visual disabilites

[dawnball]

I admit, I can do the Haunted Mansion with friends if there are very few guests in there, but when there are massive amounts of people pushing and shoving, I cannot do it. I cannot get to the wall to guide and hold it as I walk to that narrow walkway. I cannot walk slow without getting banged or pushed.. or even knocked over. There are times we even loose our footing due to not having good balance in the dark.. but yet Disney doesn't understand this.. sure a cane would make them see this, but will it get us the wheelchair entrance??? I was told by the CM's that to have access to that entrance, I would have to have a wheelchair or a walker???

I was at Haunted Mansion last fall with a wheelchair. We still had to go through the graveyard queue, and then through the stretching room before we were pulled aside, went out the exit to park the wheelchair, then back in. It was a lot of transition from dark/light/dark, and more turns than the regular route.

We stayed near the wall (instead of moving to the 'dead center' of the stretching room), and then were the last group out of the stretching room, with a CM using a flashlight pointed at the floor to guide us.

I don't think that the wheelchair route would help you at all at Haunted Mansion - but a CM should be able to help you find a stable/safe place to stand in the stretching room, and then light your way to the hallway.

 

[Cassandy]

People with low vision DO have a symbol to show that they have low vision. It is the identification cane. When you have low vision, you can go to any organization for the blind (CNIB in Canada), and register, and if you have low vision they will give you an identification cane.

When you bring your identification cane to WDW, the CMs know what it means. They will know you have low vision. They will understand that. It is an internationally recognized symbol for someone who has vision issues.

I cannot recommend using one enough. If your vision issues are so high that you cannot navigate alone, then you really, really need to look into services for low vision, and an identification cane in particular so that people know.

 

[disneymarie]

I met someone that was visual impaired in the dark she put both hands on her husbands shoulders in the lines. She usually holds his arm but because of the sharp narrow turns she stays behind him

I hate having to do this. I always enjoyed room at the Haunted Mansion but now it is too dark without being held by an elbow or shoulders. I wouldn't want the family to miss it, so I close my eyes instead of the irregular figures and flashes. I don't use a cane as I need a rollator due to injuries in an accident, it left me with double vision and I have a cataract. That is a slow guided walk. Day time is much easier. After I park before entering the ride, i am okay with elbow support on and off.

I hope you have better accommodations next visit.

 

[gilesmt]

The key word there is "dangerous." Safety is the first Key, and that is a big warning to CMs.

I have a whorped sense of humor, I read this and thought problem solved, just ask for a different enterence because me with a cane can be dangerous, I often hit people's ankles with the cane I. Lines since I don't see them and we are all squished. But I usually now have my dog.

But I really had to laugh at this comment, when my dd was in jr high, abnoxious age she was asked to help a blind student to classes since she had a blind mother she knew what it was like. So I thought finally she is becoming responsible, until I got a phone call from the principal because dd was telling the blind girl when to stick out her cane to trip the boys they liked, hurting more than one of them.

DISNEY open your eyes giving a blind person a cane in a crowded, mob like queue is DANGEROUS, we need a different enterance and not a legal weapon. Lol, honestly to me this is funny, sorry if you can not laugh with me, I fully understand if you have not been on the journey long enough.

 

[smidgy]

I can totally laugh at that story, and hubby would too. if you ever read his trip reports, he laughs at himself and his vision problems(and the merry mayhem it causes) all the time.
yes, Kpeveler meant danger to the vision impaired person trying to traverse the line. but I could understand how a person with a cane in the same cattle pen lines could be a danger to others! hhmm. maybe that approach might get more response from CMs. we really should look into getting a cane.

 

[gilesmt]

I can't go back and quote it but I read about a flashlight above, that is another solution on the lines like HM. I have to get to HM when I go to wdw this year, I am so use to dlr HM I can not seem to get in my head what people are talking about because the two rides are different. But I have heard before that some people carry those pen lights or cell phones and turn them on (pointed down I hope), that might help, it would not help me, I actually am the opposite, I can see almost 20/20 when it is pitch black, I can actually read a book when pitch black, I havehad at least 50 doctors ask me to do this because it goes against everything they have ever been told. My vision problem is a head injury, there is nothing wrong with my eyes, my brain was damaged in a fall and it can not read the messages correctly. My dd has cerebral palsy and I try to explan to others it is the same thing almost, her muscles work but her brain does not tell them the right message, my eyes work but my brain can not tell them the right message. Try a flashlight if you think that could work.

