My friend is in a wheelchair and I need advice for planning

[sajetto]

Hi there,


My husband's cousin/our very dear friend is confined to a wheel chair. He has no use of his legs at all and he has had this deformity since birth. My husband and I would really love to invite him and his wife to go along with us for a DVC trip next year. This would be his first ever trip to WDW and we are basically clueless about what specific accomodations we need to look into for him. I know that we should request a wheelchair access room, but what do we need to do at the theme parks? He has his own motorized wheelchair and we will be driving his van to Florida. What attractions can he get on without having to remove himself from his chair?
Can anyone lend some advice about this or refer me to a source of information for a few in depth answers to these questions? TIA!

 

[merryweather20]

Good-Luck with your trip! I'm planning a trip myself!

This is Disney's guide for Magic Kingdom rides (whether they need to transfer, be ambulatory etc.), but there are other links as well at the top of the page: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdwi/en_GB/common/Plain?id=PlainMKPage

There is also alot of good info on the pages at the top of this board

 

[sajetto]

Thanks so much! I looked at the FAQ sticky and saw the section about a GAC card. Is this something he will need to get? What will it do for him?

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks so much! I looked at the FAQ sticky and saw the section about a GAC card. Is this something he will need to get? What will it do for him?

If he has other needs besides being able to take the wheelchair into lines with him, he might benefit from a GAC. It's sort of a quick way to let the CMs know what sort of assistance someone needs. If all he needs is an accessible way to get in to an attraction or a place to park his wheelchair, the CMs will be able to tell he needs those things just from seeing the wheelchair.
If he needs additional things - like waiting places out of the sun, a GAC might help him (most queues are out of the sun, so the GAC would not be used for those).

Do you have any specific questions after reading the disABILITIES FAQs thread? Like questions about specific attractions we can help you with?

 

[sajetto]

Thank you Sue. Sounds like he won't need it then. Aside from not being able to walk, he doesn't have any other specific needs.

I would like to ask about one specific attraction. He said that the one ride he'd really be interested in is Peter Pan. He knows it is one of my husband's favorites and I think he feels like he's really going to miss out on something if he doesn't try it. However, I read where he will need to transfer from his wheelchair to the ride vehicle. If we get to WDW and he still wants to ride can we get the wheelchair close enough to the "ship" to easily lift and maneuver him into the seat?

I want him to have the opportunity to experience whatever he wants to, but at the same time I worry a little bit. I don't want a trip that is supposed to be a big treat for him to end up being something that causes strain or embarrassment for him. Is this something I'm worrying about for nothing?

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you Sue. Sounds like he won't need it then. Aside from not being able to walk, he doesn't have any other specific needs.

I would like to ask about one specific attraction. He said that the one ride he'd really be interested in is Peter Pan. He knows it is one of my husband's favorites and I think he feels like he's really going to miss out on something if he doesn't try it. However, I read where he will need to transfer from his wheelchair to the ride vehicle. If we get to WDW and he still wants to ride can we get the wheelchair close enough to the "ship" to easily lift and maneuver him into the seat?

Peter Pan is really a tough transfer.
It has a ride car that is not the easiest to transfer into; here's a picture from allearsnet.com:

It also has a moving walkway that can't be stopped. Getting on is actually easier than getting off.
This thread has information on Peter Pan on page 7 (and I think also page 6). The Guidebook from the parks now lists it as "must be ambulatory", probably because of the difficulty in boarding for anyone who is not able to walk on by themselves.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Unfortunately, Peter Pan is a very difficult one to transfer onto, as Sue explained. They aren't allowed to stop the ride (except in emergences), for safety reasons, as the ride cars are suspended in the air.

For other rides, however, he may be able to transfer. Is he able to get in and out of a car by himself or with your assistance? If so, he may be able to attempt some of the rides that require transfers. I'm not sure if you've seen this page or not, but the Mouse on Wheels has detailed information on the ease of transfer for each attraction:

http://www.themouseonwheels.com/index.htm

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck and happy planning!

 

[sajetto]

I'm not sure if you've seen this page or not, but the Mouse on Wheels has detailed information on the ease of transfer for each attraction:

http://www.themouseonwheels.com/index.htm

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck and happy planning!

