Disney Port Adventures can help mobility challenged guests in many ways. Cruisers with limited mobility, who use electric wheelchairs or scooters full or part time, have often been left behind where shore excursions are concerned. This occurs when tour vehicles at foreign ports do not have accommodation for them. Persons who use canes, walkers, and rollators who find it challenging to climb the stairs on a bus or whose device doesn’t fold up for in-transport storage, are also left behind.
While we could still enjoy the “empty” ship; there are some advantages to that such as no crowds to negotiate. Yet, we want to do those fun excursions too! However, the ADA’s regulations do not apply outside the U.S. and the cruise lines have no control over accessibility either.
Disney Port Adventures To The Rescure
Happily, things are changing. DCL is one of the few cruise lines to offer accessible excursions at certain destinations featuring vehicles with ramps or lifts, minimal or no stairs, and mostly easy-to-navigate paths for their limited mobility and full time wheelchair guests.
The Limitations
Accessible adventures have limited availability and they book up quickly. As soon as your booking window for activities opens make that reservation. Research the accessible excursions before the date of booking so you don’t waste time deciding what adventure to take, which will cause you to miss out.
Take note that some excursions may not have space for your entire party. The lift or ramp vans and mini buses seat no more than five or seven persons including the wheelchair user.
Excursions may require that mobility device users be accompanied by someone who can assist them as crew members, guides, and drivers are not allowed to push or move wheelchairs or help someone stand, sit or get in or out of the vehicle. Activities could require the repositioning of a wheelchair by your assistant, even if your device is electric.
Full time electric wheelchair users must submit to DCL height, length, width, and weight of your device to make sure it fits in the accessible vehicle. The price of the adventure increases the average price of the general excursion because of the accessible mini bus or van.
Review All Of The Accessible Disney Port Adventures
Read everything about the adventure you are interested in to make sure it meets your needs. There are a few general excursions where you can reserve a wheelchair accessible vehicle through DCL. Guests with manual wheelchairs, canes, or rollators can join any Disney Port Adventure if their device folds up for storage and they can climb the bus stairs.
Disney is very clear with detailed information to help limited mobility and wheelchair guests know what to expect on any adventure they may choose.