 

[smidgy]

good advice. except if he uses a flashlight, his eyes won't adjust to the dark, and then he won't see anything on the ride itself. he can see things in the ride at night, if his eyes have adjusted to the dark. thanks.

 

[buffettgirl]

good advice. except if he uses a flashlight, his eyes won't adjust to the dark, and then he won't see anything on the ride itself. he can see things in the ride at night, if his eyes have adjusted to the dark. thanks.

so really the best thing is going to be to just slowly make your way through the line. Slowly. Very slowly. Just taking your time will give him the time needed to not get bumped up, and give his eyes time to adjust to the darkness.

Though, we do find that a small flashlight doesn't really cause trouble and helps ease the difference between light and dark.

 

[smidgy]

so really the best thing is going to be to just slowly make your way through the line. Slowly. Very slowly. Just taking your time will give him the time needed to not get bumped up, and give his eyes time to adjust to the darkness.

Though, we do find that a small flashlight doesn't really cause trouble and helps ease the difference between light and dark.

thanks for your help! everyone is helpful, and I appreciate all the advice.

 

[buffettgirl]

I was just thinking what other things you could possibly ask about. I wonder if you could ask for a spot to wait before actually doing the line that was dark enough that your husband's eyes became adjusted, making it a bit easier to manage the queue and then allowing him to be able to see the ride?? Or maybe enter a queue and just stand for a short while letting people pass.

 

[ttintagel]

I was just thinking what other things you could possibly ask about. I wonder if you could ask for a spot to wait before actually doing the line that was dark enough that your husband's eyes became adjusted, making it a bit easier to manage the queue and then allowing him to be able to see the ride??

I've asked for that several times, and have always been told no.

 

[cmbpanda]

Hi, just jumping in! Sometimes I wish I didn't read these boards as I get panicked about our upcoming holiday when I read threads like this we are travelling from the Uk in 4 weeks time for our first (and probably only ) trip to The World. My DH has no sight at all and I have very little vision and we also have 2 visually impaired children, one of whom is also on the autism spectrum! We have been advised to ask for GACs but get a bit worried reading things like this. What is the issue with HM? We like doing rides but I cannot navigate complicated queues whilst guiding my DH and supervising my children and I certainly can't do it in the dark and/ or with uneven or moving surfaces. Should we not ride HM? And are there any other rides like this? The Nemo ride at Epcot was mentioned. This is one my kids will love, but I'm now worried that we won't be able to do the queue if it is dark with lots of turns and if me and DH are slow and hold others up my DS will start to panick. Oh we'll, we're committed now, so please recognise our needs cms!

On another note, I laughed at the dangerous use of a cane comment. My DH uses a cane all the time, but he probably won't so much at wdw. He will carry it, but not use it properly. He travels through the rush hour every day through the crowds on the London Underground (subway). And although he is great at using it and has super mobility (orientation) skills he has had several occasions where other people have tripped over his cane because they have been rushing through the crowd. He has also had people break his cane, deliberately and accidentally, which is why I could really relate to these comments.

I will have to go and look up OP's DH's trip reports

 

[buffettgirl]

Don't worry much about Nemo. Of all the line queues you'll encounter you'll almost certainly have no one in line with you. LOL..

 

[smidgy]

Hi, just jumping in! Sometimes I wish I didn't read these boards as I get panicked about our upcoming holiday when I read threads like this we are travelling from the Uk in 4 weeks time for our first (and probably only ) trip to The World. My DH has no sight at all and I have very little vision and we also have 2 visually impaired children, one of whom is also on the autism spectrum! We have been advised to ask for GACs but get a bit worried reading things like this. What is the issue with HM? We like doing rides but I cannot navigate complicated queues whilst guiding my DH and supervising my children and I certainly can't do it in the dark and/ or with uneven or moving surfaces. Should we not ride HM? And are there any other rides like this? The Nemo ride at Epcot was mentioned. This is one my kids will love, but I'm now worried that we won't be able to do the queue if it is dark with lots of turns and if me and DH are slow and hold others up my DS will start to panick. Oh we'll, we're committed now, so please recognise our needs cms!

On another note, I laughed at the dangerous use of a cane comment. My DH uses a cane all the time, but he probably won't so much at wdw. He will carry it, but not use it properly. He travels through the rush hour every day through the crowds on the London Underground (subway). And although he is great at using it and has super mobility (orientation) skills he has had several occasions where other people have tripped over his cane because they have been rushing through the crowd. He has also had people break his cane, deliberately and accidentally, which is why I could really relate to these comments.

