Inaccessible Shore Excursions on the Disney Cruise Line

[mellers]

I noticed that most, if not all, of the Disney Cruise Line shore excursions are, at least supposedly, inaccessible to wheelchairs, including some activities which really are. If any of us are resident, or have been to, any of these ports and have found (or researched) wheelchair-friendly activities for the cruises, I thought it might be nice to share them. (I'd be more ticked off at Disney, but I found, by researching my own, we wound up paying several 100's of dollars less than if we'd bought their shore excursions, so the did me a favor )

I'll start:

San Francisco Area

Although Disney says that the Wax Museum is inaccessible, at least the last time I visited, it was accessible. (I also know that the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum is accessible--went there just over Thanksgiving)

I also went to the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco--it is also fully accessible (although the wood planking can be a bit annoying).

You can get coupons to the wax museum online here: http://www.baycityguide.com/coupons.html

and, if you get a Pier 39 Fun Book: http://www.pier39.com/funpack.html which will give you good discounts for the Aquarium of the Bay.

You may want to reserve wheelchair transportation, or arrange for a wheelchair taxi to get there (public transit isn't good out that way), but the Walt Disney Family Museum at the Presidio in San Francisco is quite accessible, and has a AAA discount:

http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/index.html

The San Francisco Duck Tour is a hoot, but you must be able to climb stairs to go on it. They will, however, store your wheelchair while you do:

This place offers discounted tickets:

http://arestravel.com/4188_ticket-l...71&attractionName=Duck&attractionCategoryID=0

(My husband took me and our LARGE extended, San-Francisco based family on the ducks for my 40th birthday. AWESOME! They'll do special things for large groups, too, if you call ahead.)

(I've done all of these activities, and all but the Duck Tour and the Wax Museum in the last year.)

Bus access in San Francisco can be spotty--some routes are so crowded, they will never let you on, but the wheelchair taxis and SuperShuttles I've taken have been pretty good.

The following is all research--I haven't done any of it personally--yet! I'll be in Alaska in August on the Disney Wonder:

Ketchikan, AK

We're planning to take the Ketchikan, AK Duck Tour (we all like Duck Tours)

http://www.akduck.com

Like the San Francisco Duck, you have to be able to walk up the stairs and onto the boat, but they'll store your wheelchair.

Skagway, AK

The White Pass and Yukon Route railroad has a lift and limited wheelchair seating on their Summit Excursion. The station is about 1/4 mile from the docks, but I've heard they have an accessible minibus which runs from the cruise docks--I would call and confirm this, though, if it would cause problems for you:

http://www.wpyr.com/summitexcursion.html

I thought this was actually much cheaper that Disney's, but Disney has the excursion that runs into the Fraser Valley, which unfortunately, is not accessible at all.

For Juneau, the public transportation is supposed to have bus lifts:

http://www.juneau.org/capitaltransit/index.php

and goes to the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure, with accessibility information here:

http://www.glaciergardens.com/T_access.htm


Does anybody else know of fun activities to do in port for wheelchair users?

 

[mellers]

I'm happy to be wrong about one of the shore excursions. Both in that Disney didn't mark it up too badly (only about $10), and that they mention that it has a wheelchair lift:

http://www.wpyr.com/summitexcursion.html

is the "book-it-yourself" option, and Disney's is the:

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ons/skagway-alaska/white-pass-scenic-railway/

 

[dclfun]

Also the Rocky Mountaineer add-on has w/c accessible trains. I've had luck with DCL in the past with visiting the shore-ex desk ( now the Port Adventures desk) to have transportation on lift vans arranged for me. In advance though, nothing was listed as accessible. I'm a little more than miffed that the coastal doesn't have any accessible excursions listed as we are in the USA!---Kathy

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Agree with Kathy; working with the excursion desk after boarding is the best thing. Allthough they can't always perform the desired miracle, I've found them to be very willing to hunt down any specifics needed/desired and find out if things can be arranged.

As far as the (very ) standard itinerary of the eastern car. goes;

St. Maarten; there is a company that provides private tours that can basically deal with all kinds of needs. Not cheap though and has a min. am. hours one has to book. Forgot name, company is run by Joyce Prince. Haven't done this one myself, have read many positive reviews.

St. Thomas; Aqua Active Dive Center offers handicapped scuba diving to both experienced and inexperienced divers. http://www.aadivers.com/disabilities.htm Unfortunately wasn't able to go through with the dive on previous cruise (rotten case of allergies acting up, alas) but very open and honest company. As long as diving is medically safe (obviously you will need to fill out a medical form and have a doc find you fit to do so), they'll find a way to make a dive happen within the abilities and limits of the disability you've got.

