going solo as a wheelchair user

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Earning My Ears
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
15
I was wondering if anyone has experience of going to Disney as a wheelchair user on your own.

I am going next week and my friend has dropped out but I am determined to go and enjoy myself anyway! The thing that concerns me is that a UK theme park wont let you go on rides unless you have a "carer" with you. Will I be allowed on the rides at Disney without a carer/someone with me?
 
I travel solo to WDW all of the time and have had no problems. For reference I'm a paraplegic who can't move or feel anything below my ribcage and I use a manual wheelchair. I've been asked a few times if I could take a couple of steps to help determine what access method I need but when I explain that I can't they just use a different access method.
 
The UK has a lot of rules about people with disabilities requiring an "attendant." The US does not have these rules. You can go on anything that you can get yourself on. The CMs are not allowed to assist you, so you need to be able to get yourself on the ride vehicles that are not wheelchair accessible. Just be clear about what you can do, and what you need, and you will be fine!
 

Don't worry! If there is any place on earth you can do solo, basically never mind which physical disability, it's WDW. Very accessible, no unneeded regulation, simply do whatever you want and can do. One thing I did learn from my first solo trip; have a back up 'what in case.....' plan. Sure enough, I had all kinds of problems on that first solo trip which basically left me stranded at the room. Didn't think about that, so was in a bit of a jam. The resort CM's helped me out great and I had a blast, but it did teach me a lesson.

Since then I always travel with some 'what in case......' plans and info for my chairs. If something breaks or dies on me, I know what to do and whom to contact. Did still have to learn that lesson regarding medical stuff, but another trip took care of that so to say. :lmao: Really though, it's very easy. You'll have a blast!

Have you already put everything in place for airport assistance should you need it? MCO can be a bit stretched out, esp. if you want to pick up your luggage yourself before checking into DME (I do, since they no longer sent out the yellow tags to those of us not from the US. Main reason; I DO NOT want to hand anybody else my luggage stubs as some of them will correspond to my chairs. Sometimes things get messed up at check in and different stubs correspond with the luggage and chairs than they tell you. If any damage or problems do occur with the aids and/or medical stuff, I want all of the stubs in my own control not with the CM's working the DME desk)

Another pretty major difference if you do decide to use airport assistance; apparently these are tipping positions within the US unlike within the EU. While opinions vary a bit on this subject amongst those in the US themselves, if you run into the 'wrong' person providing the assistance they will let you 'know' this. :rolleyes::headache:
 
thanks, you are helping me to feel a lot more confident about my trip. I do have airport assistance lined up so that should be ok. I actually don't really need any assitance as I can balance my luggage on my lap and push so thats fine. I'm not actually staying at Disney but I have my hotel transfer sorted so I'm not too worried about it.

I have just got a new chair so I will make sure I know how it all fits together and what to do if things go wrong! I think I will bring the manual with me.

I'm slightly concerned about my arms getting exhausted with all the pushing at the parks but I guess I can do things at my own pace as I'm on my own!!
 





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