Rides where you can stay in a wheelchair
My father is in a wheelchair, paralyzed on his rt side, and I'd like to take him to Disneyland during our visit in June for at least a half day- not sure he could handle more than that. What rides are you able to stay in a wheelchair?
And what is the process for getting him a GAC?
Thanks!
Being in a wheelchair, he won't need a GAC.Originally Posted by rentayenta
My father is in a wheelchair, paralyzed on his rt side, and I'd like to take him to Disneyland during our visit in June for at least a half day- not sure he could handle more than that. What rides are you able to stay in a wheelchair?
And what is the process for getting him a GAC?
Thanks!
Rides he can do in the chair will be Buzz Lightyear, The Carousel, Jungle Cruise, IASW, Captain EO, Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, and Innoventions are there ones I can think of. I believe the rest he will have to transfer if he wants to ride.
Planning 3 trips at once...
Thank you!!!! I am not sure about transferring him too much. I am not strong but he can bear some weight on his left side. His speech is not understandable and I would hate to cause him pain. He loves POTC though so we might have to try that, Haunted Mansion too. He tires easily as well.
His care facility is very close so it will be easy to take him back when he wants.
How does it work as far as waiting in line? Do we go through the exits?
He can also access the Tiki Room (I think), the Mark Twain, Winnie the Pooh, the Train from New Orleans station and the Marine Observation Outpost on Nemo...
Churros anyone??
Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?
You can check with the CM at the attraction entrance. It may be different for each attraction.
Churros anyone??
Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?
All while in his wheelchair? Awesome!!!!! That is a full day for him right there. This is great, thank you!
Duh- perfect, thank you again!
He hasn't been to Disneyland since 2005 I think, before his stroke and I would love to do this for him. It was our very favorite place when I was a child. I have okayed it with his care facility.
In Disneyland, the majority of the rides HA lines are accessed through the exit. The trains are accessible at all but the Main St station. Make sure you let them know he needs to stay in the chair. There are special boats for both IASW and Jungle Cruise.
On the Mark Twain, go to the entrance and let the person know you will be waiting at the side entrance. They will make sure you can enter the boat.
Planning 3 trips at once...
perfect- thank you!!!
Awesome info- thanks!
Tiki room has a lift that lifts you up to the theatre level. I used it in my ecv last October, and plan to do it again in 3 weeks.
Siggy aka Jill
Will you be going to DCA as well? If yes, then...
he can stay in his chair, if you go to Monsters, Inc. and Toy Story Midway Mania. You have to go thru the regular lines for both (which is a real pain, all the back & forth thru the lines, but when you get to the end, just tell the CM he needs to stay in the chair and they'll get the vehicle for you.
It can sometimes take quite a while to get the wheelchair vehicle to come back around, but it will get there eventually. For TSMM, you have to go further down the queue area, past the stairs, to get to the wheelchair end of things, and for MI, you just go a little further over from where they doing the regular loading.
It would be a lot easier for us, if they'd allow us to go thru the exit for MI and go in where there is a gate near the entrance to the TSMM queue, since it puts you in the area for going down to the wheelchair loading area, but they don't.
Also, he can stay in his chair to see the Aladdin show, but the area where they have the wheelchairs sit is VERY slanted! I couldn't stay in my chair, because the pitch puts you way forward and my brakes wouldn't keep me from moving, straight down into the backs of the seats in front of you, because of how it slants down! So I had to get out of my chair, sit in a seat and then the CM took my wheelchair away. They won't bring the chair back in for you at the end, you have to have someone in your party fight the crowds getting out, to get out to where they put the chairs, then have to fight the crowds again, going against traffic, to get back in, to get it to you, so you can exit, after all the others!
It's a real drag, as it would be so much easier and make much more sense, since the CMs know when the show is ending, if they could bring your chair back in to where you're seated, but they won't do that!
Something else for DL, it's not a RIDE, but the castle walk-thru has an alternate viewing room, as you're going into the castle area, on the right side. It's certainly not the same as the walk-thru, it's a video, but it's something else you can do without having to get out of your chair for.
There is a special wheelchair vehicle for the Pooh attraction, so he can stay in his chair for that and you can sit behind him in the same vehicle.
I haven't done Pirates in a long time, and seldom do it in general, since you have to climb down into (as well as back out of) the boat to ride it and it's really hard on my knees and back to do that. It might be really difficult to lower him down into and back up out of the boat, unless you have super strength. The CMs will NOT help you do this, so you might want to rethink doing it.
