Trouble stepping down into rides

[Debbie-TN]

My cousin's knees are getting so bad that she can't ride any of the rides now that you have step down into, such as PotC, IASW, Jungle Cruise, Maelstrom, and the boat ride in Mexico. Do any of the rides have a special boat that you don't have to step down into?

 

[jmartinez1895]

I think that the jungle cruise has a boat that has a ramp for wheel chairs, but I could be wrong. If they do, I would think that you cousin should be able to use this. You did not metion it, but hte logs in splash mountian might be hard for her as well. She may want to get a wheel chair to help her out, if she is not doind so already. If she dosen't plan on geting one have her go by guest realtions and tell them about her trouble. They will be able to offer suggestions and will probable give her a GAC so that she can board some of the rides in a different area, an example would be Toy Story has a lot of stairs so if she has trouble with them she would get to use the line that wheel cahirs go in.

 

[SueM in MN]

My cousin's knees are getting so bad that she can't ride any of the rides now that you have step down into, such as PotC, IASW, Jungle Cruise, Maelstrom, and the boat ride in Mexico. Do any of the rides have a special boat that you don't have to step down into?

It's a Small World and the boat ride in Mexico have a wheelchair accessible boat with a ramp. That may or may not help. She would be able to walk onto the boat, but the seats are still very low, so sitting down and getting up is still not easy. There are also no grab bars to help you in getting up if you are using the ramp.
This is a picture of the Small World wheelchair boat.

Jungle Cruise has no way to avoid the step down unless you are riding in a wheelchair. There is a wheelchair boat, but it uses sort of a lift to put the wheelchair into the boat. Here's a picture of the lift being put into motion.

Pirates and Maestrom have only the low boats you are familiar with. There is no easier or different way to get in and no wheelchair accessible boats. One hint though - many people try to step all the way to the floor. It is easier to step first onto the seat and then take a second step down to the floor.

There are a few attractions with stairs that can be avoided by using the accessible boarding area (this does not mean a shorter wait). Toy Story Mania is one; Dinosaur is another.
There is information about Guest Assistance Cards (GAC) in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread - you can find that thread near the top of this board or by using the link in my signature. A GAC will not shorten the distance walked. It may help for the few attractions with stairs and with allowing her to board in a different place for attractions with moving walkways.

 

[Debbie-TN]

I tried to get her to use the boat on the Jungle Cruise, but she wouldn't do it. She needs knee replacements, but won't have them done. She uses a cane and walks very slowly, but she doesn't want to take up the space where someone who really needs help might have to wait. I did talk her into getting on Haunted Mansion through the back so they could stop the belt because she has a hard time getting off the ride. She felt so bad about it after she got off that she started crying. I kept telling her that it was ok because we didn't want her to fall and end up in the hospital, but now she just won't ride the things that she use to love. Then I feel bad for making her wait for me while I ride. The trip in December was not too much fun. We have a trip planned for May and I'm trying to find other ways for her to get on the rides. Oh, by the way, she doesn't like, Dinosaur or Toy Story Mania because they are too jerky and I won't ride Splash Mtn. I had forgotten about the special boat in IASW. Maybe she will use it.

 

[SueM in MN]

I tried to get her to use the boat on the Jungle Cruise, but she wouldn't do it. She needs knee replacements, but won't have them done. She uses a cane and walks very slowly, but she doesn't want to take up the space where someone who really needs help might have to wait. I did talk her into getting on Haunted Mansion through the back so they could stop the belt because she has a hard time getting off the ride. She felt so bad about it after she got off that she started crying. I kept telling her that it was ok because we didn't want her to fall and end up in the hospital, but now she just won't ride the things that she use to love. Then I feel bad for making her wait for me while I ride. The trip in December was not too much fun. We have a trip planned for May and I'm trying to find other ways for her to get on the rides. Oh, by the way, she doesn't like, Dinosaur or Toy Story Mania because they are too jerky and I won't ride Splash Mtn. I had forgotten about the special boat in IASW. Maybe she will use it.

What kind of things is she interested in seeing?

If you can give some examples, we can help you with ideas of how to do them safely.

Do keep in mind that for the IASW boat, the seat is still very low to get into - it's just that she could walk down the ramp. My FIL, who is now deceased, had bad knees and hips. He swore that the seat on the ramped IASW seats felt even lower. They are not, but because of walking on the ramp, it might look that way.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Thanks Sue. We go two or three times a year, and until the trip last December, she had been doing a lot of the rides. We don't have any trouble with the shows, it's really just the rides I mentioned earlier that she used to love to ride, and now can't. We like most everything except any of the Mtns. and ToT. I already ride some of them by myself like Dinosaur, Toy Story Mania, Rock 'N Roller Coaster, Test Track, and Star Tours because they're too jerky for her. I just wish there was an easier way to get into the boat rides, like Living With the Land. Since we arrive with an ECV, they put us in row 1 where it has the ramp to walk down to the seat.