So disappointed... lack of new attractions that accomodate wheelchairs

[SueM in MN]

DH can't remember where, but he did see one once where a person could remain in their wheelchair on a rollercoaster. It wasn't an extreme coaster by any means, something around the thrill level of slinky dog dash, ut it proves it CAN be done.

You have mentioned this multiple times. Each time, I have searched for wheelchair accessible roller coaster and all I have found was roller coasters that have a wheelchair transfer car/seat. For example, on Slinky Dog Dash the side of the rear seat opens and a piece folds down to make transfers easier.
Unless you actually have information about a roller coaster where the guest can remain in their wheelchair, there is no proof it can be done.

Even a more tame roller coaster like Slinky Dog dash would put considerable forces on a wheelchair IF it was able to be put on.

SeaWorld Orlando has a Penguin ride where you can choose between the wild or mild version of the ride, why not with these rides?

I have read about that Penguin ride at Sea World. It is not wheelchair accessible.
The difference between the ‘mild’ and ‘wild‘ version sounds very similar to the button in Winnie the Pooh wheelchair hunny pot at MK that turns bouncing on or off.
According to TouringPlans write up about the Penguin ride, the difference between the ‘mild’ and ‘wild’ version is the ‘mild’ version has spinning turned off.

 

[MS_Warrior]

Personally, I don't think I want my chair locked into a roller-coaster. That would be a little on the scary side. I do think Mickey & Minnie and a few others could easily be adapted for wheelchairs much like Toy Story. Some rides, I think would be impossible to adapt to wheelchairs...at least safely.

 

[SteveMouse]

One of the biggest missed opportunities was the (not included) control lab in FOP, where a mission observer could don a headset and receive a visual feed of the FOP experience.

That would have been right in line with the story and enable problem who can’t/won’t get on a ride vehicle to have a similar experience.

With a minor script alternation, and perhaps a live camera shot of the “control lab,” it would then be a shared experience between rider and observer. That would support shared discussion and whole-family experiences for people with a family member who couldn’t/wouldn’t ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

Personally, I don't think I want my chair locked into a roller-coaster. That would be a little on the scary side. I do think Mickey & Minnie and a few others could easily be adapted for wheelchairs much like Toy Story. Some rides, I think would be impossible to adapt to wheelchairs...at least safely.

I agree about the roller coaster; much different than a ride like Small World or Toy Story Mania.
My daughter’s power and manual wheelchairs are both transit ready, approved for occupancy in a motor vehicle. But, I wouldn’t want either of them on a roller coaster. The stresses are much different than a vehicle.
And, there are a lot of differences in wheelchairs -
Is there a seat cushion or just a sling? How high is the seat cushion and is it attached or just held on by gravity? Does the chair fold - side by side or the seatback fold down? What kind of back - sling or shell? How high is the back - both of my daughter’s chair seatback are high and they have a headrest. But, many paraplegics have seatbacks that are only lower back high. So, not as easy as it may appear.

Before riding Mickey & Minnie, I could‘t see why it couldn’t be made accessible; especially since it sounded similar to Disneyland Paris’ Ratatouille, which I knew had a wheelchair car. After riding both Ratatouille and Mickey & Minnie, they are very different. Ratatouille moves in a very much gentler way and the movement is mostly forward, a little backward and a few spins (augmented with the movie so they feel faster).
Mickey & Minnie also moves side to side kind of quickly. I don’t know how easily a car could be programmed to move less/more gently or even if it could - the cars separate and come together so movement in one has to coordinate with others in the group. It does have a dedicated accessible load area, but the transfer is difficult because the side opening to get in and out is very narrow. I was told the ride manufacturer determined the allowable opening area and it could not have a fold down side like Big Thunder Mountain or Slinky Dog

 

[MS_Warrior]

I agree about the roller coaster; much different than a ride like Small World or Toy Story Mania.
My daughter’s power and manual wheelchairs are both transit ready, approved for occupancy in a motor vehicle. But, I wouldn’t want either of them on a roller coaster. The stresses are much different than a vehicle.
And, there are a lot of differences in wheelchairs -
Is there a seat cushion or just a sling? How high is the seat cushion and is it attached or just held on by gravity? Does the chair fold - side by side or the seatback fold down? What kind of back - sling or shell? How high is the back - both of my daughter’s chair seatback are high and they have a headrest. But, many paraplegics have seatbacks that are only lower back high. So, not as easy as it may appear.

