We quit taking the time to see Fantasmic due to constant issues including not allowing our family to sit with my wife and I, the cast members always want my family of four to split up for the shows, the only accessible "seats" are nearly in the rear of the amitheater and we are almost always made to feel as if we are asking for something special to be seated together. I greatly understand the limited availability of accessible seating in the amiptheater, but separating families in a family oriented theme park is unacceptable. We have been forced to separate in other shows such as the Flights of Wonder, Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular to name a few but Fantasmic is the only one that the cast members were consistantly overzealous.
The way the wheelchair spots in the Fantasmic amphitheater are set up, there are 2 wheelchair spots next to each other, then 2 companion seats, then 2 more wheelchair spots, repeating over and over. So, there is only one seat for someone to sit next to each wheelchair.
When it works out correctly, the rest of each party sits in the row or 2 directly in front of the person with a wheelchair - and it has happened to us that way each time. But, they do also use those rows for guests without wheelchairs/
ECVs who need to sit close to the top. Some of them are people who have parked their wheelchair or
ECV to conserve the spots for those who are not able to transfer. Some are families with a person with disabilities who may need to leave early (such as, panic situations or children with autism whose parents are not sure how they will tolerate the show).
When the show first began, there were a lot fewer wheelchair/ECV spots and long benches for the rest of the party to sit together. But, they frequently ran out of wheelchair spots and guests who wanted to see the show could not (even though there were plenty of spots for people who could walk in/did not need any special accommodations).
The amphitheater was renovated to make more wheelchair/ECV seating, but even with that, it is possible to still run out of spots. When we went in October 2009, there were 3 in our party and we got there about 50 minutes before the show was to begin. We got the next to last seat for someone who could not transfer to a bench. If there had been no wheelchair parking spots left, we would have needed to skip the show since DD is not able to sit out of her wheelchair.
So, the price of more wheelchair spots was less people being able to sit in a row with their family. We actually prefer the sit in front option because the old in a row way meant that everyone in our party could really only converse with the people right next to them anyway. But, I understand it can be a drag when your family is separated.
Sorry if I'm covering already covered I have had time to read all the responses in this thread.
We were there in December and had trouble with Guest relations. My daughter is not on the Autism Spectrum, but has a different "disability" that was rendered not enough of a disability to get a GAC. My daughter is deaf and wears a cochlear implant on one ear and a bone conduction hearing aid on the other.
We would be happy to wait in any line they provide, but the way they have the lines set up underneath the metal pavillion covers is a sound nightmare. The person in guest relations suggested she just take off her devices to wait in line. So for half of her day she would be without sound and communication. How fun or right is that?
Guest relations staff need to be better trained.
You may also want to look into touring plans like. Even if you dont follow the plan and just use the plan to choose the least busy park for the day, it will be very helpful.
2 of the common touring plans are easywdw.com and touringplans.com
A touring plan can help you to be in the least busy part of the least busy park. That will help with waits in line and also general noise (less people = less noise). Many people on this board have found that using a touring plan helps a lot more than a GAC because they can usually plan things in a way that they never have to wait for more than 10 minutes and often walk right in. This can happen even during busy times like Spring break and Christmas.
We have done this during Spring break ourselves and were basically able to see everything in Fantasyland, plus Haunted Mansion, Pirates and Splash Mountain before noon without waiting more than 15 minutes for anything.
There may still be some lines where she needs to take her aids out/turn them off because the noise level is very high from the music and effects in the line. I dont know what Test Track will be like after it is renovated, but it was very noisy with a lot of pounding, banging type noises.
I guess this just goes to show that one person's accomodation is another's abuse. My son has autism/PDD-NOS. In current politically correct terms he fall into the "most severely impacted" range. We use a stroller for behavior management and last year we were offered the "Stroller as Wheelchair" tag by a very wise GS. I didn't even know the accomodation was available--and it made difference between us being able to stay in the park, and having to leave. I've had to carry my son in big parks--it ain't fun, though partially that is because he literally collapses when he over heats. It is very convenient. Making him walk in large places? Well, I'm all for kids taking responsibility and as a foster parent I've had over 8 kids. Let me tell you its different. Beyound how tired he gets from toe walking, beyond the extra distance involved in spinning every few steps there's the distractions--the leaves that have to be rubbed between his fingers and flown in the wind, the pebble, even the asphalt which needs to be rubbed and stroked...and you're probabling thinking tell him to stop. Sure, but the reality is that he can't just stop and WDW is exciting, so all those behaviors increase 1000%. Plus that doesn't even consider meltdowns, not tantrums but pure meltdowns. The stroller gets us past all that and gives him a place to "be". And, since he is non-verbal it means I don't have to worry quite so much about him getting separated from my during a crowd surge.
