Oxygen use on rides

[cm8]

Good Morning! I am usually a lurker , so I took the time to read through the FAQS and I still could not find any answer for my question, I am on oxygen 24/7, I have portable oxygen and I really want to ride as many rides as I can, I am 29 years old, my B-day is next month christmas eve ( I know that none of this is relevant but please just hear me out)! I just wanted to know if I would be permitted to ride the rides at Disney while utilizing my portable oxygen or will I be banned from using it during the ride. I saw the thread on oxygen, but I have yet to come across one that stated someone used it while riding. I am a thrill seeker, so I will be riding as much as I can and I do not wish for my O2 issue to hold me back. I will be leaving to go to DW on Nov 30th and can't wait . My anniversary is on the 1st of Dec, so we will be celebrating there as well . I don't want to get my hopes up thinking that I can ride on anything and then find out that I can't ride I appreciate any assistance with this matter. Thanks and have a nice day

 

[Mary976]

What kind of oxygen are you using? Is it a concentrator or a small tank?

The reason I ask is, my FIL used to use a small, lightweight, hand carried tank at home, but he would use a concentrator for traveling. The issue with the concentrator is that it's heavy and awkward to lift in and out of tight spaces.

Anyway, as for your question, there are probably lots of rides you can take portable O2 on. For example, rides like the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear, Spaceship Earth, Living with the Land, and Kilimanjaro Safaris (just to name a few) all permit you to take bags on, so it would reason that O2 would be okay. Then there are rides where you could lose your grip if you were holding something (Soarin, Dinosaur, Tower of Terror), but I wonder if those might be doable with some modifications. What about if you got one of those mini backpacks for your O2 container and then wore it on your front for the ride, so you could put your back up against the seat but not drop your O2 container?

Finally, there are rides where you are likely to lose anything not permanently affixed to your body, like Space Mountain and Rock n Roller Coaster. I've heard tales of people parting company with everything from bags and cameras to hearing aids and glasses. Those might be iffier to ride, even if you had the O2 in a bag.

Of course I'm only guessing on all of this. Hopefully someone who has more first hand experience can offer you some advice. At any rate, I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Mary

 

[cm8]

Thank YOU!! I have the M6 (compressed Can) and I have a POC..... I also have a carry bag for them to use, knowing that will help me sleep better!! Thank you very very much!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Disney doesn't have any specific guidelines, but my best guess is that you would not be able to bring it on anything Or most things that has a warning for safety.
The Safari has warnings, but should not be a problem as long as you can secure it from bouncing around ( and maybe off the ride car).

My guess (having been on them) would be that it would not be allowed on Dinosaur or TOT. Dinosaur is very turbulent and TOT has things floating during the drop if they are not fastened down. Soarin is a very gentle ride, but they are concerned with anything falling off, so they do make guests remove loose fitting shoes, hats, etc. Whether you would be able to use the oxygen will depend on how well you can secure it.

 

[maroo]

This is a really good question.

First of all, Happy Birthday!

I hope you have a great time in Disney - and if you don't mind coming out of lurkdome again to let us know how it went and give us any pointers we may need.

We have a lot of Wish Kids that use O2 all the time and many of our parents would probably appreciate this information, too.

Have a BLAST! And best of luck to you!

 

[peemagg]

Maybe on Soarin if your tank is small enough and you have a long enough hose, you could place the tank in the pocket under the seat. I don't know this for certain, but it was just a thought. I know Dinosaur has pockets in front of you, but it is a rough ride, so I don't know how well that would work for you if they allowed you to ride with it.

 

[cm8]

Thank You very much,I was really worried about that being am issue!!

 

[cm8]

OK, I have no problem letting you know. I am glad that someone was able to lead me in the direct direction. Thanks for the happy bday as well. I am blessed to see another!!!! I will make sure to let you know how everything goes!!

 

[cm8]

Thanks!!!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I don't know the answer, but I wanted to let you know that Guest Relations is really familiar with many aspects of the park, esp. guests needing special accommodations. I would call Guest Relations in advance and ask for clarification. I also think it is a great idea to get something that can fasten your O2 to the front of you. Also, happy birthday!! We are the same age and you share a birthday with my husband, so lots of good wishes your way!