No I haven't seen the page and thank you so much for the extra resource! I really appreciate the help from all of you. I want this to be a great experience for him and all of this will really help us plan for that. Thanks again!

 

[SueM in MN]

No I haven't seen the page and thank you so much for the extra resource! I really appreciate the help from all of you. I want this to be a great experience for him and all of this will really help us plan for that. Thanks again!

If you lose the link to Mouseonwheels, there is a link to it in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[BroganMc]

Thank you Sue. Sounds like he won't need it then. Aside from not being able to walk, he doesn't have any other specific needs.

I would get the GAC if he plans on using the wheelchair-accessible ride vehicles. I never bothered with it before last year, chosing instead to use FastPasses because I don't have that big a problem waiting in a line. But then the CMs at Pooh and Buzz Lightyear (both requiring the use of the one wheelchair car) advised me to get one in lieu of FastPasses.

The reason for this is that once you enter the regular queue and get to the boarding area, they pull you aside and make you wait for the wheelchair vehicle to make it's way around. You end up blocking the path for exiting riders and wait twice the normal time. So it's easier to just send the GAC holder through the FP line to the wheelchair boarding queue.

Some ride CMs insist you have a FP as well but the requirement seems very spotty to me. And Guest Relations told me they weren't supposed to do that.

Just stop off at Guest Relations on the way in your first day and have your friend ask for a GAC. When they see he's a permanent wheelchair user they don't ask more, but if a CM does his reason would be needing to use the wheelchair car. The GAC is good for the duration of the trip and for the size of your party (up to 6 I believe).

I can stand but cannot do any steps so I do a modified slide transfer on many rides. Haunted Mansion is great for this as the seat is level with the chair and they do stop the ride for you. I even found a could do Test Track in abit more complicated transfer (drive my chair up to the vehicle, lift my legs over the edge and slide transfer over the side and down into the seat, they hold the car for your transfer).

I will not attempt Peter Pan do to the conveyer belt, nor Pirates or Maelstrom because those rides require a drop down from floor level into a boat.

 

[sajetto]

Brogan, thanks for the advice. If it will help great! I want to do whatever I can to find what will accomodate him the most. It will be obvious to them that his use of the wheelchair is permanent. His legs are VERY small.

 

[SueM in MN]

Brogan, thanks for the advice. If it will help great! I want to do whatever I can to find what will accomodate him the most. It will be obvious to them that his use of the wheelchair is permanent. His legs are VERY small.

You could also get Fastpasses for those 2 attractions.
Not all GACs have the same stamp and it is actually printed on the GAC that you should get Fastpasses if you want to avoid waits in line.
For Buzz Lightyear, you end up waiting in the same place whether you enter the attraction from the Standby Line or the Fastpass line. Pooh is different, but in most attractions, if there is a handicapped boarding area, it is after the Fastpass line and Standby line have merged.
There is a section about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Although I am not a WDW CM, a number of WDW Guest Relations CMs have read it and said it is accurate.
Because not all permanent wheelchair users have the same needs, just being a permanent wheelchair user would not necessarily be accepted as a reason for a GAC. And, since you can use the wheelchair accessible cars without having a GAC, that would also not necessarily be accepted as a reason for needing a GAC.
If he does request one, be ready to explain what his needs are.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

You end up blocking the path for exiting riders and wait twice the normal time. So it's easier to just send the GAC holder through the FP line to the wheelchair boarding queue.

I'm not understanding this about Buzz. Whenever we are sent to load in the exit area, we are not waiting on the conveyor belt. We are are a non-moving walkway that runs parallel to it, away from the exiting guests. I'm not getting where you are blocking the path at while waiting for the accessible vehicle to arrive.

Also:

My husband's cousin/our very dear friend is confined to a wheel chair.

This is not a flame, so please don't take it as one. Please refrain from saying your friend is confined to a wheelchair. He isn't and it's a very outdated phrase. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt your friend's feelings, that's why I thought I'd throw that out there.

 

[sajetto]

This is not a flame, so please don't take it as one. Please refrain from saying your friend is confined to a wheelchair. He isn't and it's a very outdated phrase. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt your friend's feelings, that's why I thought I'd throw that out there.