Also, for Mansion, you'll get to go down the side of the hallway, next to the windows, to get to the Doom buggies, but you'll have to ask them to stop the belt, so he can transfer from his chair to get into the buggy. You'll stay in the vehicle past the regular exit, come back around to where you were loaded in, then go back down the side of the hallway and wait for the elevator ("stretching room") to unload, before going in and riding the room back up to the top to exit. It's interesting to watch the paintings go back to their original positions.
Getting around the parks in general can be hard to do, especially if it's at all crowded, since so many people there will run into the chair without looking, run right in front of you to get past you, etc. There have even been parents who will look, see us coming, and then push their kids out in front of the chair, to get past us! It's not a very fun thing, for the rider or the driver.
Going in June will be crowded, as well as very sunny, so you'll want to consider having him wear a hat, sun screen or have some other form of sun protection. I'm very sun sensitive, always have to wear a hat and sunglasses, so I'm always looking for shade to wait in, instead of just sitting in my chair in the sun, while we discuss the next thing to do or whatever.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
I hope this info is helpful and that you have a good time.
Karen W2
To clarify, CMs cannot physically assist the disabled person on any of the rides. They can hold the chair to help you, but cannot assist with lifting or carrying. The reason is safety and liability. They could hurt themselves or the person they are lifting.
One thing on POTC. If there is a mechanical breakdown, you will need to be able to get your relative out, which could include climbing stairs. I too would reconsider this ride.
Planning 3 trips at once...
Good to know, thank you!
Thanks for the hat tip! Good idea, I would hate for him to get burned. I really appreciate you taking the time to explain in great detail. This will be new for all of us and want him to have a magical time.
Looks like POTC will be out. I am not physically strong in any sense, rather petite actually so we will stick to wheelchair accessible rides.
Last edited by adriennek; 04-30-2010 at 03:09 PM. Reason: Excessive Quoting Deleted.
There's also an alternate viewing room for Nemo.
Adrienne
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Thank you!
In Aladdin we were put in the top behind the seats and it was not slanted at all, MIL was able to stay on her ECV for it.
Oh, soarin', he would have to be able to transfer, but you can roll right up to the seat, like you would a car, standup and shift and sit back down. Could be possible.
Something else you might want to consider
Hi renta,
Something else you'll want to think about for the wheelchair. Be sure to bring a pillow of some sort for him to sit on during his time in the chair. The chair I have currently doesn't have any support or padding of any kind, so I went out, bought a couple of black pillowcases and put one of my bed pillows inside and keep it with my chair at all times.
It really helps, especially if you have to be in the chair for an extended time and for going over all those blasted "themed" pavements, thru out the parks!
Karen W2
The Jungle Cruise was great You don't have to get out of your chair or ECV. The hardest thing for me was Matterhorn. I had a hard time getting out, as I don't have alot of strength in my left leg. Somehow I figured it out. Soarin is so awesome, if you can get him onto the ride chair. It would make him feel so free. I went on it twice and wish we had gone on more!
Siggy aka Jill
Thats why I said soarin', its like standing up to sit back down in a car (mini-van height). You really don't even have to "climb" up. You just need someone to steady the seat it rocks just a bit. I love soarin' I could see how it would make you feel free Siggy, glad you had a good trip.
Thanks so much Candles. I hope your dad has a good time.
Siggy aka Jill
Hi;
Just wondering if you could report on your Disney trip with your dad.
I would so love to take a friend of mine that had a stroke about 2 yrs ago, He
is 52 yrs young and paralyzed on the left side.
He would not be able to be transferred, so I was thinking some shows, lunch and
maybe some of the rides listed?
Any information is greatly appreciated as I'm just really not sure
on this one. I don't want to tire him out or cause over stimulation.
kinda scary but I'm always up for a challenge and I'm definitely up for
this one!
PS how do we get him on the tram?? Is it very difficult?
On the tram, there will be a ramp up and from there he can roll into place. There are also van shuttle in the parking area that can take him I believe. MammaSilva should be along to help with this.
Planning 3 trips at once...
Thanks Malcon10t!!! Sounds easy enough with Tram loading. Where do we park?
Lower areas of the structure would be best? Maybe we tell them as we enter the structure?
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