg. Perhaps other riders could help. Disney employees aren't allowed to assist. POTC is doable because there's things to grab on to at floor level. The others would be difficult. You might have to go from the ride seat to sitting on the ride floor, then get pulled up off the floor. That could work, but is that a scenario you want to go through? ToT, you grab a wheelchair at the entrance, that's no problem transferring right from your wc to your seat. The difficulty at Tot is the outdoor path, which is all uphill - that's tough in a wheelchair unless you have helpful companions.

Whatever you decide, you will get out of the ride cars one way or another. You won't be stuck there for the duration. I hope some seem easy enough for you that you can ride again. Good luck.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes, I can help you a bit. I have a leg that doesn't answer to what I tell it..basically dead weight and too weak to stand on at all for too long. I frequently use 1 leg transfers to get In and out of rides b/c it is easier.

- tower of terror- easy transfer. Roll wheelchair right into the ride and slide over to the seat which is available on the front. Make sure to tell CM you can't walk.

- splash mountain- hard transfer. Put wheelchair right by log. The back seat is easiest to get into.put your good foot into the log on the seat..or as close to it as you can while still sitting in the wheelchair. Then stand and transfer all weight to that foot in log. Make sure to stabilize yourself with rt. hand on back of log so you dont fall over! Move other leg into log and slowly crouch down on good leg while sliding the bad one into the side until you are in a full seated position. Same method getting out just reverse it.

Peter pans flight- never been on this ride actually. Sorry cant help with that transfer.

Space mountain. - medium. Nice thing is that you can take all the time u need b/c of the separate car. Ask for the front seat as it has more room to manuever( this goes as well for the Matterhorn and pirates if you want to do those). This one I actually have help from family. Park wc, then hop over with family on other side to stabilize. Squat down on good leg to a sitting position facing in a forward direction on the side of the car. Once seated, both legs should have no weight no them, and should be moved to the inside of the car..if not already there. Grab back of seat with rt. hand and left hand on the side of the car in front of where you are seated to push off and lower yourself...slowly..into the seat. Vice versa to get back out.

There are probably easier ways...but this works the best for me. Hope it helps!

Good information, but I believe the original poster is asking about Florida.

Space Mountain at MK in Florida doesn't have the separate car that can be pulled off line like in California.

Here's some pictures to help with this and other poster's good suggestions.

Tower of Terror - this is the boarding area as the elevator is leaving after loading. As mentioned, you can park the wheelchair close to the elevator door.

And the seat.

There are three rows; each row has 2 sections with a narrow aisle between each section.

Splash Mountain is hard. You will get on and off from the side where you can see wheelchairs parked on this picture.

This picture shows how high the side of the ride car is and the step down to the set and second step down to the foot area. You will board and get off from the other side.

Getting in is difficult, but is easier than getting out - gravity assists you in getting in, but you work against gravity in getting out.

As was already mentioned, Peter Pan has a moving walkway, which doesn't stop. There is also very limited time. The bar at the front of the boat will close after the guests have gotten in, so it is not firm to grab onto.

Pirates - you will board and get off from this side. The back row has a little extra room so a wheelchair can be placed closer.

Big Thunder Moutain Railroad has an ADA transfer car shown in this picture.

 

[Michigan]

Getting in these rides is quite doable, because you can use your arms to hang on to the ride car while gravity helps you get down. But these rides will be difficult to exit. I have one prosthetic leg, and I use it for balance, but not for any stepping or assistive movement. It would be easier for me than you to exit these rides, but believe me, they are difficult for me. I don't do Splash, Test Track or Space Mtn any more. I tried them once in my condition, and they were too difficult to do again.

Did you know if you ask to load upstairs (there is an elevator) on Test Track you can request the assist bar that goes between the first 2 seats so you have something to grab going in and out. You also will exit upstairs (seat belt check area)

 

[POOHsie]

Did you know if you ask to load upstairs (there is an elevator) on Test Track you can request the assist bar that goes between the first 2 seats so you have something to grab going in and out. You also will exit upstairs (seat belt check area)

No, I didn't know that about Test Track. I only went once with my grown daughter, and exited at the normal spot. It was one of the most difficult exits I ever made, and I think 2 or so people helped me up. That was my first and last ride on TT.

I am going solo in November and I think TT won't be open quite yet. But when the right time comes, I will take a look at the assist bar. Sounds like it could be helpful for my needs. Now, why can't other rides have something to hold on to, for those with good arms but bad legs? (redundant question)

Thank you for your helpful post.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a picture of the Test Track elevator - it will probably be rethemed when Test Track opens back up. I'm quite sure it - and the boarding area Michigan mentioned - will still be there after the re-opening.
The guests enter on one side of the track and exit at the other. If they don't use the alternate boarding, their wheelchair will use the elevator to cross over the track.

This is the alternate boarding area.
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/member-galleries/p24258-test-track-alternate-boarding.html

Again, it will be rethemed, but I'm sure it won't go away.
Sorry about the size of the second picture - it was one of be early ones I posted on the DIS site and it won't allow me to open it in a new window. Here's another try.

 

[POOHsie]

Thanks, SueM in MN. I hope to get a chance to see the new TT in November, but it seems doubtful. I just didn't pursue TT after my difficulty exiting during my first ride. Funny I wasn't aware of this alternate loading area during my visit.