 

[cm8]

I don't know the answer, but I wanted to let you know that Guest Relations is really familiar with many aspects of the park, esp. guests needing special accommodations. I would call Guest Relations in advance and ask for clarification. I also think it is a great idea to get something that can fasten your O2 to the front of you. Also, happy birthday!! We are the same age and you share a birthday with my husband, so lots of good wishes your way!

Thank YOU!!! I am grinning ear to ear!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank YOU!!! I am grinning ear to ear!!!

the CMs at the Special Reservations number (listed in the disABILITIES FAQs) are excellent for questions about rooms, resorts and tours. That is their field.

For any other questions or for asking disability related questions of any kind to Amy other phone number, I would advise taking anything you are told with a HUGE grain of salt. The CMs are at a call center and may not actually have any information about what you are asking. There have been situations where people have posted they were told all sorts of information that those of us with a lot of experience knew were wrong. After going to WDW and trying what they were told, the posters knew they were wrong too.
The same thing happens all the time on the Resorts board, where one person posts they asked a question and were told xxx and another poster asked the same question and was told yyyy. And these are usually fairly uncomplicated questions about things like dining plan, where rooms are and check in.

My guess is that you will have no problem at all with the attractions that don't have any warnings (with the possible exception of Soarin' and Peter Pan because both of those go up in the air, suspended). There may be some of those attractions where space in the ride car is a problem - you can find links to pictures of ride cars in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
I' m basing the guess on knowing that those attractions have a place to put items at your feet - we have brought backpacks on them and people have posted in the past about bringing crutches, canes, etc.

My best guess is that the thrill rides ( those with warnings) will be a case by case basis and will be up to the individual CMs at the attraction, based on what is available and how well they think your equipment will fit/stay in place. You can always ask for the supervisor at the attraction if you think it will work but the CM at the attraction doesn't.

I can't post a list of attractions with warnings right now because I am writing on my iPod. You may also find some information in eternaldisneyfan's trip report linked in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread in the alphabetic section under wheelchairs. Their family had a variety of challenges, including ventilators.
There is not much info about what attractions people went on with oxygen, so please let us know when you get back. My guess is that most people on oxygen don't go on the thrill rides because of other health concerns, but that is just a guess.
I'll do some poking around on Friday to see what mire I can find.

 

[maroo]

I can't post a list of attractions with warnings right now because I am writing on my iPod.

You continue to amaze me, Sue...write all of that on your iPod - Awesome! I just can't type that much...it drives me bonkers!

You may also find some information in eternaldisneyfan's trip report linked in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread in the alphabetic section under wheelchairs. Their family had a variety of challenges, including ventilators.

This was one of the BEST trip reports I ever read! And this TR is the reason I found the DIS. When I was Googling Disney and Disabilities, this TR came up. I love it!

Here is a LINK to her Trip Report

 

[SueM in MN]

You continue to amaze me, Sue...write all of that on your iPod - Awesome! I just can't type that much...it drives me bonkers!





This was one of the BEST trip reports I ever read! And this TR is the reason I found the DIS. When I was Googling Disney and Disabilities, this TR came up. I love it!

Here is a LINK to her Trip Report

I'm kind of used to writing on the iPod. I got one the month they first came out. They do have really good word prediction and spelling correction. Sometimes I post and am amazed at no typos and sometimes I am amazed cause I thought I was being so careful and have tons of typos.
What drives me nuts is typing on my non-iPhone touchscreen phone. It doesn't have any of the helpful features if rhe iPod.

I agree with you about eternaldisneyfan's trip report. She us a good writer with sn eye for detail and her TR was just so joyful.

 

[cm8]

the CMs at the Special Reservations number (listed in the disABILITIES FAQs) are excellent for questions about rooms, resorts and tours. That is their field.

