Waterpark advice for wheelchair users?

[Mary976]

Hello all,

Thanks much for all the helpful responses to my post on restaurants! I'm so glad I found this board. My next question concerns the waterparks. DD (16) who uses a w/c is dying to go, but I'm worried about logistics. She can transfer very easily (and has taken swimming lessons), but I don't know how we would get her chair around or what we would do while we were there. Also, I can help her transfer in tight or awkward spaces, but she's too big for me to actually carry (plus she would hate that). Do any other w/c users have tips?

Thanks!
Mary

 

[OneLittleSpark]

OK, I would suggest Blizzard Beach over Typhoon Lagoon, as it was built more recently and access is a bit better.

The creek has a number of entry points with bump steps (don't know if you've encountered these or not, but they're concrete steps built up to the height of a wheelchair seat, which allow you to transfer across and 'bump' down into the water. They don't work for everyone, though) and there is 'parking space' for wheelchairs right next to it. It can be a little awkward getting into the ring, but that applies to everyone, not just wheelchair users .

The wave pool has a zero entry point, with a railed pathway, to stop the chair being shunted about too much (though the waves are gentle bobbers). You can, apparently, borrow a water chair from the towel rental places, but I've never done this.

The family raft ride is also wheelchair accessible, see this thread for more details.

Typhoon Lagoon is also perfectly do-able, though there is only 1 point with bump steps and none of the slides are accessible (LOTS of steps). The wave pool is zero entry, though, and has a range of different waves (at least it did, I didn't notice it doing different types the last few times I was there, but maybe I just missed that).

Here's the official WDW pages for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon with disabilities.

Have a great trip!

 

[Vijoge]

Typhoon Lagoon is also perfectly do-able, though there is only 1 point with bump steps and none of the slides are accessible (LOTS of steps). The wave pool is zero entry, though, and has a range of different waves (at least it did, I didn't notice it doing different types the last few times I was there, but maybe I just missed that).


Have a great trip!

Crush 'n' Gusher at Typhoon Lagoon is accessible. There is an elevator that will take you up to the entrance to the slides.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Oops! Sorry, didn't mean to mis-inform you there. I've never been on that one, so didn't realise (I'm more of a Castaway Creek kinda gal ).