Loading onto Peter Pan and POC??

[darkpixie08]

Can someone explain to me in more detail the loading procedures for Peter Pan and POC? I know you have to be able to transfer, which makes sense, and I know that for Peter Pan they cannot slow or stop the ride. But how fast is it going? A member of our party is pretty wobbly on his feet, he can manage to go slowly, and is fine with steps as long as there's a rail to hold onto, but I'm concerned about these two rides, and probably it's a small world (though I read that has a wheel chair boat, so we could always use that if needed).

If anyone could provide a little more detail on the transfers into and out of these two rides it'd really be helpful. Are there steps from the platform down or up into the boats, are there rails to help, etc. Are the boats in POC really wobbly? It's been 10+ years since I was last there, I honestly can't remember.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just time for a quick reply - look on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. I think it's post 18-22 that have information about how big and what kinds of step up and down.
I also have pictures of both ride cars, which I will post tonight.

POC has very little to hold onto. Ride Small World first to get an idea of the step in and out since Pirates is similar.
Peter Pan has just a small step, but nothing to hang onto and the moving walkway is pretty fast.

 

[Sfmarine]

Peter Pan is quite fast. I'm going to have my Aunt skip that one when my family and I head down in May. She has severe arthritis and would not be able to keep up with the moving track not to mention she's afraid of heights so I guess it works out for the best. I wish she could experience Soarin though..it's such a great ride.

 

[jmartinez1895]

Peter Pan may be hard to load for someone that is not stable. There is no rail to hold onto, but in theory the person could hold the side of the ride car and load, but it would be hard and the person would have to move fast. POTC should be easier. The boats are not moving and the main issue would be a large step down. If you have 2 people with the person then it might make it better. Have one person get in first and then have the person who needs help step onto the seat and then the floor. The person inside could help balance the person as well as having someone behind the person. Then do the same thing for getting off the boat. I have always seen the CM's be very patient with people who take a while getting into and off the baots.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a picture of the Peter Pan boat.
You could hold onto the back side of th boat, but the front swings down, so it is not stable to hold onto. The moving walkway is fairly short, both getting on and off, so there is not much time or space for getting on and off.

I took the picture as I was waits in the queue. You would be getting on from behind the boat, not in front of it as the pictures shows. Guests enter and exit from the same side of the boat, so whoever was last on will be first off.
In your case, I would put the least mobile person on last and have a helper get on the boat before him him to lend a hand. Since your whole party won't be in the same boat, have the rest of your group get on the boat ahead of his boat. That way, he will have the most time to get on, with a faster person getting on in front of him. For the exit, the person in the first boat would get off and could help him if needed. Then, he would have the most time to get off, with a faster person getting off behind him.

As was mentioned, Pirates is a long step down, but at least it doesn't move.
A CM controls the movement of the boat and will not start it moving as long as the passenger are not ready.
Here's a picture of the Pirates boat boarding area. You can hold onto the wooden handrails and there are fairly similar handrails at the unload area.

You can take a wheelchair to the boarding at (they prefer you take an attraction wheelchair because it allows them the most flexibility in getting a wheelchair to you at the exit). Boarding at the wheelchair accessible boarding area, you will get on and off on the same side of the boat.

When getting off, there is a steep moving walkway - go instead to the left where you will find a small elevator.

 

[darkpixie08]

Thanks Sue, those pictures are really helpful! Looks like we should be able to manage Pirates, and looks like getting on to Peter Pan would be possible, but getting off the ride would be pretty tricky. Looks like we might have to skip that one.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks Sue, those pictures are really helpful! Looks like we should be able to manage Pirates, and looks like getting on to Peter Pan would be possible, but getting off the ride would be pretty tricky. Looks like we might have to skip that one.

Pirates is probably harder getting off than on because you are working against gravity getting off. But, you do have time and since the attraction is long, there is lots of time to recover from the transfer before getting off.

Peter Pan has a quite short time for getting on and off - you really need to move. The last time we rode it, DH almost ran out of space getting off with our daughter.
The other thing about Peter Psn is that it is a very short ride -about 90 seconds, so you may still be recovering from getting on when it is time up get off.

 

[bedogged]

Pirates is probably harder getting off than on because you are working against gravity getting off. But, you do have time and since the attraction is long, there is lots of time to recover from the transfer before getting off.

Peter Pan has a quite short time for getting on and off - you really need to move. The last time we rode it, DH almost ran out of space getting off with our daughter.
The other thing about Peter Psn is that it is a very short ride -about 90 seconds, so you may still be recovering from getting on when it is time up get off.

My Son in law has MS and he and my daughter rode Peter Pan last May. When not using his scooter, he uses a cane and has balance issues. My daughter reported that they had some difficulty getting on the ride, but almost didn't make it off. She had visions of having to ride Peter Pan all day long. It could be worse, it could be Small World.

 

[dclfun]

I remember when I was wobbly but able to transfer and I got on Peter Pan. I think the girl hostess saw the remaining fear in my face as the ride came back around and she let me go again to get my composure back before I had to get off. I never rode it after that "adventure", but I have to say I'm glad I did it one last time! You can always ask to watch and see if you think it would be possible. It's hard to guesstimate the time you'll have and how fast it's moving until you see for yourself.