I will have to go and look up OP's DH's trip reports

just so you know, his trip reports are mostly comical. not much help about GAC or disabilities, as his vision has only gotten much worse recently. we have used a GAC only once. hence my thread.. we are trying to learn the ins and outs of these things ourselves.

but i hope the reports wil give you some laughs!

 

[gilesmt]

Hi, just jumping in! Sometimes I wish I didn't read these boards as I get panicked about our upcoming holiday when I read threads like this we are travelling from the Uk in 4 weeks time for our first (and probably only ) trip to The World. My DH has no sight at all and I have very little vision and we also have 2 visually impaired children, one of whom is also on the autism spectrum! We have been advised to ask for GACs but get a bit worried reading things like this. What is the issue with HM? We like doing rides but I cannot navigate complicated queues whilst guiding my DH and supervising my children and I certainly can't do it in the dark and/ or with uneven or moving surfaces. Should we not ride HM? And are there any other rides like this? The Nemo ride at Epcot was mentioned. This is one my kids will love, but I'm now worried that we won't be able to do the queue if it is dark with lots of turns and if me and DH are slow and hold others up my DS will start to panick. Oh we'll, we're committed now, so please recognise our needs cms!

On another note, I laughed at the dangerous use of a cane comment. My DH uses a cane all the time, but he probably won't so much at wdw. He will carry it, but not use it properly. He travels through the rush hour every day through the crowds on the London Underground (subway). And although he is great at using it and has super mobility (orientation) skills he has had several occasions where other people have tripped over his cane because they have been rushing through the crowd. He has also had people break his cane, deliberately and accidentally, which is why I could really relate to these comments.

I will have to go and look up OP's DH's trip reports

Don't get discourage, take your time and you will be fine. If he uses a cane, even just hold it he will get CM help, maybe a little but he will be recognized. You will also get a GAC for your ds with autism, which will help some for visual.

It is sad, and we come and laugh but visual impairments just have not caught up with the rest of the disabilities. Lets face it, I am legally blind and need accommodations in most things, what has the world done for me, they sopposedly give me large print menus, but I can't see them, they randomly put the numbers in Braille on an elevator, although it is so random I don't know if the button is on the left or right or in between to elevators, oh well it does not matter there is four grades of Braille and I use grade 4 and they are writing in grade 2, so even if I did find it I could not read it. They do very nicely at putting Braille on the drive up bank windows, that will help immensely when they give me a drivers license, I've been trying for one for 35 years now.

Okay seriously, there are some nice things Disney does. They do have a very nice device you can rent, actually it is free you put a deposit down and get it back when you return it. It does help with shows and travel. I can not say it is perfect, it is okay for travel if you have a partner who can see, but it is great for shows and gives you at least in Disney some close up views of shows because for the device to work you have to be in special areas, usually hence front row. I have not used it at wdw, but I loved it at Disney and plan to use it at wdw this time in may.

With a cane you will get CM attention in line and where able you will get help, but it can be random from staff member to staff member, so sometimes you need to say, last time a CM let me do this and many times the CM will allow you to do that. This is why I suggested so much to have a cane. I don't use a cane so often but the dog works the same also.it is just that you need a way to say, hay look I have a problem, like a w/c does to people who walk slow, or can not go up stairs. I think it is like Disney thinks that if you have a vision problem you they should be able to tell by looking at you, so you get more with a cane than without. The same way they look at other disabilities, if you have a heart condition sit in a w/c and we will help other wise how do we know. So even if you do not use a cane, have one out.

If you use a trekker or something they do work great at Disney, I can get within a step or to of what I want when I punch in the coordinates. Again did not use it at wdw, but in dlr, when I punch in the gate to the never land pool, I got within 1/2 step of the gate. When I punched in front desk, I got about two steps away. When I punched in hall where coffee was in lobby of wonder tower I was literally an inch from the coffee cup. And I walked the ponds every morning with my coffee and my dog, never getting lost, found all the stores in dtd, it was great.

Another thing the cane did or dog, was to help tell bus drivers I had a problem, they would help me sit in front and get off where need be.

I don't know if I can say this, but if stairs are a problem tell them, they see to understand that one.

And if you need some light carry a pen light I know lots who do use it.

But sadly, Disney is like the rest of the world, I still can not get my visa bill in large print, not that it would help. Or a queue that just goes straight, but I make do. I think Disney needs help from the banks, maybe they can put walk up Braille kiosk that will print us out queue line maps, then all we have to do is find the kiosk, LOL.