For any other questions or for asking disability related questions of any kind to Amy other phone number, I would advise taking anything you are told with a HUGE grain of salt. The CMs are at a call center and may not actually have any information about what you are asking. There have been situations where people have posted they were told all sorts of information that those of us with a lot of experience knew were wrong. After going to WDW and trying what they were told, the posters knew they were wrong too.
The same thing happens all the time on the Resorts board, where one person posts they asked a question and were told xxx and another poster asked the same question and was told yyyy. And these are usually fairly uncomplicated questions about things like dining plan, where rooms are and check in.

My guess is that you will have no problem at all with the attractions that don't have any warnings (with the possible exception of Soarin' and Peter Pan because both of those go up in the air, suspended). There may be some of those attractions where space in the ride car is a problem - you can find links to pictures of ride cars in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
I' m basing the guess on knowing that those attractions have a place to put items at your feet - we have brought backpacks on them and people have posted in the past about bringing crutches, canes, etc.

My best guess is that the thrill rides ( those with warnings) will be a case by case basis and will be up to the individual CMs at the attraction, based on what is available and how well they think your equipment will fit/stay in place. You can always ask for the supervisor at the attraction if you think it will work but the CM at the attraction doesn't.

I can't post a list of attractions with warnings right now because I am writing on my iPod. You may also find some information in eternaldisneyfan's trip report linked in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread in the alphabetic section under wheelchairs. Their family had a variety of challenges, including ventilators.
There is not much info about what attractions people went on with oxygen, so please let us know when you get back. My guess is that most people on oxygen don't go on the thrill rides because of other health concerns, but that is just a guess.
I'll do some poking around on Friday to see what mire I can find.

m thank you very much for that info. I sure will

 

[jenn-n-okla]

My daughter uses a Portable concentrator and the only rides I recall her having to take it off for were Sorin, Test Track, and the roller coasters. Be careful is all I have to say as some of the rides whip around and the concentrator would roll around too.

 

[cm8]

My daughter uses a Portable concentrator and the only rides I recall her having to take it off for were Sorin, Test Track, and the roller coasters. Be careful is all I have to say as some of the rides whip around and the concentrator would roll around too.

I appreciate that info very much, when she had to disconnect from her o2. was it because it could not be secured? Also, did you guys have some one else to hold onto her equipment while on that ride or did the CM take it from you to hold onto till the ride completed? I think that about covers it!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Also, did you guys have some one else to hold onto her equipment while on that ride or did the CM take it from you to hold onto till the ride completed?

Cast Members are not allowed to hold personal property while people are on rides for several reasons. One is that the ride may exit at a different location. Also, a person can leave on a break or even for the day with very little notice and could not turn these items over to someone else. And Disney does not want to have any official liability for a CM losing or damaging private property, or even having people claim that the CM held something and it is now lost.

 

[jenn-n-okla]

Since she doesn't require to use the O2 all the time, we just kinda used judgement based on past experience riding the rides which ones we could or couldn't use it on.
All roller coasters were out, seems we left it when on pirates too since there was lots of water involved along with the ride at Norway. When we did leave it we just left it in the stroller along with the CM. They just roll it all around to the exit and it is waiting for us. No one else ever touched it. We did have the GAC and the "stroller as a wheelchair" sticker though. I do remember on Stitch's ride I just left it by my seat as there was two "stroller as a wheelchair" that time. The only time any CM told us she had to take it off was at R&R. I thought "well duh"....the thing turns upside down and goes at a HIGH rate of speed. The thing we were told the most was that she had to transfer out of the stroller. I will say at the coasters we got lots of looks bringing that stroller in though. The very young CM at R&R made Julia be measured the 2nd time we rode it. She had changed from her Tennis shoes to her Crocs and was now just barely under the tape where earlier that day she was fine. He said "she is too short". She at 7yrs old said "I was taller this morning and rode it fine". Needless to say she rode it again....

 

[cm8]

Cast Members are not allowed to hold personal property while people are on rides for several reasons. One is that the ride may exit at a different location. Also, a person can leave on a break or even for the day with very little notice and could not turn these items over to someone else. And Disney does not want to have any official liability for a CM losing or damaging private property, or even having people claim that the CM held something and it is now lost.

thanks!!!