Grand 1/Wishes cruise - wheelchair access

[andysmum]

Our friends have already hired the Grand 1 during our stay (14 of them) and have kindly invited us to join them (4 of us)

They are getting conflicting information out of WDW PLAY and the GF marina as to maximum capacity - one says 17 one says 18

Also as DS is in wheelchair they have been told he cannot go on Grand 1...I find this incredulous and discrimanatory.

I have just spoken to a chap at GF marina who says DS could be carried on board (conflicting with WDW PLAY) info. I don't want to turn up on the night and then be told we can't board as DS would be so disappointed.

Anyone got any experience with Grand 1, in particular with access for wheelchair guests.

Thanks

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have forwarded this to a friend who is a Captain in Disney's small boat fleet asking him to respond.

 

[andysmum]

I have forwarded this to a friend who is a Captain in Disney's small boat fleet asking him to respond.

Thank you. When you call WDW-PLAY they say 'guests must be able to walk unaided onto the yacht'. The CM at the GF marina said it wasn't a problem and that they would even help lifting him onboard (he is 13 but only weighs 30kgs).

Will be very interested to hear your friends' response

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, well, heck - pending Cheshire Figment's results, I'd go with what the GF Marina staff says! But, um, you're also going to want to go with what they say regarding capacity.

 

[andysmum]

I have forwarded this to a friend who is a Captain in Disney's small boat fleet asking him to respond.

Hi CF

Have you had a reply back from your friend??

 

[Ali and boyz]

we did the wishes cruise last year, my son cannot tranfer and he got on the small boat at GF

 

[Schmeck]

As long as the person has a proper life vest on, you'd think a physical disability would not limit someone from being on a boat. Would he need a specialized life vest, or would a standard one work?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I talked to my friend. He had gotten the link I had sent but did not want to answer as he works in the Epcot/DHS area and is not familiar with the boats in the MK area as far as accessibility.

 

[andysmum]

I talked to my friend. He had gotten the link I had sent but did not want to answer as he works in the Epcot/DHS area and is not familiar with the boats in the MK area as far as accessibility.

No problem. I have the name of the CM at the GF marina who I spoke to who said it would be ok

 

[andysmum]

As long as the person has a proper life vest on, you'd think a physical disability would not limit someone from being on a boat. Would he need a specialized life vest, or would a standard one work?

DS is fine with a standard life vest. We have hired a pontoon in the past from the GF so hoping it will be ok

 

[SueM in MN]

Don't know why I didn't think of it, but in the disABILIITES FAQs thread, in the post about resort, there is a phone number listed for Specisl Reservations. One of the choices is for rooms, but they also have listed numbers to press fir other accessible things - like tours. I bet they could help you.

Sorry, I can't post a link. I am typing on my iPod.

 

[Schmeck]

DS is fine with a standard life vest. We have hired a pontoon in the past from the GF so hoping it will be ok

After I posted, I realized that I'm not even sure that guests wear life jackets on WDW boats. But if I had a disabled family member, I'd insist that he or she wears one if the boat was on the small side - anything smaller than the ferry boats that cross the lagoon. I've grown up playing, working, and partying on boats, so I've always been made aware of the dangerous nature of floating in a sinkable vessel out in deep water.