Stepping Down into rides

[Franchan]

I've searched the Board a bit but couldn't find specific info on this. I had bilateral (both) total knee replacement about 7 years ago. We're headed to WDW in September for 9 days. I have no problem walking long distances or getting in long lines. My concern is getting onto the rides themselves.

A few weeks ago we went to a local theme park and I got in line to ride the flume. When it was our turn to board I realized I could never step down into the log. I have short legs to begin with, and my knees simply don't bend as much as they used to. I had to leave the line and skip the ride. Later the same day there was a ride that you had to step up to get on, which I could have done, but then I wouldn't have been able to step down to get off at the end.

So my question is, is there any information on what rides you have to step DOWN to get on, and how deep is the step? Some that that I'm concerned about are Splash Mountain, Pirates, Space Mtn, RnRcoaster, and the like.

I can step down a regular sized step, possibly two. Anything deeper than that is simply not possible. I saw someone recommending the wheelchair accessible cars/boat/etc, but would they allow that? I have no visible mobility issue, as I don't use a wheelchair, and haven't used a cane in over 6 years. Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[lanejudy]

to the DISboards!

There is a lot of information about specific rides and accessibility in the disABILITIES FAQs thread pinned near the top of this forum. I'm thinking specifically posts 18-21 may be of interest to you, but other posts as well.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Franchan]

to the DISboards!

There is a lot of information about specific rides and accessibility in the disABILITIES FAQs thread pinned near the top of this forum. I'm thinking specifically posts 18-21 may be of interest to you, but other posts as well.

Enjoy your vacation!

to the DISboards!

There is a lot of information about specific rides and accessibility in the disABILITIES FAQs thread pinned near the top of this forum. I'm thinking specifically posts 18-21 may be of interest to you, but other posts as well.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks. I didn't scroll far enough! The posts before these were fairly long, so I stopped too soon. I'm reading them now, and thanks again!

 

[lanejudy]

You're welcome. Long threads can seem daunting. That one does have a table of contents in the first post to help a bit. Feel free to post any follow-up questions you have.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[geek+nerd]

Would stepping onto the ride seat first and then down onto the vehicle floor help you at all? That way it would be like two smaller steps. Just a thought!

 

[asta]

I've searched the Board a bit but couldn't find specific info on this. I had bilateral (both) total knee replacement about 7 years ago. We're headed to WDW in September for 9 days. I have no problem walking long distances or getting in long lines. My concern is getting onto the rides themselves.

A few weeks ago we went to a local theme park and I got in line to ride the flume. When it was our turn to board I realized I could never step down into the log. I have short legs to begin with, and my knees simply don't bend as much as they used to. I had to leave the line and skip the ride. Later the same day there was a ride that you had to step up to get on, which I could have done, but then I wouldn't have been able to step down to get off at the end.

So my question is, is there any information on what rides you have to step DOWN to get on, and how deep is the step? Some that that I'm concerned about are Splash Mountain, Pirates, Space Mtn, RnRcoaster, and the like.

I can step down a regular sized step, possibly two. Anything deeper than that is simply not possible. I saw someone recommending the wheelchair accessible cars/boat/etc, but would they allow that? I have no visible mobility issue, as I don't use a wheelchair, and haven't used a cane in over 6 years. Any thoughts or ideas?

Make sure you add Test Track to your list. I have an artificial right knee and since you board from the left side of the car, I stepped onto the seat with my good leg. The drop was so steep even to the seat that it made me bend the trailing artificial knee more than it could or should be bent. The rule is always step down first with the bad knee but to do this on Test Track I would have had to board almost turned backwards with very little to hold onto. I did not find the step downs into the coasters to be steep enough to give me trouble. Getting out of them was harder than getting in but there was always something I could hold to and support my weight so I did not have to put a lot of pressure on bent knees in order to stand.

 

[Franchan]

Would stepping onto the ride seat first and then down onto the vehicle floor help you at all? That way it would be like two smaller steps. Just a thought!

That's what I generally do. But that flume ride - the top of the log was level with the dock, which meant an even steeper step in. Even to get to the seat was probably....a foot and a half if not further.

 

[Franchan]

Make sure you add Test Track to your list. I have an artificial right knee and since you board from the left side of the car, I stepped onto the seat with my good leg. The drop was so steep even to the seat that it made me bend the trailing artificial knee more than it could or should be bent. The rule is always step down first with the bad knee but to do this on Test Track I would have had to board almost turned backwards with very little to hold onto. I did not find the step downs into the coasters to be steep enough to give me trouble. Getting out of them was harder than getting in but there was always something I could hold to and support my weight so I did not have to put a lot of pressure on bent knees in order to stand.

Well, that won't work since I've have BOTH knees done. But I've been watching youtube videos of full ride throughs, and everything I've seen so far doesn't seem like a problem. And my daughter and her friend will be with me, so I'll have younger shoulders and arms to pull on should I need to.

 

[SMD]

At DLR I know that the maps have information about wheelchair transfers. Some rides have a transfer vehicle (though this isn't really the ones with a step down) where the side of the vehicle opens and you slide in. I'd speak to the CMs at the ride entrance and ask if there's an accessible loading area where you can have more time to load. I know that on Space at DL they pull a car to the side. On Space at DL you step down into the car and climb out. The ride times out faily quickly so there isn't a lot of time, but in the accessible loading area the cars are removed from the track.

I know for my knee issue I have a much harder time going downstairs than up, but generally it's easier for me to get into the step down rides than out. Although, I definitely can sometimes feel a little strain on my knee as I'm bending to get in the ride, the position I end up sitting in on rides makes it harder to get my feet into a position where I can easily get out at the end. I hadn't really thought about it, but there might be a point where I have to ask CMs of there's a place to load for extra time on a few rides.

 

[SueM in MN]

At DLR I know that the maps have information about wheelchair transfers. Some rides have a transfer vehicle (though this isn't really the ones with a step down) where the side of the vehicle opens and you slide in. I'd speak to the CMs at the ride entrance and ask if there's an accessible loading area where you can have more time to load. I know that on Space at DL they pull a car to the side. On Space at DL you step down into the car and climb out. The ride times out faily quickly so there isn't a lot of time, but in the accessible loading area the cars are removed from the track.

I know for my knee issue I have a much harder time going downstairs than up, but generally it's easier for me to get into the step down rides than out. Although, I definitely can sometimes feel a little strain on my knee as I'm bending to get in the ride, the position I end up sitting in on rides makes it harder to get my feet into a position where I can easily get out at the end. I hadn't really thought about it, but there might be a point where I have to ask CMs of there's a place to load for extra time on a few rides.

For WDW, the posts in the disABILITIES FAQs thread have more information about transfers than what is on the park maps.
There are only 2 I can think of at WDW where the ride has a 'pull off point' for extra time boarding.
One is Toy Story Mania, which has a separate 'pull off' boarding area. The ride car floors are the same step in whether boarding there or in the regular boarding area. The only difference would be more time.

Kali River Rapids also has a pull off point, where guests can take as much time as needed to board. It's still very difficult to board and the wet raft can make it very slippery.