We went from Boston’s South Station by train to NYC (Penn Station on the Acela (fast) train.
Boston South Station
South Station is accessible, though the bathroom is very cramped. It has food vendors which are apparently preferable to the train food, so we grabbed lunch there. I went to the Amtrak desk (left side from the front entry) and asked about a ramp and my train. They had a red coated luggage handler (like in the picture above at the desk in the distance) take all our bags to hold while we had lunch and waited for our train. They told us to return at a certain time before our train came to meet them, which we did.
They took us and our bags to the train, which was great because the labeling was confusing (go with the number is what I learned). They had a ramp and got me to my seat.
The train
It takes about 5 hours and costs between $100-$200. When you book you select the disabled option and follow through with answering the questions. I suggest selecting the option of needing help at the station. You will need a ramp at the very least.
For my Permobil m5, the alloyed wheelchair space was very tight. If someone had had to sit opposite me they would not have fit (no space for their legs), so I’m glad I booked my husband and daughter across the aisle together and no one had the seat across from me. I can imagine this being a real problem if they train were full and that seat was taken. Next time I might spring for first class in hopes this is better. There was a disabled bathroom next to my seat that seemed like it would work but I didn’t try it.
The seats had outlets so I could have charged my chair and did charge my phone.
Before arrival I got the attention of one of the ticket-takers and told them I would need a ramp to exit at the NYC station. They said that wasn’t their job but they would make sure I got off ok. When we got to that station NO ONE was helping me get off the train. In the end the ticket-taker from the train went and found the ramp. Also, the two doors closest to my seat had big pillars blocking where you would put a ramp, so I had to go through the dining car to the other end of it where the pillars didn’t block my exit. Thankfully the ticket-takers deployed the ramp for me and I was able to get off.
NYC Penn Station
It’s a bit of a maze. Ask for directions to the elevator, there’s no explaining it.
Transport in NYC
In NYC you can actually flag down a wheelchair cab there are so many, but they often don’t want to stop because of the extra trouble. They do get paid extra by the city if you use a certain app to order them so they come for that. It is called Accessible Dispatch NYC WAV. I suggest using that. It’s not a guarantee though.
Book ahead where you can, and give plenty of time before anything you don’t want to be late to. If you click on the car type already selected (standard) it will give you accessible options including large ones like a Pacifica (better for the three of us plus wheelchair plus luggage). Select one of those. They will call you to confirm so answer your phone. This is what worked for us for longer transport in the city during our trip.
The subway has many inaccessible stops and the elevators are often broken on the accessible ones. Not a good option. Buses are accessible though.
Hotels
Hotels in NYC tend to be small “boutique” hotels which are very difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. I used to love them and I can’t imagine any of the ones I used to stay in working for me now. The big hotels are at the big tourist areas like Times Square. Since we were there mainly to see broadway shows, we opted for the Westin at Times Square. It’s huge and is accessible and the rooms are big enough to accommodate a wheelchair and be actually accessible. They have a decent in-house bar/restaurant as well. The Accessible door to the hotel is around the corner to the right. There is an elevator that takes you up to the lobby where you can check in, and other elevators to your room.
Restaurants
So there are some restaurants which look like they are not accessible but have ramps! Always check ahead and note “wheelchair” in the reservation, which you will need to have. We went to breakfast at Un Duex Trois (kind a cross between diner and French fare) and it’s great. The ramp situation is a little nerve wracking for me but it’s totally doable. We had dinner at Orso (on Restaurant row) before a show but they could not get us in wheelchair-wise and we had to dine outside. They said there was a bathroom next doorI could use though. Nice food. The next night we tried next door Sicily Osteria which had a ramp down, accessible bathroom and was very good also.
Before Sleep No More we ate at HOWM Cocina & Cocktail right next door (located confusingly in “Selina”) which was accessible where we were able to eat at before the show. It had tapas style food which was excellent and nice cocktails. Pre-chair I would have eaten on the roof of the McKittrick at Gallows Green but while it is accessible for smaller chairs (they have a stair lift of some kind) it is not accessible for larger power chairs like mine.
Broadway and the McKittrick
We saw two Broadway shows and Sleep No More during our visit. We saw Chicago at the Ambassador theatre. We were directed to enter through a side door down an alley. There was a hidden accessible bathroom on the main floor that was very handy.
We saw Wicked at the Gershwin theatre. I have SERIOUS issues with pretty much everything about how the wheelchair user in that show is portrayed and found it really upsetting despite how good the show was. The theatre is huge and accessibility is fairly easy (bathrooms, etc.).
Sleep No More at the McKittrick Hotel is AMAZING and it is in fact accessible!
It is an immersive art/theatre experience like nothing else. It’s like being inside a dream. They run through MacBeth twice, but without words- it’s all dance and gesture- but it’s interpreted very interestingly and set in a serious of dreamscape art installations across 4 floors of a warehouse building. The audience must not speak (like in any theatre) and is asked to wear masks provided by the show to disguise them from the cast, who are maskless.
You can wander through exploring, opening cabinets and drawers, going through a maze of woods, etc. until you find a character, and then you follow them. For me since I was in the chair they gave me the option of having a guide with me who could guide me through a curated experience (which avoided the strobe-light scene) or who could just let me explore but be there if I needed help with the elevator. I chose the curated experience and it was amazing. I had been there before I was sick and wandered so the contrast was nice.
They usually separate parties, but kids between 13-17 need to have a waiver signed ahead of times and need to stay with a parent or guardian at all times (both wearing red ribbons to indicate they should not separate you). If you don’t want to be separated from someone who is a carer for you you can do the same.
In the beginning you start in a bar area which you can always return to. It is loud, so recommend ear protection if you need it. At the end before you leave in the elevator make any bathroom trip because there isn’t one downstairs. There is a gift shop downstairs though if you want to re-enter.
I suggest booking the earliest time you can and then arriving a little early to check in. You must check your phone at coatcheck. No photography or recording is allowed.
I HIGHLY recommend Sleep no More at the McKittrick.
The Art Galleries at Chelsea
I like to check these out when I go to NYC. They are always what the cutting edge of art is doing. I found most of them accessible and a couple even had bathrooms! There are delis and cafes nearby too. Check ahead for hours- some days things aren’t open because of installations in progress.
Stores
We went to the Lego Store and the Disney Store, both of which had elevators and were a fun visit.
Museums
We didn’t go to museums this trip but I have been in the chair at other times. I have been to the MET, MOMA and the New Museum without issues. What I will say is unless you need to go on a on a free day, avoid free days. They are an absolute jungle and make maneuvering very difficult.
My Wandering Wheels 