Space Mountain with a Prosthetic Leg? NO!

[POOHsie]

I have an above the knee amputation of my left leg. I had not been on Space Mountain in almost a decade, before the amputation. So my trip in September, with my grown daughter, I thought I would give Space Mountain a try. My daughter's good at assisting me entering and exiting the various ride modules.

I am not pooh-sized, but not far behind. I got in the first seat and it was tight, real tight. It was hard to get my artificial leg positioned well, then it was hard to get the T-bar thing pulled close to me. It stopped at just about the spot where there is a release button for my artificial leg. As the ride progressed, I was having an awesome time but I suspected the T-bar had pressed the leg release button and my artificial leg was being pulled off me by G-forces. Sure enough, when the ride was over, my prosthetic was way off and kind-of wrapped around the inside front of the ride cabin. My daughter and others helped pull me backwards into a wheelchair. As they did so, it seemed as if my leg was getting longer and longer. This of course was because it wasn't really my leg, and it had become stuck in the cabin. One CM was very kind to act dignified in spite of what he was seeing. My daughter got the prosthetic free and I put it back on, not fully locking it, but good enough to wheelchair off to the bathroom to fix it properly. Believe me, we had a good laugh about it in the bathroom. I told the story to some friends at a party last week, they know about me and my leg, and they spit out their drinks, they were laughing along with me. It's a great one-liner!

And that, fellow Disney aficionados, concludes my final ride on Space Mountain!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

But if you go to Disneyland, Space there has side-by-side seating and the restraints are different. Also they have a special boarding area for people with disabilities (similar to TSM) so there is no time pressure for load and unload.

 

[POOHsie]

We had discussed visiting Disneyland. What you described would be another reason why that would be a great trip. Thanks for your post.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

What a crazy situation, but I'm glad you took it in stride!

I hadn't ridden space (at WDW) in over 10 years (until 3 weeks ago). I felt every bump that probably knocked your prothestic out of place!

I thought I was crazy, as riding Space at DLR, I never remembered it being so rough, then I was informed that it's not. What a wake up call!

I hope you can sneak in that trip to DLR. I want to go back so bad!

 

[maroo]

OMG!!

Bless your heart. And way to go CM for not losing it on you.

One of my BFF's rode Space Mountain (below the knee), but she took her leg off...but she was a fairly new amputee and I think she was just scared it would come off during the ride.

And to think I worry about my stupid hat or whatever....

Bless you!

 

[pampam]

Wow. I never had thought about that happening. Your sense of humor will take you far.

 

[SueM in MN]

Laughing is so much better than crying.

I imagine the look on the CM's face was pretty interesting. I wonder what his first thoughts were?
But glad to hear he kept it together and was able to help you out in a dignified manner.

When Space Mountain was renovated, it was hoped that they would add the same type load area as Disneyland has, but sadly, they didn't.

 

[cm8]

Laughing is so much better than crying.

I imagine the look on the CM's face was pretty interesting. I wonder what his first thoughts were?
But glad to hear he kept it together and was able to help you out in a dignified manner.

When Space Mountain was renovated, it was hoped that they would add the same type load area as Disneyland has, but sadly, they didn't.

 

[carj]

My nine year old son is an amputee and Space Mountain is his favorite ride!
He is below the knee though. I am always more afraid on Soarin' that his leg is going to slip down.

His best story was when he was in Kindergarten. He was minding his own business, running around the playground when a little girl told the teacher that something was wrong with his foot. The bolt had
come loose and the foot was completely turned around backwards. Luckily, mom always has an Allen Wrench in the car! I came in, tightened him up and he ran back to class!

 

[lovetoscrap]

What a great story and a great attitude!

I always look at things like this and think "You know, I just gave the CM a great story to tell at dinner tonight!" If I was able to make someone smile or laugh, or give them a great story then I am happy!

Next time you just need to be wearing this on a t-shirt:

 

[Twende]

Oh my! What a hoot that had to have been!

I have a dear friend who also sports a similar prosthesis on her leg.

She was looking forward to the Harry Potter ride at Universal but has discovered that there one must remove any prosthetic devices in order to ride the ride.

She has a terrible time getting her leg on and will not take it off to ride something. She is very disappointed that she will not be riding it.

I guess they are afraid that an artificial limb might fall off and hurt someone.

 

[POOHsie]

Oh my! What a hoot that had to have been!

I have a dear friend who also sports a similar prosthesis on her leg.

She was looking forward to the Harry Potter ride at Universal but has discovered that there one must remove any prosthetic devices in order to ride the ride.

She has a terrible time getting her leg on and will not take it off to ride something. She is very disappointed that she will not be riding it.

I guess they are afraid that an artificial limb might fall off and hurt someone.

Thanks for that. I have trouble getting my leg on sometimes, also. I would never subject myself to removing my prosthetic to ride an amusement. That's going too far, on the part of the ride designers. Wow!

 

[POOHsie]

What a great story and a great attitude!

I always look at things like this and think "You know, I just gave the CM a great story to tell at dinner tonight!" If I was able to make someone smile or laugh, or give them a great story then I am happy!

Next time you just need to be wearing this on a t-shirt:

I love her! Thanks. I told my friends at the party, "I rode on Space Mountain and the G-forces were so high that my leg came off!"

 

[SueM in MN]

I love her! Thanks. I told my friends at the party, "I rode on Space Mountain and the G-forces were so high that my leg came off!"

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

I guess they are afraid that an artificial limb might fall off and hurt someone.

When I worked at Six Flags that happened to a teenage boy. He was riding a hanging coaster and lost his leg, thankfully no one was hurt but his leg was pretty messed up from hitting the ground.