Accessible Christmas Around Atlanta - Lake Lanier and Stone Mountain

During the past week we've explored two of greater Atlanta's major Christmas events - with two very different reactions.

Lake Lanier Islands Magical Night of Lights

First, let's talk about Lake Lanier Islands Magical Nights of Lights. The only magic here is that so many people are willing to shell out $60 a carload to enter the worst traffic jam of their lives. I'd been wanting to see these lights for years and we decided to go last night - motivated by a double $10 off coupon. Sad when $40 a car sounds like a deal.

The experience reminded me of when we first moved to Atlanta. People kept telling me how wonderful hot boiled peanuts were. How they looked forward to finding them at roadside stands in the fall. What a delicious treat they were when finally located. When I saw a stand on the way to Florida I talked Kevin into pulling over. A grizzled  old dressed man in camouflage clothes sat by an open fire, with a boiling pot hanging over it. I was so excited - I was finally about to have my first hot boiled peanuts! We paid him $4 and he dumped a scoop of something from the pot into a brown paper bag. I looked inside. Hot, wet peanuts - still in the soggy shells. They smelled bad, they looked bad - they tasted awful.

Lake Lanier Islands Magical Night of Lights was equally disappointing. It was hot boiled peanuts all over again. Maybe if you've been exposed to it your whole life you develop a taste for it. Otherwise, it ranks as one of the area's largest disappointments.

The lights are nice. Many of them are animated. I imagine if this had been developed in the 1950s people would have gazed in wonder at the sight. As it is even my 6 year old was "bored, bored, bored," in her own words.

On the plus side, as you drive your own car the lights are completely handicap accessible. You can control the level of stimulus by opening or closing your windows as well as adjusting the volume on the radio if you chose to tune it to the suggested station.

We paid our money and drove through the gate. We proceeded - slowly- for almost a hour through 6 miles of lights. What they don't tell you is that it is more like 3 miles, because you drive to the end and turn around, and drive slowly back through the same lights. The speed barely registers on the speedometer.

Many of the light displays are just ads from local companies - Coca Cola, Georgia Power, etc. After you crawl through the lights you are forced into the "concession area". There is limited parking - which is ironic since they make every car enter the parking lot. However, we found a parking spot (thanks to flashing the handicap permit at an attendant) and explored the carnival.

It was on par with any other local carnival. The rides were a bit "vintage" (translation: old). There was a thrill factor to the Ferris wheel simply because it felt as if you could easily fall out of your open swinging seat. I love carnivals so even in 34 degree weather I had a good time. Rides averaged $3 per person. A pony ride was $6.

Like any carnival, it was hard to push a wheelchair around due to all of the electrical cords. A big problem was also a lack of curb cuts on the sidewalks around Santa's Village gift shop. We had to bump the wheelchair down the curb backwards to get onto the fair grounds. It was impossible to bump it back up and we just gave up and took Amanda back to the car.

We avoided the gift shop and the paid photos with Santa. The ice skating rink is a novelty and reasonably priced at $10 per person including skate rental.

We spent a total of $63 on the drive, rides and a box of popcorn. Boy, was I happy I had that double coupon! I could easily see a family of 4 spending $150+ on an evening here. Even at my "bargain" price I felt slightly ripped off. Like boiled peanuts, this is something I only needed to try once to discover that I did not like it.

In the video you can see the cars who have turned and are coming back through the lights in the opposite direction.

Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain Christmas, on the other hand was lots of fun. First, if you are Mountain Members its included in your membership. So, for us, entrance was free. If you aren't members the cost is $28 per adult and $22 per child. Truthfully I might be more critical if I had paid $106 for this experience. It wasn't worth $100+. If you want to go, consider purchasing the Mountain Membership.  For twice the price of the Christmas admission ($56 per adult, $44 per child) you get unlimited admission to the park and free parking for an entire year. Regular membership includes a $10 discount off Snow Mountain - the deluxe membership includes free admission to Snow Mountain as well as free admission to the Summit Sky Ride and the  Ducks.