ETA: The stroller also helps transition. Getting off of a ride is VERY difficult. True, its hard for any child---but most children have an inherent filter where they don't bit, scratch, pinch, hit--at least not to the point of real damage. Or head bang, or pluck their eyes. Being able to transition to the stroller continues the propriospective (or however its spelled) input which can blur the line of the transition which makes it manageable.
Sooo, I could well see myself talking to my mom awaiting a parade as my seemingly calm 8 year old jumps up and down or spins his R2 about how convienent the Stroller as Wheelchair tag is, and how much it really made things so much easier since I didn't have to carry him (which is what I do when we're at concerts, but that's only for a few hours, not at whole day). I sort of doubt I would have to tell my mom (my son's grandmother), "You know, since son has autism I needed to use the stroller...."
I guess my question though is about the CM not reading the doctor's letter. Last time, the GS at least said he was making a copy (on my request) and put a number on the copy and on the little tag we put on my son--my assumption was that it was being put some place. With the changes, can they still do this? My big fear is that we could somehow get separated and since he is non-verbal no one would know about his medical needs.
The original poster you were replying to came back and posted a response, but I wanted to point out that no one is saying children with a need should not use a stroller as a wheelchair.
You misunderstood the original poster . She was talking about someone she overheard who said her children had NO disability, but she was choosing to claim they has one so she could use a stroller because it was convenient.
My husband suffered a stroke a few years back, which has made touring WDW a bit more difficult. It's like he no longer has any coping mechanisms. Much like a child, he's prone to meltdowns, freaks out in lines, etc. We tried to get a GAC and were denied. Consequently, we had to skip a lot after he completely "went off" on an undeserving CM. I wrote to Disney afterward and expressed my concern for our next trip. I told the CM at Guest Services and Disney that we're not looking for a front of the line pass, but we were hoping he could join me at the front of the queue when I got there. The response I received from Disney was a brush-off. It's very frustrating.
You will also want to look into touring plans like I mentioned above to another poster. Doing that would help a lot with shortening your time waiting and the number of people you would be exposed to.
As another poster mentioned, in most lines there is not a way to have someone wait to the side and meet up with other members of the party when they get to the front. That may be why you got what you felt was a brush off.
Even if he can walk, you may also want to look at a wheelchair for him. Many people with autism use a wheelchair or a stroller to provide a safe place and haven for them. It can help keep the person calmer and provide a buffer between that person and other people.
Last year when I went to disney only some ride CM's were a bit snotty, some even asked if my DD's wheelchair was truly a wheelchair ( it's a convaid). I used fast passes when we could and other rides we were taken from the line by the CM's and escorted to another entrance. In the 8 days we were at disney we rode all the rides we could and saw a lot of shows thanks to the help of the CM. This summer's trip to seaworld/buschgardens and universal scaresme as we are going as a group of 7, my DD uses a wheel chair due to MD and weakened muscles and my niece who is 5 has autism,adhd and sensory issues.
They usually give a large, bright tag that identifies a stroller as being used as a wheelchair. If you did not have one of those, you will want to get one on your next trip. Even though your childs Convaid wheelchair looks like a wheelchair to you, to someone who is not familiar with it, it can look a lot like a stroller (which was why they were probably asking).
It was actually a lot easier when my DD was little. It was unusual to see a stroller that a child older than 3 or 4 could fit into, so any that was larger was pretty much recognized as a stroller type wheelchair. And, the wheelchairs and special needs strollers looked pretty medical. They have been designed to be more mainstream, which means they look more like regular strollers.
I don't think that's the consensus at all, nor will the guest services people read your note.
However, explaining exactly what you said here, IS what guest services needs to know. I think, explaining it exactly how you just did, would get your needs appropriately met.
If it makes you feel better, you can bring a note, but as buffettgirl noted, Guest Services are very unlikely to look at it.