Ride Accessibility?

[JCTigger]

I'm a PCA for this great young man who is completely dependant upon people. He has been to Disney World more times then I have (which is a lot)... his parents drive down 4 times a year for 2 weeks because it is where thier son is happiest... The point of all this is.... he hasnt been on haunted mansion or pirates since he was in his young teens hes 23 now and they were his favorite rides but since he weight close to 200 pounds picking him up and putting him in the boat on pirates would be impossible and theres not much of a chace to transfer him quickly enough for mansion... would they ever put a handi cap boat like they have at small world in pirates? or have a roll on doom buggie at mansion? id love for him to once again be able to enjoy his favorite child hood rides...

Thanks so much!!

Jill

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I think it would be great if they could do that!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ask. At Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, there's one specific Doom Buggy that's used for Guests who need the ride stopped so they can board. I didn't notice anything 'special' about it, but who knows? Maybe there IS some way to accommodate him. Don't get his hopes up, of course, but ask for the Attraction Lead when you get there - maybe you or one of his parents can 'sneak' away to check? Then if the answer's no, he won't have been all excited for nothing, and if it's yes, well...

 

[BillSears]

Pirates is tough. I'm not sure if they'd be able to make it wheelchair accessible like It's a Small World or Jungle Cruise. The drop in the dark would probably prevent that. Every trip I ride Pirates once but only once. It's really tough for me to get in and out of the boat and I know some year will be my last. I'm 46 now and using just my arms to get from the boat to the floor at the exit then up into the wheelchair is exausting, but I'll still do it once on my next trip.

Haunted Mansion does have one car that they use for those who transfer without walking. The side panel is cut away on that car so it makes it just abit easier to make the transfer. They do stop the conveyor while you're making the transfer so it might be possible for you guys to ride it. Maybe they could put a similar ride vehicle as is on Buzz Lightyear for this one. But With the turn around and back down the hill part of the track they might require you to be strapped in.

 

[SueM in MN]

Pirates is tough. I'm not sure if they'd be able to make it wheelchair accessible like It's a Small World or Jungle Cruise. The drop in the dark would probably prevent that.

Small World and the ride in Mexico both use the same type of boat. The wheelchair is just driven right onto the boat, their is a small "bump" on the floor that the front wheels go over, then the brakes are locked to keep it in place. Since both rides are totally level and rather slow, there is no need for any wheelchair restraints.
The drop in the dark would prevent them from using the same type of boat. They would need something that would seucurely hold the wheelchair (and the wheelchair occupant) in place.
Besides that, the loading and exit of SW and Mexico are both done in the same place for wheelchair users. That could not be done at Pirates because the loading and exit are actually in 2 different buildings. After people exit, the boats go thru an area just barely high enough for the boats to fit in order to get back up to the boarding area.

Haunted Mansion does have one car that they use for those who transfer without walking. The side panel is cut away on that car so it makes it just abit easier to make the transfer. They do stop the conveyor while you're making the transfer so it might be possible for you guys to ride it. Maybe they could put a similar ride vehicle as is on Buzz Lightyear for this one. But With the turn around and back down the hill part of the track they might require you to be strapped in.

They will stop the conveyor belt if needed whether or not you are using the car with side panel cut away (but that one sounds better for him).
I agree that the area where the ride car turns around and the going down the hill part are probably what prevent them from putting in a wheelchair accessible car.

 

[JCTigger]

They will stop the conveyor belt if needed whether or not you are using the car with side panel cut away (but that one sounds better for him).
I agree that the area where the ride car turns around and the going down the hill part are probably what prevent them from putting in a wheelchair accessible car.

You would think that if they put in the straps used in the cars to lock the chairs down that take like less then a minute to strap in that that would be a rather safe and secure thing for the "fall"

Its just weird cause theyve asked me if I would like to go with them some time and so I think about all the rides that I love to go on but because hes so hard to transfer I cant take him on them because I wouldnt think twice about takin him on stuff as long as it would be safe for him and all for instance we couldnt do space mountain because he cant really sit up that well with out more restrant but I could take him on thunder cause I could sit next to him and hold him up....

Some times I forget how lucky I am...

 

[cmwade77]

Pirates is tough. I'm not sure if they'd be able to make it wheelchair accessible like It's a Small World or Jungle Cruise. The drop in the dark would probably prevent that. Every trip I ride Pirates once but only once. It's really tough for me to get in and out of the boat and I know some year will be my last. I'm 46 now and using just my arms to get from the boat to the floor at the exit then up into the wheelchair is exausting, but I'll still do it once on my next trip.

Haunted Mansion does have one car that they use for those who transfer without walking. The side panel is cut away on that car so it makes it just abit easier to make the transfer. They do stop the conveyor while you're making the transfer so it might be possible for you guys to ride it. Maybe they could put a similar ride vehicle as is on Buzz Lightyear for this one. But With the turn around and back down the hill part of the track they might require you to be strapped in.

Actually, it could be done, in California we use on some building and statues that we want to protect from earthquakes what is called a floating foundation, which basically means that the foundation is allowed to move while what is on top of it can remain level and stationary, by using a similar technique they could do the same on the Pirates boats, even here in Cali where we have two drops it wouldn't be a problem, probably be an odd feeling for the erson in the wheel chair though, might fell like they are droppng straight down, but they wouldn't be. And the Doombuggies (there are three or four in a row) in Disneyland have no side, thus allowing the person in thw whell chair to slide straight in from thier chair. I am sure there are many ways that they could do a roll on chair , they do have one for our Buzz Lightyear out hear that works really well and they don't even have to stop the ride to put most chairs on and still allows for a guest to sit next to it if it isn't too large of a chair, but if it is too large they would have to go by themselves, I am sure something similar could be done on Haunted Mansion.