I use an electric wheelchair full-time and can't sit up without complete support. Our last trip to Disney World I spent about 10 hours researching wheelchair accessible rides. I didnt transfer for any rides and still had a fantastic time.
Here is a list of rides that you can drive your wheelchair directly onto without transferring, sorted by park:
Magic Kingdom---
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin: (note-this ride doesn't fit all electric chairs--my standard Invacare Action electric wheelchair didn't fit-)
Stitches Great Escape (I havent ridden it-this ride has got a lot of bad reviews)
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Takes you through several classic scenes-awesome-easy access)
its a small world (easy access)
Liberty Belle Riverboat (Tour around a lake with some props and animatronics-kinda long-chair sits below level of bars, partially blocking view)
Main Street U.S.A.-Railroad-steam train ride (I loved it. Round trip is best, there are scenes along the way. I am not sure if all stops are accessible so get on at Main Street)
Jungle Cruise (recently converted)
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (too short for some chairs)
All the Character Greeting Areas and shows are wheelchair accessible. There are always spaces for wheelchairs with seats for family members adjoining
(Storytime with Belle, etc. all children sit on the floor up front)
Swiss Family Treehouse and Tom Sawyer Island are impossible for wheelchairs (you can do a roundtrip on the raft that goes to Tom Sawyer Island)
All night-time shows and parades have special wheelchair viewing areas-ask a CM, they're marked on a map- arrive 1-2 hours early for a seat and you cannot leavenighttime shows are my favorite and are well worth the wait
Shows I recommend:
Time Keeper (360 degree imaging with awesome Animatronics that take you on a time-travel adventure fraught with danger and comedy *may be gone)
Carousel of Progress (the classic tale following an animatronic family through different eras of invention)
Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management by Zazu and Iago creating a cute, funny adventure-mild danger- with special effects.)
Philharmagic (3D show-which are always awesome-I like it just from clips Ive seen)
Spectromagic parade (nighttime parade of lights)
Wishes Fireworks (replaced Fantasy in the Sky-I have heard it is incredible and already love it from the pictures and video clips that Ive seen-mixing lasers, beautiful fireworks, and heartwarming character narration).
Share a Dream Come True Parade
Epcot
Ellens Energy Adventure (easily accessible-cute Jeapordy style beginning that then takes you back in time to Dinosaurs)
Journey Into Your Imagination (easily accessible-really cute/fun ride with a fully accessible interactive special effects playground afterwards)
Living with the Land (informational tour about various climates and agriculture)
El Rio Del Tiempo (accessible-boat ride tour of Mexico)
The Living Seas (all areas accessible, although some areas may have alternate access. At your own pace viewing of a live sea aquarium and the new Crush attraction)
The World Showcase (all areas accessible, although some areas may have alternate access)
Street shows are hard to see unless you arrive a little early to sit in front
All the Character Greeting Areas and shows (including Innoventions) are wheelchair accessible (*note: The Kid cot fun stop crafts will be difficult to do unless you have a tray on your wheelchair because the table and chairs are low and the supplies are scattered)
All night-time shows and parades have special wheelchair viewing areas-ask a CM- arrive 1-2 hours early for a seat and you cannot leave-- nighttime shows are my favorite and are well worth the wait
Shows I recommend:
Honey! I Shrunk the Audience-3D (awesome multisensory adventure with a 3D movie as well as a moving stage-you can feel the effects while in your chair-and incorporates the feel sense *might be too scary)
Cranium Command (funny and cute story that portrays the job of a brain pilot that tries to control the different organs/body systems of a 12 year old boy throughout his day-really funny *may be gone)
Some areas of Innoventions are fun. You can build a robot and keep it for free. But a lot of it is 3D/multisensory video games that you can't do in a wheelchair so this could be depressing
Illuminations: Reflections of Earthincredible nighttime show with lasers, fireworks, music, and a global earth ball promoting harmony through a heartwarming, fantastic display.
MGM Studios
Great Movie Ride (note-this ride doesn't fit all wheelchairs-my standard Invacare action electric wheelchair didn't fit and I had to ride sideways)
MGM Studios Backlot Tour
All the Character Greeting Areas and all shows are wheelchair accessible
Shows I recommend (MGM has a lot of good shows):
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (live action awesome show )
Sounds Dangerous (special show that relies almost completely on hearing with incredible effects -a lot of parts in complete darkness)
Voyage of the Little Mermaid (play type show with characters, puppets, props, laser lights, and occasionally a fine mist to create the effect of being underwater. A great place to cool off)
Muppet Vision 3D (cute 3D show with feeling thrown in through water sprays, etc. The pre-show is also good)
Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show
All night-time shows and parades have special wheelchair viewing areas-ask a CM- arrive 1-2 hours early for a seat and you cannot leavenighttime shows are my favorite and are well worth the wait
Fantasmic-(The best nighttime/overall show. Note: Use the wheelchair seats in the back and arrive 2 hours to get a good seat)
Animal Kingdom-
Wildlife Express Train (train that shows you how Disney cares for their animals and takes you to the Conservation Station-have to back on)
Triceratop Spin (note: I never rode this ride and I am not sure if it accommodates electric wheelchairs or just manual ones)
Kilimanjaro Safaris (mild thrill ride with a guide that drives you through authentic habitats to view real exotic animals-best experienced in the morning. Note: This ride is bumpy. You may need to back in to the ride vehicle.)