So keeping the cost factor in mind our experience at Stone Mountain Christmas was  a happy surprise. No one had ever told me about Stone Mountain Christmas so I had no expectations to be dashed. I discovered it because we are members and I was looking for something inexpensive to do. Like Lake Lanier, there are millions (no exaggeration) of lights at Stone Mountain for the holidays. Instead of driving through them the central area, Crossroads, is decked out so you can stroll through the displays.

Even the miniature golf course is decorated with thousands of little white lights, making night time golf a special treat. Part of the miniature golf course is accessible with a wheelchair - part is not. There is a sign which redirects you to the accessible holes partway through the course.

If you like, you can take the 30 minute train ride around the mountain. Holiday lights have been set up along the route so its a pretty ride. The rear car of the train has a wheelchair lift and staff are very helpful. There are ties to anchor the chair safely during the ride. The only downside it that it is an open air car and can be chilly. During this time of year they play Christmas carols which Amanda really enjoyed.

There is a small parade every evening at 6 PM. I think we counted six floats. The parade features the characters from the shows held in the park during Christmas so don't be surprised to see an alien robot dancing down the street. It was cute, but not something I would rush to see. The girls both liked it. Staff were very helpful and made sure that Amanda had a good view of the parade.

 

We were lucky to see the Georgia Bubbleman when we were there. He was wonderful! He created bubbles of all sizes and let the kids chase them. He made a special effort to include Amanda in the fun - coming over and blowing bubbles all around her wheelchair. He even gave an impromptu science lesson by blowing bubbles using the heated air from one of the fire pits. 

 

 

There are several shows throughout the area: Toyrific, Forever Christmas, Holly Jolly Cabaret, A Crossroads Christmas Carol, Visit with Santa Claus. There is also a "4-D" holiday movie, The Polar Express. On select nights (at 9:45 PM) there are fireworks. From the outside, I could tell that the shows are loud and may be a problem for people with sensory issues. We didn't make it to any of the shows or the fireworks so I think we'll go back. When we do I'll expand this entry!

However, just the fact that I would go back (again the same year) demonstrates how much more enjoyable we found Stone Mountain Christmas. If you are going to drive almost an hour outside of the city for one holiday event (and spend $100) I would chose Stone Mountain hands down over Lake Lanier Islands.


Note: This is my opinion, based on my family's experiences. I wasn't compensated in any way by either location.

 

San Diego with A Wheelchair

NOTE: This article originally appeared in Exceptional Parent On-line in 2009. It has been revised and updated.

 San Diego – Let’s go!

My daughter Amanda has autistic behaviors as well as mobility and cognitive impairments. We’ve always loved to travel, but limited our trips to family visits as Amanda’s disability became less manageable. It just seemed like too much work to go very far with her. However, after our second daughter’s birth we realized that we shouldn’t shelter either of them.

Reasoning that the United States is more accessible than most foreign countries we decided to fly to San Diego. We lived there when were first married and loved the area. Even before we had a child with special needs it was easy to see that San Diego is a very accessible city. In fact, we had taken Amanda twice as a toddler.

This time before going I did a lot of internet research. We emailed Accessible San Diego , the nation's oldest center for information for travelers with disabilities. The center has an info line that helps travelers find accessible hotels, tours, attractions, and transportation. You can purchase a downloadable copy of Accessible San Diego’s annual guide online. In the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau's Dining and Accommodations guide, a wheelchair symbol designates places that are accessible.

In the past we’ve stayed at the La Jolla Shores Hotel. It’s a charming hotel right on the beach. It has ramps and elevators and is accessible. We love the view and the proximity to the beach.  We decided to  rent a 2 bed room ranch with ocean views for less than one room in the hotel would have cost. The rental house didn’t have an accessible bathroom, which wasn’t a problem for us but might be for some families.

