tickets for person in a wheelchair?

[eddieras]

sorry as i'm sure this had to be addressed already - i've searched and can't find the answer, but my friend leaves in a few days and i'm trying to help him out!

his wife is in a wheelchair- high level cervical injury. uses a heavy motorized wheelchair. dumb question- does she need to buy a full park pass? she will be unable to do many attractions. is there a cheaper alternative for something like this. they're going for a week and plan on 7 day park hoppers for the 4 of them (2 kids/ 2 adults - altho all adult pricing!).

thanks so much for any help on this!

 

[allie_to_you]

Hi! Yes, your friend's wife will need to buy a full park ticket for her to enjoy the parks. Also, you will be surprised at just how much she will be able to do while staying in her wheelchair. I have compiled a list of the rides/attractions that are accessible to her in her wheelchair. I hope this helps! Also, when they get there, have them go to guest services in the parks and she can get a copy of their Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, which will go into further details about the rides/attractions with wheelchair accessibility. And, as always, be sure to check with the host/hostess at each attraction as they can tell you for sure what the accessibility options are. Also, remember that for parades, or fireworks displays, they have areas specifically for wheelchair parties and they are usually good viewing spots if you get there soon enough and before they fill up.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions while staying in a wheelchair or ECV: [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]MAGIC KINGDOM[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Castle Forecourt Stage: Cinderellabration
Fairytale Garden: Storytime with Belle
The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management
Shrunken Ned's Jungle Boats
Country Bear Jamboree
Frontierland Shooting Arcade
Hall of Presidents
Liberty Belle Riverboat
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Ariel's Grotto
Mickey's Country House
Minnie's Country House
Donald's Boat
Toontown Hall of Fame/Judge's Tent
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
Tomorrowland Arcade
Galaxy Palace Theater [/FONT]

Epcot
Innoventions
The Living Seas
The Circle of Life in The Land
"Honey, I Shrunk the Audience"
Art of Mexico Gallery in Mexico
Stave Church Gallery in Norway
Reflections of China
The American Adventure
The America Gardens Theater
Bijutsu-kan gallery in Japan
"Treasure of Morocco" exhibit in Morocco
"Impressions de France" in France
O Canada! in Canada

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney-MGM Studios [/FONT]
"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure
Muppet*Vision 3D
Sounds Dangerous
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular
The American Film Institute Showcase
Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
"Beauty and the Beast" at the Theater of the Stars
Playhouse Disney
Fantasmic!
Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show
Walt Disney: One Man's Dream

Animal Kingdom
The Tree of Life Garden
Discovery Island Trails
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Grandmother Willow's Grove: Pocahontas and her Forest Friends
The Boneyard
Cretaceous Trail
Lion King Theater: Festival of the Lion King
Fossil Preparation Lab
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Wildlife Express
Caravan Stage: Flights of Wonder
Maharajah Jungle Trek
Conservation Station
Theater in the Wild
Fossil Fun Games


[/FONT]

 

[SueM in MN]

As was already mentioned, there is no discount for people with disabilities.

If you haven't looked at it yet, the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board has a lot of information. There is a link to download the text for the WDW Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities in one of the posts on that thread. There is a Guidebook for each park.

Depending on the exact size of her power wheelchair, she may or may not be able to use it on the all the rides that have a wheelchair accessible car.

here are links to a few older threads that should be helpful:
Specific ride questions
Disney with a Power Wheelchair

 

[eddieras]

thanks guys for all the great info - without pouring over all of it yet it seems unfair to have to pay full amount when you can not partake in all the attractions...

i do appreciate the info and already forwarded her the links

 

[BillM]

I never really thought about it but it would make some sense. When we toured the Biltmore Mansion at Ashville, N.C. I received a discounted handicap ticket since I was in a ECV and some of the mansion was not accessible. At DW you can access more attractions in a WC rather than an ECV. My experience at DW in an ECV was that on some attractions you had to transfer ( get up and walk). So there is a bunch of stuff that I have never done and I have been visiting for the last ten years.
Of course there are some folks in WC that can get up and walk. There is an assumption that a person in an ECV can get up and walk. Not true in my case. I have a power WC and transfer( slide) to a ECV when needed.

 

[Hook's Girl]

thanks guys for all the great info - without pouring over all of it yet it seems unfair to have to pay full amount when you can not partake in all the attractions...

i do appreciate the info and already forwarded her the links

Delurking to respond . . . even if an individual cannot enjoy all of the attractions it is Disney's policy that there is more than enough entertainment value attached to the price of a ticket without attractions. Keep in mind that a fully able-bodied person can spend 7 days at WDW and not experience everything the resort has to offer.

I think that everyone in that group is going to have a wonderful time!

