Need advice

[trippster82]

My family is coming to WDW the week of Thanksgiving. It will be a total of 13 of us. My mother has Parkinson Disease and is in a wheel chair, but can use a walker for short distances. We would like for her to be able to ride as many rides as she can with her grandchildren that are 3,4,4,14,17. She can only do rides that are slow and steady that do not drop. I think we have a good idea about what she will be able to ride but none of us have been there in a long time. We just would like to make this as fun for her as possible the days she is able to come to the parks with us.

Any advice on the best things for us to do with her would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Julylady]

Hi Trippster! It sounds like a great trip. A cast member can slow down some of the rides which may assist your Mom in getting on. Some can be stopped all together. I think you will just need to check at each ride. I also wanted to say that you Mom might be fine just being with you all in the parks, even if she doesn't get to ride a lot of attractions. My Mom also uses a wheel chair and has no desire to do most of the rides. However, we find her a nice shady spot at the end of the ride and someone waits with her. When the others get off the ride there is lots of laughing and fun describing the experience. She enjoys being with all of us even if she doesn't do too many actual attractions.

 

[lanejudy]

The disABILITIES FAQ thread has a lot of information about various rides, and you might also check out YouTube to see how some of the rides go if you need to make sure it is slow/steady enough for mom. If you are asking about entering/exiting the rides, PP is correct that most rides with a moving walkway can be slowed or stopped on request; there are a couple that absolutely cannot/will not be stopped. For most attractions, mom can remain in the wheelchair straight through the queue all the way to boarding.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[trippster82]

Thank you for the replies. I'm really not sure how much she would be riding but wanted to just get an idea, from people that have been with someone in a wheelchair, how hard it is to do things. It seems like you are taken care of but I just like to be prepared because this is the first trip the entire family has been on since we were kids.

 

[gap2368]

I think it will depend on your mom and what she can do can she walk some then that will open more rides then some one how can not can

some ride that I can think of with little or no walking and slow would be

MK
the people mover ( you have to be able to go up a moving ramp and walk at lest 30 feet)
caravel of progress
moster laugh floor
stitches great escape
winny the phoo
small world
peter pan ( lest I heard they could not stop the moving walk way)
the little mermaid
honted mansion ( you may have to walk to get on this one
jungle boat
pairtets of the carbon ( one small drop, and you may have to step down to get in the boat)

EPCOT
sorrin ( you will need to transfer)
ellin univers of energy
inmagunation
living with the land
space ship earth the seas
graind fista tour
turtal talk

Hollywood
the great movie ride
toy story ( it dose whip you around some)

Animal kindom

Kilimjaro Safari

( But there is a lot to look at here too)

this is what I could think of that you do not have to walk that fair or they can stop the ride

also before you get in line you can ask the CM about the ride like if she can stay in her wheel chair if she need to transfer things like that.

sorry for all the miss spellings if you need help with my spelling just ask

 

[libertycdamac]

My family is coming to WDW the week of Thanksgiving. It will be a total of 13 of us. My mother has Parkinson Disease and is in a wheel chair, but can use a walker for short distances. We would like for her to be able to ride as many rides as she can with her grandchildren that are 3,4,4,14,17. She can only do rides that are slow and steady that do not drop. I think we have a good idea about what she will be able to ride but none of us have been there in a long time. We just would like to make this as fun for her as possible the days she is able to come to the parks with us.

Any advice on the best things for us to do with her would be greatly appreciated.

I think she would enjoy

MK

*Small world has a bit of a step down but she can step on the seat to get into the boat. She has an option to stay in her chair on this ride or transfer. Smooth ride

*Peter Pan Flight. Easy to get into- they can stop or slow the walkway smooth and easy ride

Winnie the Pooh- Not recommended to very quick movements

*The little mermaid ride- Great ride -easy to get into with just a small step, smooth ride the whole time

Mine train- fast and a bit jerky. Hard on the legs if you are a Pooh Size person

*Philharmonic is a movie and easy access in and out of the theatre

People mover - Not recommended. The walkway up and down requires a lot of balance

*Carousel of progress - fun for all

*Laugh Floor- Great for all people with or without w/c

Buzz lightyear- can be jerky if someone chooses to turn the car fast but otherwise easy to get into

Space Mountain - Not recommended Very rough movements

Stitch great adventure- wouldn't recommend. It pushes down on your shoulders and hurts if you are sensitive to touch

Astro, tea cups and Dumbo you see what you get

*Jungle cruise - you can take the w/c on the boat. Otherwise, it is a very long step down and up

*Tiki room if fun for all

Pirates is a big step up and down and you have to transfer. You can have some bumps against the side and other boats but mostly ok. You may get a bit wet

Splash mountain is a big step down and you do get wet. The drop is rough

Big Thunder Mountain is rough all the way around

*Hall of Presidents- fun for all

*River boat is a ferry ride.

