Is Universal Orlando disability-friendly?

[Firepath]

In what ways are they different than Disney?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Very little ECV access to rides. Most require the ECV be left at the entrance and person transfer to a WC meaning someone in their party has to push them through most of the lines or they have to wheel themselves. I find it ridiculous Universal doesn’t give one whit about how hard this is for some people.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are many more ‘thrill’ rides and rides with warnings at Universal than at any of the Disney parks. For my DD, there is almost nothing she could ride at Islands of Adventure.

 

[redberyl]

I found it a lot harder to get their disability assistance pass at universal. They acted like I was lying when I explained my daughters needs.

 

[redberyl]

Also, the stores in the Harry Potter area are little and cried, we had difficulty maneuvering my daughters wheelchair. And the streets in that area are cobblestone which makes for a bumpy ride

 

[HopperFan]

Much more difficult to get the Disability Pass and they are very strict about number of people on it. We've had one over and they said no. We would just switch out who rode each time. I'm going this weekend with my son and for the first time it will only be me (I usually have his brother). At this point I can't remember ever seeing a "companion" style bathroom so I guess I'll be asking that too.

 

[Selket]

Last time I was there with an ECV, many if not most of the rides did not have a WC anywhere to transfer to - and the employees working the attraction had no clue what to do, where to find one, what I should do, etc. I really just never want to go back while I need to use an ECV.

I did see people in their own personal electric wheelchairs go into the ride line like at Gringotts - I don't know how that works though. I guess if you want to specify the type of disability (mobility?) people could offer more targeted advice.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

Last time I was there with an ECV, many if not most of the rides did not have a WC anywhere to transfer to - and the employees working the attraction had no clue what to do, where to find one, what I should do, etc. I really just never want to go back while I need to use an ECV.

I did see people in their own personal electric wheelchairs go into the ride line like at Gringotts - I don't know how that works though. I guess if you want to specify the type of disability (mobility?) people could offer more targeted advice.

Unlike Disney, which breaks it down based on whether the chair has any electronic components or not, Universal seems to break it down more based on the footprint of the device - which makes much more sense to this electric wheelchair-user, as my chair has the same size footprint as a standard wheelchair and a sharper turning radius! So yes, if the person uses an ECV then Universal will be much harder because they require transfer to a provided push-chair.

I'll agree that stores in some areas - in particular Hogsmeade - are narrow and hard to access...but IME so are the shops in SWGE.

Also their equivalent of DAS is much harder to obtain and is a little harder to understand.

There are some things about Universal I find harder to navigate as someone with both physical and non-physical disabilities, but there are things I find easier than WDW. (For one thing, I haven't found any restaurants at Universal where I physically can't get to the food, which is true at several MK locations.) So it all depends on the needs and usual touring style.

 

[SueM in MN]

Unlike Disney, which breaks it down based on whether the chair has any electronic components or not, Universal seems to break it down more based on the footprint of the device - which makes much more sense to this electric wheelchair-user, as my chair has the same size footprint as a standard wheelchair and a sharper turning radius! So yes, if the person uses an ECV then Universal will be much harder because they require transfer to a provided push-chair.

I'll agree that stores in some areas - in particular Hogsmeade - are narrow and hard to access...but IME so are the shops in SWGE.

Also their equivalent of DAS is much harder to obtain and is a little harder to understand.

There are some things about Universal I find harder to navigate as someone with both physical and non-physical disabilities, but there are things I find easier than WDW. (For one thing, I haven't found any restaurants at Universal where I physically can't get to the food, which is true at several MK locations.) So it all depends on the needs and usual touring style.

Not sure what you mean by the bolded part.
WDW (at least officially) treats power wheelchairs the same as manual wheelchairs. I researched a lot when we were considering bringing DD’s power wheelchair (we ultimately chickened out).
I was told «ECV » on park maps and ride descriptions meant ECVs only and « wheelchair« meant power or manual wheelchair. I was also told the power wheelchair could be used in all wheelchair accessible ride cars as long as it fit the footprint of a manual chair and the weight rating of the car/restraint system. I’ve seen power wheelchairs in queues with us many times and over the years in pretty much all of the wheelchair accessible ride vehicles.

 

[Selket]

Unlike Disney, which breaks it down based on whether the chair has any electronic components or not, Universal seems to break it down more based on the footprint of the device - which makes much more sense to this electric wheelchair-user, as my chair has the same size footprint as a standard wheelchair and a sharper turning radius! So yes, if the person uses an ECV then Universal will be much harder because they require transfer to a provided push-chair.

Yes makes sense! I figured anywhere a WC can go probably a person can take a powered WC but I only saw someone do that in the Gringotts line so I wasn't certain.