 

[allie_to_you]

thanks guys for all the great info - without pouring over all of it yet it seems unfair to have to pay full amount when you can not partake in all the attractions...

In a way, I agree with you. My DH is confined permanently to a wheelchair and cannot transfer out of it, so there are quite a few attractions that I can enjoy that he has to sit out of. Yes, there are quite a few attractions that someone in a wheelchair can enjoy, as well as parades and fireworks displays, however, the number of unaccessible attractions is quite large and I think that if there were a way for Disney to have proof of someone's disability (recent, detailed doctor's note), then I think that there should be some kind of discount as well.

That being said, my DH & I have been to Disney several times together and we always manage to fill up our days with fun things to do, despite the fact that he can't do everything with me. So I think that your friend's wife will still have a good time, even having to pay full price.

Delurking to respond . . . even if an individual cannot enjoy all of the attractions it is Disney's policy that there is more than enough entertainment value attached to the price of a ticket without attractions. Keep in mind that a fully able-bodied person can spend 7 days at WDW and not experience everything the resort has to offer.

This is true...an able bodied person can spend 7 days at WDW and not experience everything the resort has to offer, however, with careful planning, the option is there to do everything (especially where ride attractions are concerned). Rides that aren't done by an able-bodied person are usually that person's choice, not because they aren't physically abled to do it.

 

[BillSears]

I've been reading this thread and for some reason a weird, twisted way of looking at the situation just hit me. Sure we can't ride every ride there is and "maybe" we should get some soft of a discount. On the other hand Disney spends ALOT of money to make things as accessible as they can, bus lifts, special cars for wheelchairs, special seating for parades/fireworks/shows, ramps everywhere etc... I know some of this is required but not all of it is. They do all of this and don't charge us extra...

Anyway in the end WDW is the most accessible place I've ever vacationed at. I may not be able to do everyting but I can do most things. Compare this to alot of other places and I feel very happy with going to WDW.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I've been reading this thread and for some reason a weird, twisted way of looking at the situation just hit me. Sure we can't ride every ride there is and "maybe" we should get some soft of a discount. On the other hand Disney spends ALOT of money to make things as accessible as they can, bus lifts, special cars for wheelchairs, special seating for parades/fireworks/shows, ramps everywhere etc... I know some of this is required but not all of it is. They do all of this and don't charge us extra...

Anyway in the end WDW is the most accessible place I've ever vacationed at. I may not be able to do everyting but I can do most things. Compare this to alot of other places and I feel very happy with going to WDW.

Amen from a fellow para!

 

[ducklite]

I'll tell you why I do'nt feel that people in wheelchairs should get a discount. (Hear me out please!)

There are a lot of rides and attractions that aren't "accessible" to a lot of people for many reasons.

People with heart problems can't ride some rides that people in hweelchairs can ride.

People with vertigo or claustrophobia can't ride some rides that people in wheelchairs can ride.

People with cancer often don't have the stamina to spend more than a couple of hours a day in a park.

See where I'm going here? If you open up discounts to one class of people, you need to provide that discount to everyone in that class. Disabilities and medical conditions come in all shapes and sizes.

Disney World is incredibly accessible. I've been in a wheelchair on two trips after surgery to remove a tumor from my spine. While I was partially mobile, I was unable to ride any of the thrill rides while I was recovering. I didn't feel that I should get a discount, because there were still so many rides and shows that I could do.

Anne

 

[dclfun]

As a person in a power chair who cannot transfer and who has other equipment ( vent, feeding pump, service dog) there aren't alot of attractions that I can "ride" on yet I feel I'm getting a great value from visiting the parks with family and friends. I feel I *should* pay full price for my admission just like everyone as I am totally immersed in the atmosphere while I'm there and get a great value from my vacations. There would be too many variables for an exception to be made ( as mentioned by Ducklite) and besides, per the ADA, no one can be asked to provide proof of disability, so there would be no way for that to be done. To the OP, I'm sure this family will have a great vacation together as I have had many times in the past. ---Kathy

 

[eddieras]

thanks guys for all the great info - and as i said in my OP, before i had a chance to pour over everything it did not seem fair... but after having the time to read more and with all of your insightful comments (esp ducklite) i understand why there is no discount.

i fowarded all the info on - i'm sure they'll have a wonderful time! plus they're staying at AKL - my fav!!

thanks again!

 

[leanan]

The fireworks and parade make the cost of the ticket well worth the full price for even the most disabled person.They are fantastic. The amount of money that Disney pays for just the illuminations each night is astounding and points out that it is a very spectacular event.

So many other shows to see as well. I spent over 14 hours one day in MK and did not see everything and that was on an off season day where lines were small.