Most of the city's major attractions are wheelchair friendly, including the walkways and museums of BalboaPark, the San Diego Zoo (which has bus tours to navigate the steep canyons), SeaWorld, the SafariPark, and downtown'sGaslamp Quarter. Take advantage of Balboa Park's "Free Tuesdays" if you can! Legoland is close by in Carlsbad.Old Town and the beaches require a little more effort, but are basically accessible.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy San Diego. The weather is great almost all year. There are lots of free outdoor activities, from beaches to public parks. At Ocean Beach, La Jolla Shores and other beaches a rubber walkway  allows limited access over the sand. A special beach wheel chair is kept at the main lifeguard station at most public beaches and is available on a first come, first served basis - for free.



Using the ramp at La Jolla Shores Beach

Our favorite beach is La JollaShores Beach. We went there nearly every afternoon. The rubber ramp is almost always on the sand so it’s easy for Amanda to get on to the beach. It has a fabulous paved walkway that runs the length of the beach where she can walk or be pushed in her wheelchair. Amanda loves watching beach volleyball and the Frisbee games played in adjacent KelloggPark. The park is also accessible and has grills, benches and picnic tables. Most of the parks and playgrounds in San Diego meet or exceed the standards laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act, with the exception of some of the sand based beach parks.

The  Trolley is a fun way to see the downtown area, without having to walk. There are stops at a number of attractions including Old Town (the historic district) and SeaportVillage, a waterfront shopping and dining area. Riders with disabilities pay a reduced fare of $1.25 for the trolley. All MTS buses and trolleys are equipped with wheelchair lifts.

The Old Town section of San Diego focuses on Mexican heritage. It’s fun to explore the bustling Mercado with its eclectic shops. There are several restaurants, many which feature Mexican food. There is normally live music and it is absolutely free. The market hours are 9 am - 3 pm. Amanda has always enjoyed eating quesadillas and watching the mariachi bands in Old Town.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park has some interesting historic houses that you can visit during the day. Entrance to the Historic Park is free. However, there are uneven brick walkways, entry stairs, narrow doors and high thresholds. The Robinson Rose House, the current visitor center, is accessible, including the store. Other accessible areas include Seeley’s Stable Barn, the Casa de Estudillo and its garden, the Courthouse Jail exhibit, the Old Town Theater Barn and the Casa Machado de Silvas.

We like visiting Balboa Park. In addition to the San Diego Zoo there are beautiful gardens and 15 museums. Amanda’s favorite museum is the Rueben H. FleetScience Center. It has an IMAX theater as well as nearly 100 hands on exhibits, including computers! “Kid City” is a colorful, interactive space designed for young children to play and learn. The San Diego Model Railroad Museum has 4 enormous scale and model layouts depicting railroads of the Southwest.



View from Birch Aquarium



We also love the Stephen Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. Birch Aquarium is wheelchair accessible and wheelchairs are available for visitors' use. The Aquarium has sharks, seahorses, living coral reefs as well as a large Kelp Tank with a diving show. There are tidal pools where the kids can touch aquatic animals and one of the best views of the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla!

There are a number of discount passes available for San Diego’s major attractions. We purchased a 3-for-1 pass that allowed us unlimited access to the Zoo, the Safari Parkand SeaWorld for 5 consecutive days.

Our first stop was the Safari Park in Escondido, which is 45 minutes north of the city. There is plenty of handicapped parking. The Safari Park walkways are completely paved and easy to access. The Park offers informational pamphlets, including scripts for the hearing impaired and a special map for guests with walking disabilities. A free shuttle is available to the Heart of Africa and Condor Ridge exhibits.



Safari Park



The girls enjoyed seeing the animals in natural environments. There is a petting “kraal” where they could pet baby deer and an area where they could feed lorikeets. Our favorite part was the Journey into Africa Tour (which was included with our passes, but isn’t included in all value packages). It was a 25 minute electric “train” ride through the Park’s African savannah. There are giraffes, rhinos, elephants, Cape buffalo and other animals, roaming free in the nearly 1000 acre enclosure. The train attendants were very friendly and even allowed us to pre-board.