 

[dclfun]

There's another tour company in St.Thomas- can't remember the name offhand. Fortunately almost all the Port Adventures in Victoria are w/c accessible- don't know why they couldn't do the same for San Francisco. I plan to inquire though beforehand to see if someone can research for me. If not, I will use my eligibility for door-to-door w/c transportation here in Florida which is reciprocal anywhere in the US to set up private tours, and it will cost me a very nominal amount. I pay $4.00 each way here to go anywhere from my home in Orlando to anywhere in Orange or Osceola county.---Kathy

 

[mellers]

There's another tour company in St.Thomas- can't remember the name offhand. Fortunately almost all the Port Adventures in Victoria are w/c accessible- don't know why they couldn't do the same for San Francisco. I plan to inquire though beforehand to see if someone can research for me. If not, I will use my eligibility for door-to-door w/c transportation here in Florida which is reciprocal anywhere in the US to set up private tours, and it will cost me a very nominal amount. I pay $4.00 each way here to go anywhere from my home in Orlando to anywhere in Orange or Osceola county.---Kathy

I can give you some details on San Francisco:

SuperShuttle has reliable (if pricy, for private transport--cheap for shared) wheelchair transportation

Wheelchair taxis are good, but it can be a LONG wait, so give yourself at least 2.5 hours before cruise time to get back to the ship.

If you're a hardy roller, or have an ECV, it's easy to get to the Aquarium of the Bay (fully accessible), the Wax Museum (accessible the last time I was there--it's been a few years), the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum (decent lift), the Musee Mechanique (LOTS of fun, bring quarters), and pretty much anywhere on Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf from your ship.

It's also pretty easy to roll over to the Duck Tour, but you have to be able to leave your wheelchair and walk up a few steps--they'll store and watch over your chair, however, until you get back.

You're close enough to the ship to eat on-ship, but if you really want to eat off ship, Fog City and the Wipeout Bar & Grill (despite the name) are good places to eat, and kid-friendly.

Don't try the busses--even if you know the routes, like I do, half the time they are so crowded they won't let wheelchairs on. The streetcar, however, depending on the time of year, isn't too bad--it's a bit cludgy, but they'll get you on. That will take you from the Wharf over to the edge of Union Square--if you're a shopper (or you want to hit the Disney Store), that's your best bet. Warning, however--there are STEEP hills in that area, and they will challenge you. Make sure you're catching the right streetcar, though. If you're looking away from the wharf and toward the street, if it's going left, it's going towards Union Square, and if it's going right, it's going away from Union Square.

The Walt Disney Family Museum also has excellent wheelchair access--been there twice already--although getting out there can be a bit of a pain.

Avoid the cutesy trolley car tours and red car tours--they can't take wheelchairs.

You can get good coupons for Pier 39 here: http://www.pier39.com/funpack.html

and for the Wax Museum here: http://www.baycityguide.com/coupons.html

(My family lives in San Francisco, and we go every year for Thanksgiving)

Wherever you go, have a great time!

 

[mellers]

My apologies for posting this stuff again--I shouldn't try to use the boards when sleepy!

 

[dclfun]

My apologies for posting this stuff again--I shouldn't try to use the boards when sleepy!

Thanks for all the info! I was in SF years ago- enjoyed Chinatown and shopping. I think I'll use my city's reciprocal door-to-door service if I can't rustle up something from DCL. We're there two days so I should be able to do a few things, and I did notice that the wax museum is in rolling distance, although I really want to see the Disney Museum and am not really interested in the wax museum unless it's the only thing available to do. ---Kathy

 

[mellers]

Thanks for all the info! I was in SF years ago- enjoyed Chinatown and shopping. I think I'll use my city's reciprocal door-to-door service if I can't rustle up something from DCL. We're there two days so I should be able to do a few things, and I did notice that the wax museum is in rolling distance, although I really want to see the Disney Museum and am not really interested in the wax museum unless it's the only thing available to do. ---Kathy

Before you count on the door-to-door service, if the cruise desk isn't helpful, make certain San Francisco is still abiding by the reciprocal agreement--a lot of those things are simply being "forgotten" in the wake of California's budget woes.

Also, make certain you don't push the window to be back on the boat--I'm not sure about San Francisco's vans, but when I lived in San Jose, the windows were long, and the vans often didn't make them even so (average wait was 1 hr. for a van--while I was in a wheelchair and traveling with an autistic child--I'll never forget those experiences--no matter how hard I try).

On the other hand, given that the distance from the dock isn't huge, it would be worth your time to call and price (1-800-BLUE-VAN) a SuperShuttle. They will usually take up to 4 passengers (citywide accessible vans in San Jose, as of 2006, would only take 2--you and your PCA (personal care attendant) ). I've used them in 4 cities, and every time, they have been absolutely on time, unfailingly polite, and they've done a great job of anchoring my scooter.

I was particularly impressed when I flew into Sacramento. I had reservations for a long ride into a neighboring city on a private van, but my flight was 4 hours late. I got to the kiosk (which was supposed to close at midnight--it was now 12:30) with my daughter, who is autistic, and I was prepared for a really bad night. Instead, they had a note up to call a dispatch number, and the dispatcher APOLOGIZED that it was going to take about 3 minutes to get the van to us! They came, indeed, less than three minutes later, and, with their usual dispatch had me hooked up, on my way and headed to my next destination less than 10 minutes after we walked out with our luggage. I've been a loyal customer ever since.

However, by all means, don't miss the Disney Family Museum--it is great, and once you get there, the access is fantastic (except the gift shop--narrow, claustrophobic aisles). One way or another, Disney, reciprocal vans, or the SuperShuttle, you'll be able to get there.

If you have time when you get back to Fisherman's Wharf, hit the Musee Mechanique with a baggie full of quarters. It's a little known attraction, but it's really fun.

Have a wonderful cruise!