All the Character Greeting Areas and shows are wheelchair accessible (*some areas of the Boneyard are not. *Conservation is listed as accessible but I didnt visit it.)
All the nature trails are accessible and have beautiful wildlife. There are many exhibits-a few viewing areas are a little difficult to get to.
All night-time shows and parades have special wheelchair viewing areas-ask a CM- arrive 1-2 hours early for a seat and you cannot leavenighttime shows are my favorite and are well worth the wait
Shows I recommend:
Festival of the Lion King (ties with Fantasmic for best show-Incredible show with acrobats, fire blowers, animatronics-cannot miss)
Its Tough to Be a Bug-3D (multi-sensory show with animatronics as well as a 3D show. Note: a few effects will be missed if youre not sitting in a chair, but I never transferred and fully enjoyed the show-one of my favorites *may be too scary)
Flights of Wonder (bird stunt/aerial flying)
I only transferred to rides when I was younger and stronger. The last trip I didnt transfer to any rides and still had a fabulous, magical trip with the plentiful wheelchair accessible rides and awesome shows. Always carefully weigh out the risks of transferring.
I hope I helped.
If you also want information on transfer rides i.e. how hard is the transfer, how rough is the ride, how much body control, etc. I would be glad to help with that, too. I have gone to Disney with different levels of function...
If you don't want him to tranfer you might not mention the big roller coasters/extreme rides-but purposefully steering away from them might make it worse. Probably better to emphasize how cool the wheelchair accessible rides are. Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Backlot tour at MGM have mild thrills. Several of the shows are just as thrilling as rides IMHO. Honey I Shrunk the Audience's floor even moves. Indiana Jones is a good 'man' show and It's Tough to Be a Bug has parts that make you jump.
Currently I cannot sit up without complete support. I use an electric wheelchair full-time. My mom will not allow me to ride rough thrill rides. She has a milder form of Muscular Dystrophy and can walk short distances and has much better trunk control. She has to approve rides. I was thrilled when she said I could ride Soarin'. If there was one ride that I would risk transferring to it would be this (in Epcot). I pulled my wheelchair right up to the aisle. My Dad carried me to the second seat. He sat on my left and my Grandma sat on my right. The seat belt has a strap that goes between your legs (meant for smaller children) to keep you from sliding out. During the ride, my Dad had his arm behind my back and a hold of my left arm while my Grandma held my right arm. On the swoops and turns these stabilized me. The most difficult part was the steep incline (Dad's arm held me up) and downward angles (seatbelt and arm holds). If you are as limited as me, I would not go without assistance. But with proper support you can enjoy the ride. The seat has a fairly high back so if you are thrown backwardrs you won't fall out. The seatbelt is snug and the strap between the legs will help secure you on the downward angles. Even though my feet were hanging, the seat didn't dig into the back of my legs. There are arm rests. I don't know if they flip up. The fairly high height of the seats could potentially make transfering difficult. All the movements are smooth. My only difficulty was that the snugness of the seatbelt left me out of breath. I loved this ride!
I can also answer questions about a specific ride/show.
Remember all shows are wheelchair accessible-don't miss the nighttime shows-especially Fantasmic-and don't miss Festival of the Lion King
Companion Restrooms
Magic Kingdom® Park:
First Aid
Lower level of Cinderella's Royal Table
Mickey's Toontown Fair
Next to Space Mountain® Stage
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
Transportation and Ticket Center East Gate
Epcot®:
First Aid
East side of Spaceship Earth
Future World East Block opposite Test Track
Future World West Block opposite The Land
Near the Canada Pavilion
Near the Germany Pavilion
Near the Morocco Pavilion
Near the Norway Pavilion opposite the Viking ship
Disney-MGM Studios:
First Aid
Fantasmic!
Next to Soundstage 3 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire-Play It!
Opposite Star Tours
Opposite "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"
Rock 'N' Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park:
First Aid
Asia near Maharajah Jungle Trek
Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland U.S.A.®
Discovery Island opposite Flame Tree Barbecue
Harambe Village in the Mombasa Marketplace
Finally, unless your son is using a manual wheelchair, can transfer into a park courtesy manual wheelchair, or transfer into a seat, he will not be able to ride any rides at Universal. Universal only allows manual wheelchairs to drive and be strapped down onto their "wheelchair accessible" ride vehicles. Electric wheelchairs aren't-but must transfer to a courtesy park chair and ride in that. hmmph...some "wheelchair accessibl...
Seaworld on the other hand is very wheelchair accessible, seats you first, gives you front of the line passes, and charges you 1/2 price for the ticket (must buy at window) for the disabled person and one helper...
Schew! I hope I help and answered your questions. Good luck! Have a magical trip!
Christamae