9 replies to this topic

[bornagain]

Hi everyone
We are thinking of going to Disneyland Florida next year. Has anyone been?
Would appreciate any advice. Where to stay,about the flight,the best attractions. we are both top end of 50 years old so any idea's as what things would be best suited to us would be helpful.
My husband is parapligic, T10 if that helps.
We won't be hiring a car so it will have to be buses to take us around.
We prefer self catering but don't mind a hotel.
Plus we wonder when the best time to go. We prefer the temp not to go any higher than 27c. That is about as hot as we could cope with.
Jean

[Vanessamaee]

Disney World is in Florida Disney Land is in California. There are multiple parks you can choose from all being extremley cool, my favorite is probably Epcot as far as attractions go but Animal Kingdom is really neat too. Magic Kingdom has most of the rides. They have busses that run park to park and to and from all of their in site hotels. The hotels all have really cool themes. My favorite is Animal Kingdom. It's a safari theme, they have actual animals from africa that roam around outside, I though it was really cool getting to wake up to the giraffes and lions and stuff. I havent been in a wheelchiar though. But I know I love Disney World and from what Ive heard it is extremely accessible. I would probably go around the spring time to get a warm but not hot climate. Before March-April or early May would probably be a good time, because at the end of May most schools are getting out for summer break and thats when the parks get really busy. As far as flights go Im sorry I cant help much :/ I just know that they check your chair and put you in one of their aisle chairs to get you on and off the flight, also take you cushion, this way you can sit on it during the flight to prevent any pressure sores and so it wont get lost.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

[wheeliebear75]

Yeah I've been to Disney World/Epcot Center but that was in 1989 & as an AB. But the weather there is the same now in 2011 as it was then....AVOID summer in Florida! It was so hot & muggy there the janitor for the hotel passed out while working & some guests found him so my Mom helped a vacationing fireman to start cooling him off before he had a heat stroke....my point in telling you about him is that if an AB can pass out from the heat & humidity than I'm pretty sure we/he would have a much harder time with it.

I've been to Disney Land more times than I can count....with a dozen or so trips under my belt as a para....Disney has a list off all their parks & rides along with how accessible is/are they.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

I know when we go to DisneyLand & use
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/
<-----that site they have all the rides & shows listed for wheelchair users & have info as to how ambulatory a person must be/needent(sp? I know it's a word I/we SAY it) be.

[Denna]

I went in April of 08. You still need to bring lots of sunscreen. I got sun poisoning. Not fun. I went before I was in my chair so I cant say anything about accessibility. But I loved Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom. I really wanted to go to sea world but didnt end up going. Maybe next time.

[goose]

I've been to all the theme parks in Florida in my chair. I loved it because there are so many other people in chairs that you don't feel like you stick out like a sore thumb and you get to go to the front of all the lines.

I only rode the rides that I could stay in my own chair but if transferring isn't a big issue then you'll have lots of rides to enjoy.

I would check with them about "off" season. I've been in months like Nov. , Jan. thru April. The weather isn't hot then but can get chilly after dark.

Try google...then you may get more of your specific questions answered.

I had a blast in my chair! Have fun!!!

[bornagain]

Thanks that is very helpful.
I wondered if May would be a good time to go. We really wouldn't fair well in the heat and humidity.
The hotels I have looked at don't show the toilet in the photos. It may seem bazzar but it has to be a right side transfer onto the toilet and we need to get the wheelchair right along side of it.
Any hotels you can recomend?
Are the hotel within walking distance to the attractions?
Its a whole new world to us. I must admit sorting it out scares me to death. So worried about getting it wrong.
jean

wheeliebear75, on 20 November 2011 - 08:18 PM, said:

Yeah I've been to Disney World/Epcot Center but that was in 1989 & as an AB. But the weather there is the same now in 2011 as it was then....AVOID summer in Florida! It was so hot & muggy there the janitor for the hotel passed out while working & some guests found him so my Mom helped a vacationing fireman to start cooling him off before he had a heat stroke....my point in telling you about him is that if an AB can pass out from the heat & humidity than I'm pretty sure we/he would have a much harder time with it.

I've been to Disney Land more times than I can count....with a dozen or so trips under my belt as a para....Disney has a list off all their parks & rides along with how accessible is/are they.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

I know when we go to DisneyLand & use
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/
<-----that site they have all the rides & shows listed for wheelchair users & have info as to how ambulatory a person must be/needent(sp? I know it's a word I/we SAY it) be.

