Wheelchair Access at Knott's 2013 Halloween Haunt.

[darklingscribe]

Hello Robb, I was just wondering if you or anyone on these forums knows how many of Knott's mazes or other haunt attractions have Wheelchair access. I will be bringing a handicapped friend up from San Diego to Knott's Haunt in a few weeks and I remembered that in the past some of Knott's mazes required going up a flight of stairs to enter.

 

I really want to just give him some idea on what we can and cannot do. My friend's disability will not let him walk more than a few feet so crutches are out of the question, but on a positive note his condition has nothing to do with his heart so sudden scares won't be a problem.

 

I intend to call guest relations soon to see what they say, but I also thought posting this question here would help me glean some info of what it is like from a disabled guest's point of view or the the point of view of someone who has gone to Halloween Haunt with someone who has a disability.

 

Thanks.

[darklingscribe]

I called Knott's information just now and got most of the answers I wanted and couldn't find on their website. I really meant to do this yesterday, but totally forgot.

 

For those who might need this info here is what they told me.

 

Guests in wheelchairs should go through the exits on normal rides where they can wait out the time of the current line and then ride. Most Halloween Haunt Mazes are wheelchair accessible, but guests in wheelchairs have to wait in the regular maze lines. If a disabled guest wants to skip the lines entirely they must purchase a front of the line pass.

 

The only Halloween Haunt ride/maze which is not wheelchair accessible is the The Witch's Keep, which is the Calico Mine Ride.

 

Their upcharge maze, Trapped, is Wheelchair accessible.

 

Only regular wheelchairs are available to rent during haunt because the shop that rents out the electric scooters/chairs will be closed for the event. Electric wheelchairs however are allowed at the Haunt if a guest wants to bring their own.

 

I hope this helps someone else as much as it helped me.

[robbalvey]

As someone who worked a night in a couple of Haunt mazes at Knott's, I'm gonna be really honest with you... Don't go.

 

While the mazes might be "wheelchair accessible" they really aren't. First off, you really can't "scare" someone when they are being wheeled through a maze, and the biggest issue was, the people with the wheelchairs were annoying as hell. They kept holding up the line because it's dark and hard to navigate a maze in a wheel chair. I saw them get stuck all the time. And then the people kept having attitudes with the scareactors and the maze attendants who were simply trying to do their job of moving the people through the attraction "Can you see she's in a WHEEL CHAIR?!?!!" Ugh... "Can't you see you came to a HALLOWEEN EVENT?!?!?!"

 

I'm not trying to be mean to anyone disabled or anything like that, but just because something IS accessible to everyone, doesn't always mean it SHOULD be. I'd say if you want to go to the event and check out the atmosphere of the place, the shows, the scare zones, etc, that's fine. But pushing a wheelchair through a maze, IMO, should just simply not be allowed. And if ADA wasn't around to MAKE the parks do it, I'm sure they wouldn't.

Edited September 19, 2013 by robbalvey

[darklingscribe]

I understand Robb, I know how narrow those mazes can be. To be honest I'm pretty sure it is going to be a visit more about taking in the park than doing any of the mazes. The reason why I asked about access to the mazes in the first place was because he asked me and I had no idea.

 

I'm taking him because he really is excited about the Haunt and I was able to get two tickets for the MiceChat Nights of Horror Event at Knotts. He told me that Knott's was his home park growing up before he moved to San Diego in 2000. Since then he was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis and was in rapid decline until this past few years when he was switched to a new treatment that was able to get him back some of his mobility.

 

He still has to deal with the pain of the disease and can pretty much could only ride the gentle rides, which is why I thought the haunt would be a good idea. It would allow him to visit the park and see how it has changed. Also all of the haunt attractions and shows would offer plenty to do for the night without really doing the mazes.

 

I already sent an email to Micechat events three days ago informing them I will be bringing a handicapped guest and to tell me now if they felt the event would not suit him. I know the tickets to the event are really sought after and they could go to someone in the waitlist for their event if they felt like he would not have a good time.

 

So far I have not received a response back.

[arby]

I completely agree with Robb. While I have never worked a maze, we attend SCarowinds every year while someone watches my 23 year old son who is mentally and physically disabled. Even if he wasn't mentally handicapped and able to handle the 'intensity' of the haunt, we wouldn't take him because of the stress of trying to get his wheelchair through the mazes. Some of them are a little difficult to walk through so I can't imagine trying to navigate a wheel chair through them. I know it sucks...