Thank you for your concern for his feelings. He however, is the most laid back person you could meet and I have known him for years. He and I have had many humorous conversations about how hung up people get on terminology and how easily offended people are these days. He'll be the first to tell you that he IS confined to a wheelchair. His words are"I ain't goin' anywhere." I think that your concerns would be directed more toward the feelings of the general population than him. Regardless, I am appreciative. BTW how would the folks on this board prefer that I phrase the obvious? I'm flexible and will use any wording that is wished in order to be respectful to the feelings of everyone here.

Again, thanks for all the help.

 

[Figaro]

Hi, sajetto!

And welcome to the disAbilities board! I don't mind saying or being described as confined to a wheelchair, but others do mind and so I try to use the term "uses a wheelchair" when talking about it to others.

However, I retain the right to refer to myself as a "crip" anytime at all.

Seriously, people feel differently about this topic and you are never going to get one unified opinion about how to refer to those of us who use alternate methods of locomotion. The best you can do is ask the individual involved and then use the terms that they prefer.

Hope that helps! And I hope your friend has a wonderful time at WDW!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

However, I retain the right to refer to myself as a "crip" anytime at all.

Woohoo! I'm not the only one! You get some great reactions for this one, but I also find it tends to stop people feeling too self conscious about using 'the right words'. Not that I'd ever call anyone else in a chair a 'crip', unless it was an ongoing joke between us.

 

[Figaro]

LOL, OneLittleSpark!

I find that people react in shock and then we both laugh, which is one of the reasons that I do it. It is a great ice-breaker. I do make sure to tell them that not everyone appreciates my whacked out sense of humor. It isn't the kind of word most people would just use with random strangers after all.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

I went to Disney World last summer at age 21, my first trip was age 7. There were some rides that I couldn't go on that I thought I could. I also have some viewing/ride access tips.

When the map says ECVs must transfer-it is talking about the 3 wheeled scooters or the chairs Disney rents NOT electric wheelchairs. Here is a list of rides that you can drive your wheelchair directly onto without transferring, sorted by park:

Epcot

Ellen's Energy Adventure: Only manual chairs allowed

Turtle Talk with Crush:
There is a separate wheelchair line. You might be given a return time. A girl in a wheelchair was allowed to sit up front with the kids (towards the back) but the parent had to ask.

Soarin' (transfer, but...):
Cast Members request that you park by the pole and walk (or are carried) the few feet to your seat. They will allow you to park right next to the seat and move your chair if you request it. Since I have breathing problems, I pulled the seatbelt all the way out looped it around the armrest (a tip I got from the Pooh sized thread). I was completely secure. The second time I rode a cast member made me unloop the seatbelt but I left it slack and was fine. I also used the strap between the legs for extra security. Grandma held my right arm and Dad was on my left with an arm in front and an arm in back. I was very secure-no problems-and I cannot sit up in any chair or surface (besides my wheelchair) without being held up. DO NOT ask if you can have a family member support you on the ride (made this mistake at DL).

Living with the Land:
Two wheelchair boats with one spot each. No FP needed-separate wheelchair entrance. You may be given a return time. We had a slight problem being allowed on this ride. At first the cast member said they only allowed Hoveraround chairs (???) but after my mom explained that experienced drivers of electric wheelchairs can make very tight turns, he let us on. You may have problems depending on the CM. Those who have problems using steps can walk down the ramp in the wheelchair boat.

Journey Into Your Imagination with Figment:
2 wheelchair cars with one spot each. The easiest wheelchair slot. Drive forward, the CM twists a platform and you face forward. At the end, the CM twists the platform and you drive off facing forward down a ramp. My chair was a tight fit. I took off my footplates. At the end, there is an effect that may cause a startle reflex.

Honey I Shrunk the Audience:
Separate wheelchair entrance-no FP needed. You will probably be given a return time. Unless you transfer to a seat, you will not get all the effects.

