HELP!! What rides can my mom go on?

[maxtomsmom]

I really need some help here. This may be a bit long and I apologize, but I feel it's important to get the best info for my mom. Last year DH, my two DS and I went to WDW and we really didn't pay much attention to the accesibility of many rides. My mom is joining us this year and she has very limited mobility. She suffers from RSD, which is a very rare condition that is a nerve hypersensitivity. She is in pain much of the time even with pain medication. Her whole left leg and ankle swell up if she does a lot of walking. In addition, she suffered a stroke from being in a very bad car accident, which has serevely impacted her mobility. She cannot walk up steps without the use of very strong rails. She cannot walk without a walker unless she is only taking 4 or 5 steps. She cannot step into a bathtub. She cannot bend her left knee except for a few inches.

Having said all this, I want to know what rides she can go on? I know all the shows are wheelchair accessible. My mom has a scooter. She will be in the scooter for all four parks. I saw some rides had people transfer to a wheelchair, but the ones that concern me are those that require you to do any kind of stepping. So it leaves me with these questions:


1. Which rides do not require any kind of stepping?

2. Do the boat rides keep moving or will they stop them to allow a person with limited mobility to get in? Do they sway back and forth? Would it be too unstable for her to attempt? We're afraid she will fall. If she does that will likely result in a broken bone for her. It has happened in the past.

3. Is there a book I can order a head of time for her so she can make an informed decision?

I realize this is such a long post and again I'm sorry. Any help would kindly be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Karalynn]

3. Is there a book I can order a head of time for her so she can make an informed decision?

Pass Porter for Special needs is a good book. My dd is in a wheelchair and I found it helpful to look thru to give me an idea of what to expect.

Of course the Dis board is great also!!! You will find lots and lots of info here. She will have a great time, Disney is very very accessable and accomodating!

 

[spiceycat]

the boat rides stop for everyone.

the ones that don't stop - regular rides - they can make stop sometimes.

that say - not able to blend her knee - at all?

lots of the rides require you to be a box with your knee bend. even the boat rides.

however after I had my knee surgical - I found that some of the boat rides were the best - you could sit up front and not have to bend your knee at all - that say YOU MUST tell the person sitting you what is wrong. Otherwise they might try to put someone else up there and not understand that you can't (not won't) bend your knee. I had that happen a couple of times.

but most of the rides - unless you are only a party of 2 - I would say forget it...

sometimes Disney will allow a party of 2 to take up room for a party of 4 - then she can spread out and have the room she needs.

otherwise just sit to the shows.

My mother is 84 - she gets on most things not a problem - but her back is a big problem - so nothing that jerks. So that includes all the RR of course,but also TT, and Winnie. while she can do Splash Mountain, Mission:Space with a problem. She use to be able to Tower of terror - but all the ups and downs got her back upset the last time. She can do 3 of them - but I think last time it was like 5? (the middle two were fast and jerked her)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest getting the book: Passporter For Your Special Needs at Walt Disney World which is available at www.passporter.com or at amazon.com. It gives lots of good information.

There are only four "continuous load" attractions: Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, and Spaceship Earth. You go onto a moving sidewalk to transfer to the ride vehicle. Peter Pan cannot be stopped while the others can. All other attractions the ride vehicle is stationary.

There are some rides where a wheelchair or smaller ECV can be loaded directly into the ride vehicle; most do require a transfer of a few steps.

 

[SueM in MN]

The Passporter book has a lot of good information, but doesn't necessarily have the detail about boarding rides that you are looking for (that information isn't really available in writing anywhere). It is a good reference to read ahead of time, but rather many pages to bring you (I was one of the peer reviewers).
Some general information is available on the Disney website. They have the text from their Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities on the web (there is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board).
There is also some specific information in other links in the same part of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (look for the link about 'boarding rides'). I will also bump that thread up.
Also, a good thing to know is that the park maps have an icon for each ride that tells you about accessibility. A little wheelchair means the attraction is fully wheelchair and ECV accessible. An icon of a person getting out of a wheelchair means the line is wheelchair/ECV accessible, but you have to get out to board a ride car. An icon of someone getting out of an ECV and into a wheelchair means you have to switch to a wheelchair. Sometimes you can stay in the wheelchair or sometimes there is a ride car to board after (they add another icon with the person getting out of the wheelchair).

 

[maxtomsmom]

Thanks, everybody for your help. We appreciate it.