Before riding Mickey & Minnie, I could‘t see why it couldn’t be made accessible; especially since it sounded similar to Disneyland Paris’ Ratatouille, which I knew had a wheelchair car. After riding both Ratatouille and Mickey & Minnie, they are very different. Ratatouille moves in a very much gentler way and the movement is mostly forward, a little backward and a few spins (augmented with the movie so they feel faster).
Mickey & Minnie also moves side to side kind of quickly. I don’t know how easily a car could be programmed to move less/more gently or even if it could - the cars separate and come together so movement in one has to coordinate with others in the group. It does have a dedicated accessible load area, but the transfer is difficult because the side opening to get in and out is very narrow. I was told the ride manufacturer determined the allowable opening area and it could not have a fold down side like Big Thunder Mountain or Slinky Dog

That all makes perfect sense. To me, the Mickey/Minnie didn’t feel as rough as Toy Story. Of course, I know there are some behind the scenes info I’m not privy, to. At least they do have transfer boards for many of the newer rides.

 

[BillSears]

For those suggesting the rougher rides have a roll-in option. Have you ridden Skull Island:Reign of Kong at Universal? They do have an option to strap your wheelchair in and ride it. I did that once and the second time I rode I made the transfer over to the seat. I really didn't feel safe in my wheelchair while riding it. There were a lot of side to side motions that felt unsafe to me. Also the stress on my wheelchair made me thing I was going to snap my frame at some point. Universal did make staying in your chair an option but I don't think it was a wise decision on that ride.

I have also ridden the MIB ride at Universal while strapped in. It's a bit rougher than Midway Mania but no where near as bad as the Skull Island ride.

 

[ttintagel]

Yeah, I give the designers of the opening day rides a pass, but I just can’t understand why, in this day and age, they wouldn’t make things as accessible as possible.

I remember when Radiator Springs Racers first opened at Disneyland, and they acted all shocked when the FP line kept getting completely backed up with people in wheelchairs and ECV’s. In the 21st century, when they have a pretty good idea of how many people with mobility issues are visiting the parks, they decided to make the standby queue not wheelchair accessible and then complained about too many people using the alternate accessible entrance. What were they expecting?

 

[DisneyOma]

It's like the stairs they put in at TSMM - that just makes anyone who can't do stairs have to load in the accessible area, which means that cycle takes longer as well.

I'd be leery of any attraction that puts force on a wheelchair or ECV, as BillSears mentioned. It's a liability for the company - if someone has an older, more worn down wheelchair, and a weld or connection snaps, it's a big problem, and a possibly dangerous (and expensive) one.

The attraction that should have been designed with better access, IMO, is Navi. Soarin' could have also made a platform with a wheelchair spot in the center of a row, with a few seats on either side, in one of the 3 theaters. That platform row could rise up like the rest, but not tip. Have 2-4 seats on the sides for group members who want to stay with person in wheelchair. ECV might be too heavy though.

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

I wish there were roller coaster ride vehicles that let paraplegic vets who love thrill rides shoot the g forces.

Do the B&M harnesses not work in that situation?

 

[SueM in MN]

This is so awesome! When I was on Disney's site under accessibility it says "must transfer from wheelchair/ECV". This made my day! Thanks for all the pictures!

I can verify that even though the website and app say ‘must transfer’ for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure,, the wheelchair accessible vehicle is still available

 

[RoseGold]

Disney used to be known for their creativity and their amazing Imagineers. Why can't there be a modified experience so a person in a wheelchair can enjoy Soarin' from their chair?

Soarin isn't a great example. I mean of course they aren't going to hoist your chair up a couple flights high and hope it holds on. Same with the coasters. I don't even want that kind of stress on a wheelchair.

Flight of Passage is what I don't get. I can't understand why they didn't just leave an empty spot or a glass box or something for all the people who can't get out of the chair. Sure, not as cool of an experience. Better than nothing. And why doesn't Navi have a wheelchair boat?

