Soarin with child with CP?

[KMP12]

Our child is 7. He is in a power chair. Is it safe for him to do soarin? He would need something between his legs to make sure he didnt slip out. Can he sit between my husband and I? The ride looks so cool I just dont know if its safe for him

 

[gap2368]

If he can sit up on his own in a chair ( there is a set belt and something that you can put between his legs. There is some movement on the ride tilt back and forwards and side to side but not a lot

 

[kaytieeldr]

It should be safe. As @gap2368 said, in addition to the standard seat belt, there is an optional belt attached to the middle of the front of the seat between the legs and attaches to the standard belt in a T.

Also, since you are belted in, you can hold on to him if he needs more support.

 

[Mrsjvb]

The seats are individual with bars( and space) between them There is an extra safety feature if he’s shorter(there’s an indicator on the seat) that you can utilize. You thread the seatbelt through a strap between the legs.

 

[gap2368]

The seats are individual with bars( and space) between them There is an extra safety feature if he’s shorter(there’s an indicator on the seat) that you can utilize. You thread the seatbelt through a strap between the legs.

Op you can also use the extra part thst horse though the legs even if you are teller

 

[kaytieeldr]

Op you can also use the extra part thst horse though the legs even if you are teller

Exactly. That extra strap is required for any rider under the specified height, but it's available for use by anyone.

 

[KMP12]

He def needs assistance while sitting but can do it

 

[ButterflyEffect]

My dd has severe cp, very hypotonic. We have done soarin with her a few times. It works well with the seatbelt, we have to use the centre part and it works great. We sit on either side of her and hold up her torso.

 

[KMP12]

Thank you!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

My youngest daughter has CP (mixed type, predominantly spastic quad).

Soarin is one of her favorites and she’s been on it too many times to count. We bring her wheelchair practically touching the seat to transfer her in. It’s a fairly easy transfer because the seat is almost wheelchair height.
The ride itself is gentle with no quick movements. Through most of it, guests are slightly reclined. I’ve never had any concern that she might fall out (she did like leaning forward to worry my mom before mom died).

This picture should help you visualize it. (Click the picture to enlarge)

 

[Mleach]

Hi, you've got so many nice responses here that you don't really need this, but.... I wanted to add that I have a 6.5 year old who uses a power chair too (a manual chair at Disney because we might walk 8-10 miles a day and it's outside the range). She's not very good at knowing if she will fall and might reach out towards the screen on Soarin'. Definitely she did not shift in any significant way when the vehicle tips forward. Only real problem we ever have at Disney is cast members truly not understanding that she can't stand up to be measured. Sometimes that's a weird conversation. (She's almost 7 and quite tall for our family due to some hormone issues from encephalopathy - but needs a stander to stand.) I hope you have a really wonderful time.

 

[disney11fan]

What a great group. Great responses to try to help someone you don't know. Amazing. Best wishes to the family and all that helped.

 

[Figment Mom]

I thought about your son while I rode Soarin' this morning.

Someone posted a great picture. The size and proximity of the seats are such that you could easily support him or put your arm around him while you ride.

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Hi, you've got so many nice responses here that you don't really need this, but.... I wanted to add that I have a 6.5 year old who uses a power chair too (a manual chair at Disney because we might walk 8-10 miles a day and it's outside the range). She's not very good at knowing if she will fall and might reach out towards the screen on Soarin'. Definitely she did not shift in any significant way when the vehicle tips forward. Only real problem we ever have at Disney is cast members truly not understanding that she can't stand up to be measured. Sometimes that's a weird conversation. (She's almost 7 and quite tall for our family due to some hormone issues from encephalopathy - but needs a stander to stand.) I hope you have a really wonderful time.

I also have a kiddo that cannot stand to be measured. What does Disney do to check heights in this case?

 

[Mleach]

The policy is the caregiver can tell the CM whether or not the kid meets the height requirement. But, every trip there is at least one CM that insists that she get up and be measured (oddly, usually on Soarin', which is 40", but never on any other 40" ride). Only one time we asked to escalate the situation to the ride manager. Sometimes the young CMs truly don't understand that she can't get up and you have to say it more than once. I am comfortable saying something like, "She can't stand and she can't walk, but she is 45 inches" but it upsets my husband to have to say that out loud to strangers while trying to relax, especially more than once to the same person. Which resulted in my husband once saying angrily to a CM, "Unless Jesus is in the park, she's not going to stand by that post". So now I handle it

The more experienced CMs can estimate her sitting height to within an inch or two of her standing height and from what I've seen, pride themselves on doing so!

 

[SueM in MN]

My daughter is 5 feet tall now, so pretty far over any of the height requirements..
When she was smaller, we had very few issues. I said she could not stand to be measured and the CM asked us how tall she was.

 

[Disneynerdz16]

Hi y’all,

I have cerebral palsy right side don’t need wheelchair but I do use the strap in between the seat on purpose because of my balance I’m 22 and never had a problem with the glider at all.

 

[DisneyOma]

The policy is the caregiver can tell the CM whether or not the kid meets the height requirement. But, every trip there is at least one CM that insists that she get up and be measured (oddly, usually on Soarin', which is 40", but never on any other 40" ride). Only one time we asked to escalate the situation to the ride manager. Sometimes the young CMs truly don't understand that she can't get up and you have to say it more than once. I am comfortable saying something like, "She can't stand and she can't walk, but she is 45 inches" but it upsets my husband to have to say that out loud to strangers while trying to relax, especially more than once to the same person. Which resulted in my husband once saying angrily to a CM, "Unless Jesus is in the park, she's not going to stand by that post". So now I handle it

The more experienced CMs can estimate her sitting height to within an inch or two of her standing height and from what I've seen, pride themselves on doing so!

Please tell your husband that the CMs are just doing the job they were trained to do. So many guests try to get kids on rides that they are too short to go on. Those CMs take so much abuse from guests each day, and have to do it with a smile on their faces, for low wages. And there would be no Disney without them. So, yes, it's hard for your family because your child is disabled, but how do the CMs know you are telling the truth? Perhaps bring a tape measure and show the CM how tall your child is that way?

 

[Disneynerdz16]

I would bring doctors letter to the CM... to prove it I would want to explain it that way

 

[DisneyOma]

I would bring doctors letter to the CM... to prove it I would want to explain it that way

ADA makes it so people do not have to prove a disability, and CMs do not have to look at a doctor's note. So many people forge doctor's notes, or have a lenient, benevolent doctor who just writes whatever they want on it. And who wants to go to the doctor just for an accurate height measurement? That's why I suggested bringing a measuring tape - one of those soft, flexible cloth ones people use for sewing, not building, BTW. You can just run it up the side of the body and head to get the gist of a height for a child who cannot stand. If it's really close to the height, it probably wouldn't be safe for the child to go on anyways, if he/she didn't have the muscle function to support the torso.