Disney not as wheelchair friendly as I hoped

[jo-jo]

Flights of Passage at AK also has steeply ramped, but ADA compliant ramps. Another The comes to mind - Small World also has a very steep dedicated access ramp for entry and uses the regular steep exit ramp.

When fop first opened,we had a fp. I was pushing my DH in wheelchair. As we we passed the tap in point, CM said, good luck. Next time, while pushing the wheelchair, DH tried to walk it. He was exhausted. Skip several years, now DH uses a scooter, but is now afraid his knees just won’t bend in the right way for the ride.

 

[Lilsia]

I never said it's not wheely friendly.. just not as much as I assumed. I never noticed the incline and the ramps while just walking around. It's the perception and different view point that I'm talking about. While using a rented wheelchair to push a 300lbs old lady 10-14 miles a day for 8 days I can hardly say I'm not in good enough shape to do it.. I just didn't know it would be that hilly. It was plan B.. scooters were plan A and it just didn't work out. Again this is all my perception and views on how I thought things were vs reality.

Sure it's much easier to push a child.. or someone with a nice lightweight wheelchair but the reality was a overweight adult in a borrowed wheelchair on vacation.

So take my view if you want or just assume I'm outta shape and just complaining to complain.. but I'm really not.. so please just take it as my observations during my trip.

I definitely have noticed the hills and uneven terrain while walking. I have often times thought to myself, "I would never want to push someone in a wheelchair here". Pushing little kids in a stroller is bad enough. My plantar fasciitis acts up from time to time, which is probably why I notice the hills and rough paths more then the average person. Pushing a full grown adult in a wheelchair is hard enough on a flat surface. It messes up your hands. If you have any other options, like an electric chair, I would use that in the future.

 

[RoseGold]

I never said it's not wheely friendly.. just not as much as I assumed. I never noticed the incline and the ramps while just walking around. It's the perception and different view point that I'm talking about. While using a rented wheelchair to push a 300lbs old lady 10-14 miles a day for 8 days I can hardly say I'm not in good enough shape to do it..

The title of this thread is that WDW isn't wheelchair friendly, which I just don't think is a good description of your particular issue.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The title of this thread is that WDW isn't wheelchair friendly, which I just don't think is a good description of your particular issue.

to be fair it was "as I hoped" so I think they are fine with it as is. She's just saying that it was harder than they imagined once they found themselves in that position.

 

[lanejudy]

The title of this thread is that WDW isn't wheelchair friendly

You cut it off. The full title is "Disney not as wheelchair friendly as I hoped" -- meaning her expectations were different. She's owned up to that. Lots of posters over the years say exactly the same thing -- WDW isn't flat, more hills than I realized, some steep ramps, cobblestones are horrible, etc.

oops! posting at the same time as Mackenzie!

 

[Sparkly]

I did my poor feet in one night at MK and had to borrow a wheelchair to get myself out to the buses- I can second that they're kind of hard to push yourself. I almost launched myself down the ramp from town square theatre...

 

[ttintagel]

Even though it’s marked and separated out, many times it’s full of walkers

Don’t get me started on the parents who let their little kids use wheelchair ramps as playground equipment.

 

[nw6675]

Thought of this thread...not quite the same, but still...

 

[Groot]

I have begun looking at the power chairs with a control on the back so the "attendent" (ME) can control the power function. So far, they look complicated using a joystick contol.

I’ve only seen that option on the custom powerchairs (Quickie, Quantum, Permie, etc.) and those chairs are already $20,000+.

I would rather push most of the time and just press a "power assist" when needed, using hand grips like bicycle brakes or a bar like on a lawnmower. Plus they are heavy and look tricky to fly with, (the rechargeable batteries).

I have seen those on some custom manuals, but those can be heavy to transport and also add to the overall cost.

 

[voxparse]

Been using a manual wheelchair for close to 40 years now and most of what is being described is typical ins and outs of using a wheelchair. Not arguing that it isn't difficult sometimes and 100% cobblestone is evil, but all in all, Disney World is one of THE most accessible destinations in the world. The accommodations and available options just don't exist elsewhere and certainly not in most vacation destinations. Accessibility is actually one of the major reasons why our family vacations at Disney World.

 

[voxparse]

Yeah, trying a manual wheelchair in EPCOT was a huge eye-opener. The ramp in the queue for Soarin' was (is?) so steep that the brakes on my chair were nearly worthless. I made the rest of the groups stand behind me so they could try to catch me if the brakes totally failed!

Sadly all wheelchair brakes except on electric chairs are hot garbage. The trick is almost always to park sideways.

 

[Groot]

Or hold onto the rims for dear life!

 

[DisneyOma]

Sadly all wheelchair brakes except on electric chairs are hot garbage. The trick is almost always to park sideways.

Unless they are well maintained and the pads replaced often - then they are fine, except when you forget you set them and kill yourself trying to push the wheelchair with them on! Edited to add - this was on a specialized chair, not a standard lever-style brake, sorry!

 

[SueM in MN]

Unless they are well maintained and the pads replaced often - then they are fine, except when you forget you set them and kill yourself trying to push the wheelchair with them on!

