Little Mermaid Line - Fully Integrated?

[Jennyliztx]

Hello!

Does anyone have info on the new Little Mermaid ride and access for guests who must use a power wheelchair? It appears (from pics) to use the clamshells from the Nemo ride. One year on Nemo, the required my husband to transfer to a manual chair (which didn't have dropping arm rests - he must slide across) so he wasn't able to ride. Another year, they allowed him to put his power chair on the wheelchair-accessible clam. Does anyone know the policy on the new Little Mermaid ride?

Also, for the waiting in line portion, I've read some things about a scavenger hunt and various entertaining elements to the line for LIttle Mermaid. Sometimes the waiting in line can be nearly as fun as the ride itself. Sometimes, when we go through an alternate entrance, our kids miss out on all of that (standing in some empty hallway isn't nearly as fun for a toddler and a second grader). Is the line fully-integrated so my kids can enjoy that portion or will we be sent through an alternate entrance?

Thanks in advance for your help! We are really looking forward to visiting the new fantasyland this year. It has been over a year since we have been to Disney and we are so excited!

 

[SueM in MN]

We were on it 3 times during soft openings.
It is listed on the park map for guests with disabilities with the 'Mobility Access' as "obtain a Fastpass or enter through the standard queue."
We entered each time we ride through the standard queue and it was totally accessible until boarding. At the point where the regular line went to the boarding area, guests using wheelchairs were directed past that point to the unload area. We waited there for the wheelchair accessible ride car to come along and DD was loaded into that in her wheelchair (manual). She does have a power wheelchair that we have not brought with us to Florida, so I have a pretty good idea of what a power wheelchair would or would not fit on.

The ride car is similar to the Nemo clamshell, but the CMs told us it is an improved version, easier to load. It certainly looked sleeker to us and they were able to load and unload DD's wheelchair each time without even slowing the moving walkway.

The ride is listed as one where guests using ECVs need to transfer to a wheelchair. There should be no reason a person using a power wheelchair could not ride. One of the reasons it doesn't work for some rides is the floor of the ride car has protrusions that stick up too much. That is not the situation with the Mermaid ride car.
I think there is some confusion sometimes among CMs - some see anything powered as being an ECV, even though power wheelchairs are not the same as ECVs. Those CMs would require transfers even when not needed.

 

[disney david]

Let me ask is the accessible car the same looking as the rest of the cars. Because in Dca version it king triton chariot so it look nice but not a clam shell.

 

[SueM in MN]

Let me ask is the accessible car the same looking as the rest of the cars. Because in Dca version it king triton chariot so it look nice but not a clam shell.

I have pictures of it - will post when I can. (There are actually 2)
It's different than the regular clamshells, but not decorated as much as in California.

 

[disney david]

I have pictures of it - will post when I can. (There are actually 2)
It's different than the regular clamshells, but not decorated as much as in California.

Okay thanks was riding in Dca and was in front and kept noticing it when we turned. I like it because it looks like you following king triton down into the ride. I think that the best ride it has one if the bed auudiomatranics of any ride. That one dancing Ariel looks so real. Can't wait to see the que in wdw one the Dca was boring but was also one I the fastest loading ride it had a line but was on it in no time. I figure since wdw has fast pass it will be slower but Dca had lots of cms throughout the que moving you through and helping when needed. One morning we was the first to ride it they was all so happy. The park was busy but never felt that ride got the amount of guest it should everyone else was going to cars land.

 

[Purplelv93]

The Little Mermaid ride vehicles are actually more like the Haunted Mansion Doom Buggies than the Finding Nemo Calm Mobiles. In that they load from the side like HM making it easier for people to slide in who need to, rather than have to take a step up on the front loading Nemo vehicles.

I have MD and can slide in and out of the HM and LM vehicles, but not on the Nemo one because of the step up and front loading design. I hope that helps.

Also, I use a mobility scooter and was first told I had to transfer to a standard wheelchair. Once I explained to the manager that was not a possibility for me, they finally agreed to slow down the ride so I could load myself into a regular vehicle.

 

[SueM in MN]

The Little Mermaid ride vehicles are actually more like the Haunted Mansion Doom Buggies than the Finding Nemo Calm Mobiles. In that they load from the side like HM making it easier for people to slide in who need to, rather than have to take a step up on the front loading Nemo vehicles.

