Rides that are difficult to board - knee/leg problems

[olive]

My father has some problems with his knees and legs. He is a Disney veteran, and knows how much walking to expect (he'll take it slow with my pregnant sister - they can keep each other company!), but we were surprised on our last trip by how difficult it was for him to board certain rides. He just couldn't get on Space Mountain at all, for example. I think he couldn't get down that low, and certainly wouldn't have been able to get back out! I know that he avoided some rides because he thought he might not be able to get on or off. Does anyone know which rides are most difficult in this regard?

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[minnie mum]

BTDT I found that I had th most difficulty getting into and out of ride vehicles that required a step down to enter. The ones that spring to mind are POTC and IASW. I can still do it as long as DH is there to give me a supporting hand to steady myself. Splash Mountain can have the same problem.

Is your fathers problem weakness in that knee/leg, or is it stiffness and difficulty bending. If the latter, certain ride vehicles can be difficult just due to lack of leg room. I believe that the disboards has a sticky with excellant descriptions of most of the rides and their vehicles.

Good luck. Hopefully your Dad won't have to skip too many rides

 

[At World's End]

My mom went with us a couple of years ago, and she has mobility issues. She found it difficult to step down into rides like Maelstorm, the boat ride in Mexico, IASW, POTC, Jungle Cruise. We didn't go on Splash, but that would have been hard. Space Mtn and RNR Coaster would be hard, too. Test Track has the same "step-down" entry also. My DH and I would always step in before her and help her in, and if possible one would sit on the other side of her to help her get out.

allears.net has pictures of the ride vehicles: http://allears.net/tp/gal_ride.htm

 

[POOHsie]

My personal response would be:

[MK] Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, POTC. Possibly IASW, Jungle Cruise (stepping into/out of boats). Forget about Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
[Epcot] Test Track. Possibly Mexico Pavilion & Norway Pavilion Boat Rides (stepping into/out of boats)
[DHS] RnR
[AK] Kali River Rapids (stepping into/out of ride vehicle)

 

[SueM in MN]

BTDT I found that I had th most difficulty getting into and out of ride vehicles that required a step down to enter. The ones that spring to mind are POTC and IASW. I can still do it as long as DH is there to give me a supporting hand to steady myself. Splash Mountain can have the same problem.

Is your fathers problem weakness in that knee/leg, or is it stiffness and difficulty bending. If the latter, certain ride vehicles can be difficult just due to lack of leg room. I believe that the disboards has a sticky with excellant descriptions of most of the rides and their vehicles.

Good luck. Hopefully your Dad won't have to skip too many rides

Thanks for the testimonial
On page #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, posts #18 thru 21 have information about boarding rides, with estimates of how far you need to step down and which rides are relatively easy to board. I was not looking at leg room, so some of the ‘easy to board’ attractions may not necessarily have enough leg room.

You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

In post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there are some links that may be helpful. One is the same link to the ride vehicles pictures from allearsnet.com that At World's End posted. There is also a link to my photo album on the DIS site, which has many ride vehicle pictures, showing not only the seat, but also the step up or down.

 

[KPeveler]

On IAWS there is a wheelchair boat - They usually have wheelchairs right there on the ride, but that one lets you walk onto a level platform on the back and then walk down to a seat. This may be easier than trying to haul him out of a ride. My mother has trouble climbing in and out, and she likes when I use this boat (I use a wheelchair).

He can also just sit in a wheelchair for the ride - same thing in Mexico (I think there is a wheelchair boat for that one - Sue can confirm for me). That may be an option for those rides.

 

[ToddyLu]

I cringe getting down into Space Mountain...my other issue is getting onto the buses after a long day. If I didn't have that grab bar I don't know what I would do. I more or less get a running start and then hope my arms can hold me...I thought I was the only one until a friend of mine said she had the same problem. So many times I want to use the scooter ramp entrance because it would be so much easier. Sometimes after a long park day I think the sidewalk curbs may take me out.

 

[SueM in MN]

On IAWS there is a wheelchair boat - They usually have wheelchairs right there on the ride, but that one lets you walk onto a level platform on the back and then walk down to a seat. This may be easier than trying to haul him out of a ride. My mother has trouble climbing in and out, and she likes when I use this boat (I use a wheelchair).

He can also just sit in a wheelchair for the ride - same thing in Mexico (I think there is a wheelchair boat for that one - Sue can confirm for me). That may be an option for those rides.

You are correct.
There is a very similar wheelchair boat in the Mexico ride.

 

[olive]

Thanks so much for all of the responses! This will be a great help. I'll add the lists of rides to my little itinerary. Looks like boats in general can be problematic.

 

[jm-mom]

I had trouble getting out of the speedway cars at the Magic Kingdom. For that matter I had trouble getting down into them as well.

One thing I'd like to add is that there is soooo much to enjoy at WDW so if you can't do a few rides, please don't feel you aren't getting the full park experience. Between the rides I have trouble physically getting in and out and the ones I avoid because of motion sickness, I often sit and enjoy people watching while the family enjoys their ride. I could feel sorry for myself for not being able to do everything but instead I enjoy the time to just relax. Some people approach a wdw trip as go, go, go, ride, ride, ride, and feel badly when they don't feel they can do everything, like they aren't getting the most bang for their buck. I say just enjoy being there and go home relaxed and you'll have gotten your money's worth from vacation.

 

[olive]

My father won't feel like he missed out! As long as he can go on some rides with my son, he would be perfectly happy eating Dole Whips and wandering the parks (with some pool time thrown in) all day. Our family is just always happy to be at Disney!