Ride accessibility

[eternaldisneyfan]

I figured my fellow wheelchair users might be able to offer me information on Disneyland. We went to DL in 2004 and it was NOT a good experience. But we are considering giving it another go. Our budget is $1000. We have to choose between Disney and possibly one day of Universal or San Diego (Sea World and the zoo). We had a wonderful vacation to San Diego in 2005.

I am getting the Disney itch. But I do not want another bad experience. The actual wheelchair accessible attractions is very limited so I have some transfer questions.

1. First rides cannot be jerky or wild. Soarin' is good. Haunted Mansion to me was very jerky. I need 100% support sitting outside my wheelchair.
2. For a comfortable transfer my Dad needs to have room to stand in front of the seat, put me down, support me while he sits, and stand in front of the seat to pick me up. He could sit me on the edge of a seat and twist me forward but needs adequate room to walk around me while supporting me.
3. Rides must be stopped.
4. No prolonged uphill or downhill or angles.
5. Worth the trouble. My sister and I both need support and would have to ride separately. My mom also needs help. So that is 2-3 ride times.
6. I have to convince my loving but worrying mother that it is safe. Also I do not want to be injured in a transfer (happened to my sister on last trip).
7. No spinning (makes Dad terribly nauseas)

Can anyone recommend rides at California Adventure or Disneyland with these qualifications? Pictures of the ride vehicle would help.


Thanks,
Christamae

 

[BCV23]

Hello. In response to your questions.
We just visited Disneyland DV and California Adventure CA. We took our son who is disabled and used the Guest Assistance Card (obtained at City Hall) on several attractions. Our daughter was not with us - she has CP and is in a power wheel chair. We take her to DW perhaps once a year and I usually lift her from her chair to a ride. She is stable but does not like 'bumpy rides'. As such, my bride and I were constantly evaluating the wheel chair accessability for a subsequent trip with her.

Disneyland
A bug's land - Obtain an attraction access brochure at City Hall.
Adventureland Tiki birds. There is a lift. Jungle Cruise- Request a wheelchair boat.
Critter Country: Winnie the Pooh - Request a wheel chair vehicle Fantsyland: You would have to transfer on the following - not a big deal Yu can drive your chair right next to the vehicle. Casey Jr Train - Request the train car with the bench seats, Alice in Wonderland (minor bumps), Dumbo, Peter Pan (smooth), Pinocchio(mnor bumps), and Snow White - minor bumps. It's a small world Request a wheelchair vehicle.
Frontierland: Fantasmic - reserved viewing area in front of Golden Horseshoe, Glolden Horseshoe - great show, Riverboat and Rafts to Tom sawyer Island - Drive your chair on the boats
New Orleans Square: Haunted and Pirates - You need to transfer but they will stop the ride for you to transfer.
Tommorrowland: Buzz drive your chair on a vehicle, Hney I Shrunk the Audience - Drive your chair on.
Monorail and Railroad - Drive your chair on

California Adventure

It's Tough to be a Bug. Drive your chair into the hall.
Soarin You can drive your chair right to the front row and then transfer. Ask for the middle section front row.
Golden Dreams and Seasons of the Vine Both shows. Drive your chair into the bulding.
Hyperion Threatre - the Adladin show fantastic. Drive your chair into the building. Ask for the orhestra section.
Monsters Inc Request a wheel chair vehicle. Minor bumps - but smooth; Muppet Vision - a show drive yur chair n. Playhouse disney for kids but cute Drive your chair into the building.
Sunwheel. Every other car rotates slowly on the utside and you can drive your chair onto the unit.
Firewiirks See them from the circle as soon as you enter DL
We did not do everything. Hope that this is helpful. Have a great time.

 

[BCV23]

The post above was by my husband. He does the transfers and is better about remembering little details than I am so I asked if he would reply.

Not to quibble with him but what he describes as small bumps on some of the rides are to me more like quick swerves. If Haunted Manision is too jerky for you, I think many of the Fantasyland rides like Snow White, Mister Toad, Alice and Pinocchio as well as Monsters in DCA might be even worse as by my memory they are even more jerky than Haunted. In addition, all of them have fairly small vehicles into which you must transfer and I'm not sure how difficult it would be for you to transfer into them.

Pirates has two longer drops and one small one. Seating is on a bench with minimal support on the sides of a 3-4 person bench. In addition, you must step down into the boat. My husband and older son can help our daughter down into the boats at WDW but it isn't all that easy IMO.

If you have any more questions, please ask. It is currently fairly fresh in our memories.

May I ask what worked well for your family in San Diego? We took our kids there a couple of times but it has been many years now.