[wheeliebear75]

I only know about the hotels in California's Disney LAND & California Adventure post SCI. But I do see where only being able to do right side transfers would be a problem. But out of curiosity....if you do the transfer to the right....how do you get back if you can't do a left side transfer? Not being able to transfer easily from either side will make getting on & off too difficult than some of the rides will possibly be off limits to you.

[Aparr]

Hi Jean
I was just at Disney in June (and it was HOT). I have been to Disney may times throughout the years but this was the first in my chair). There is a lot of planning to get it right but you'll be glad you did!

The best months to go are in the "off season" http://www.pixiedust...isitDisney.html It's not as crowded and generally speaking the weather is nice. Our trips were in March or April and the weather was great. The heat in June almost killed me but it was a graduation gift for my two oldest children.

We have found that staying on Disney property is the easiest. http://wdwinfo.com/w.../resortmain.htm they are always willing to accommodate you so asking about the toilet should not be a problem. "Are the hotels within walking distance?". No they are not thats why I recommend staying at a Disney resort. The busses are also easy to catch http://www.wdwinfo.c...sabmobility.htm

Going into each park you can stop at guest services and ask for a disabilities guide. They will tell you exactly what rides you can stay in your chair for and what rides you need to transfer for.

The only thing I'm not able to help with is the flight. If you have any other questions I'll be more then happy to try to help.
http://disneyworld.d...bilityDPage#top

Edited by Aparr, 23 November 2011 - 05:02 PM.

[bornagain]

Good question.
He does a right side transfer onto the toilet leaving his chair in situ. once on the loo he leans towards his wheelchair and holds onto the arm rest of the chair to do manual bowels. With your bowel being on the left side of your body he finds it easier to do what he has to do.
Sorry to be so discriptive but it is the only way I could explain.

wheeliebear75, on 23 November 2011 - 03:03 AM, said:

I only know about the hotels in California's Disney LAND & California Adventure post SCI. But I do see where only being able to do right side transfers would be a problem. But out of curiosity....if you do the transfer to the right....how do you get back if you can't do a left side transfer? Not being able to transfer easily from either side will make getting on & off too difficult than some of the rides will possibly be off limits to you.

Thanks that was really helpful.

Aparr, on 23 November 2011 - 04:53 PM, said:

Hi Jean
I was just at Disney in June (and it was HOT). I have been to Disney may times throughout the years but this was the first in my chair). There is a lot of planning to get it right but you'll be glad you did!

The best months to go are in the "off season" http://www.pixiedust...isitDisney.html It's not as crowded and generally speaking the weather is nice. Our trips were in March or April and the weather was great. The heat in June almost killed me but it was a graduation gift for my two oldest children.

We have found that staying on Disney property is the easiest. http://wdwinfo.com/w.../resortmain.htm they are always willing to accommodate you so asking about the toilet should not be a problem. "Are the hotels within walking distance?". No they are not thats why I recommend staying at a Disney resort. The busses are also easy to catch http://www.wdwinfo.c...sabmobility.htm

Going into each park you can stop at guest services and ask for a disabilities guide. They will tell you exactly what rides you can stay in your chair for and what rides you need to transfer for.

The only thing I'm not able to help with is the flight. If you have any other questions I'll be more then happy to try to help.
http://disneyworld.d...bilityDPage#top

[mellowgator]

i would think that visiting disneyworld without a car would be difficult. the magic kingdom does have monorails that run to several resorts but food etc within disney is uber expensive. the other attractions are at least 20 minute drive by car and the ideal of being out on i-drive after dark is very scarey. it's a major highway and no one would see a person at night particularlly a person in a chair. most people rent cars here there is a lot of side day trips like the beach or the springs or shopping that you'd want to have a car for. i grew up in orlando and know this area well may consider spending the money to rent an accessible van and then saving money by staying outside of disney.

may is not our hottest month but it's common for the temps to reach the 90's and we have high humidity as well. the winter is best to beat the heat or close to it as possible.

here's an article a quad wrote about his frequent visits to disney and he mentioned where he rented all his equipment and how he managed to get around.

http://www.disableda...d-disney-world/

mellowgator

Edited by mellowgator, 29 November 2011 - 12:28 AM.