Ride Limitations for Amputees?

[PeekaMoose]

Family had an awful experience at Six Flags NE last summer when they refused my wife admittance to most (fun) rides because she is an above knee amputee (AKA). This was a first after many experiences. Is there any chance Disney will have similar new policies? Thanks.

 

[jj548548]

You should have no problem at the Disney parks. There are no rides that leave your legs hanging. There will be some issues at the water parks and at other Orlando Parks. I have only seen issues at attractions where there is no floor like Kraken at Sea World.

 

[SMD]

You might want to do some research on this. About 5 years ago a double amputee was ejected from a coaster, which resulted in many manufacturers revising the safety requirements. In addition to meeting the height requirements, riders now need to be able to brace themselves. Here in CA some amputees sued Universal because they weren't allowed onto rides they had ridden before the accident. Earlier this year the court ruled for Universal, saying that it did not violate the ADA to impose additional safety requirements approved by the ride manufacturer.

 

[PeekaMoose]

Thanks both of you. We did do the research that day, in the park, and quickly grasped the history of the issue and the legal argument. We couldn't "win" if safety was the motive behind the new policies. But, of course the real motive is not be sued again.
I just sort of assumed Disney is different and wanted to hear some others experiences. We look forward to a great family trip that 6Flags could never provide.

 

[Twende]

I had a dear friend who was an above the knee amputee. She was able to ride everything in Disney World, although she never tried RNR because it was just not her thing. I suspect they would have allowed her to ride.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[zimom]

FYI, if your wife is interested in the water parks, Sea World's Aquatica is very prosthetic friendly. There is only one ride (I believe it is an extreme drop) they will not allow prosthetics. However, at Disney's water parks we hit road block after road block at the different slides, rides, etc. regarding my daughter's prosthetic despite being assured at the gate there would be no issue. Her only option was to hop up the stairs and to ride down without her leg, which as you know, is really not an option. Extremely frustrating.

Now Sea World itself does have a lot of ride restrictions, as does Universal on the larger rides. We have not had any issues to date at Disney non-water parks.

 

[Alabamamouse]

Our daughter is a bilateral AKA. She cannot ride the mountains, mine train, barnstormer. We haven't tried any of the 'fun' rides at Epcot or Hollywood studios. She is, however, five, 45 inches and a bilateral. My understanding is that because her prosthetics basically cover her entire residual limb, the strapping mechanism is not considered safe.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You should have no problem at the Disney parks. There are no rides that leave your legs hanging. There will be some issues at the water parks and at other Orlando Parks. I have only seen issues at attractions where there is no floor like Kraken at Sea World.

What about Soarin'?

 

[SueM in MN]

The difference is that Universal and the 6 Flags parks have much more extreme rides than WDW has. They have a lot more extreme motion, a much larger number of attractions are for the more 'adventurous' and a lot more have hanging legs with restraints that are chest/trunk restraints.

The only WDW attraction I know of with inversions (turning you upside down) at WDW is Rock N Roller coaster - and that has one inversion compared to non-Disney parks with many.
Also, the only WDW ride where your feet dangle is Soarin' - a very gently moving ride.

Disney does not give any specific warnings for people with prosthetic limbs for their theme park attractions. The only one that might be an issue at all would be Soarin'
They would not say you can't ride, but depending on how tightly attached the prosthetic limb is, you might want to remove it.

There are done warnings for water park attractions, so you would want to check that if you are planning to go to a water park.

 

[SueM in MN]

Our daughter is a bilateral AKA. She cannot ride the mountains, mine train, barnstormer. We haven't tried any of the 'fun' rides at Epcot or Hollywood studios. She is, however, five, 45 inches and a bilateral. My understanding is that because her prosthetics basically cover her entire residual limb, the strapping mechanism is not considered safe.

Your understanding makes sense.
Being a bilateral AKA and a child would make a lot of difference.
Also, someone with bilateral AKA would have a hard time bracing.

The one I would not recommend for anyone without 2 legs to brace would be Primeval Whirl. My younger DD was well over the height requirement, but not able to brace because of CP. She had a very difficult time remaining up. Even my older daughter - over 5 feet at that time - will not go on it again because she got bounced around too much

 

[PeekaMoose]

The difference is that Universal and the 6 Flags parks have much more extreme rides than WDW has. They have a lot more extreme motion, a much larger number of attractions are for the more 'adventurous' and a lot more have hanging legs with restraints that are chest/trunk restraints.

The only WDW attraction I know of with inversions (turning you upside down) at WDW is Rock N Roller coaster - and that has one inversion compared to non-Disney parks with many.
Also, the only WDW ride where your feet dangle is Soarin' - a very gently moving ride.

Disney does not give any specific warnings for people with prosthetic limbs for their theme park attractions. The only one that might be an issue at all would be Soarin'
They would not say you can't ride, but depending on how tightly attached the prosthetic limb is, you might want to remove it.

There are done warnings for water park attractions, so you would want to check that if you are planning to go to a water park.

We learned years back that Soarin' is possible with prosthetics. just bring a sock along just in case to reset the leg if you lose suction.
And my family can understand extreme rides like RnRC - DW is not interested in inversions anyway- but to exclude from traditional coasters like Big Thunder Mt. or wood track coasters confounded us.

 

[SueM in MN]

We learned years back that Soarin' is possible with prosthetics. just bring a sock along just in case to reset the leg if you lose suction.
And my family can understand extreme rides like RnRC - DW is not interested in inversions anyway- but to exclude from traditional coasters like Big Thunder Mt. or wood track coasters confounded us.

my experience with Big Thunder Mountain is that it really tends to throw you around a lot from side to side - and I have 2 legs to brace with. So, that might be an issue for some people.

The one I would caution against going on is Primeval Whirl. It is like combining the tea cups with a roller coaster. Looks pretty tame from the ground, but really whips you around. We let our younger daughter with cerebral palsy go on it once (never again!) but by the time it ended, she was slid down low in her seat because she could not brace. Her sister refuses to go on it again because of how whipped around she felt.