Keys to the Kingdom Tour

[allie_to_you]

Hey guys! I have a quick question. I have heard that on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, you go on a couple rides, one being the Haunted Mansion. Now, this is a ride where you have to transfer out of your wheelchair to ride. How do they handle this during a tour, if they have someone in a wheelchair that cannot ride. Does that person just have to sit out the ride? Also, do you get any kind of pen or something to remember the tour by?

 

[cybertheo]

I can’t speak to the wheelchair part of your question (but I bet they have worked out that someone in a wheelchair can go on the rides) I can tell you this: You get a COOL gold pin shaped like a key that says “Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom” and you also get a name tag with Mickey and Mini on it dressed like the tour guides. I have them both in front of me at work!

 

[phillybeth]

I don't know how the KTTK tour works if you can't transfer. My DH was in an ECV for the tour (recent knee surgery) so he was able to transfer.

I don't think HM has a wheelchair car, but they can stop the ride/moving walkway. AFAIK you can bring the chair up as close as possible to the doom buggy, so it's possible to do a pivot transfer. If the person can't transfer at all I'm not really sure how they would handle it.

Yes, there's a very nice personalized nametag pin, plus the KTTK gold key pin.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't think HM has a wheelchair car, but they can stop the ride/moving walkway. AFAIK you can bring the chair up as close as possible to the doom buggy, so it's possible to do a pivot transfer. If the person can't transfer at all I'm not really sure how they would handle it.

You are correct that HM doesn't have a wheelchair car, so someone riding HM would need to be able to transfer.
They can slow or stop the moving walkway; usually they just slow it unless you tell them that you need a full stop. You can bring the wheelchair as close as you want to the ride car (even touching it). The CM will move the wheelchair away after you have gotten in.
They note the ride car you are in so that they know which car the wheelchair belongs to and when you come back to the exit, the wheelchair will be waiting. If the CM doesn't bring it up, ask.

I'm not sure what they would do for the Keys to the Kingdom tour, but I imagine they would have the person using the wheelchair view the first part of the attraction (the room with no way out) by entering it from the back way (which is wheelchair accessible) and then, since the line to get to the boarding area from that room is not terribly accessible, they would probably pull you out of the room and have you board at the exit.
Another possibility would be to substitute an attraction that is wheelchair accessible (like Small World or Buzz Lightyear) for that tour.

Be sure to let them know that you will have a wheelchair and whether or not you can get out to board a ride when you make your reservation.

 

[Haley Whippet]

WOW, I didn't know you get a name badge and pin on the tour.. We will be taking teh tour in May and I I let them know I used a ECV when I booked. Deb

 

[phillybeth]

WOW, I didn't know you get a name badge and pin on the tour.. We will be taking teh tour in May and I I let them know I used a ECV when I booked. Deb

Shhhh- it's a surprise You get the nametag when you check in, the key pin comes later.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Shhhh- it's a surprise You get the nametag when you check in, the key pin comes later.

I am not going to tell DH, He will be suprised!
Deb

 

[KPeveler]

okay, i am resurrecting this thread for a moment - is there any part of the KTTK tour that you cannot do in a wheelchair? i can walk through the HM, and we also went on jungle cruise, which i can transfer into (i can walk some, but not for more than 5 or 6 minutes without pain, and standing is as bas a walking)... any reason you can think of i couldnt do KTTK with my chair?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

A friend of mine told me wheelchair folks cannot take the tour because there are a few cases of stairs. Can anyone elaborate?

 

[KPeveler]

i've done it before, and i can do some stairs... as i remember you have to walk up stairs once. if i could leave my chair at the bottom of the stairs, that would work

 

[BillSears]

I did the KTTK tour on 9/1 and had a great time. Since the HM was closed we did not get a chance to ride it but we did ride the Jungle Cruise. They arrainged for the wheelchair lift boat and everything was fine.

There are 2 instances where you might use stairs but there were elevators available. The first time was lunch at Columbia Haorbor House, it was upstairs but they took me into the kitchen and we used the elevator there. The second time was when we went down into the Utilidors, the rest of the group walked down the stairs while I used the elevator.

I thought the tour was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a little of the backstage magic.

 

[KPeveler]

i can leave my chair downstairs in colombia harbor house (i have been up there before), and i will take the elevator to the utilidors (that wont be a problem, and i would do it anyway)... i am pretty sure i can manage it!

 

[Hasil72]

A friend of mine told me wheelchair folks cannot take the tour because there are a few cases of stairs. Can anyone elaborate?

I don't know if it has changed recently but we took the tour in May '06 with my husband's uncle who rented an ECV rather than use his wheelchair. He was able to access every area we were including the HM, Jungle Cruise, and utilidors. Sometimes it took an extra minute while they brought him to elevators or a different entrance, etc. but no issues. They even slowed the pace of the tour to accomodate him.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I am so glad to find this thread. I really want to take my mom to do it for or big trip December 2008, but I was worried because she can't walk a long distance without her ECV. I also use an ECV, but only for long distances, I can stand line when I have to, but she can't. She will be excited to know this also. She just shys away and says you go ahead without me and I don't want her to feel left out because she can't walk. She is a very young looking 59 year old and I want to keep her that way, even if she can't go without her ECV.

Suzanne

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oky, horrible grammar, I know, but - don't let her NOT go!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Not going is not an option. If I go, she goes. There is probably only one or two things I ride that I won't let her ride and that is Test Track and I probably won't take her on the Backlot Tour, because she can't handle the rocking of the Tram during Catastrophe Canyon, but I can take her and through the part up to the tram ride and leave her at the store.

She sits at home so much because it is so difficult for her to go out, but I have finally convinced her that she needs to get her own ECV, so she can go and do the things she wants to do while I am work, and even when I am with her. She skips things so much because of her difficulty, and I am just not going to stand for it.

 

[Talking Hands]

A friend of mine told me wheelchair folks cannot take the tour because there are a few cases of stairs. Can anyone elaborate?

Not true at all. I have taken it twice and I use a power wheelchair. I can tranfer to the ride vehicles and we had no difficulty at all. Even provided interpreters for my hearing impairment.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Not true at all. I have taken it twice and I use a power wheelchair. I can tranfer to the ride vehicles and we had no difficulty at all. Even provided interpreters for my hearing impairment.

Thanks for the info. She said there was a woman using an ECV on her tour. The tour guide mentioned to my friend that they really weren't allowed and she was told that when she booked and brought it anyway.

I guess the CM was just mistaken.

 

[Piper]

I don't know why the guide would say they were'nt allowed--I let them know when I booked that I would be using mine....and that I would be doing the tour solo. The tour was completely accessible. I just used the elevators instead of the stairs.

Also, my guide told me several times that he was enjoying my being on the tour because he could tell that I was interested and attentive to what he was telling us (and enjoying his jokes) It was a great experience.

 

[R.S.Winters]

i did the tour in 2005 - you go on the hanunted mansion and the jungle cruise. your do also get the name tag and a special key pin!

D.