Wheelchair at Tom Sawyer Island

[Ambassador]

To answer an earlier post, Tom Sawyer Island is not very accessible. The raft will not take ECV's, and no ramp is available for wheelchairs to board the Raft. On the day we visited, the water level of the River created a rise of about nine inches. On the Island, all the attractions have numerous stairs, turns, and narrow passages.

It seemed strange that a wheelchair ramp leads to the Raft, but worse that none of the attractions were made accessible, especially because changes had been made since we last visited the Island a few years ago. Perhaps one could visit Aunt Polly's Dockside for ice cream and a good view of the Paddlewheel Riverboat, but a child would be frustrated and dissappointed that they could not do anything else there.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report.
It sounds like it has not changed a lot in the years siince we were there last.
When we were there last, DD had a narrow child's wheelchair (the total width of the wheelchair was less than 20 inches). A child with a very narrow wheelchair might be light enough to lift on and off the boat and also the size of the wheelchair would allow access where a wider wheelchair could not go.
But, basically Tom Sawyer's Island is only minimally accessibel.

 

[kidangel]

Thanks for letting us know. (I was the one that originally asked) We're lucky enough that we can choose to leave the chair "on the mainland" and go over to the island and let the kids get what they will from the experience. I can't remember exactly how far the walk to the Fort is, but if it's too much, our wheelchair user can enjoy some shade at Aunt Polly's while the kids burn off some steam.

 

[Ambassador]

The fort is a good distance, and crosses a narrow wooden planked bridge. Over the bridge there is a fairly level path below the Fort along the river's edge, with a view of the Thunder Mtn Railroad.