Ride accessibility for wheelchair user

mdmomof2

Earning My Ears
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Dec 12, 2009
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I am considering renting a wheel chair during my 5 day trip to Disney World beginning December 24th. I have osteo-arthritis in both knees. I am not able to stand for long periods of time. Is it cumbersome getting around in the parks with a wheelchair? How hard is it to board the rides for a wheel chair passenger?

Thanks for your advice and tips.
 
Most rides have seperate entrances for wheel-chair bound guests, but some rides that load continuously (Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth ect.) those are more difficult because the don't stop.

You might have more success on the DISability Board with this question, tons of experienced people over there. But none the less I'm sure you'll have a great time.
 
Most rides have seperate entrances for wheel-chair bound guests, but some rides that load continuously (Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth ect.) those are more difficult because the don't stop.

Actually, this is not right. Most of the rides have mainstream entrances that ARE accessible for wheelchair users. A small portion of rides will require a wheelchair user to use an alternate entrance, but that is a minimum.

You might have more success on the DISability Board with this question, tons of experienced people over there. But none the less I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Definately hop on over to the disABILITIES board. Great info. Amongst others stickies with pictures of how entrance can be, lists of which rides have mainstream accessible entrances etc. etc.

No need to print info either, since recently they've been printing the accessibility info on regular park maps. Is that not enough or are you a bit uncertain? Go to guest services at any park and ask for the seperate booklets that tell you all about accessible WDW.

Am I right assuming you can walk the total of distances from boarding area into rides? If so; take advantage of it. :) There are more regular carts/seats etc. than those that are fully wheelchair accessible. Basically if you can transfer yourself, it tends to be a shorter wait than for the one or two accessible vehicles per ride. Most rides will allow you to get the wheelchair as close as a few steps away from a vehicle, seat etc. And yes, it is OK to do this. Heck, it's very OK to do this. ;) If it's difficult for you to enter rides with a continous loading; talk to the CM's working the ride. At some rides they can stop the loading to make it easier. Nemo is such a ride. Also at Toy Story mania, they'll pull a vehicle off the regular 'loop', so you can board it at your own pace before they re-enter it into the normal 'loop'. Not all rides can do this, but you'ld be surprised at how many rides can be accomodating as best as can be.

You will be going during busy times and with a wheelchair that means some patience skills. Crowds can get in your way and somehow you seem to magically be "unseeable" as soon as you use a mobility aid. ;) It can take some extra time moving around crowds, voicing 'Excuse Me' to get through since you are wider than those smaller spaces that are easier to slip through when walking. If you are prepared for that, you should be OK.

WDW is a great place to do on wheels. To give you an idea; I'm a 24/7 wheelchair user, no walking involved. Overall WDW is a breeze to do as a wheelchair user and most of the times I'm going solo.

Also think about where you plan to get the wheelchair. If you want to rent at WDW, what if they run out before you rent one for that day. Can you manage or would that wreck the day? Can you manage the (sometimes very long) walk to and from the busstop after a day at the parks? Could you still do a foodcourt run at the resort after a long day? Most find renting offsite has more benefits. Not only is it cheaper, but the chairs are of a better quality AND you've still got the aid to use to and from the busstop and around the resort if you find you need it. Have fun!
 
Most rides have seperate entrances for wheel-chair bound guests, but some rides that load continuously (Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth ect.) those are more difficult because the don't stop.

You might have more success on the DISability Board with this question, tons of experienced people over there. But none the less I'm sure you'll have a great time.
As goofieslongostsis mentioned, that is not correct.
MK is the oldest park and was not built with accessibility in mind, so it does have some attractions which have a separate entrance for guests using wheelchairs.
But AK and the Studio were built with Mainstream Lines, where the line is accessible so that guests using wheelchairs and ECVs wait in the same line with everyone else (so no separate handicapped entrances).
Epcot and MK had attractions changed to Mainstream Access as much as possible as attractions were added and/or renovated. So, most attractions do have Mainstream Access.
There are some attractions where guests using wheelchairs and ECVs do not board at the same place as everyone else - for those attractions, usually they wait in line with the other guests until just before the 'regular' boarding area and at that point, they will be directed toward an accessible boarding area.

