water parks, elevator, and ski lift

[OrthoDad]

We are thinking of braving the water parks next year when we go. I've searched the forum, and there's not a lot out there, but I know that Cheshire Figment (and others!) posts some good info!

I have two sons with CP, one who has a good bit of upper extremity weakness; he also needs to be lifted for transfers. Both use chairs at WDW, although my other son can walk independently. We're going with my brother in law, who can help with the lifting, so we felt that this may be our only chance to try them out!

It looks like at TL, there's an elevator up to the Crush n' Gusher...does the elevator go to any other slides there? Gang-plank falls maybe? Realizing that I'm not asking for medical advice, but could my son and I ride with me doing most of the "holding on" for both of us? He actually rides everything else at all the parks....Mission space, RnR coaster...anything he will ride, but those rides have a pretty good seating system. I know they could do the lazy river and wave pool.

What about at BB? There's the chair lift there, and I know that we would need to bring the chair back down, but we should have enough hands to help with that. He couldn't do Summitt Plummet, but can we get to the other family slides from there? Teamboat Springs and/or Runoff Rapids?

Thank you in advance for any advice that anyone can give!

Wade

 

[Mary976]

We have not been to BB, only TL. My DD uses a wheelchair as well. She really enjoys both the lazy river and the surf pool. We do bring those "aqua sock" water shoes for her because one time she scraped up a foot during a transfer. She did manage the shark swim as well (she can swim using her upper body and you can't kick in the shark pool anyway).

Mine has good (well average for a teen girl) upper body stability, so we do ride Crush n Gusher. That's the only slide that has an elevator. Crush n Gusher actually has three slides, but all are pretty similar. However, it's a WILD ride. You can ride with one, two, or three people in the tubes. They are typical water slide inner tubes, but they are not open on the bottom of the seat, so that helps. For a two person tube, the smaller person sits in front, but "sit" isn't really accurate, as you are basically laying back in the tube, which would make it hard for you to hold on to your son. I'm not sure if you did a three person with you and brother in law in the front and back and your son in the middle if that might work the best??

There are handles you are supposed to hold, but I'm not sure if that's mandatory or not. When you get to the bottom, you crash into a pool, but at that point you could jump out and drag the tube (and your son) up to the side.

All that is to say, you don't necessarily need a lot of strength for this ride, it's more of an upper body stability thing. I would think you could maybe find some youtube videos of people that might give you a better idea of the ride. Also, if I were you I'd ride it by myself first. We try all kinds of crazy things with DD, but I think Crush n Gusher would be pushing it for a lot of people. There is a height requirement for it as well.

Good luck!
Mary

 

[OrthoDad]

Thanks so much! That description helps a lot! Like you, we try all kinds of things with DS, mostly because he insists on it!

Great advice about YouTube...we will look for it. And, that's great about the 3 person slide. I think between if he rode between me, my BIL, or my wife, we may be able to do it.

The other option is BB, which has that ski lift and a gondola for a wheelchair, that takes you up to the top of that mountain, which I THINK has access to the family slide.

Any other experiences out there? Thanks!