We went on a tour of Riviera with a narrow, zero turn electric chair and had to back up and get out of the way in the hallways twice, once for a double stroller and once for a ton of luggage. It's like they've never been to Disney and saw it was COVERED in ECVs. Riviera was built in 2019.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

Soarin isn't a great example. I mean of course they aren't going to hoist your chair up a couple flights high and hope it holds on. Same with the coasters. I don't even want that kind of stress on a wheelchair.

Flight of Passage is what I don't get. I can't understand why they didn't just leave an empty spot or a glass box or something for all the people who can't get out of the chair. Sure, not as cool of an experience. Better than nothing. And why doesn't Navi have a wheelchair boat?

We went on a tour of Riviera with a narrow, zero turn electric chair and had to back up and get out of the way in the hallways twice, once for a double stroller and once for a ton of luggage. It's like they've never been to Disney and saw it was COVERED in ECVs. Riviera was built in 2019.

The stuff in Pandora is what I have the least sympathy for. It was built in 2015-16 and the main character of the movie is in a wheelchair! No accessible boats? Not only no tie-down options for the chair but no non-bike options? Even TRON in Shanghai (where I saw exactly 0 mobility devices during our trip) has a bench seat option for people who can't ride on a bike for whatever reason!

 

[SueM in MN]

Another type of issue came up for us yesterday at Jungle Cruise - the wheelchair boat was ‘out of service’.

We had a DAS Return Time and it was going to be our last ride of the day - 4 hours is pretty much my daughter’s limit and that would be it.
When we arrived, the CM asked if DD could transfer and I replied that she would need the wheelchair boat. The CM said their wheelchair boat was out of commission and has been ‘for some time’. She asked again if DD could transfer - I explained it would not be safe for her to transfer. The CM offered us a pass for something else, but DD was done at that point and the rest of our family had only wanted to ride Jungle Cruise. So, because DD could not go on something through no fault of her own, none of us could go on it.
Jungle Cruise was one of the attractions we used Fastpass for in the past - because of the number of guests entering the mobility line, with a Fastpass, we got put right into the line. With anything else, we were given a wheelchair Return Time. But, if the wheelchair boat was out of commission, at least with Fastpass the rest of the group could ride.

 

[Evita_W]

Another type of issue came up for us yesterday at Jungle Cruise - the wheelchair boat was ‘out of service’.

We had a DAS Return Time and it was going to be our last ride of the day - 4 hours is pretty much my daughter’s limit and that would be it.
When we arrived, the CM asked if DD could transfer and I replied that she would need the wheelchair boat. The CM said their wheelchair boat was out of commission and has been ‘for some time’. She asked again if DD could transfer - I explained it would not be safe for her to transfer. The CM offered us a pass for something else, but DD was done at that point and the rest of our family had only wanted to ride Jungle Cruise. So, because DD could not go on something through no fault of her own, none of us could go on it.
Jungle Cruise was one of the attractions we used Fastpass for in the past - because of the number of guests entering the mobility line, with a Fastpass, we got put right into the line. With anything else, we were given a wheelchair Return Time. But, if the wheelchair boat was out of commission, at least with Fastpass the rest of the group could ride.

Interesting, the wheelchair boat was functions as of Feb 17th. (I think they actually have two, i know Disneyland has two). Did you explain the entire situation to the cast member? we have found thst they are usually accommodating under such circumstances to the rest of the family, especially since she would have wanted to ride if she could have. It is pixie dust of course, but sometimes you do have to explain your disappointment to get some. Be nice and polite about it, but let them know.

 

[SueM in MN]

Interesting, the wheelchair boat was functions as of Feb 17th. (I think they actually have two, i know Disneyland has two). Did you explain the entire situation to the cast member? we have found thst they are usually accommodating under such circumstances to the rest of the family, especially since she would have wanted to ride if she could have. It is pixie dust of course, but sometimes you do have to explain your disappointment to get some. Be nice and polite about it, but let them know.

They do have 2. We rode multiple times during our trip in October/November.

