Paraplegic help

nurseholly

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 13, 2010

• Feb 23, 2017

• #1

So I'm currently planning a trip for my extended family that includes my sister who has been a paraplegic for ten years but transfers herself well. I have read the rolling with the magic blog and find the pictures of ride vehicles soooo helpful and was wondering if anyone knew of other sites/blogs/websites with similar helpful information. Thanks in advance!

 

nurseholly

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 13, 2010

• Mar 6, 2017

• #2

As a follow up, has anyone who has no use of their legs ridden pirates of the Caribbean or Frozen ever after? Those are really the two that I am worried about getting my sister on.

 

BillSears

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 1, 2003

• Mar 6, 2017

• #3

In my younger days I would ride those, Maelstrom not FEA but it's the same boat. As a T6 paraplegic in my 20s I was able to drag myself out of the boats onto the exit area and then back up into my chair. In my 30s I gave up on Maelstrom and just did Pirates by butting the front of my chair up against the side of the boat and doing a transfer straight back into my chair. I kept this up through about 50. Now I just skip those rides, they're just too tough for this old guy. I haven't actually tried POTC since they swapped over to the new boats. The new boats look like the sides are even lower so it would be hard for me to get up into my chair.

As a paraplegic, even now, I can ride/get into any of the rides that are low to the ground like that because gravity will make sure you go down into the boat. It's getting back out that's the problem. So if she can do a floor to wheelchair transfer or if you guys can lift her up it probably would be fine.

 

nurseholly

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 13, 2010

• Mar 7, 2017

• #4

Thank you! She is a T12 incomplete para and does floor to WC very well. Most of my concern was getting her out of the boat onto the floor. I didn't remember just how far down those boats are!

 

BillSears

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 1, 2003

• Mar 7, 2017

• #5

nurseholly said:

Thank you! She is a T12 incomplete para and does floor to WC very well. Most of my concern was getting her out of the boat onto the floor. I didn't remember just how far down those boats are!

Click to expand...

Getting out of the boat isn't easy but it's a lot easier than doing the floor to chair transfer. I'd guess it's about 12-18 inches from the seat of the boat to the side of the boat. Then usually from there you actually go down a bit to get to the floor of the loading area. What makes getting out of the boat fairly easy is that you usually have a grab bar on the back of the seat in front of you. I put one hand on that and one on the side of the boat and it gives me plenty of leverage to get up to the side of the boat. If you look at this POTC boat below you can see it's just a short hop up to the side.

 

nurseholly

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 13, 2010

• Mar 8, 2017

• #6

Oh that's perfect! I've never looked at the boats and really thought about it because I've never traveled to WDW with my sister. I couldn't remember for the life of me how much of a step down it was. I think she can manage that without much of a problem. Are the boats for FEA similar? The last two times that I was in WDW we didn't ride Maelstrom so it's been a while since I've seen those ride boats

 

BillSears

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 1, 2003

• Mar 8, 2017

• #7

I believe the FEA boats are similar. Also the Splash Mountain boats and even Space Mountain. Those are all rides I remember having to do the multi stage exit from the ride. Lift up to the side of the vehicle, slide over to the floor, then floor to chair transfer. For me those are the toughest transfers at WDW since a floor to chair is so hard for me now. The regular roller coasters like Big Thunder Mountain, Snow White, and Expedition Everest are pretty easy transfers. Just make sure you ask for the accessible vehicle with the door that opens up to make the transfer into the seat easier.

 

nurseholly

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 13, 2010

• Mar 8, 2017

• #8

Thank you soooo much for your help! She does floor to chair so well that I think she will do ok at least trying the rides once. She's already said that she will pass on Space because of the jerking and such on her back. There will be two men and me and my mom to help her also if she is having trouble for some reason. I just needed to hear from someone who's done it that it is possible! Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

SueM in MN

combining the teacups with a roller coaster

Moderator

Joined

Aug 23, 1999

• Mar 8, 2017

• #9

We took our daughter into line, but decided it was not possible after watching the boarding process.
She has cerebral palsy, spastic squad/mixed tone. When she gets excited, she has high extension tone, especially in her legs and trunk.
She is about 5 feet tall and about 80 pounds.

This picture is the unload area, which is right down the track from the loading area. The front of the boat is toward the CM in the reed costume. So you transfer in to the left and out to the right.
I was told they do have a transfer board available on request, but did not see it (it might help someone with paraplegia, but we didn't feel it would help our daughter).

To get into the boat, you need to get over the side, then the seat is down about 8 inches from the side. The floor is down about another 8 inches.

The boat is the same boat as the former Maelstrom had. We did put our daughter in that a few times in the past when she was smaller and lighter.
It was not easy - one person got into the boat and stood up to receive her. The outside person handed her over the side of the boat. The hardest part was getting high enough to get over the side.
If she bent more easily, I would have probably supported her on the side in a more 'bent' position to get in.

Getting out was harder - again, one person in and one out - and the harder part was getting over the side.
The side of the boat is not very wide, so not a lot to balance on if you plan to balance on the side and swing legs over.

 

nurseholly

Mouseketeer

Joined

Feb 13, 2010

• Mar 9, 2017

• #10

Thank you! The visual is just what I need to show her so she can decide if its worth it for her to do with her daughter. I appreciate everyone's help!

 

FortForever

Disney since Day 1

Joined

Aug 16, 2011

• Mar 9, 2017

• #11

My stepson is T7 and has done both of the rides mentioned when he was in his mid 20's, and FEA was still Maelstrom. He has a very strong upper body and transfers, even from the floor to chair fairly easily. It would mostly depend on how strong the person is, was well as those with them that can help, since the CMs cannot assist.

Wishing you all a wonderful time and hope your sister is able to enjoy every ride that she wants to, with her daughter.

 

BillSears

DIS Veteran

Joined

Mar 1, 2003

• Mar 9, 2017

• #12

nurseholly said:

Thank you! The visual is just what I need to show her so she can decide if its worth it for her to do with her daughter. I appreciate everyone's help!

Click to expand...

You never know when she will be back to WDW so I say ride those rides now and have a great trip!

FortForever said:

My stepson is T7 and has done both of the rides mentioned when he was in his mid 20's, and FEA was still Maelstrom. He has a very strong upper body and transfers, even from the floor to chair fairly easily...

Click to expand...

Ahh, the 20s. Those years were great for transfers. I even rode the carousel once, I just grabbed the pole and used my arms to climb it then lowered myself into the saddle. But for me injuries, weight gain, and general old age has caught up with me. It slows me down but doesn't stop me, I still do solo WDW trips and even drive cross-country solo. We all learn to adapt to our current abilities.