Stepping into boat rides

[JFDIS]

Hello! We are taking a trip with my in-laws and my mil will be utilizing DAS. The DAS is not for a mobility issue but she does have that in addition to other issues. I have been studying hard to make this a great trip for them. My concern are the difficulty levels of stepping into and out of some of the boat rides. Can anyone advise on some that are easy vs difficult?
Pirates
Jungle Cruise
Frozen
Living in the land
Grand Fiesta
I am also reading mixed info on Peter Pan belt slowing down.
I appreciate any help

 

[MICKIMINI]

I always ask to be in the front seat which has more space to navigate stepping in and out. It also helps to have a travel buddy in the seat first to give a hand and then your buddy steps out at the end and helps you get out.

The worst boat is It's A Small World!

 

[SueM in MN]

Posts 18 - 21 of this thread have information about the steps into rides and difficulty.
disABILITIES FAQs thread - stuck near top of disABILITIES Board

Just quick answer for your specific ones
Pirates - difficult. The seat is low; easiest way to get in is to have someone from your group already in and someone outside to give a steadying hand. Step onto the seat, then down to the floor. Do the opposite to get out. Gravity helps when getting in, but works against you going out.

Frozen - difficult. The boat has a high side (6-8 inch) you need to get over and then step down to the seat which is down below the side. If she has any issues with bumpiness, the track for Frozen is pretty uneven and bumpy.

Living in the land - pretty easy. There is about a 6 inch up over the side into the boat. If she doesn’t feel she can make it, the attraction has a wheelchair accessible boat and she can borrow an attraction wheelchair to use it.

Grand Fiesta - a step down over the side of the boat, then a step onto the seat and down to the floor. For most people, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. The seats are close together, which makes getting in harder. Many people find this works best with one of your group inside the boat and one outside to help get into the boat.
There is a wheelchair accessible boat and she could borrow an attraction wheelchair. The wheelchair boat has a flat entry and a ramp; some guests ask for the wheelchair boat and walk in, but there are no handrails along the ramp, so it may not be easier.
Small World boat is very similar, so whatever works on one, will work on the other.

I am also reading mixed info on Peter Pan belt slowing down.

The OFFICIAL answer for Peter Pan is that it is ONLY to be stopped in rare, special circumstances - for example, child on Wish trip.
I have gotten the consistent same answer on Peter Pan from Disability Services management and Fantasyland Lead (not just contacting a random CM by email or phone). The main reason is that stopping it keeps guests suspended high above the ground during the stop. There is little to keep the guests from trying to climb out.

Some people have reported it was stopped for them, which is probably an individual CM giving pixie dust without knowing they are not supposed to stop it.

 

[JFDIS]

I always ask to be in the front seat which has more space to navigate stepping in and out. It also helps to have a travel buddy in the seat first to give a hand and then your buddy steps out at the end and helps you get out.

The worst boat is It's A Small World!

I will definitely take your advice in asking for the front and having my husband step in first to help her in. I would have never guessed Small World be be the worst! This is exactly why I asked here because as much as I visit the parks I couldn’t remember what each ride was like when entering/existing.

 

[JFDIS]

Posts 18 - 21 of this thread have information about the steps into rides and difficulty.
disABILITIES FAQs thread - stuck near top of disABILITIES Board

Just quick answer for your specific ones
Pirates - difficult. The seat is low; easiest way to get in is to have someone from your group already in and someone outside to give a steadying hand. Step onto the seat, then down to the floor. Do the opposite to get out. Gravity helps when getting in, but works against you going out.

Frozen - difficult. The boat has a high side (6-8 inch) you need to get over and then step down to the seat which is down below the side. If she has any issues with bumpiness, the track for Frozen is pretty uneven and bumpy.

Living in the land - pretty easy. There is about a 6 inch up over the side into the boat. If she doesn’t feel she can make it, the attraction has a wheelchair accessible boat and she can borrow an attraction wheelchair to use it.

