Hey guys,
I have been watching this site for years and often wish I could ride some of those coasters.. but a disability quite often can be an instant No! This is my first review on TPR.
My name is Andy, I am a drummer from Sydney Australia, I spend my days in a wheelchair due to having Cerebral Palsy, however this hasn't stopped me. Recently, my wife and I went to the USA for me to attend a drumming seminar, do a gig in California, and have some drum lessons in New York. We had 2 days in LA and decided to spend one of those at the original Disneyland Park in Anaheim. Sadly we didn't get time to check out California Adventure... but there is always next time... I am hanging to ride California Screamin'
As a drummer though my timing was right out on this trip... major theme parks re-opened the weekend we left to return to Australia... but still we had fun!
After reading a lot of the TPR trip reviews, I thought no one has ever touched on Wheelchair Accessibility to a theme park.
Living in Australia we are very limited... we have Luna Park here in Sydney, which all of the rides are up quite a few stairs.. for which I would have to learn to get out of my chair and walk... Movieworld, Sea World and Dreamworld on the Gold Coast are all pretty much the same.. with stairs accessing most of the rides.. although I have ridden a couple of coasters at Movie World.
We are having a Wet n Wild being built about 10 minutes from our place, and from what I have seen so far, it doesn't look like us people with disabilities have been considered either. Like we like to have fun too... wheelchair and all
Now getting back to Disneyland. Disney has really got it right.... Everyone told us to go to Disneyland for 1 day was insane, however we had a blast! Disneyland Anahiem is one of the most wheelchair friendly places I have ever seen, and I will tell you what we found out:
1. The Trams from the car park, are extremely wheelchair friendly.
Disneyland Trams
2. When you get there, go to guest relations, they will give you a brochure which tell you which rides are disabled friendly.
Disneyland Guest Brochure for people with Disabilities
This place is the happiest place on earth
2. We headed to It's a Small World. I will never get that song out of my head... but the experience was unbeleiveable... they have a hoist on the first boat for loading wheelchairs on and off the boats. You can actually ride in your chair. It is a pretty cool setup.
It's a small world
It's a small world - wheelchair loading
It's a small world - wheelchair loading
It's a small world - wheelchair loading
Check out this video I found on youtube
It's a small world
It's a small world
It's a small world
It's a small world - wheelchair on ride
3. Mickey's Toon Town - we didnt bother much here, except for Mickey's House, which is totally flat and fully wheelchair accessible. Even doors are wide enough for chair to go through without touching the sides.
Mickey's Toontown
Like a kid in a candy store
4. Disneyland Railroad - we did this a few times because the scenery around the park is breathtaking, and again, I can stay in my wheelchair on the train.
Like a kid in a candy store
5. Jungle Cruise - again like It's a small world, they have a hoist and you sit in your wheelchair in the middle of the boat. It's an awesome setup.
Jungle Cruise - wheelchair hoist
Jungle Cruise - wheelchair on ride
6. Indiana Jones Adventure - now this was the highlight of the day... I have never seen a ride so well themed and so wheelchair friendly. We can wheel the chair right through the maze of tunnels and caves, there is a lift between the floors, and you can park the wheelchair right next to the loading area of the ride jeeps. Getting on is a quick easy transfer from the wheelchair. Easy grab rails and a small step... no dramas at all.. only thing I had to do was hold on tight!!!
Coming off Indiana Jones.. my skin isnt usually that white! lol
6. Mr Toad's Wild Ride - again another easy ride to get on, can get wheelchair nice and close to the car, and an easy transfer. Only problem was.. the ride broke down the minute I got on board, and I had to sit there for about 20 minutes while they fixed it. But it was a quick, fun ride.
Stuck til they fix it - Mr Toad's Wild Ride
When we decided to go to Disneyland, we booked a tour through Starline Tours. Would definately do it that way again, no hassle, they picked us up from our hotel in Hollywood, and the buses are all wheelchair accessible.
Starline Tours
Starline Tours
Also when we returned to the hotel, decided to go cruise Hollywood Boulevard to grab a bite to eat.... on the spur of the moment, I decided to get another tattoo done. We stopped in at Hollywood Highland Tattoos, just across the road from the Dolby Theater, and talked to them, nothing was too much trouble. Their studio was up stairs, but to do my tatt, they brought the machine downstairs and did my tatt behind the counter in the store... highly recommend them... awesome guys to deal with.
My snare drum tatt
Hope you guys find this helpful, and as I travel a bit, it wont be my last review.
Cheers.
Disneyland Railroad - a rather easy way to get around the park in a wheelchair
