Pandora rides

[SueM in MN]

Yea Sue, it'll be tough to figure out how that works until we see it in use. I think the metal legs slide down between the boat and the dock. The black notch under the steps goes on the side of the boat. That would get you across the gap and down onto the seat. But when you come back that top step would still be about a foot below most wheelchair seats. But I may be way off on the scale of the steps.

yes, that was the way I was thinking.
It's really hard without scale. It's also possible there is another piece that goes with it that is behind the pillar on the first photo.
I always try to get pictures of people getting in so at least there is some scale (not perfect since you don't know the height of the person).

 

[SueM in MN]

Here are some more pictures of the boats at the boarding and unload area that may/may not help.

 

[poison ivy]

Yea Sue, it'll be tough to figure out how that works until we see it in use. I think the metal legs slide down between the boat and the dock. The black notch under the steps goes on the side of the boat. That would get you across the gap and down onto the seat.

yes, that was the way I was thinking.
It's really hard without scale. It's also possible there is another piece that goes with it that goes behind the pillar on the first photo.
I always try to get pictures of people getting in so at least there is some scale (not perfect since you don't know the height of the person).

Thank you both for assisting with this and thanks SueM for the pics so far. great find.

I wish I had taken notice or inquired when we were there. Unfortunately, these are the only pics I have of the loading area.
It does not appear anyone was being assisted when we rode.

There is a definite step up and over to enter the boats.

The unload takes place right with the loading area but I read this is also where they direct and assist disabled guests in getting into the boats.

All guests seem to be merged together in the queue at the point where you see the CM holding up the standby line in this photo. (the FP enters from the opening)

and we stay together to the loading platform.

It's not the best setup IMO.

 

[SueM in MN]

A poster named Spridell posted this video on the large Pandora thread on the Theme Parks board.
Someone apparently left a camera running in the storage area for guest's belongings at back of the ride room.
The camera captured the light flashes (random light flashes) at the beginning of the ride and also the motion of the area of the room the seats are in compared to the stationary portion at the back of the room.

FF video to actual ride starts at 11:02

Spoiler

If you actually watch the heads of the riders, some of the motion might not seem as extreme as it does from watching the 'roof' over the rider's heads. I have not seen any posts from people who reported they actually got sick from riding, but I have seen posts where people with motion sickness said they felt 'off' after riding, but did not actually get sick. I've also seen posts from people who said CMs have told them some people did get sick.
Many people with motion sickness have reported the motion on the screen is very well snyched with the action of the seat. That can greatly assist someone with motion sickness becAuse a large part of the 'sick' feeling is due to mismatch between information coming into the brain from the eyes and sensations related to movedment coming into the brain from other parts of the body.

 

[poison ivy]

I saw that video when it first posted on youtube. It was unbelievable to see how much actual movement the ride had. When we were on FoP, we felt the experience of flying but felt very little movement of the platform. This has never been the case with Star Tours (which I would not compare this to) or Soarin'.

Someone mentioned the tech having the capability of drawing your attention to the center of the screen with a more personalized visual provided thru the 3-D glasses. This may contribute to not feeling as much motion sickness. With the other attractions, it's an open widescreen view where you can see and feel yourself with everyone moving up and down in the chamber while trying to concentrate on the projection. FoP isolates you away from the other riders to fully immerse into the film.

 

[SueM in MN]

blogger called Rolling With Magic wrote a great description and review of access for Pandora Flight of Passage. This is a link to her blog and I am posting some of her pictures.

http://www.rollingwiththemagicblog.com/avatar-flight-of-passage/

This is the transfer wheelchair. On her first ride, she said it was brought out to her.
She indicated that on her second ride, she was brought to the area where the transfer chairs are stored.


This is the test chair outside of the attraction where you can try a transfer.



If you are planning to use the transfer wheelchair, you will want to check out her description of transferring from the blog.

A

 

[BillSears]

Thanks Sue. From the article it looks like the Flight of Passage will probably work for me.

