Accessibility of Halcyon?

[lanejudy]

Folks - I would really like to keep this thread for information about accessible accommodations and activities onboard the Galactic Starcruiser. Please start a new thread if you wish to discuss ECV vs powerchair differences.

 

[Lewisc]

There is no doubt the Halcyon at least meets minimum ADA requirements. The experience is $$$. I doubt you'll find a poster who "cruised" the Starcruiser and has the exact same limitations you have. Anyone who is thinking about spending $$$ needs to get someone on the phone and make sure you're happy with whatever accommodations that are available. An example THIS IS HYPOTHETICAL I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TRUE IT IS....if most of the accommodations involve alternate activities done on your tablet, datapad, the experience may not be worth the $$$

 

[RoseGold]

**SPOILER** I've watched a few spoilers since the start of this thread, thinking about the crawling one in particular. In all the ones I watched, I didn't see anything problematic to a normal-ish sized chair, assuming the blacked out cargo van to HS is accessible, which isn't quite clear. I would assume it is because it seems big enough? Or maybe they'd have a backup van to put you in? And yea, they need to move the hand sanitizer blocking the elevator buttons.

Everything seemed fine to me otherwise. I'm including the bathrooms, the public bathrooms, the food spreads, the elevator buttons, room for the chair in the room, the light sabers, the missions to peripheral rooms and such. Maybe there are some elements with crawling and ladders, I don't have a problem with that. I assume they could customize the story to leave that out for you. To be fair, I have seen many Disney guests without chairs that I would guess can't crawl. Even the dining room seemed to have normal chairs and room to move them around, which is better than a lot of really crowded Disney dining.

 

[SueM in MN]

I‘ve watched a bunch of videos also and everything I‘ve seen looks fine.
This article doesn’t give any specific details, but does say the transports to Batuu are both ECV and wheelchair accessible, which I have read in other places. From the pictures/videos I’ve seen, it looks accessible.
I copied the whole text about accessibility from the article:
»Accessibility
The Galactic Starcruiser experience has been made accessible for people who have physical disabilities — from the activities in various spaces in the ship.

“We have accessible room-types, cabins, all of that has been thought of,” said Stephen Lim, guest experience manager for Starcruiser. “Our transports from the Halcyon to Batuu are accessible for wheelchairs and ECVs. We even have ECV charging stations in the corridors by the cabins.

A sensory guide is also available for passengers who have autism. It might contain spoilers to some of the show elements because some of them have unexpected encounters.

There’s also an option for those who need sign language during the experience. That feature would need to be reserved two weeks in advance or when the voyage is booked. »

I need to rewatch Molly from AllEars video again, but I thought the adventure that involved a ‘secret exit’ down a slide was optional and I thought I read that guests could use the same way they came in rather than the slide. I agree with @RoseGold that there would be some visitors who would not be capable of using the slide and some who would choose not to do it, even if they were able.

 

[SueM in MN]

Found this on AllEars write up.
« The Engineering Room is a children’s play area, themed to the ship’s engine room. Younger guests can crawl around and help perform maintenance on the ship’s vital systems. »

So, the slide sounds like it’s made for kids, but adults could use

 

[gap2368]

The Tim tracker just posted a video on accessible and he said ECV can not be parked in rooms or in hallway but wheelchair can be parked in the rooms and there are accessible rooms onboard

 

[SueM in MN]

I read a review from a family who were in an accessible cabin. It was on a private Facebook page and the child using a wheelchair was on a Make A Wish trip, so I can’t post a link. Here’s a summary.
ROOM
- roll in shower had a fold down bath bench in the shower
- the child was able to reach the shower controls while seated on the bench
- bathroom was not divided; everything was in the same room to have room for manouvering
- toilet had grab bars
- room had enough room for manouvering and wheelchair in room
- bed was not lowered height, which led to some trickier transfers

SHIP & EXPERIENCES
- everything was reported as accessible
- one portion of the bridge ops training was difficult for her daughter to see over the monitor
- the one picture of her DD was the same manual wheelchair as my daughter uses. My DD is 5 feet tall; comparing the picture with my DD, the child probably sat 5 or 6 inches lower than my DD.

 

[Dewbeedoo]

I'm wondering about accommodations for people with hearing impairments who don't use ASL, like some sort of captioning device for the atrium scenes. If the rooms are "echo-y" at all or have background noise from people (understandably) shouting out, those big group "scenes" seem like they'd be hard to follow.

 

[ttintagel]

I’m also guessing that since so much of the missions seem screen-based, it may not be doable for everyone with vision issues.

 

[Lewisc]

I’m also guessing that since so much of the missions seem screen-based, it may not be doable for everyone with vision issues.

Why?.Screen readers are used all the time.