The girls’ favorite attraction was Sea World San Diego.  There is a lot of walking and people with mobility impairments should either bring or borrow a wheelchair. There is an on-line accessibility guide with detailed information about their services. We went to as many shows as we could – from Shamu to Pets Rule! The girls both loved seeing the animals perform. The theaters all had special seating areas with good viewing angles.

We had so much fun at Sea World and the beach that we went back every day. We never made it to the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park. That leaves something to look forward to on our next trip to San Diego!

Preparing Your Home for a Home Health Care Provider

Preparing Your Home for a  Home Health Care Provider

When you decide to employ a home health aide there are a number of changes that you need to consider - both in your home and in your lifestyle. What will it be like having another person in your home for hours or even days at a time? If you are a private person it may feel like an invasion. On the other hand, for some folks its welcome companionship - someone they can rely on to visit  daily.

You need to make your home as safe as possible for both your family member and their caregiver. Remove objects that may be easily broken. Prevent tripping by removing small rugs, runners, electrical and phone cords from pathways. Place non-skid adhesive strips to non-carpeted stairs. Make sure that your home is well lit - especially stairs and hallways.

You may need to purchase items that you don't already have. Things you should have include, but aren't limited to:

• smoke detectors
• carbon monoxide detector
• nonslip bath rugs
• nonslip stickers or mat in the bathtub or shower
• grab bars by the toilet and in the shower/tub
• flame resistant potholders
• fire extinguisher

Having help when you have a family member with a disability can be a blessing. Another set of hands to help with care giving and household tasks can seem like a dream come true at first.

However, anyone who has employed a home care worker knows that the honeymoon period wears off.  My initial reaction was to treat the person like a member of the family while they were in our home.  I did this in part because I saw my parents struggle with the aides who cared from my mother.

My parents were very private people. They were brought up in a different era. The combination of these factors meant that they didn't want their live in aide dining with them. There was one fundamental problem with this idea- they only had one table. There was no where to sit and eat in the kitchen. Those poor women had to stand in the kitchen to eat their meals.

My parents wanted their aide to be "on call" but essentially out of sight. That meant that they were relegated to spending large parts of the day in their room or on the back deck, waiting for my parents to page them. Being a home health aide is a difficult, physically demanding job. The pay is poor and there are often no benefits. Adding social isolation must have made the job so much harder.

My mother was a little confused toward the end and some of her aides took advantage of her. While I was visiting one afternoon I saw her "tip" the aide five dollars three times for filing her nails that day. After my mom passed way small pieces of jewelry and other items were missing. I think that if my parents had been even a little more tolerant these small abuses might never have occurred.

On the other hand, I've learned that without some boundaries people may also take advantage of your good-nature. My daughter's aide is generally included in everything we do. She eats with us, hangs out in the living room and watches TV with us, etc .

In the past I've been so casual that people forgot they worked for us. Some have wanted to watch graphic crimes dramas with my daughter in the room. I didn't realize that one woman was using my laptop for online shopping until I went to several websites and the "Your Store" zip was set to her town. We've had aides show up with their children and their dogs.  One showed up before a job interview so she could use our shower!

In addition to making sure your aide knows what you want done, be clear about what NOT to do as well. While I don't want to create a feeling of distrust I do want to maintain a semblance of privacy in my home.  Some of these suggestions may make you feel ridiculous, but consider the alternatives. Be specific about any areas that are for family-only. I would rather hang a sign on my door than find someone up to their elbows in my underwear drawer. Let the person know if they are welcome to watch your TV (and what shows you would prefer they not watch), use your computer, etc. Here are a few tips based on my experience:

• If you don't want your aide to pry into your bedroom, master bathroom or office, you need to clearly post a "PRIVATE" sign on the door.
• Password protect your computers and cell phones. Lock file cabinets. Consider blocking unwanted content on your TV.
• Label dresser drawers, kitchen cabinets, etc. to prevent "I was just looking for..." If everyone knows where to find necessary items there is no reason to look elsewhere. Most people will respect your privacy, but there is always one person that wants to go through your pantry or medicine cabinet.
• If you have cherished heirlooms or valuables, move them out of sight or store them safely somewhere else. A spilled drink can accidentally ruin an antique table that looks "second hand"to an aide.