 

[Paticake]

Don't hesitate to ask them to stop a ride for your mother to board. We have taken my mother 3X and after a near fall getting onto Spaceship Earth I was insistant that they stop for her to board.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I would love to write a book that addresses mobility issues. We are traveling for the first time with our son who has severe mobility issues. He can make certain transfers with maximum assistance. But I need info. about each ride. If the ride stops, is there a time limit to make the transfer. Does anyone know about Splash Mountain? If he has to step into a ride, it might take 60 seconds for us to make the transfer. will they wait that long. I am assuming that you need to step over the edge of the boat, so that it would be like getting into a bathtub.

 

[maxtomsmom]

I would love to write a book that addresses mobility issues. We are traveling for the first time with our son who has severe mobility issues. He can make certain transfers with maximum assistance. But I need info. about each ride. If the ride stops, is there a time limit to make the transfer. Does anyone know about Splash Mountain? If he has to step into a ride, it might take 60 seconds for us to make the transfer. will they wait that long. I am assuming that you need to step over the edge of the boat, so that it would be like getting into a bathtub.

I would be happy to share our information with anyone so they too would have clear expectations. I go in Dec. My mom will try some rides but many would not really be for her such as Space Mountain. So I will tell you what she did go on and what was easily accessible and what rides were more difficult. The ones she does not go on, but other people in my party do will also inquire about getting on for people with mobility issues. When I come back I will start a new thread so people can add onto it. Good Luck!

 

[vonpluto]

Just in case you're going to Universal, they have a downloadable pdf guide here:

http://www.universalorlando.com/pi_gs_ada.html

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

Thanks for the offer, but we're headed out in 5 weeks. I guess we'll just wing it, but I'm like you; it sure would be nice to know what to expect before I get there.

 

[maxtomsmom]

Thanks for the offer, but we're headed out in 5 weeks. I guess we'll just wing it, but I'm like you; it sure would be nice to know what to expect before I get there.

Let me know if there is a ride you didn't happen to go on and need info. I would be happy to help. Cheers!

 

[Topper]

**Removed...Info was useless**

 

[SueM in MN]

Disney has posted their Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities in pdf format on their website. I believe these contain the information the OP was looking for:

Disney Studios Epcot Animal Kingdom Magic Kingdom

There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread to the text portion of the Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities for each park.
Neither the text part of the pdf files give very specific information; it's quite general.
There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about boarding rides (this thread) that has some of the specific information about rides. When my life outside the DIS settles down, I will post more information.
Otherwise, ask about the rides you are interested in and someone can give specifics.
Last thing, Splash Mountain comes to a complete stop for everyone. The boat is dispatched by a ride operator and will not start until everyone is seated. No time limit.

 

[maxtomsmom]

There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread to the text portion of the Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities for each park.
Neither the text part of the pdf files give very specific information; it's quite general.
There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about boarding rides (this thread) that has some of the specific information about rides. When my life outside the DIS settles down, I will post more information.
Otherwise, ask about the rides you are interested in and someone can give specifics.
Last thing, Splash Mountain comes to a complete stop for everyone. The boat is dispatched by a ride operator and will not start until everyone is seated. No time limit.

SueM - Do I need to get a special pass for my mom? She has a handicapped liscense and truly does have extensive mobility issues. Her trouble will be getting on and off of rides that have a step down because she needs a lot of support to when stepping. Rides that require her to just walk on, she will be fine with. She's afraid to fall as each time she does she breaks a bone. In addition she is a large woman so her fear is there will be no support for her. Sadly, my mom loves to do all the rides and had it not been for a very bad car accident (someone went through the red light), she would have some problems but a lot less. Thanks for all your help.

Melissa

 

[SueM in MN]

SueM - Do I need to get a special pass for my mom?

If you read the GAC (Guest Assistance Card) information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, that should help answer your question.

If she will be using a wheelchair or a ECV, she should not need a GAC. The CMs will route her toward the correct place for wheelchair users when they see she is using a wheelchair and they will stop the moving walkway rides if needed. But, keep in mind that they will usually just slow the walkway to start with. The CMs don't know what you need unless you tell them, so if it looks like you need the walkway slowed down or even stopped, they will do it, but you need to ask.
Also, for most of those moving walkway rides, you can pull the wheelchair as close as needed for boarding; we usually have DD's wheelchair almost touching the ride car.

If she is not using a wheelchair or ECV, then she would need a GAC in order to use the accessible entrances (which avoids stairs and uses the exit for boarding for moving walkway rides).