I would also just like to say that the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Event is one of the most value worthy events for disabled folks as there are so many shows to see for this that riding rides is nearly impossible. Each show was better than the last. It was such a cute event. We got our own special wishes at the end of the night. This is an event I would even pay the money to take my DD who has major sensory sensativity issues.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have always paid whatever was the full price for the age of our DD who has disabilities. She is not easy to transfer out, but we do get her onto anything that we are able.

There are many parks that are much less accessible - there are no rides that she can go on at a park nearby us and if we went to Universal, there are quite a lot less she can go on than WDW.
Even though the park tickets are expensive, it is actually less expensive than some places we could go. We've been to Wisconsin Dells and actually ended up spending more for 1/2 day there than WDW because each activity/attraction costs more.
And, I agree with the others who wrote that it would be very hard to determine who gets a discount and why.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions while staying in a wheelchair or ECV:

Some addendums to Allie's awesome list:
Magic Kingdom
it's a small world has a wheelchair-accessible boat. There's a lot of non-seat space (I think six or eight seats total) so there's plenty of empty space for even a large/long power chair.
CinderellaBration is gone, but there are other shows.
The Jungle Cruise has a boat that does not require a transfer - they put down a ramp, you ride the chair or ecv right onto a platform, the platform is then manually turned 90º so the Guest is facing forward, and then it's lowered to deck level.
Epcot
I think (but could be wrong) that at least one boat on the Living with the Land attraction is wheelchair accessible, with a lot of room - although not as much as small world.
Ellen's Energy Adventure, at least some of the attraction vehicles are wheelchair accessible. There seems to be enough room for a longer chair, but I was in a manual wheelchair so can't be sure.
ALL the 'small' scheduled shows can be viewed/enjoyed by anyone.
Turtle Talk with Crush
MGM
Similar to the ride vehicles at Universe of Energy, there's room for a wheelchair in each of the vehicles at The Great Movie Ride, although she may need to ride 'sideways'.
Streetmosphere shows.
Animation Tour
If she has use of her hands/arms (my apologies, I don't know what high level cervical injury entails/affects), she can participate in drawing a character.

 

[BillM]

My earlier post indicated that a discount might be reasonable. But I agree with the poster that it sure would be hard to figure out who had a disability.
That said I have never felt that I didn't get my moneys worth. People ask me why I like to go to Disney. I tell them that it is the most accessible place that I know to have a lot of enjoyment and Disney goes above and beyond to help people with problems of mobility.

 

[allie_to_you]

I'll tell you why I do'nt feel that people in wheelchairs should get a discount. (Hear me out please!)

There are a lot of rides and attractions that aren't "accessible" to a lot of people for many reasons.

People with heart problems can't ride some rides that people in hweelchairs can ride.

People with vertigo or claustrophobia can't ride some rides that people in wheelchairs can ride.

People with cancer often don't have the stamina to spend more than a couple of hours a day in a park.

See where I'm going here? If you open up discounts to one class of people, you need to provide that discount to everyone in that class. Disabilities and medical conditions come in all shapes and sizes.

Disney World is incredibly accessible. I've been in a wheelchair on two trips after surgery to remove a tumor from my spine. While I was partially mobile, I was unable to ride any of the thrill rides while I was recovering. I didn't feel that I should get a discount, because there were still so many rides and shows that I could do.

Anne

Great Post! MY DH is in a wheelchair and can't transfer so I see a lot of things he can't do while on our trips, but there are a lot he can do and we always have so much fun while we are there. I really appreciate your alternate view on looking at disabilities. You are absolutely right. Most people dont' look beyond the obvious walking disabilities that people have that would prevent them from enjoying certain attractions! Thanks for giving all of us something to think about -- very helpful!

 

[LindaDVC]

Our local zoo used to let folks in wheelchairs in free
BUT others with other disabilities complained so much that now everyone pays!

Our movie theatre also lets anyone in a wheelchair and their companion in free. Which is very nice of them.

My husband C45 Quad -- enjoys Disney very much although he can't do everything we always find plenty that we can do!

Linda

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A slightly different view of this.

About a month and a half ago I hosted an almost 17yo nephew who has been a member of ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) since age 8.

One evening, on the way home from a three-park day (don't ask) we stopped by "Old Town Amusement Park" where he knew about a coaster exisiting. I parked and he went on it. When he came back to the car he told me the coaster was about on a level with Goofy's Barnstomer. The cost to him for that one unthemed ride was $5.00. Compare that one very small ride cost to the cost of a four-day park hopper and think about, as ducklite says, everything that you get for your money.

 

[Schmeck]

I'm thinking that if WDW gives a discount for a disabled guest, will that make it legal for them to make the park less accessible? As in, "we accomodate by offering a discount". I know the ADA is written so this is not possible, but has it made it through a challenge yet?