Be sure to interview any person or agency carefully before you hire them!



For more information on home safety for the elderly or individuals with special needs please go to http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/pdfs/FCS-461.pdf

How to Write Instructions for your Home Health Aide

Home Health Aide Daily Care Plan & Instructions

When we first had a home health aide for my daughter the job seemed obvious to me. Not so to the various care workers who were assigned to her. Truthfully a home health care aide or companion typically has very little to do. A live-in aide can retire to his/her room and read or watch TV until you need their help. A part-time aide is in an awkward position because there isn't much to fill the time. I don't mind if the aides read, text or use their laptops - provided they meet my daughter's basic needs in a timely manner.

Do your homework when you hire an aide. It turns out that most people will only do exactly what is asked of them - no more, no less. For instance, with an elderly parent if you ask the caregiver to make a pot of coffee it is very possible that they will only make coffee on the day that you make that request. If your parent wants a pot of coffee made every morning with breakfast that needs to be specified. You need to prepare your home when you have someone working in it so they can find the things they need.

Review the instructions on equipment and procedures. Make sure that the aide has the written instructions available for any unique equipment like a lift. WATCH them perform complex tasks at least once to make sure that they are being thorough and safe. Don't trust that "showering" means the same thing to everyone. Some people may spray your family member down quickly, others may sit them in the shower and walk away for 10 minutes. Be specific about your expectations.

Review and provide instructions for all medications that the patient requires. Don't forget non-routine medications. For instance, if the person has an Epi Pen make sure the aide knows where it is and how to use it.

If you expect the person to prepare meals or snacks, make sure that they know where the ingredients are as well as what food preferences or allergies the person may have. When in doubt, provide a printed recipe including the location of all ingredients. Decide if the person will be eating with your family member and provide adequate quantities of food (obviously live-ins expect meals).

While it seemed ridiculous at first, I learned to provide a detailed list of each task that I wanted done every day.  Each task is described including the timing (after school, at dinner),  tools to be used (special cup, broom, etc.)  and the frequency (daily, weekly, etc.). I also include check boxes so the person can keep track of what has been completed each day.

The last section of my daily list includes safety instructions. Make sure that you have your address written down in the event of an emergency. You'd be amazed at how many people simply follow their GPS and have no idea where they are. If you are not going to be there at all times include your contact information on this page as well.

Here is an example of a daily care plan for a 4-hour after school shift for our daughter. Your plan may be more detailed depending on medical needs and the extent of home care tasks you expect.


Daily Home Care Plan for __________________      Date:  _____________

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

Personal Care

         Meet & get her off school bus using wheelchair

         Change clothing if wet or dirty immediately after school

         Toilet or/change Depends every 2 hours   

o   Completed  at     time _____________       time _____________   

o    Check  Depends immediately after school. Change after shower & before bed

o   Thrown wet/dirty Depend in kitchen trash can

         Provide afternoon snack (prepared in frig) Complete at time _____________   

         Assist with ambulation around house (maintain contact guard at all times)

         Assist with TV remote, computer, etc.

         Shower daily    Completed at time _____________   

         Brush hair daily after shower

         Wash hair on Wednesdays   Completed date _____________   

         Assist with feeding during meals & snacks

o   Cut food into bite sized pieces for finger feeding

o   Assist with use of spoon or fork (may need to feed her)

o   Place dirty dishes, cups and utensils in the sink

         Provide companionship & supervision at all times

     Maintain safe environment while parents are away or otherwise occupied.