 

[Groot]

I'm wondering about accommodations for people with hearing impairments who don't use ASL, like some sort of captioning device for the atrium scenes. If the rooms are "echo-y" at all or have background noise from people (understandably) shouting out, those big group "scenes" seem like they'd be hard to follow.

Well, one thing that they can do is have a hearing loop for people with hearing aids/Cochlear Implants.

 

[ttintagel]

Why?.Screen readers are used all the time.

For some things on some screens, sure. But there’s also a lot of gray area in between “I can play video games like anyone else” and “A screen reader is helpful for me.”

 

[Evita_W]

Q. Where can I park my ECV or scooter during my Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser voyage?
A. There are designated ECV or scooter parking locations on each deck of the starcruiser. ECVs or scooters cannot be stored in the cabin or in hallways.

This right here is problematic, as this would require you to leave your device in a publicly accessible location, which as many of us have mentioned on here is a BAD idea. Not to mention how do you get to and from your device?

 

[Evita_W]

I wonder when the news will get out that the accessible cabins are larger than the regular cabins for the same price. On a real cruise they require proof of disability for you to reserve an accessible cabin. But for the Halcyon it's just a click away on the website and anyone could reserve it. I see some major abuse coming with this one and because of that having a very hard time booking an accessible room.

Yes and the reason they can require proof on a cruise ship is because it isn't governed by the same ADA laws, hotels in the U.S. can't require proof, so that may prove to be a problem here.

 

[SueM in MN]

The ‘data pads’ that are used for the experiences at the Halcyon and during excursion to Batuu have been confirmed to be iPhones/iPads playing in a specific section of the Play Disney Parks app. Reviewers have said they were given a data pad with it loaded because it had not been added to the app. A couple indicated they were told that guests would be able to use their own devices in the future.
The game play for the voyage looks like a bunch of text messages, so could be played by anyone who can read them. This screenshot is from Molly at AllEars video.




The app had an update, at least on the Apple App Store a week ago and there is now a locked Galactic Starcruiser section. It requires a Starcruiser reservation for access.

I have had the app for a while, but haven’t really played it, so I don‘t know if there is any option to the messages read to you and dictate replies. The app itself doesn’t have a TOOLS menu, but the screenshot of the Starcruiser game shows one.

 

[SueM in MN]

This right here is problematic, as this would require you to leave your device in a publicly accessible location, which as many of us have mentioned on here is a BAD idea. Not to mention how do you get to and from your device?

We don’t know where it would be left, whether it would be a publicly accessible location and who would have access it to.
Until someone actually reports, we don’t know anything except that Disney has said the location would not be the hallway and would include charging ports. It’s possible that it could be a secure location, accessed by Magicband (guests get a special Halcyon one at check in). If so, the code for the door could be changed as easily as hotel room doors.
If the guest is not traveling alone, another member of the group could possibly bring it to and from the room. Or they may have cast members who can take care of that on request. Hopefully, there will be reports soon.

 

[SueM in MN]

This report doesn’t really have much specific information, but the writer is legally blind. He especially enjoyed the light saber Experience despite not being able to see the blade.
Starcruiser review by Gray Houser

 

[bluecruiser]

According to an article on Blog Mickey, Disney temporarily closed the Starcruiser reservation phone line yesterday due to the Starcruiser being booked solid for the next 4 months. Or maybe not fully booked ... there might be a website glitch so the line remains closed.

The Starcruiser will be taking reservations again starting tomorrow March 4. Hopefully @SteveMouse or someone else will be able to get more accessibility information soon.

 

[SteveMouse]

What!!?? A glitch with Disney IT??

I’m hopeful that DisAbility Services comes through with info. If there is indeed only one accessible cabin, there is likely to be huge demand for it, especially from Make-A-Wish families.

Only one accessible cabin is also disappointing since it limits the opportunity for people who use wheelchairs to go with a group of wheelchair users. (Or two couples, who want separate cabins, where one individual in each party uses a chair.

i will also try to find out if some of the non-wheelchair accessible cabins have anything like grab bars anywhere. One would think that on a starship. Having a handhold would be a good thing. Especially if one runs into turbulence or needs to take action to avoid a boarding party.

 

[mamabunny]

What!!?? A glitch with Disney IT??

I’m hopeful that DisAbility Services comes through with info. If there is indeed only one accessible cabin, there is likely to be huge demand for it, especially from Make-A-Wish families.

Only one accessible cabin is also disappointing since it limits the opportunity for people who use wheelchairs to go with a group of wheelchair users. (Or two couples, who want separate cabins, where one individual in each party uses a chair.

i will also try to find out if some of the non-wheelchair accessible cabins have anything like grab bars anywhere. One would think that on a starship. Having a handhold would be a good thing. Especially if one runs into turbulence or needs to take action to avoid a boarding party.

If the Halcyon hits a Zero Gravity speed bump, *everyone* is gonna want one of those handholds LOL...