Florida Guide > Universal Parks
Wheelchair user's Guide to IOA
I am not the world’s most adventurous thrill seeker so this by all means is not a comprehensive list. I hope another wheelchair user more adventurous than I am will add to this.
First of all –if arriving by car –do bring your disabled blue badge with you. The authorities do recognise our UK one in Florida.
The disabled parking is still a long way from both parks. There are three travelators (which wheelchairs are not allowed on) and then a good walk/push to get to the entrance of the park.
For most of the rides at IOA you need to be able to transfer from your wheelchair. Ones that you can stay in are very limited and tend to be at Dr Seuss Landing.
Cat in the Hat ride. Dr Seuss Landing . This is from the children’s book by Dr Seuss. Wheelchair user’s can ride from their chair. There is one special car that can be modified for a manual chair-not sure about electric chairs. Not a lot of room to manoeuvre-maybe a child’s small electric chair may be possible. It’s good fun. It is on the flat but you do get flung around a bit as the car spins, so wheelchair user needs good upper body strength to hang onto the bar-or accompanying adult may need to hold child tightly. One time attendants would let you ride twice (it takes so long to fix you in. ) but now you have to get out and re-join at the other side. Why? I don’t know-it doesn’t make sense but there it is.
One Fish, Two Fish- Dr Seuss Landings. My favourite ride. Again a manual chair only as very small space to manoeuvre. One car is modified to take a wheelchair. Ride goes round at a moderate pace and you can raise or lower your car with the controls. You have to try to avoid the water jets. Great fun, especially on a hot day when a little bit of chilly water is just what you need.
The High In The Sky Seuss trolley train ride. The attendant said that it was wheelchair accessible-but my little grandson was too little to go on it-so we had to give it a miss. It’s a train on a track that takes you above the Dr Seuss Landing area.
Caro-Seuuss-el. Again a special car for wheelchairs.
These are the only four rides that I am aware of that you can stay seated in your wheelchair when you ride.
Spiderman ride. At my families insistence I allowed myself to be persuaded to be lifted onto this ride. It is very exciting and thrilling and if you can get someone to help the wheelchair user on it’s not to be missed.
Poseidon’s Fury. Not a ride but good fun and totally wheelchair accessible.
Eighth voyage of Sinbad. Again not a ride but a show and one we just missed on last trip. Sounds like it will be wheelchair accessible.
I would recommend going to guest services and asking if there is any extra help for a person in a chair. There may be a pass which will allow you not to have to queue. I cannot see any info about it on their website but I do remember getting something at one of the parks.
As regards general access-the park is quite easy to travel around. It does get a bit hilly in places so manual wheelchair users may need an extra push.
There are plenty of disabled toilets situated around the park.
It’s a real shame that there is not more wheelchair accessible rides but a general rule of thumb is –if it goes very fast, turns upside down and so on-then chances are you will need to transfer.
Have fun.
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