Home Care

         Make bed daily    Completed at time _____________   

         Fold & put away laundry as needed (2-3 times a week)

         Dust & vacuum bedroom on Mondays (weekly)  Date _____________   

o   Use Swiffer dusters and Shark carpet sweeper

         Clean bathroom on Fridays (weekly)    Date _____________   

o   Use disinfecting wipes to wipe down toilet & bathtub

o   Lift no slip mat and place on shower chair to air dry

Safety    I can be reached at 555-555-1234

Never allow her to walk around the house alone – be with her at all times.

Watch for choking while eating and drinking.

In the event of a clonic/tonic seizure (grand mal):

1.    Ensure her safety - roll her to her side, if possible

2.    Call 911 The address here is 123 Main Street Anywhere,ST

3.    Administer medication per instructions on label (outer pocket of blue backpack)

For insights on the aide's perspective please go to http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/advice-from-a-home-health-aide/

Walt Disney World Attractions that ARE NOT Rides

Walt Disney World Attractions

I owe a nod to my niece for this post. When I invited her to come to Walt Disney World with us she replied, "no thanks. I get horribly motion sick and can't go on any rides." Huh?!? Who says "no" to Walt Disney World?

I reflected on how many rides my family actually goes on and the answer is very, very few.

Here is a list of things to do that most likely won't make you motion sick. This is just a starting place for planning a Disney vacation that isn't focused on rides.

I've included Attractions, Shows, Parades, Fireworks as well as Boats & Trains as they are more transportation than "rides", but still fun. There are so many, many other things that aren't on this list!

Main Street Show Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

• Walt Disney World Railroad
• Main Street Vehicles
• Tomorrow Land Transit Authority
• Monorail
• Mickey's Philharmagic (movie)
• Carousel of Progress
• Cinderella Castle
• Country Bear Jamboree (animated characters)
• Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
• Hall of Presidents (animated characters)
• Monster Inc. Laugh Floor
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Tom Sawyer Island



Walt Disney World RailRoad Magic Kingdom

• Town Square Theater
• Character Greetings
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Rose Garden
• Dream Along with Mickey Show
• Main Street Electrical Parade
• Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade
• Wishes Fireworks
• Electric Water Pageant (Lagoon show)
• Ferryboat from Ticket & Transportation Center
• Liberty Square Riverboat

Free soda at EPCOT

EPCOT

• Monorail
• Turtle Talk with Crush
• The Land Pavilion
• The Seas Pavilion (Aquarium)
• Extensive Gardens
• World Showcase featuring 11 countries
• American Adventure (animated characters)
• Oh Canada (movie)
• Captain EO (movie)
• Circle of Life (movie)
• Image Works



Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT

• Imagination Pavilion
• Innoventions
• EPCOT Character Spot
• Club Cool (free soda)
• National Treasures Museum
• Reflections of China (movie)
• Illuminations Fireworks
• Street Performers
• American Theater (various visiting musical artists)
• Friendship Boats
• Playgrounds
• Water "Spray Ground" Playground

 Hollywood Studios

Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground at Hollywood Studios

• Beauty & the Beast Live on Stage
• Lights, Motor, Action! Stunt Show
• href="http://www.imperfectlypossible.com/2013/02/disney-junior-live-on-stage-review.html">Disney Junior Live on Stage
• Disney Channel Rocks show
• Pixar Pals Parade
• American Idol Experience (stage show)
• Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
• Muppet Vision 3D (movie)
• Voyage of the Little Mermaid (show)
• Magic of Animation Show followed by 30 minute Animation Academy class
• Jedi Training Academy
• Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground
• Fantasmic! Fireworks

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom

• Festival of the Lion King
• Finding Nemo the Musical
• Its Tough to Be a Bug (3D movie)
• Flights of Wonder (bird show)
• Maharajah Jungle trek (animal viewing)
• Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (animal viewing)
• Affection Section (animal petting zoo)
• Conservation Station
• Discovery Island trails (animal viewing)
• Habitat Habit
• Oasis Exhibits (animal viewing)
• Cretaceous trail
• Boneyard Playground
• Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade
• Character Trails (meet n greet)
• Wildlife Express 