As for the attractions with moving walkways, in most cases, those can be slowed or stopped if you board at the accessible boarding area. Because you are using a wheelchair, the CMs will see and direct you to the accessible boarding area.
Definately hop on over to the disABILITIES board. Great info. Amongst others stickies with pictures of how entrance can be, lists of which rides have mainstream accessible entrances etc. etc.

No need to print info either, since recently they've been printing the accessibility info on regular park maps. Is that not enough or are you a bit uncertain? Go to guest services at any park and ask for the seperate booklets that tell you all about accessible WDW.
Just to clarify, the regular park maps have an icon that tells whether it is possible to stay in a wheelchair for the entire attraction or whether you need to transfer from the wheelchair to a ride car.
For more specific information, they have a special Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities. In the past, there was a multipage booklet for Guests with Disabilities, but this has been discontinued and the special Guidemap has been added to replace it. On our most recent trip (late October), we found the special Guidemaps with the other park maps near the entrance to each park.

THere is a link in my signature to the disABILITIES Board and also a link to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, where you can find information about renting a wheelchair in post #2 and general information in post #3. That post also has a link to the on-line version of the WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each park (a text version, not the maps).
 

We just got back and my FIL rented a scooter everyday. We just asked the Cast member at the front of each line were to go. Sometimes we went thought the regular line with the scooter. Sometimes we used a different entrance, and a couple of times we had to park the scooter and he stood in line for a few min. We were very impressed at how helpful everyone was.
 
As stated above, this thread can better be answered on our disABILITIES! board. So I've moved it here. :)
 
I am considering renting a wheel chair during my 5 day trip to Disney World beginning December 24th. I have osteo-arthritis in both knees. I am not able to stand for long periods of time. Is it cumbersome getting around in the parks with a wheelchair? How hard is it to board the rides for a wheel chair passenger?

Thanks for your advice and tips.

This is not an answer to your question but since I have the same issue with my right knee (doc tells me my left knee is just as bad as my right but it barely bothers me), I just wondered if you've ever heard of those gel shots given by your orthopedic doctor? I had to get around the park in a wheelchair last trip & it bothered me. When we got home, I heard about these gel shots so called my ortho & he filled me in & I just received my last shot. They are a series of 5 shots given one week apart. It's a MIRACLE I tell ya! I've limped for about 2 years & since after the 3rd shot, I felt an immediate difference! Just wanted to mention it for something to look into. I receive no compensation whatsoever if someone takes my advice ~ just putting that info out there cause for me, it's been like a miracle drug! I hate to see people suffer needlessly. Good luck to you!
 
I'm a long term wheelchair user due to Fibromyalgia, and I've got to say that Disney is the most accessible place I've ever been! Almost everything has mainstream queuing, so you can go through with everyone else, there are ramps and curb drops everywhere, and the CMs are always wonderfully helpful :goodvibes.

You might want to consider renting an ECV (scooter), rather than a manual wheelchair. Even on a very relaxed and slow-paced trip, you can easily cover 5 or 6 miles a day (I think the norm is around 6 - 10). If you're not accustomed to pushing a manual chair, especially if you're using a fairly heavy rental chair, you'll have real trouble getting around. It will be easier if you have someone to push you, but even then it's not idea: you are reliant on them everywhere you go; you can't potter around the shops at your own pace; and they will always be behind you, rather than beside, so conversations can be a little tricky. If you do rent an ECV, there are lots of off-site rental companies, who will probably make things easier and cheaper than renting daily from Disney. See the FAQ thread for more details.

Sorry, I have to dash now, but I hope this helps! Have a great trip
 





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