The Traveling Wheelchair

3031 Cranberry Highway
Wareham, Massachusetts
Phone: 508-295-3255
http://www.waterwizz.com/

If you want to COOL OFF during this hot summer HEAT WAVE you might want to go to Water Wizz, a really fun water park in Wareham. Yesterday, Josh, my roommate, Tony, Josh and Ric, our friends and my mom and I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Water Wizz. My roommate Josh’s dad got us the tickets for FREE. Water Wizz is like Summer Water Wonderland and its very wheelchair friendly and accessible! We all had a fantastic time!

Before becoming disABLED at age eleven, I visited water many parks as a child. My family belonged to a pool club and I loved to swim; slide down the water slides; and I could even do a triple flip off the high diving board :>) Since this time the only time I’ve been in a pool is for therapy at Healthtrax Fitness Center where I am lifted into the pool via a lift. Yesterday was the first time I experienced wheeling into a pool and it was a lot more fun! I was thrilled to find most of the pools at Water Wizz have easy roll in ACCESS.

Any standard wheelchair would be able to wheel right in; I would recommend removing any cushions which may get water damage. I brought my All-Terrain Beach Wheelchair for it has interchangeable pool wheels that my friends easily attached. It was the first time I used it with pool wheels and I absolutely loved it! The chair does not float; the wheels are similar to bicycle wheels and stay solidly on the ground while in the water.

While we were here we experienced the added excitement of seeing  some scenes filmed of Grown Ups; directed by Dennis Dugan; starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade. Grown Ups will be coming to theatres June 25, 2010. It was exciting to see some scenes filmed!

General Accessibility Information:

Parking and Entering: We didn’t see any handicap parking spaces but we were the last car let in. The parking lot where we parked was gravel and could be a tough wheel for some. Access to enter is wide open. One ticket booth is wheelchair accessible with a lowered counter at the window.

• Hours: Water Wizz is open from 10am - 6pm daily until September 7, 2009.
• Admission cost is pricey.Admission cost is: Adults - $30.00; children under 48″ and seniors (65+)- $15.00; Children 2 and under are FREE. There is NO DISCOUNT FOR DISABLED PERSONS IN WHEELCHAIRS even though some of the attractions are NOT ACCESSIBLE. Coupons for $2.00 off are available at Tedeschi Food Stores.
• Lockers to store your belongings are available for a cost of $6.00 deposit with a $2.00 return with key.
• If you are handicapped and need help, please ask for a manager for assistance. There are 3 first aid stations.

Walkways: All walkways are smooth cement and easy to wheel on. Any place you see steps are clearly marked with posted signs with arrows directing you to accessible ramps for wheelchair or stroller access; these wheelchair accessible ramps are easy to wheel up and down because slope is gradual.

• Shade: There are plenty of large umbrellas to shade those who don’t like the sun.
• Restrooms: The restrooms are accessible via a ramp leading to the open entry doors; they are spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant. It even has a large wheelchair accessible changing room.
• Food & Beverage: You are allowed to bring a cooler with food and non alcoholic drinks into the park. No glass is allowed. There is a Snack Bar that is wheelchair accessible for it has one window with a lower counter at a perfect height.
• Gift and Candy Shops: Most of the gift and candy shops have a step in front but on the side are wheelchair accessible ramps.

Pools: Most of the pools are wheelchair accessible by wheeling right in! I felt like a kid again enjoying the refreshing cool water on a hot sunny 90 degree day! I cherished every moment! I enjoyed wheeling into the Harpoon Lagoon and cooling off under the mushroom shower.

I had fun in the Captain Kid’s Island Pool; Ric and I enjoyed being splashed when the Water Wizz Frog bucket got full of water  splashed on us; it felt like I was under a waterfall. I couldn’t get on a water slide but enjoyed sitting next to it while Ric and my roommate Josh slid down! Josh told me it was a lot of fun to slide down this slide!

Water Slides: I wouldn’t expect the high water slides to be accessible due to many steps to gain access to top of slide. Yet it would be great if somehow they could make at least one of the smaller water slides accessible.

The Wave Pool has easy roll in access. Off to the side were two Director/Star Chairs; Tony and I got a kick out of pretending we were stars. While sitting in this pool I got to see some scenes of Grown Ups filmed here! It was really cool to be right in the pool with everyone else! I’m looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out. I love ALL Adam Sandler Movies!

Water Wizz is a great place for both kids and ‘Grown Ups’ to cool off and have some fun :>)

I give Water Wizz FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. If somehow they made at least one water slide accessible they would earn Five Stars Plus! All the staff deserve FIVE STARS for their kindness and helpfulness!