*Haunted mansion has a bit of a walk into the ride but easy entry and exit. They can slow the walkway down and it is a overall smooth. You can take your w/c all the way in and they will take you down a different area to get onto this ride.

Wouldn't recommend heading to the island. Cannot get around easily and w/c are not allowed


AK

Many shows and lots to see in a w/c without transferring

*All the following are easy and no transfer

*Birds of flight

*Finding Nemo

* Festival of a Lion King (get there at least 20 min early) there is very little w/c seating in this theatre

* It is tough to be a bug. Don't have to transfer however this is a 4 D show so you will not get all the effects if you don't transfer



Safari is great but very rough in the truck. Easy to get into and out of the truck

Dinosaur is not recommended. Very rough even for someone healthy and active

Nothing out in Dino Land

Everest is very rough not recommended


HS

*Great movie ride-easy to transfer and walk into the car

*Anna and Elsa Sing along This is fun even if you don’t know or like Frozen. The MC make the show a lot of fun

Toy Story- it is rough in the car but easy transfer through the W/C ramp. However, the wait is long and I would recommend the others go through the regular line and not wait in the WC line

*Recommend the Osbourne lights it is a great event and very W/C friendly

*Lights motor action is loud and worth seeing one time. Get there early so you can use the elevator and sit up above

*Muppets you don’t have to transfer

Star tours not recommended very rough

Indiana Jones is a non-transfer. If you get there early ask to sit down front

Rock and roll roller coaster and Tower of terror are not recommended. Fast speed and very jerky motion on both

*Little Mermaid is a show and you don’t have to transfer


Epcot

*Soarin is get easy to get into and out of seat. Not jerky and recommended!!

Test track is very rough ride

Mission Space not recommended

Ellen is a long ride but easy to get into and out of car. Smooth ride.

Mexican ride is vey hard to get into and out of the boat. Does bump into sides and other boats

*All the shows are great in the different countries. Canada is a bit challenging to find the theatre but just need to follow the signs or ask a cast member

Captain EO easy WC access

*Journey into the imagination is easy to get into however, they hide your wc down the hall after the ride. You have to play hide and seek after the ride

*Living with the lands a little bit of a step down but a smooth ride

*Finding Nemo Easy step up to get into the ride and smooth ride

*Spaceship Earth. Great ride you enter through the exit and have to walk a short way up the ramp. Easy ride to step into except a small entrance into the car.

All the (*) means I would recommend the ride.

 

[trippster82]

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much! !!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

they will not repeat not slow down or stop moving walkway for Peter Pan. she can take her wheelchair all the way to load area of most rides. people mover is one that she would have to walk up the ramp, no wheelchair. even though the ride is a little rough the safari will move you to a separate line near the boarding area so she can use chair all the way to truck. plan to check with the CM at each ride that she would like to ride to find out what your party is to do at that ride. they are there to help and it is not always the same from ride to ride

 

[SueM in MN]

Posts 18-21 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread have information about the type of transfer, step up or down, difficulty and which attractions have wheelchair cars.

You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

 

[ErinTwinmom]

two minor disagreements with liberty's long post. My Nana needed help with the step but liked mission space on the no spin side and the ride in Mexico has a wheelchair boat like iasw.

 

[SueM in MN]

I bolded those with a wheelchair car FROM libertycdamac and seldom added a few comments in bold. A wheelchair 'party' is generally 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability), so be prepared to split into groups.
This is because some of the ride cars will not hold more than 6 and also because the size of special boarding or unload areas.
For shows, one companion will be able to sit next to her and the rest of your group will be seated in the next rows ahead or behind. Be aware they may limit the entire party to 6 total.

MK

*Small world has a bit of a step down but she can step on the seat to get into the boat. She has an option to stay in her chair on this ride or transfer. Smooth ride

*Peter Pan Flight. Easy to get into- they can stop or slow the walkway smooth and easy ride They can NOT stop or slow the moving walkway. This is listed as 'must be ambulatory.

Winnie the Pooh- Not recommended to very quick movements. There is a wheelchair can with a seat for one companion. On that car they can turn off movements. The movements are actually fairly gentle, but unexpected.

*The little mermaid ride- Great ride -easy to get into with just a small step, smooth ride the whole time. Wheelchair car with room for one companion.

