Wheelchair friend

[skeletor40]

Good morning fellow Disney lovers. A friend and I are going to Disney World in May. She hasn't been to Disney in over twenty years and is excited about returning. However she has had hip surgery and can't walk for long distances without being in a wheelchair. Walking for long distances also hurts her feet which I believe have also been operated on.

I have made changes to the Disney trip to make it more relaxing for her. A sit down meal every day. Skipping the thrill rides like EE or ToT. Going back to the hotel (POFQ) every afternoon for rest time. Deciding on the major rides to go on. Just part of the Disney planning which I love to do.

My question is this and I realize it sounds a little odd. How are people in wheelchairs treated in Disney World? Again I realize this is a strange question. However I have always received good advice on these boards and need some now.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Guests in wheelchairs (and ECVs) are treated by Disney equally to every other Guest, except where attraction access needs to be provided in an alternate manner/location due to ride or queue design.

Well, no, wait. At most shows, Guests in wheelchairs enter first due to specific seating needs; on Disney buses, if you use them, you - well, she - will wait in a designated spot toward the rear of where the bus will pull up. Guests in wheelchairs/ECVs board the bus first, and exit last.

Simply see the Greeter at each attraction for direction.

Unless she is in severe, constant pain or under instruction from her physician not to overstress the operation site, there's actually no reason she CAN'T ride EE, ToT, etc.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I am 67 and have had hip replacement surgery last year. I have no problem with boarding or exiting almost any attraction, including ToT and EE. The only one that may be extra difficult (but still doable) is Space Mountain.

The consenus is that WDW is the best place for vacation for people with just about any type of disability.

I would suggest you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

At DHS and AK all of the lines are mainstreamed, which means that a person in a wheelchair or ECV will be able to go all the way into the boarding area, and in most situations directly into the attraction, without needing a special entry. At EC most of the lines are mainstreamed, and at MK many of the attractions, especially the newer ones, are also mainstreamed.

I think your idea of a sit down meal daily, as well as going back to the room for a midday break, are excellant ideas.

Also, I would suggest that she consider the use of an electic mobility scooter (an ECV) rather than a wheelchair. Most people at WDW tend to walk 7-9 miles per day; unless a person is used to wheeling (or pushing) a wheelchair it can get extremely tiring (and there are hills which you don't notice until you are in a chair).

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Disney is absolutely wonderful for those of us on wheels! There are curb cuts everywhere you might need them, almost everything is nice and accessible (the obvious exceptions being Swiss Family and Tom Sawyer), and as long as she can transfer easily enough, the rides shouldn't be a problem.

As for the Cast, I have very rarely found anyone to be blunt or even mildly rude, and I think those I met would have been the same if I was on my feet. At Disney I find I get talked to directly, I have yet to notice a patronising note in anyone's voice, no one expects my family to answer questions for me and I even get handed my own change in shops (if you've never been out with someone in a wheelchair, these points may not seem exciting and 'different', but for me they're a refreshing change)!

All in all, Disney is the most wheelchair friendly place I've been, and I don't just mean this in terms of physical access.

Have a great trip!

 

[lovetoscrap]

And if you both wear pink tiaras it is even more fun!

Bad photo below, but we were both in ECV's and wore our tiaras every day. (I'm in the blue sweatshirt) We had a great time and were called Princesses and had no problems getting around.

Of course not everyone is the tiara wearing type. We were with a group of 5-8 others and we couldn't convince any of the rest of them to buy tiaras! Just know that Disney is probably one of the best places to be in a wheelchair!

 

[SueM in MN]

Just saying to what the others wrote.
We have been coming to WDW since 1988 with a child in a wheelchair (she's now 22 yrs old) and I wish the rest of our life was as accessible.

Besides the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is an also an Epcot FAQs that is sort of under construction near the top of this board.