Grand Fiesta - a step down over the side of the boat, then a step onto the seat and down to the floor. For most people, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. The seats are close together, which makes getting in harder. Many people find this works best with one of your group inside the boat and one outside to help get into the boat.
There is a wheelchair accessible boat and she could borrow an attraction wheelchair. The wheelchair boat has a flat entry and a ramp; some guests ask for the wheelchair boat and walk in, but there are no handrails along the ramp, so it may not be easier.
Small World boat is very similar, so whatever works on one, will work on the other.

I am also reading mixed info on Peter Pan belt slowing down.

The OFFICIAL answer for Peter Pan is that it is ONLY to be stopped in rare, special circumstances - for example, child on Wish trip.
I have gotten the consistent same answer on Peter Pan from Disability Services management and Fantasyland Lead (not just contacting a random CM by email or phone). The main reason is that stopping it keeps guests suspended high above the ground during the stop. There is little to keep the guests from trying to climb out.

Some people have reported it was stopped for them, which is probably an individual CM giving pixie dust without knowing they are not supposed to stop it.

Thank you for listing these. I think I will take Frozen off our list and maybe Pirates too. I don’t think she will tolerate too many rides to begin with so I don’t want to waste time on those that will be difficult for her. I really appreciate your input!
I may skip Pan as well or ask a CM once we are there.
Thank you for your time!

 

[Lisa_lvspplmvr]

She can get a wheelchair at Small World and they push you right onto the special boat . No need to worry about getting in and out then .

 

[MinnieMSue]

My dad will be in wheelchair 90% of our upcoming trip. My mom will be part time and pushing it part time. My mom can prob get into and out of all the boat rides with a simple assist from us . My dad absolutely will not be able to do any of them except the ones that will accommodate him in his chair. He will be sitting them out with a treat to enjoy while people watching while we ride with lightning lane (hopefully). I highly doubt he can ride Peter Pan because he won’t be able to get in or more likely out without stopping the belt (I’m pretty sure - it looks hard). Bummer but it is what it is.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you for listing these. I think I will take Frozen off our list and maybe Pirates too. I don’t think she will tolerate too many rides to begin with so I don’t want to waste time on those that will be difficult for her. I really appreciate your input!
I may skip Pan as well or ask a CM once we are there.
Thank you for your time!

one thing that I have found that helps me in and out of the boats is a folding cane to help with balancing. did not mention but I find it even helps with the moving ramp one also

 

[JFDIS]

one thing that I have found that helps me in and out of the boats is a folding cane to help with balancing. did not mention but I find it even helps with the moving ramp one also

Thank you for the great tip!

 

[Bete]

If you have at least 2 extra people then one can go in first, then give a helping hand to the compromised one getting in and then the second extra person follows in. When you get out the second person can give a helping hand out. The first extra person needs to be prepared getting out in case the compromised individual falls back or whatever. You are still taking a chance but this has helped us in the past. Fortunately, this method never caused us a problem.

 

[ttintagel]

Seconding the cane; even with other people around it helps my balance, which is important when the boat is wobbling from other people getting into other rows.

 

[RoseGold]

The worst boat is It's A Small World!

Small World has a wheelchair boat! You wheel on! Not sure if it's new or I just never got to use it before.

 

[SueM in MN]

Small World has a wheelchair boat! You wheel on! Not sure if it's new or I just never got to use it before.

It’s been around for years. My daughter uses it every trip

 

[lovethattink]

For Jungle Cruise, you can let them know you need a “rope boat” if she’s not using a wheelchair. The ropes will be held tight to keep the boat from rocking as best as it can. And you enter from a different queue. It still can be difficult to get in. If using a wheelchair, they have a lift.

 

[JFDIS]

For Jungle Cruise, you can let them know you need a “rope boat” if she’s not using a wheelchair. The ropes will be held tight to keep the boat from rocking as best as it can. And you enter from a different queue. It still can be difficult to get in. If using a wheelchair, they have a lift.

Thank you for the tip!