What WDW tour do you recommend for a wheelchair user?

[BillSears]

I'm thinking about taking another tour in May and I'd like some suggestions. I've already done the Keys to the Kingdom tour and I loved it! I've done Behind the Seeds many times and it's a great little tour. I'm pretty sure all of the cool Segway tours will not be accessible...wouldn't it be cool if they gave you an iBOT to play with.

Anyway I was thinking maybe I'd try one of these:

Wild by Design - This is the AK tour that focuses more on the park design and less on the animals. Park design is more my style, I like to know the thought that goes into the architecture and to see the little things.

Undiscovered Future World - It's an EPCOT tour that doesn't use the Segways. I'd prefer something that focused just on the World Showcase but this may be my only option.

Backstage Magic - A 3 park tour at 3 times the price! It looks interesting but sounds like one heck of a long day.


So have I missed any tour that would be great? Do you think any one of the above stands out as a must see? Have you taken any of these tours and would recommend them to a wheelchair user?

 

[peemagg]

What about the one on the trains at MK? I would think that that one might be doable, but I am not certain since I have not done it myself.

Of the ones mentioned above, I think I would choose the one at AK, but that is just my opinion.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I've done Backstage Magic. It is pretty much an all day tour and it does include lunch. And it is accessible.

 

[Mary976]

We did the animal one at AK and had a blast. The other AK one sounds good too. When I called to make the reservation I told them DD used a wheelchair so they'd have an accessible vehicle for us and it was a good thing because for parts of the tour, they drive you around in one of those big 15 passenger vans. There is no way she would have been able to transfer because the floor of the vehicle is so high.

Anyway, I always rely on your trip reports for good advice, so please let us know how it goes!

Mary

 

[kaytieeldr]

Bill, I absolutely loved Wild by Design (taken using an ECV). I had the especially unique experience of finding myself the ONLY Guest on that tour that day - sort of a VIP tour without the cost It was 100% accessible.

I had seen the History Channel special on how the parks and certain attractions were designed or built, and thought it would be fascinating to learn more.

I thought Undiscovered Future World was interesting too, but there was one point where I did need to use stairs. I'm sure there's a backstage elevator somewhere - I think this was at The Living Seas, to visit the VIP lounge.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I thought Undiscovered Future World was interesting too, but there was one point where I did need to use stairs. I'm sure there's a backstage elevator somewhere - I think this was at The Living Seas, to visit the VIP lounge.

There is an elevator to upstairs at The Living Seas and it is right next to the stairs.

 

[BillSears]

Thanks guys. So far I'm leaning towards the Wild by Design.

 

[zaksmom]

The names of the tours might not be exact but...We've done Wild by Design (which is different each time depending on which animal they decide to showcase; fantastic tour we'll probably do it again next visit); Backstage Animal Kingdom tour (the large male rhino was scared by my son's wheelchair, charged a little - safely behind big Jurassic Park cages!, but they found him another rhino to have a meet and greet with after the others met with the first rhino - very accomodating, private meeting); Mickey's Magical Milestones in MK (this was a great tour to do at a busy time - did it on Memorial Day - private meeting with Minnie and Mickey, special train ride, front of line at Fantasmic, it's only two hours, lots of good info and a surprise); Gardens of the world (only at the time of the Flower and Garden Festival - great if you enjoy horticulture; explains the why and the way they design, a little backstage, and you go to World Showcase before it opens - great pictures); Behind the Seeds; Lunch with an Imagineer (this was expensive but it is an intimate about 3 hour lunch and meeting with an Imagineer -- different specialties so it would depend on your interests whether it would be interesting - we loved it); there used to be a guided tour of Morocco - we loved this tour but I'm not sure if they still do it. We are also waiting for a non-segue world showcase tour! No problem with wheelchairs. The Animal Kingdom Wild by Design had head sets so you didn't miss anything if the wheelchairs gets squeezed away from the tour for a second by a crowd! Have fun.

 

[zaksmom]

bumped this thread back up to see if anyone had experienced the behind the scenes train tour with a wheelchair. Thought it would be interesting. Not always confident with the generic info from disney and like to get it from the "horse's mouth." Thanks

 

[BillSears]

bumped this thread back up to see if anyone had experienced the behind the scenes train tour with a wheelchair. Thought it would be interesting. Not always confident with the generic info from disney and like to get it from the "horse's mouth." Thanks

I've never done the train tour but I would think most of it wouldn't be accessible unless you can walk. I'm sure a lot of it is climbing all over the trains and walking around a rail yard. Those rails are rough to get over on wheels.