There is also an article on that sight showing the Navi River Journey transfer device in use. I still have no idea what they were thinking about that. It looks like the device slants down into the boat so the seats/steps are not level. Also looking at the pictures when it's in the boat that top step looks to be about 10 inches off the ground. No where close to a standard wheelchair seat height.

http://www.rollingwiththemagicblog....River-Journey-ADA-Transfer-Device-768x583.jpg

http://www.rollingwiththemagicblog.com/navi-river-journey/

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks Sue. From the article it looks like the Flight of Passage will probably work for me.

There is also an article on that sight showing the Navi River Journey transfer device in use. I still have no idea what they were thinking about that. It looks like the device slants down into the boat so the seats/steps are not level. Also looking at the pictures when it's in the boat that top step looks to be about 10 inches off the ground. No where close to a standard wheelchair seat height.

http://www.rollingwiththemagicblog....River-Journey-ADA-Transfer-Device-768x583.jpg

http://www.rollingwiththemagicblog.com/navi-river-journey/

Thanks for the heads up. She hadn't completed writing that part yet when I saw the other.

I've heard, but not confirmed, that they are working on something to lift a seat up, the guest can transfer in and then the seat will lower back into the boat.
I've also heard rumors that the ride path was shortened from the original plan, which made some of the turns tighter. That made it not possible to have a ramped boat similar to Small World. I don't know if they would be able to do a lift like Jungle Cruise. From the pictures it appears the boat is too small for a lift like that.

 

[jiifigment]

Looking at the ride vehicle for flight of passage I have some concerns. Does either the vehicle itself, or the ride require ankle movement? I have NO dorsiflexion (I can't move my ankle up and down). If this vehicle either before or during the ride forces your leg to do this, I will be in real trouble. I can not put my lower leg behind my knee and put my foot flat on the floor...AT ALL. I'm concerned that the leg restraint requires exactly this. Can anyone explain the leg position here? Thanks!!!

 

[KPeveler]

My husband and I (he is a complete para) both think they are using the bump steps improperly in the River ride. We think the last step is supposed to rest on the side of the boat, so the top step is higher and doesnt slant. As it is, those look more dangerous than trying to do a floor to chair transfer. Neither of us can use them - we will just slide on the incline.

Small World in Disneyland has a small boat as well (I think it has 3 rows) and they have a wheelchair boat with a lift like Jungle Cruise. There would only be room for the lift and a jump seat for one other person, but that would be better than those awful steps they are using now.

 

[BillSears]

My husband and I (he is a complete para) both think they are using the bump steps improperly in the River ride. We think the last step is supposed to rest on the side of the boat, so the top step is higher and doesnt slant. As it is, those look more dangerous than trying to do a floor to chair transfer. Neither of us can use them - we will just slide on the incline.

Small World in Disneyland has a small boat as well (I think it has 3 rows) and they have a wheelchair boat with a lift like Jungle Cruise. There would only be room for the lift and a jump seat for one other person, but that would be better than those awful steps they are using now.

I agree! There is a slot on the bottom of the first step that looks like it would fit right on the side of the boat. That would level out the steps and make it easier. I still would like to see something to grab hold of other than the steps themselves. If I'm sitting on them it's hard to get a grip on something to lift myself up.

 

[SueM in MN]

My husband and I (he is a complete para) both think they are using the bump steps improperly in the River ride. We think the last step is supposed to rest on the side of the boat, so the top step is higher and doesnt slant. As it is, those look more dangerous than trying to do a floor to chair transfer. Neither of us can use them - we will just slide on the incline.

Small World in Disneyland has a small boat as well (I think it has 3 rows) and they have a wheelchair boat with a lift like Jungle Cruise. There would only be room for the lift and a jump seat for one other person, but that would be better than those awful steps they are using now.

I agree! There is a slot on the bottom of the first step that looks like it would fit right on the side of the boat. That would level out the steps and make it easier. I still would like to see something to grab hold of other than the steps themselves. If I'm sitting on them it's hard to get a grip on something to lift myself up.

Having tried to take a lot of accessibility photos, I think it's more the angle of the picture than anything else.
It looks to me like it is actually straight, but just looks higher and as if it slants.
The reviewer says it was an easy transfer (although it was 4 lifts). She also said in the comments that the height of the first step would have been fairly even with her manual wheelchair.
I straightened the pictures a bit so you can see better
.(I think the right 'leg' on the 2nd picture is not down yet. It looks like the CM was in the act of placing it).