Polynesian Resort Beach at night

Resorts (varies by location)

• Playgrounds
• Pools
• Restaurants
• Gardens
• Walking/Hiking paths
• Carriage rides
• Fishing
• Boat rentals
• Sand beaches
• Arcades
• Bonfires
• Pony Rides
• Outdoor Movies
• Free performances

Downtown Disney

• The Magical Water Fountain Spray Ground
• Restaurants
• Shows

Illuminations Fireworks at EPCOT

Walt Disney World with a Wheelchair - Part 5 Rides

Walt Disney World with a Wheelchair

Getting on the Attractions (Rides)

Disney attractions fall into several categories when you're in a wheelchair: those you can stay in your chair for, those you must be in or transfer to a manual wheelchair for and those you must be able to transfer into a regular seat. In some cases you may need to transfer from your ECV to a manual wheelchair. And in some instances it may just prove impossible to access an Attraction. Cast Members are not permitted to assist with transfers, so if you can't transfer independently or with the aid of a member of your party, you'll need to skip that ride. It's a little complicated, to say the least. Before heading to the Parks you can search the Attractions at Walt Disney World Resort web site by entry requirements (i.e., "Wheelchair and ECV accessible".)

There is a wheelchair accessible Swan on the Carousel

There are 138 Attractions (rides) in the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney categorizes rides ranging from "Must be Ambulatory" to "Wheelchair and ECV Accessible" - and a number of transfer options in between. If you can't transfer comfortably you will need to do some advance planning to see what you can and cannot do at each park. You can check accessibility on the Disney website or you can download the Accessibility Guide for each park.

The percentage of fully accessible rides is truly amazing! There are only three Attractions that fall into the "Must be Ambulatory" category (all in the Magic Kingdom):

• Tom Sawyer Island
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority
• Swiss Family Treehouse

I know of four rides (although there may be more) where you must transfer onto the regular attraction seat. These are:

• Maelstorm
• Mission: Space
• Soarin'
• Spaceship Earth

That means that roughly 95% of the Attractions are fully accessible! Remember that in Disney-ese Attractions include the shows, parades, etc. - not just rides.  All of the various shows have wheelchair access. You will be typically be asked to park in the back row to avoid obstructing others' views, but the view is still good.

There is a wheelchair boat on Its a Small World

You can definitely get on most of the rides. You may have to wait for a wheelchair accessible boat or car. Rides that I know have wheelchair boats include Its a Small World and the Jungle Cruise in the Magic Kingdom. Newer rides actually have pieces that can be swapped out to accommodate an ECV or wheelchair. The first time I saw this was on ToyStory Mania. It was pretty impressive to watch the Cast members remove part of the ride and swap in another section.

Step in to seat on Dumbo

If you are in an ECV you may have to transfer to a manual wheelchair for some rides. Disney Cast Members are typically very good at politely asking if you can transfer. Waiting for a special vehicle may take a while, but transferring directly to the ride can be harder than you might imagine. It's rarely a simple step into a ride on the same level. Some of the rides have multiple steps up or down (Jungle Cruise). Others have awkward or dark space that you need to step into like Dumbo or Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

Step down into Jungle Cruise boat

Disney Cast Members aren't allowed to help with transfers. This is intended to protect your privacy. Therefore you need to travel with someone who can help you make these transfers if you can't walk independently.

We always help our daughter but as she gets bigger some of the rides become harder to access. We actually had very good luck transferring her on a seat for Spaceship Earth as the loading area is sort of a moving sidewalk that moves with the cars. We were able to push her chair right onto the ramp and help her in at her pace. On the other hand, Magic Carpets of Aladdin at night (in the dark) was nearly impossible.

Remember Disney isn't all about the rides! There are wonderful shows, parades, fireworks and dining experiences that are all accessible. Even if you avoid the traditional rides entirely you can still have a great time at Walt Disney World.