I have MD and can slide in and out of the HM and LM vehicles, but not on the Nemo one because of the step up and front loading design. I hope that helps.

Also, I use a mobility scooter and was first told I had to transfer to a standard wheelchair. Once I explained to the manager that was not a possibility for me, they finally agreed to slow down the ride so I could load myself into a regular vehicle.

That's a good point.
They look like the clam mobiles on Nemo, but work like Haunted Mansion's Doombuggies.

The wheelchair accessible clamshell also loads in a different way than the Nemo one - it looks more like the one on Buzz Lightyear than it looks like the one on Nemo.
I have a number of pictures of the accessible Mermaid clamshell and will try to post before the weekend.

 

[Jennyliztx]

Thanks for all of this information. So very helpful...

I also noticed that the Enchanted Tales mentions that ECV users will have to transfer to a normal wheelchair. I guess we run into the issue again that 1) he can't use a normal wheelchair because the park wheelchairs don't usually have drop sides and 2) does a power wheelchair user have to transfer or only people using scooter-type vehicles. Has anyone had any experience with this for Enchanted Tales?

 

[Talking Hands]

Thanks for all of this information. So very helpful...

I also noticed that the Enchanted Tales mentions that ECV users will have to transfer to a normal wheelchair. I guess we run into the issue again that 1) he can't use a normal wheelchair because the park wheelchairs don't usually have drop sides and 2) does a power wheelchair user have to transfer or only people using scooter-type vehicles. Has anyone had any experience with this for Enchanted Tales?

I don't see why a powered wheelchair user would need to transfer to a manual wheelchair as long as it doesn't take up more space than the manual wheelchair. I haven't been to the new Fantasyland but I am not asked to transfer except for Pirates. Since my dear husband can no longer push me I have to skip that one.

 

[RaySharpton]

I don't see why a powered wheelchair user would need to transfer to a manual wheelchair as long as it doesn't take up more space than the manual wheelchair. I haven't been to the new Fantasyland but I am not asked to transfer except for Pirates. Since my dear husband can no longer push me I have to skip that one.

I don't know the real answer to your question, but the clam shell does turn around goes down a hill to simulate going under the ocean.

Maybe the weight of motorized wheelchair can't be tied down without shifting when it goes down the hill. Maybe someone else can give a better answer for you.

I really do like the queue in that you can roll all the way with all guest up to two or three people. The queue makes a right turn where walkers get on the moving sidewalk.

Those with wheelchairs scooters don't make a right turn, but go straight and can push open a gate (usually a castmember opens it for you.)

Immediately after going through the gate, you can see guest exiting the ride on your immediate left and wheelchairs/scooters are directed to the right side and to wait for another castmember to allow you enter the moving sidewalk almost to the far right are where the walkers would enter, but after the walkers get off.

I was surprised to be asked each time if I needed to have the moving sidewalk slowed down, and I said no.

I hope this might help someone.

In this photo, I am on the other side of the swinging door and queue with the castmember at the swinging door where I entered. And you can she where the walkers made a right turn to get on the attraction ride.

In this photo, the castmember took a photo of me next to the swinging door for wheelchairs/scooter to enter. I didn't want to hold up anyone behind, so I couldn't take a photo of the other side inside the queue.

This is a poor photo of me after I just loaded into the clamshell and looking back at the queue line and you can see the moving sidewalk below.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for your input, Ray.
That is helpful.

I could not get my best pictures to upload, so have to settle for this one for now.

The floor is flat, with nothing sticking out. There is no tiedown for this one and I could see no reason that a power wheelchair could not go on it.
There is a small backwards hill, but it is very small and DD's wheelchair did not budge at all, even with heavily loaded backpack and not being tied down.

In most cases, when they say ECV users must transfer, it means just that. Most power wheelchairs are small enough to use. The exceptions are things like Ellen's Energy Adventure, where the ramp is very narrow and steep and rides where a seat removes from a regular car - like Aladdin's Magic Carpets where the clamp is high.

 

[SueM in MN]

Forgot to mention, in most cases, guests using power wheelchairs can go to the point of boarding, the same as manual wheelchairs, even if the wheelchair accessible car can't be used.

Pirates is a special case. Because the loading area and the unloading area are in different buildings in the unload area is one floor down, it is very difficult to bring any wheelchairs in there. So in general, they ask that people transfer to one of the attraction wheelchairs, even if they have their own manual wheelchair.