Looking for disabled access experiences on the Central Florida roller coasters

[BarryHom]

I'm doing a special project on the Central Florida roller coasters and I need your help. What are your disabled access experiences on the Central Florida roller coasters? Was it hard or easy for you to board and ride the coasters? Were there any coasters that you couldn't ride because of your disability?

I'm looking for experiences on the following coasters...

Busch Gardens Tampa:
Kumba
Montu
Gwazi, Lion
Gwazi, Tiger
Scorpion
Python

Sea World Orlando:
Kraken
Journey to Atlantis

Islands of Adventure:
The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Dueling Dragons, Fire
Dueling Dragons, Ice
Flying Unicorn
Pterandon Flyers

Universal Studios Florida:
Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster

Animal Kingdom:
Primeval Whirl

Disney-MGM:
Rock N Roller Coaster

Magic Kingdom:
Barnstormer
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mt. Railroad

Thanks in advance!

 

[DramaTech]

I'll throw in some experiences:

Universal/IOA:

I was able to to ride both Fire and Ice after a manager was called in by the ride crew. I am 23 years old, but shorter than the ride requirement and I have no arms. I asked the attendant at the front and she said as long as you're over 18, they can waive the heighth requirement. The ride operator said that I wouldn't be able to ride, but I asked for an area manager. He came in and asked if I was over 18, I said yes, and off we went. Interestingly enough, I tried the EXACT same thing at Hulk, and was not allowed on. They said that the rule is the same at the Hulk, but it is up to the area manager as to specific cases. Seems pretty subjective to me.

Busch Gardens was awful. I tried to ride Kumba and they let me board and get seated then they delayed the dispatch of the train. A ride loader/unloader came over and said I couldn't ride...it was very embarassing as everyone on the dock knew what was going on. I asked for an area manager, to talk to about the poor way they handled the situation, and was told he was at lunch so they sent the ride supervisor from the log flume ride. Now, I worked at Six Flags Over Texas for 2 years as a ride supervisor, and if a guest asked for my area manager, it didn't matter where he or she was, they would drop what they were doing to come and attend to the guest's needs. I immediately went to guest services and told them the whole story, and they refunded my admission ticket.

DisneyWorld is the BEST by far! No weird rules, no embarassing situations. At Rock'n'Rollercoaster, they let you get on with as much time as you need at the exit of the ride where no one else is watching and waiting for you to get on. The Disney employees are great at making you feel safe and they don't pressure you to be in a rush to get on/off. Also, on R'n'R and Test Track, I was asked if I wanted to ride again without getting off. They explained that it was difficult enough to get in and out once...and if I liked it enough to ride again, they'd rather me not have to go to the trouble of getting in/out again. Very nice!

 

[ToriLammy]

We only have experience at the WDW parks (although this summer we will be going to IOA ) Anyway my 16 year old daughter earned her title "Coaster Girl" at WDW in Dec 99. She had been on a few roller coasters before but never a looping coaster. She has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and was kind of afraid of not having enough control for the loops. She broke down and tried Rock N' Roller Coaster and absolutely loved it. No problems with loading, like the other person said the folks at Disney are very good. She road it twice in a row and then we went back 3 times afterwards so she could ride it again.

She also road Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mt. Railroad numerous times on that trip. She was always allowed to ride twice in a row. We never had any problems with boarding or unloading, the CMs were always very patient. Oh yeah, and they always let her wait for the front seat

The following year we got season passes to Six Flags over Texas and she has ridden everyone of their roller coasters in the state of Texas (3 parks) except the Texas Giant (I won't let her do that one it's too rough even for me). She road the roller coaster at SeaWorld San Antonio too.

Tori