Pandora not wheelchair-friendly
In the movie “Avatar,” the main character is a man confined to a wheelchair who can experience moving by linking his mind to a human-Na'vi hybrid.
So some are finding it ironic that in Walt Disney World’s Avatar land opening May 27, boarding the two rides will require visitors to get out of their wheelchairs.
Both the Flight of Passage simulator ride and Na’vi River Journey, a slow-moving dark boat ride, require people to sit in the vehicle’s seats themselves.
Disney said the size of the boats could not accommodate wheelchairs but did not provide details about why the vehicles could not have been designed differently. Disney said the ride has tiered transfer benches available for disabled riders to help them descend.
On the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom or Journey into Imagination at Epcot, guests can sit in their own wheelchairs.
Elsewhere in the Magic Kingdom, on the Haunted Mansion guests must walk into the ride vehicles. On It’s a Small World, they have to transfer into a different wheelchair.
“I'm very surprised that Disney didn't install at least a couple of boats that could accommodate wheelchairs. That should be standard practice these days for slow-moving boat rides without drops,” said Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider. be planning an expansion of its still-underconstruction Volcano Bay water park? The 28-acre attraction is scheduled to have its grand opening Thursday.
In a “sneak peek” story posted on CNN’s website, Dale Mason, vice president and executive art director of Universal Creative, indicated that the company has an expansion plan, and it could be just over the horizon.
“We have a pretty darn good idea of what we’ll do,” Mason said in the CNN article. “It could happen quicker than we think: it could start in three weeks.”
Universal spokesman Tom Schroder didn’t confirm plans.
“I think what Dale was saying is we’re always looking forward,” he said. “But right now we’re entirely focused on May 25 and making that great.”
Orlando spokeswoman Cassandra Lafser said the city has not received any submissions from Universal indicating an expansion.
Schroder would not go into details about potential placement or timing of a future project, which CNN reported as a 5-acre addition. The new water park — fronted by a 200foot volcano and featuring 18 rides, slides and attractions — is going up in a wedge of land between Interstate 4, Turkey Lake Road and Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort.
“It’s just our best practice to always be thinking about where we can go next, what we can do,” Schroder said.
Visit Orlando plans to move its main visitor center, where people can buy discounted attraction tickets and get advice about the city, into vacant space at 8102 International Drive, which houses the Mango’s nightclub.
Check registers show Visit Orlando in December paid landlord Wallack Holdings $94,500 for the visitor-center lease. It is not clear how long that lease lasts.
The move will place later this year.
“This much improved visitor access, ample parking and location will enhance our destination services on a broader scale in this growing region,” the organization said in an email.
The existing visitor center at 8723 International Drive has operated since 1996 at that location. take
Orlando was named the country’s No. 4 city to enjoy a staycation by RewardExpert, an online resource that guides people through travel-rewards programs.
Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., took the top three spots. RewardExpert praised Minneapolis for its parks and gardens, Pittsburgh for being relatively inexpensive and boasting some of the country’s best restaurants and art galleries; and D.C. for its museums and historical sites. Orlando, meanwhile, was noted for its theme parks, golf courses, beaches and culinary offerings.
Tampa was listed as the No. 5 best staycation city because of warm weather, pools, nature parks, and hiking.
“Tampa ranks sixth in regard to restaurants per capita, with 136 restaurants per 10,000 residents,” RewardExpert said. It is also affordable, RewardExpert noted.