Yes. I explained the whole situation to the CM and explained our disappointment that the rest of our group could not ride; also that it was not my DD’s fault she was not able to ride. As I mentioned in my post, I explained it was going to be our last ride of the day.
I was polite, she was polite. She offered an accommodation of recovery pass for a different attraction, which we politely declined.
We had already been on the things we wanted to go on and anything else with the exception of Aladdin and Winnie the Pooh would have required a transfer. Two of the other 3 in our group can’t do spinning rides, we didn’t want to go all the way back to Pooh and DD and I were too tired for even an easy transfer.
I possibly could have asked to plead my case with a lead to see if the rest of the group could go anyway while I waited with DD, but at that point the others didnt want to ride if we couldn’t and DD had reached her ‘I just want to go’ point. We can’t spend whole days - 4 hours is a pretty long day for us.

 

[BillSears]

Another type of issue came up for us yesterday at Jungle Cruise - the wheelchair boat was ‘out of service’.

We had a DAS Return Time and it was going to be our last ride of the day - 4 hours is pretty much my daughter’s limit and that would be it.
When we arrived, the CM asked if DD could transfer and I replied that she would need the wheelchair boat. The CM said their wheelchair boat was out of commission and has been ‘for some time’. She asked again if DD could transfer - I explained it would not be safe for her to transfer. The CM offered us a pass for something else, but DD was done at that point and the rest of our family had only wanted to ride Jungle Cruise. So, because DD could not go on something through no fault of her own, none of us could go on it.
Jungle Cruise was one of the attractions we used Fastpass for in the past - because of the number of guests entering the mobility line, with a Fastpass, we got put right into the line. With anything else, we were given a wheelchair Return Time. But, if the wheelchair boat was out of commission, at least with Fastpass the rest of the group could ride.

I'm so sorry your Daughter didn't get to ride Jungle Cruise. it's one of my favorites just because I don't have to transfer over.

I've had broken boat issues so many times. You would think with 2 lift equipped boats they could keep at least one in service. When I visited DL a couple of years ago I stopped by on 5 different days trying to ride Jungle Cruise. Every day they told me it was down and to try tomorrow. It never was repaired during my visit.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Oh wow that is so sad. We were fortunate to get to use it earlier this month. In fact my dad absolutely loved it. The captain was the best we ever had and she had a whole routine while my dad was getting on the lift. It was great. We sent her a cast member compliment. I want to say her name was Zoe bit that could be wrong. Anyway that is really sad for your group and daughter. Sorry that happened. I never even considered the boat being out of order.

 

[trishascottrealtor]

I am so terribly disappointed in Disney for not providing any rides in the last 10 years that are accessible for wheelchairs. Disney used to be so great about this and when we first started going to Disney, we became loyal fans. But now they never come out with an option for wheelchairs to ride. Just found out tonight you have to transfer to ride Ratatouille. Same for Mickey and Minnie's Railway. Same for both Galaxy's Edge rides. Same for the Avatar rides. Shame on Disney.

Disney used to be known for their creativity and their amazing Imagineers. Why can't there be a modified experience so a person in a wheelchair can enjoy Soarin' from their chair? As a family we would gladly enjoy a modified experience so my three children and I can ride with my husband.

My husband is a quadriplegic and uses an electric wheelchair. It is unsafe for him to transfer. Our kids are young and they want Daddy to be part of the experience, but there are less options now then there used to be.

I was wondering about this..... how many rides my son was going to be able stay in his chair for. I can help him transfer, but it won't be easy.

 

[SteveMouse]

Does Rat have a wheelchair-accessible (no-transfer) vehicle? I wouldn presume that Guardians doesnt, what about Tron? What’s the batting average?
It was one thing for Disney to say, oh, there’s plenty to do if you can’t transfer, but there’s nothing new, and I’d imagine most of the price increase is going for the new attractions.

 

[Evita_W]

Does Rat have a wheelchair-accessible (no-transfer) vehicle? I wouldn presume that Guardians doesnt, what about Tron? What’s the batting average?
It was one thing for Disney to say, oh, there’s plenty to do if you can’t transfer, but there’s nothing new, and I’d imagine most of the price increase is going for the new attractions.

Ratatouille does have a no transfer vehicle that can accommodate wheelchairs, but not ECVs.