Universal with Disabilities

[PigSoldier]

I'm going to Orlando next week, and will hopefuly go to Universal Studios and IOA with my sister, who's in a wheelchair.
Over a year ago, I asked Universal for their guide for people with disabilities, which they told me they were re-printing and would be available in a few weeks. I've got that same answer every time I've asked, so I'm hoping someone here can help me out.
How accessible is Universal? My sister can only walk a few steps, are there any rides she'd have to miss out on? What's their queueing system like?
I've also read about special disabled tickets, what's the difference between these and regular tickets?

Thankyou for all your help

 

[Wheelsie]

I have my chair....I can't get up and leave it...
I can ride everything at Universal except Back to the Future.....
At IOA the ONLY thing I can do ride-wise is Suess Landing....feel free to email or PM me if you need more help

Im going to be there Nov 5 to 12

 

[nancycels]

avoid IOA... universal studios however was much better... prefer dis and sea world
myself, but... uni studios isn't bad! lots to see and do, lots of it very accessible. We had
a really hard time at IOA, although others say that hasn't been their experience at all.
Wherever u go, hope u have a ball!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Wheelsie,

I am just back from WDW with a side trip to Universal Studios. I cannot transfer out of my Electric wheelchair so checked at Guest Relations immediately on entry. I was told that only three rides were not possible, Jaws (boat), Men in Black (Chair too heavy for ride, maunual would have been OK), and Back to Future (must transfer to ride car). The person I spoke to double checked with her supervisor.

I was turned away to first ride I attemped (San Francisco Path Earthquake ride). They had a wheelchair car, even loaded me on and strapped my chair in. Then supervisor arrived and had me unloaded. This person told me my earlier advice at Guest relations was wrong, took me back to guest relations for a refund. Left the park, but wasted a day of my vacation.

On the way out another staff member admitted to me that powered wheelchairs were being allowed on that ride just two weeks earlier. Either Universal has changed its policy recently, or their staff don't know the rules. Check before you go.

That said, Universal is probably worth a day trip just for the stage shows where you will have no problem. I enjoyed Terminator 2 - 3D and the Tornado show.

Andrew

 

[Alaska]

Andrew,

You are a remarkable person for chalking up the Universal fiasco to just a lost vacation day and looking at the bright side (i.e. that the shows were great). Many would be outraged at being taken off of a ride and I must admit that it raises my hackles to hear that you were treated that way.

Thank you for sharing your experience at Universal. We were thinking of taking our 7 year old son there for a day during our Orlando trip. He too cannot transfer from his chair unless we put him in a special car seat. I would hate to have him get his hopes up for a ride only to be taken off.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Alaska,

As I understand it, The ride supervisor was unhappy with the fact my wheelchair was powered (don't ask me why - I don't think *HE* knew why and was just covering his ?*@#). As I was unloaded, someone in a manual chair took my place, was strapped down and rode off. There was even a manual chair parked up next to the ride for me to use had I been able to transfer.

If your son is in a manual chair, or if you can lift him into one, he should be able to ride.

I even suspect the supervisor was new on the job, unsure of himself and got it wrong. Whether you want to take a chance on that however, is another matter.

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with you, Alaska, about Andrew's experience and his reaction to it. It was a terrible experience and his reaction was much nicer than a lot of us would have managed. The last time we went to Universal was about 8 years ago (can't remember exactly). DD can't transfer out herself, but we were able to lift her out and transfer her to most rides where she couldn't stay in her wheelchair. I'm not sure about your son's special seat though. They may not like it that it's loose and they have nothing to tie it down. You might try posting on the Universal Board and see if you get any answers.

 

[Alaska]

Thanks Sue and Andrew for the suggestions. My son's car seat is actually self tethering.
If we decide to go to Universal I will use your suggestions

 

[SueM in MN]

Is it a Tumbleforms seat? I have seen kids in the WDW parks with their Tumbleforms seats and wondered how they got them to stay put on rides.

 

[Wheelsie]

I'm truly sorry about your experience It just angers me (as I know you took it better than I am LOL) to no end to know that you had to take the time to be strapped on....as well as go thru that boring stage show...all for naught

It also angers me that you were not told of these rules when you inquired....were you even asked at GS if transfer was possible so you wouldn't have (hopefully) wasted your day? This just burns my butt!

Again I'm really sorry....being in a manual chair I guess I take alot more for granted than I think I do....I apologize.

 

[dan-tot]

I took my sister to Universal in December last year. She needs a chair because she cannot walk long distances. We went on ET they have a special car that you strap the chair down and lock the wheels. King Kong she transfered to the front seat from the chair but if we wanted to we could have had her ride in her chair. Earthquake should be the same I have not taken her to this ride because I think it is rather lame and alot of wasted time for the experience. We went through a special door for the terminator show it was to the left of the front door if you are facing it. That was a good show. They don't put you in front becasue the actors are running in the esiles during the show. We went to see Barney and the theater is much like that of the tiki birds but much bigger. Barney is my sister's favorite so we went. I wouldn't go on the hana barbara ride. They put you on the floor where there is no motion, so you will not benefit from the ride. Jaws was down but I was told that you could take a chair on the boat. I will find out on the 9th of December when we are there next. Twister has no problem, you are put into the first row this is like the back stage tour at Disney where they have the submarine shoot the tugboat. My sister uses a manual chair so I am not sure what the problem is with electric chairs except the weight of the chair itself. Hope this helps. Oh I also found out they have only two family restrooms. One in the front and one in the back of the park.

Dan-tot

 

[Wheelsie]

I did Jaws last week....it is a stay-in-your-chair ride...and is fun...a little hokey...but fun

 

[Alaska]

Yes Sue. It is a Tumbleforms seat. The Carrie seats and Carrie Bus seats have straps that will go around an automobile seat or bench seat. I believe the Carrie Seat in the elementary size is approved for use on an airplane. The Carrie Seat straps go around the seat horizontally. The Carrie Bus Seat strap goes around a seat vertically.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the info, Alaska. I was interested in that.
As for the wheelchair question, most power wheelchairs have the same "footprint" (fit in about the same space) as a manual wheelchair, but the weight difference is tremendous. My DD's manual chair weighs about 40 pounds. It is a lightweight one; the rental wheelchairs probably weigh about 70-80 pounds. Her power wheelchair weighs almost 300 pounds without her in it.
in addition, if a manual chair needs to be tied down for the ride, there are lots of places where the straps can be attached. For power wheelchairs, it is usually easy to tie down in the front, but getting the tiedowns attached in a secure place can sometimes be quite a challenge.

 

[lisapooh]

Sue, if the ride operators would take the time to listen to the power chair user or their companion they would have a lot easier time of it. They usually can point out the best place too tie down their chair.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree that sometimes the bus drivers/ ride operators don't listen as well as they should. Sometimes, though, it's not a matter of knowing where to tie it down, but that it's a tight place to thread something thru.
My DD's power chair is a pretty common model. The front is easy to tie down, but the safe place on the back involves threading a belt thru a place about as wide as my finger about 8 inches off the ground. The school bus drivers wanted to tie it by using the back uprights that support the seat and armrests - not a safe place. I finally got a power tiedown for my van because it was putzy, time consuming and difficult for me to thread it thru in the space I had to work with in our van. And I had space on both sides of the van where the bus drivers have to work with the chair very close to the side of the bus. They finally got some straps that are permanently attached to the correct place on her chair. They are made for the tiedown straps to go thru and it's very quick to attach it up using them.
I have also suggested putting a bit of bright colored tape on the places where the tiedowns should be attached. I have done that and bus drivers have said it helped them a lot.