Unless they've fixed the availability of WCs to borrow at attractions I wouldn't recommend US/IOA for someone in an ECV unless they are able to park it and walk through the attraction line. I also like to sometimes split up and do a ride while my family is doing something else and so I'm out of luck unless the wait time is low and I can walk through the regular line. How does someone traveling alone using an ECV manage there I have no idea. I don't want to waste the money to go back and have the same experience I had last time when I didn't get to ride hardly anything.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

My mom had to park and walk through most of the lines. Good news is we had express, so it wasn’t horrible but still could be difficult. Only line she took her ECV through fully was the hogwarts express. I do know that sometimes the walk can be long too from parking

 

[Grumpy92]

They do have companion bathrooms. We did use them on them on previous trips.

 

[SueM in MN]

Universal has Rider’s Guides for each of their parks that detail safety guidelines. The Rider’s Guides say they have Family Restrooms throughout the parks, but no list - it says to refer to the park maps.
Universal Orlando webpage with links to Rider’s Guides

 

[fabfemmeboy]

How does someone traveling alone using an ECV manage there I have no idea.

That's the thing, though: there's an assumption that anyone with disabilities doesn't - and CAN'T - travel alone. There's a similar issue on a few rides at WDW (Pirates being a big one): you have to transfer out of your motor-having device and use a manual chair through the queue. I can't push a chair by myself, so my partner would have to (though he certainly can't manage it easily either). If I were by myself, it would be a 100% no-go for that reason. Same with a number of food places that literally cannot fit a standard-sized wheelchair, so my partner has to swoop in and get the food from the counter. A person traveling alone couldn't do that...and that's fine because they assume anyone with a chair can't possibly do a park day on their own.

 

[BroganMc]

Universal is not ecv friendly. Not if you're going to use your ecv in place of a wheelchair. Meaning you cannot walk 100 feet on your own or with a cane. For regular wheelchair users it's no different than Disney.

But I had found the staff at Universal to be much more understanding and supportive. I think it's because they don't encounter so many Wheely abusers. There isn't this assumption that those with wheels are trying to get an advantage.

When I traveled with my elderly father toward the end of his life when his ecv became a wheelchair for him, I did go to team members to ask for some accommodations. It was especially needed for the Late Night attraction. Dad just could not manage walking through the building and waiting. And it was no way I could push him in a wheelchair. Team members escorted us into the building and pushed him all the way to the ride vehicle then out again.

With the Transformers ride, they would let us go in through the exit and board.

If you are polite about your request. Don't make too many assumptions and don't act like an entitled jerk, I find people are generally more understanding and helpful.

I can say as a daily power wheelchair user, it is nice not having to trip over so many ECVs. I know they are great things for those who are dealing with a lot of walking and a grueling Park touring Day. But so many have little experience driving them and are Reckless and obtrusive. I'm a little more protected than your average pedestrian because they'll hit my chair instead of me. But even I avoid them. I wish more ECV users practiced turning and navigating small spaces before they went into the crowds.

 

[Selket]

If you are polite about your request. Don't make too many assumptions and don't act like an entitled jerk, I find people are generally more understanding and helpful.

I know your comments aren't directed at anyone in particular but I was very polite to the workers there. They just simply had no idea what to do and didn't try to find out. On that trip I was chaperoning about 6 kids traveling on a band trip and I was supposed to not let them out of my sight. One of them could have pushed me in a WC if they'd had one for me to use. I had rented a park ECV so no one would have to spend the day pushing me around (we were all very tired cause we'd slept overnight on a bus traveling from 800 miles away). I felt like I was holding my group back not being able to access that ride. I didn't want to drag everyone to guest services to ask what I should do. I guess my frustration with US/IOA vs. Disney with an ECV is that it is easy to navigate most of the WDW rides with an ECV without having to ask for any special accommodations or having to hope that the CM will help me. And they've always had a WC to use for rides that I can't take the ECV.

I think an ECV user who can do some walking would be ok for the most part at US/IOA with the express pass. Otherwise renting a WC and having someone who can push would work as well.

 

[SarahC97]

There are so many stairs at Universal, too. What is with all the stairs???

 

[Groot]

That's the thing, though: there's an assumption that anyone with disabilities doesn't - and CAN'T - travel alone. There's a similar issue on a few rides at WDW (Pirates being a big one): you have to transfer out of your motor-having device and use a manual chair through the queue. I can't push a chair by myself, so my partner would have to (though he certainly can't manage it easily either). If I were by myself, it would be a 100% no-go for that reason.

Especially since most of the “loaner wheelchairs” at Pirates seem to be on their “Last legs” so to speak. (Ex. Flat rear wheels/casters, broken footrests, rusted frame, uncomfortable seat, etc.)

 

[DisneyOma]

But I had found the staff at Universal to be much more understanding and supportive. I think it's because they don't encounter so many Wheely abusers. There isn't this assumption that those with wheels are trying to get an advantage.

What do you define a "Wheely abuser" to be?

 

[Groot]

What do you define a "Wheely abuser" to be?

My guess is someone who doesn’t need a wheelchair full/part time who’s only using one to cut the lines.