Mine train- fast and a bit jerky. Hard on the legs if you are a Pooh Size person

*Philharmonic is a movie and easy access in and out of the theatre

People mover - Not recommended. The walkway up and down requires a lot of balance

*Carousel of progress - fun for all

*Laugh Floor- Great for all people with or without w/c

Buzz lightyear- can be jerky if someone chooses to turn the car fast but otherwise easy to get into. Wheelchair car with space for one companion

Space Mountain - Not recommended Very rough movements

Stitch great adventure- wouldn't recommend. It pushes down on your shoulders and hurts if you are sensitive to touch. If you want to go did are concerned about touch, sit up high and put your first onto the top of your shoulders when the harness is setting. That 'tricks' it into thinking you are taller and the harness will not come down as far.


Astro, tea cups and Dumbo you see what you get

*Jungle cruise - you can take the w/c on the boat. Otherwise, it is a very long step down and up

*Tiki room if fun for all

Pirates is a big step up and down and you have to transfer. You can have some bumps against the side and other boats but mostly ok. You may get a bit wet

Splash mountain is a big step down and you do get wet. The drop is rough

Big Thunder Mountain is rough all the way around

*Hall of Presidents- fun for all

*River boat is a ferry ride.

*Haunted mansion has a bit of a walk into the ride but easy entry and exit. They can slow the walkway down and it is a overall smooth. You can take your w/c all the way in and they will take you down a different area to get onto this ride.

Wouldn't recommend heading to the island. Cannot get around easily and w/c are not allowed. Wheelchairs are allowed on the raft to the island, but it is only wheelchair accessible for about 100 feet after getting onto the island, so not much fun to go there.


AK

Many shows and lots to see in a w/c without transferring

*All the following are easy and no transfer

*Birds of flight

*Finding Nemo

* Festival of a Lion King (get there at least 20 min early) there is very little w/c seating in this theatre

* It is tough to be a bug. Don't have to transfer however this is a 4 D show so you will not get all the effects if you don't transfer



Safari is great but very rough in the truck. Easy to get into and out of the truck. The safari tram for guests with disabilities loads and unloads in a different area than the other trams. Guests leave their mobility devices at that station and get off at the same place. The very first row of the safari tram has a single wheelchair spot for those who can't transfer. There may be a wait for it since there is only one, so it is best to transfer if you can.

Dinosaur is not recommended. Very rough even for someone healthy and active

Nothing out in Dino Land. Triceratops Spin is a spinning ride similar to Dumbo. TS does have a wheelchair Dino


Everest is very rough not recommended


HS

*Great movie ride-easy to transfer and walk into the car

*Anna and Elsa Sing along This is fun even if you don’t know or like Frozen. The MC make the show a lot of fun

Toy Story- it is rough in the car but easy transfer through the W/C ramp. However, the wait is long and I would recommend the others go through the regular line and not wait in the WC line
Your party will need to split up at any rate. There is a wheelchair accessible 'pod' but it only holds 6 people. Parties larger than 6 and 8 or less may be sent thru the handicapped boarding area to board a regular ride car. The wait is long in the accessible area because they can only board one 'pod' per ride cycle usually.


*Recommend the Osbourne lights it is a great event and very W/C friendly

*Lights motor action is loud and worth seeing one time. Get there early so you can use the elevator and sit up above

*Muppets you don’t have to transfer

Star tours not recommended very rough

Indiana Jones is a non-transfer. If you get there early ask to sit down front

Rock and roll roller coaster and Tower of terror are not recommended. Fast speed and very jerky motion on both

*Little Mermaid is a show and you don’t have to transfer


Epcot

*Soarin is get easy to get into and out of seat. Not jerky and recommended!!

Test track is very rough ride

Mission Space not recommended

Ellen is a long ride but easy to get into and out of car. Smooth ride.

Mexican ride is vey hard to get into and out of the boat. Does bump into sides and other boats. Wheelchair boat with room for 6 other riders

*All the shows are great in the different countries. Canada is a bit challenging to find the theatre but just need to follow the signs or ask a cast member

Captain EO easy WC access

*Journey into the imagination is easy to get into however, they hide your wc down the hall after the ride. You have to play hide and seek after the ride wheelchair car with space for one companion.

*Living with the lands a little bit of a step down but a smooth ride. Wheelchair car with room for one comps in in same row and others in other rows of car

*Finding Nemo Easy step up to get into the ride and smooth ride. Wheelchair car with seat for one companion

*Spaceship Earth. Great ride you enter through the exit and have to walk a short way up the ramp. Easy ride to step into except a small entrance into the car.

All the (*) means I would recommend the ride.

There is more information in posts 18-21 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Another post in that thread has information about attractions with warnings.
You can also pick up a guide map for guests with disabilities at the park map kiosks. Look for the map with a black border on the top.