A great wildlife park but not for manual wheelchairs
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: May 2019
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
Before we went we were advised to hire a mobility scooter to get around but I thought we would save on the 25 Euros hire for a single, or 50 Euros for a double. Hindsight it wonderful and we wished we had hired either as the terrain was not good for a manual wheelchair as it was very 'gravelly' Having read good reviews and visited similar attractions in the past, we were keen to make a visit. We were recommended to hire a mobility buggy but thought we could do it with me pushing me about. Hindsight is wonderful and we ought to have hired one as the ground and terrain made pushing me about very difficult. Indeed there was some areas I did not get to. That said, the Parrot show was refreshingly different from what we had seen before, with good audience interaction. Similar with the Sealion show. Quite different (in a good way) and it was fun when the ‘big guy’ went walkies within the audience. We also enjoyed the Fauna Live show, again something different.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
If you are using a manual wheelchair, I would seriously think about hiring one of the mobility scooters, even through I thought that they were expensive. Some of the paths were tarmacked, but on the whole they were gravely. My wife pushed me for 82 miles in 10 days but this place almost had her beat.
Parking & Transport
Good
As we were picked up at our hotel by the coach (Low access and the driver stowed my wheelchair, I didn't actually see the disabled parking but I would imagine there was some. Using the FREE coach transfer was good, seeing parts of the Island we had not been to on our island tour.
Accessible Toilets
Good
Sorrey, I did not use them although we spotted at least 3 throughout the park. They were well signed and access looked good
Staff
Good
We didn't have any real interaction with the staff. Those doing the shows were very good though. Likewise at the 'refreshment' stop we have as we were served very quickly
Additional Information
The Parrot show was refreshingly different from what we had seen before, with good audience interaction. Similar with the Sea-lion show. Quite different (in a good way) and it was fun when the ‘big guy’ went walkies within the audience. We also enjoyed the Fauna Live show, again something different. Viewing from a wheelchair was easy, although at the Parrot show there was not a designated area for wheelchair users. Improvements? - Tarmac all the surfaces, although for people walking without buggies or wheelchairs, I appreciate what is there works well.