I’m not sure if you are talking power or manual or maybe ECVs are different than power or manual wheelchair??

I’ve never seen a manual or power wheelchair with brake pads.
My daughter has had numerous manual wheelchairs in her lifetime. The brakes are basically a small stick on a lever. Moving the lever pushes the ‘stick’ up to the tire. They do get out of alinement from time to time or the tire pressure can make the stick dig in too much or not enough. Checking that is the only maintenance.

She’s on her third power wheelchair. The brakes they have are electronic braking only. When the joystick is activated, power is being sent to the drive wheels. When it’s not activated or the power is turned off, no power is being sent and it doesn’t move. The electronic ‘brake’ is on by default. What some might call the brake is the disengage lever. It‘s normally on because you want the motors engaged. When it’s ‘off’, the motors are disengaged from the wheels and the wheelchair is in free wheel mode and can be pushed (or roll by itself). The only maintenance required is to disengage and engage it again periodically to make sure it doesn’t get stuck

 

[Groot]

I think she means the brake handles.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think she means the brake handles.View attachment 728102

If they had pads, they wouldn’t affect ability for brake to hold and isn‘t a maintenance item.
We’ve never replaced any and some were just molded on. They are strictly for comfort when putting the brakes on and off.
This is my daughter’s current manual chair brake. Hers are push to lock and pull to release. SOME are the opposite. On custom chairs, you can order either, depending on what’s easier for the user.

 

[voxparse]

If they had pads, they wouldn’t affect ability for brake to hold and isn‘t a maintenance item.
We’ve never replaced any and some were just molded on. They are strictly for comfort when putting the brakes on and off.
This is my daughter’s current manual chair brake. Hers are push to lock and pull to release. She are the opposite. On custom chairs, you can order either, depending on what’s easier for the user.
View attachment 728105

Or in my case leave them off because you have jammed one too many thumbs on them

 

[SueM in MN]

Pushing an adult in a manual chair is difficult indeed. My son is 170 pounds now, and not mentally able to use an ECV. I am getting older (64 now). Fortunately for me, I can still make him walk some of the time, so I do that on some of those inclines. Even ride queues in and out are hard. I am looking at YOU, Space Mt, Soarin', Flight of Passage, etc. Plus, Entering AK, the monorail ramps (except Epcot!).

I have begun looking at the power chairs with a control on the back so the "attendent" (ME) can control the power function. So far, they look complicated using a joystick contol. I would rather push most of the time and just press a "power assist" when needed, using hand grips like bicycle brakes or a bar like on a lawnmower. Plus they are heavy and look tricky to fly with, (the rechargeable batteries).

All in all, I defintely feel lucky my son only uses a chair at the parks, zoos, museums, parks, just places he needs to walk a lot. And I really groan when people in the ECVs fly by at a really fast speed, like they do when they see low crowds, sometimes it is couples flying by us, while I struggle lol. I say we will need a 2 seater ECV eventually, ha I guess if that happens, no more Disney.

Joysticks can take quite a bit of practice, but once you figure it out, it’s not too hard.
The hardest part is that the one joystick controls everything - direction, speed, turning all at the same time.
Some of the lightweight, less expensive portable power chairs, like the Air Hawk, do have assistant controls available. It looks like they just mount their regular joystick on the back instead of where the rider would normally access it.
I‘ve only seen power assist for manual wheelchairs that are controlled by the rider and some don’t look that easy to control (we had looked at some before DD got her current power chair). ‘Power on demand’ would be a helpful thing for a lot of people. I’ll keep my eye out - you would think someone would come up with one.

I’ve only seen that option on the custom powerchairs (Quickie, Quantum, Permie, etc.) and those chairs are already $20,000+.


I have seen those on some custom manuals, but those can be heavy to transport and also add to the overall cost.

My DD had an attendant control on her Invacare Power wheelchairs, but doesn’t on her Permobil. The attendant control on custom power chairs tend to be kind of a mini joystick instead of using a second big (and expensive) controller.
I found it very hard to use because it’s very small and a tiny motion on it tended to translate into a big motion of the chair. Despite trying, I never got good at using the mini joystick.
I’m pretty good driving DD’s chair with either my right or left hand and even standing in front of it walking backwards and driving.

 

[SueM in MN]

Or in my case leave them off because you have jammed one too many thumbs on them

Oh, yes.
I know a lot a paraplegics just don’t have brakes. Besides jamming thumbs, they can get caught since they stick out.

One time when we rented a car for a WDW trip, we got DD’s manual wheelchair into the trunk, but the brake got stuck on the rim of the trunk. We had a heck of a time getting the wheelchair out!

 

[iuki]

Been using a manual wheelchair for close to 40 years now and most of what is being described is typical ins and outs of using a wheelchair. Not arguing that it isn't difficult sometimes and 100% cobblestone is evil, but all in all, Disney World is one of THE most accessible destinations in the world. The accommodations and available options just don't exist elsewhere and certainly not in most vacation destinations. Accessibility is actually one of the major reasons why our family vacations at Disney World.

I agree 100%! Yes, WDW is not perfect, but it is DEFINITELY most accommodating in comparison to other venues of daily life and vacation destinations.