Speciality cruises wheelchair accessible?

[blushandbruise]

After three emails to Disney with no reply, I was wondering if.. anybody could tell me whether or not the Speciality cruises to see the Illuminations/Wishes fireworks are wheelchair accessible? If so, any ideas on what their procedure is to transfer wheelchairs on to the boat?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I know that the boats used for the Grand Gathering Dessert Buffet/Pirate Wishes! Cruise are accessible. They have a parking area in the back for wheelchairs or ECVs. You can remain in the wc/ECV or walk up to sit with the rest of your group.

The boats use a ramp similar to the ones they use on the Monorails or Friendships.

However, I think that for the pontoon boats you have to leave the chair at the dock and transfer into the boat.

 

[SueM in MN]

However, I think that for the pontoon boats you have to leave the chair at the dock and transfer into the boat.

I know for Illuminations Cruises (I don't think that is the oficial name of them), there are 2 boats. One is a pontoon boat and one is a vintage powerboat called the Breathless. The Breathless is not at all wheelchair accessible and may even be difficult to get into if someone leves their wheelchair at the dock.
For the pontoon boats, it's a little more difficult to say, although some people have been on the Illuminations pontoon boat specialty cruises with wheelchairs.
Whether or not you have to transfer and leave the wheelchair at the dock may depend on the width of your wheelchair and whether it will fit thru the "door" of the pontoon boat. (Although, they may use the same type of boats as Cheshire Figment described).
We have not been on the specialty cruises, but have rented pontoon boats similar to those used for the crruises many times. My DD's wheelchair did fit thru the door. We were asked to transfer her to a boat seat before leaving the dock (something about not wanting a passenger strapped to 40 pounds of metal in case the boat sunk )

Anyway, I do know people have posted that they went on the specialty cruises with wheelchairs and hopefully one or 2 of them will answer.

 

[pugdog]

OK, OK, I'll answer.
We have been on the Illuminations cruise 3 times now. What they do is have everyone else get on first and get on the dock site of the boat so it tips down and then the crew helps you drive right on. and when you get back it is reversed. DW's chair is just a standard Invacare and has no problem getting through the doorway.

 

[ducklite]

The Grand One is also on the list of utterly non-accessible. It would be nearly impossible to even carry anyone over maybe 30-40 pounds onboard due to having to actually climb a ladder to get on her.

Anne

 

[Disbug]

Hi, we have done the WISHES Fireworks cruise and it IS wheelchair accessible. My daughter did this last Christmas... It is important to mention this when you are reserving your cruise because not all locations are accessible. THE CONTEMPORARY Resort marina is accessible.

These boats are the 12 person pontoons and we did not have to transfer. They used a ramp.

 

[coinkc]

We were on a Wishes cruise last summer with our friend's whose son is in a wheelchair. He did not have to transfer. They used a ramp to get him onto the boat. We were picked up at the Poly if that helps.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm glad to hear they don't make people transfer for the cruises.
When we have been told DD needs to transfer to a boat seat, we had rented the pontoon boat during the day for my DH to drive. That's probably a big difference; if their CMs are driving the boat, there is much less concern about any accidents.

 

[bearlyanne]

Do any of you notice if they had a wheelchair to transfer into from a scooter when boarding a pontoon boat? My MIL is afraid that there might be a deep step off of the end of the gangplank.

 

[SueM in MN]

Do any of you notice if they had a wheelchair to transfer into from a scooter when boarding a pontoon boat? My MIL is afraid that there might be a deep step off of the end of the gangplank.

This is a very OLD thread.
For the pontoon boats, the boat is tied up very close to the dock. A wheelchair can be rolled right on the boat.