 

[Orangeandwild]

I ride my own ECV in the parks, do they allow you to bring it into the River Journey Line and up to the boats or do you need to transfer to a manual wheelchair? Thanks..

 

[SueM in MN]

I ride my own ECV in the parks, do they allow you to bring it into the River Journey Line and up to the boats or do you need to transfer to a manual wheelchair? Thanks..

yes, people have posted that they were able to use an ECV or wheelchair all the way to boarding.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

This is an extremely interesting and informative thread. Thanks for posting the most recent photos. I'm not worried about the transfer in and out of the boat (while I have some limited flexion of my joints I am totally weight-bearing and won't have a problem there), I admit that I was a little concerned about the FoP ride. By the looks of it I'll be fine. I can leave my scooter outside the ride rooms and transfer with only a little mobility difficulty.

One question, though - has anyone considered the *ahem* more well endowed of us and pressing as far forward as we can go against that chest restraint? Am I likely to be in discomfort from having my boobies squished?!

 

[Pawpsicle]

This is an extremely interesting and informative thread. Thanks for posting the most recent photos. I'm not worried about the transfer in and out of the boat (while I have some limited flexion of my joints I am totally weight-bearing and won't have a problem there), I admit that I was a little concerned about the FoP ride. By the looks of it I'll be fine. I can leave my scooter outside the ride rooms and transfer with only a little mobility difficulty.

One question, though - has anyone considered the *ahem* more well endowed of us and pressing as far forward as we can go against that chest restraint? Am I likely to be in discomfort from having my boobies squished?!

So this will depend a little on how you are shaped. I have long legs and a bad knee that doesn't bend very well. To lean against the chest pad, I had to bend forward more at the waist, which meant it was more at boob level. I'm not very well endowed so wasn't super uncomfortable, but it was a strange position to hold. Once the ride started though I was so engrossed in it that the seating was an afterthought!

Also as a side note, I sat in the test seat to make sure I could fit with my knee. It seemed like the test seat had more leg room than the actual seat.

 

[lovethattink]

I rode FoP yesterday for the first time!! It was awesome!!

Just a couple notes. My left, inside arm from arm pit to elbow is numb from nerve damage from surgery. That part of my arm rested on the ride. Since I couldn't feel, it didn't seem like I had good control of that side of myself on the ride. I was clinging tight with my right hand and arm.

I'm very claustrophobic, and surprisingly didn't have any issues. I was seat 1. So mine was first to be checked and I had to wait for all other 14 seats to be checked before the it started. At the end, the seats automatically release the back lock. I leaned on the back lock during the ride and found it comfortable. I didn't really lean forward. I was more upright.

I minded the flashing lights at the beginning and closed my eyes. They didn't seem like strobe speed, but they were very bright.

My son has sensory issues. He can't stand the feeling of the rollers on Bugs Life, but didn't mind the sensations from the seat. The flashing lights didn't bother him at all. This was the first that 3D glasses didn't bother him. He loved It! We Have a FP again for today!

 

[kms234]

I agree! There is a slot on the bottom of the first step that looks like it would fit right on the side of the boat. That would level out the steps and make it easier. I still would like to see something to grab hold of other than the steps themselves. If I'm sitting on them it's hard to get a grip on something to lift myself up.

Bill- I am new to this site and cant figure out how to private message. Could you email me kms234@aol.com? We will be taking my father para T10 to Disney for the first time next week... I am starting to get nervous and have lots of questions. Thanks!! Kimberly

 

[lanejudy]

@kms234. You need to have 10 posts to send or receive PM. You can head to the Test Board and up your post count: https://www.disboards.com/forums/test-board.88/

But we have many others on the disABILITIES Forum who may also be able to help. Feel free to post your questions.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[BillSears]

Bill- I am new to this site and cant figure out how to private message. Could you email me kms234@aol.com? We will be taking my father para T10 to Disney for the first time next week... I am starting to get nervous and have lots of questions. Thanks!! Kimberly

Hi Kim, I'd be happy to answer any of your questions. It might be best to post a new thread and we can all join in. But if you feel better asking privately I can do that too.