Ride accessibility for someone with bad knees?

[momof2twinboys]

We just returned from Holiday World to test the waters for our trip to Disney.

I am unable to bend my knees enough to get my large size 12 feet into the rides without much difficulty and discomfort. I can not get in or out without assistance from my dh - unable to stand up by myself or bend enough to sit down low and I have difficulty stepping up high into a ride.

Do the Disney rides offer any more foot/knee room than other parks? Are they more accessible for handicaps? I've read about larger guests being able to fit in the rides, so I'm hoping that means there is more leg room.

We're going for 10 days and I don't want to wear my dh out with all the lifting to help me up and down.

I have a scooter rented - I'm just worried about ride accessibility.

Thanks!

 

[SteveMouse]

It can very quite significantly ride to ride.

There are a number of rides that require significant step down into rides- among them in the MK are PoC, Space Mountain, BTM, (unsure of Splash- don't ride it), and IaSW. IaSW has a boat or two that can accommodate wheelchairs- in a wheelchair in the IaSW boat (you can transfer from an ECV- wheelchairs are at the ride), there's no bending required- there is also a wc accessible boat @ the Jungle Cruise- another ride requiring a significant step down (I always play "Jungle Steve", swinging from the rail getting on and off the boat). HM's DoomBuggies close down on you rather suddenly- there is a warning, but no "escape, I'm not ready"). Dumbo might be a little tight. The problem rides @ Epcot are likely to be Mexico (but you can use the same approach as IaSW), Maelstrom (don't remember if there's a wc accommodating boat-don't think so), and (unfortunately) Test Track- although there's a different boarding approach that might help you- someone else will be able to describe it better than I can. TSMM @DHS shouldn't be too much of a problem. Star Tours is not all that tight, especially in the front row (ask a CM to sit in the front row).

-steve

 

[Michigan]

I too wear a size 12 (big feet women unite) thanks to my dad and his size 16. I only have problem with the ride in Mexico and jungle cruise. On jungle cruise I have to turn my feet sideways.

 

[SueM in MN]

Check out page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post 18 through 21 have information the relative difficulty of getting into different ride cars and about how to get into them. That thread is near the top of this board.

Maelstrom and Splash Mountain are tight and a high step over the side - neither has a more accessible ride car. Both ride cars are fairly similar in size/getting in, so if you have trouble with one, you most likely will with the other as well.

Test Track is currently closed for renovation, so not sure what it will be like when it reopens. At the regular boarding area, guests got on and off where the floor is close to level with the ride car and the wheels of the car are below floor level. It is quite a step down to get in and back up to get out.
There was an alternate boarding area where the entire ride car, including the wheels, was above floor level. Getting in there requires a step over the side of the ride car - roughly similar to stepping over the side of a fairly high bathtub. While that boarding area is very helpful for some, the step up and over may be more difficult for someone with knee issues. And, it may be harder for you in particular since you can't see as well where your feet will go.

The boarding areas are not likely to change with the renovations, but the cars may. It might be just the paint/design of the car, but could also include the shape.

 

[momof2twinboys]

Thanks SueM

I wasn't sure where to look or what to type in the search box