 

[ttintagel]

Okay seriously, there are some nice things Disney does.

Absolutely - we discuss the difficulties here, but even so, Disney is streets ahead of so many other places.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My dad is legally blind in one eye and almost blind in the other. My brother is handicapped and has mobility issues, which have been made worse as he ages and his vision degenerates (his insurance won't cover the surgery he needs to fix this, but that is a rant for another day. So both of them have a hard time with dark areas. What I found worked best for us in crowded, narrow queues was for me to stand behind them with my arms locked, hands on their shoulders. I watched over their shoulder at the crowd and upcoming obstacles and turns. Being behind them kept me from going to fast for them. I could prevent them from running into the person in front of them and I took the impact if we stopped short and someone behind me ran in to me. If I needed them to turn or stop, I used pressure on their shoulders. The only downside to this is if you can't see clearly in front of the person you are guiding, to see poles and ramps, etc.

Moving walkways are a whole other animal. My dad just does it, but my brother is afraid. I finally just picked him up (he weighs as much as me) and put him on the darn walkway. It is one of those moments of strength that I couldn't do in real life, but I was desperate to get on the ride.

 

[gismo1554]

And if you need some light carry a pen light I know lots who do use it.

Just to say, I do carry one of these and use it but I did have an incident in Haunted Mansion where cast member told me off for using it to get into the stratching chamber. I wasn't shining it anywhere but the floor but they did make comments and then when moving into the doom buggie queue I had a guest make comments. I agree with other comments that Visual disabilities are still not fully recognised anywhere and unfortunately you do get the odd few who just don't get it. Although I have a stick I still can't use it properly (only currently nightblind). I am taking it on my next trip which will be my first solo trip and getting a GAC to ensure that there isn't an issue on certain rides such as Haunted Mansion again. I think it depends on whether you get a good CM or not as to whether you get the correct treatment looking at this but there are some good tips on what to mention on here so thanks everyone.

 

[disney david]

Just to say, I do carry one of these and use it but I did have an incident in Haunted Mansion where cast member told me off for using it to get into the stratching chamber. I wasn't shining it anywhere but the floor but they did make comments and then when moving into the doom buggie queue I had a guest make comments. I agree with other comments that Visual disabilities are still not fully recognised anywhere and unfortunately you do get the odd few who just don't get it. Although I have a stick I still can't use it properly (only currently nightblind). I am taking it on my next trip which will be my first solo trip and getting a GAC to ensure that there isn't an issue on certain rides such as Haunted Mansion again. I think it depends on whether you get a good CM or not as to whether you get the correct treatment looking at this but there are some good tips on what to mention on here so thanks everyone.

I am just saying this as a warning not to offend or make you feel bad but not sure if the gac will work for hm. Their diser who have low vision and had a gac and still had a hard time since Disney made the regular que main steam they make everyone go through the main building. Where in the past they let guest go through the exit. Now you have to enter the building and you can use the short cut but the main lobby still dark so you might still have a problem. That one of the only rides that don't seem to understand that their other disabilities then guest in wheelchairs. Even when other diser complain to manager and goes services they still get a hard time. Maybe the cane will get them to understand that you need help and not to just say comments or stand their watching you have a hard time. Now j hope you get on safe and get a gac I just want to warn you before you get to hm and find out they still make you go through the building.

 

[gismo1554]

I am just saying this as a warning not to offend or make you feel bad but not sure if the gac will work for hm. Their diser who have low vision and had a gac and still had a hard time since Disney made the regular que main steam they make everyone go through the main building. Where in the past they let guest go through the exit. Now you have to enter the building and you can use the short cut but the main lobby still dark so you might still have a problem. That one of the only rides that don't seem to understand that their other disabilities then guest in wheelchairs. Even when other diser complain to manager and goes services they still get a hard time. Maybe the cane will get them to understand that you need help and not to just say comments or stand their watching you have a hard time. Now j hope you get on safe and get a gac I just want to warn you before you get to hm and find out they still make you go through the building.

Oh thanks for this. I may just skip it this year then as from the sounds of it it is still an issue. I'll ask if I need to go through and then see what happens. I just hate having to explain to strangers when they get all uptight about me using the torch. Its not like I'm shining it at their faces just at feet so I make sure I don't collide with any little people. Then again maybe that's the way to do it just collide with so many people eventually they might just let you through lol