El Rio Del Tiempo-NEW name ??? 3 Caballeros (Mexico):
2 wheelchair boats-one spot per boat. The seats are pretty low if you transfer. There is a separate wheelchair entrance. But if you have trouble walking do NOT park your chair outside because you will not be allowed in the wheelchair entrance. We got separated from my Grandma this way. She was fine but walking the cue would have been bad for mom because the line is on a sloped surface. There is space to park about 4 chairs by the ride and you can transfer from that point.

The American Adventure:
You will be directed to seating in the very back unless you request the handful of seats up front (we sat in the back)

Illuminations:
Several of the wheelchair seating areas have trees blocking the view. The seating area by the Refreshment Port and by bathrooms (including Companion) does not and has a great view.

Epcot has good Companion Restrooms. You can get a list of the locations at allearsnet.com and First Aid at the park

ALL SHOWS HAVE WHEELCHAIR SEATS- The World Showcase is accessible (*note: The Kid cot fun stop crafts will be difficult to do unless you have a tray on your wheelchair because the table and chairs are low and the supplies are scattered)

Magic Kingdom

Tomorrowland
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin:
I did not fit. My midline control was in the way. My sister almost fit but not quite. She might have fit without her desk. If it's a standard wheelchair he should fit...

Stitch’s Great Escape:
Only manual chairs are allowed on this ride. The batteries and different style backs prevent the electric wheelchair from getting into the proper position.

Carousel of Progress
Wheelchairs are parked on a slope.

Fantasyland
“it’s a small world”:
2 wheelchair boats with spots each. Enter through the exit.

Mickey’s Philharmagic:
!! The wheelchair spots experience all the special effects!

Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
1 wheelchair car with one spot. I thought backing in was easier. Request the bounce button be switched on for more affects.

Adventureland
Magic Carpet’s of Aladdin
Only accommodates manual wheelchairs. The device that secures the wheelchair goes between the front and back wheels and is about 6 inches tall. Batteries get in the way.

Jungle Cruise has a wheelchair accessible boat that you must request

Accessible stations for the railroad are Main Street, Mickey's Toontown, and Frontierland. Two wheelchair spots.

Liberty Belle Riverboat

Spectromagic & Wishes viewing tip:
If you plan to watch both use the Spectromagic wheelchair viewing area by the partner statue. Then you are situated for a great view of Wishes-just turn around. They do make two rows of wheelchairs for the parade...

ALL SHOWS HAVE WHEELCHAIR SEATS

Disney's MGM Studios

Star Tours:
There is a nonmotion ride available! I was thrilled to know this. There is a separate wheelchair entrance so no FP is needed. Nonmotion option is only available in the evening

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular:
Ask to sit up front for a better view...stay after to meet Indiana Jones.

Backlot Tour:
2 wheelchair spots...I don't know how many accessible trams there are. Mom walked up the ramp to transfer.

Journey Into Narnia:
3 or 4 wheelchair spots-depending on the CM. We fit four (barely).

The Great Movie Ride
2 wheelchair trams with one spot each. I took off my footplates and extra bags and fit (barely) by backing in.

Beauty and the Beast:
Ask to sit up front for an excellent view. Those in ECVs may be asked to transfer.

Tower of Terror:
If you can't ride, you can still watch the pre-show.

Fantasmic!
CMs will direct you to where to sit (you can't pick). Wheelchair spots are marked and have a comfortable amount of space between them.

I had a hard time locating the Companion bathrooms. One of the best bathrooms (female) is the one located just outside the entrance to the park. The stall is as big as a companion restroom and has a sink. It's usually empty or has very few people.

ALL SHOWS ARE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE AND THEY ARE AWESOME

Animal Kingdom

Kilimanjaro Safaris:
2 wheelchair vehicles with one spot each. I find it easier to back in. Usually has an extra long wait for the wheelchair car

Festival of the Lion King:
This show has some of the best wheelchair seats. I also happened to be at the sign language shows. I found my self watching the interpreters because they were so good. There expressions and body language showed the emotion of the music...

Remember that all shows in all the theme parks have wheelchair seating.

My recently completed trip report can give you an in depth view of the good and bad...

Good luck!

Christamae

 

[sajetto]

Christamae, WOW! Thank you SO MUCH for such a detailed list. I am so grateful and I have already copied and pasted it on a file so that it is handy. Thanks again!!!