GAC for mobility impairment-sibling in stroller

[Brenzav]

Hi,

We are coming to DW in Septmeber 2009. My 6 yo dd uses a wheelchair for endurdance issues b/c of a joint connective tissue disorder. I know we will be able to use an alternate access for the rides and the that DW allows the party the same access (only 4 of us total). My question is that her brother is able bodied but just turned 4 yo. Can he still stay in HIS stroller using the alternate access? or will we have to park it some where before entering the wheel chair access?

Another question, can she take her chair over to Tom Sawyer's Island or do we park it before loading the boat?

And can she sit in her chair on the buses from the resort to the park?

Maybe I'd be better off using a double stroller for the both of them? She is just so tall though...doesn't fit well in a stroller.

Thank You!!!

Brenna
We are finally going to Disney!!!!

[SueM in MN]

Originally Posted by Brenzav

Hi,

We are coming to DW in Septmeber 2009. My 6 yo dd uses a wheelchair for endurdance issues b/c of a joint connective tissue disorder. I know we will be able to use an alternate access for the rides and the that DW allows the party the same access (only 4 of us total). My question is that her brother is able bodied but just turned 4 yo. Can he still stay in HIS stroller using the alternate access? or will we have to park it some where before entering the wheel chair access?

Most attractions actually have access for wheelchairs in the regular line. These are called Mainstream Lines.

The only reason there is an alternative is if the regular line is not accessible. Sometimes the line is accessible, but the boarding area is not. In those cases, people with wheelchairs wait in the regular line until just before boarding and at that point they and their party are directed to an alternate boarding area. (A 'party' is considered to be a total of 6 people).

One example is Haunted Mansion, where all guests wait together in the same line until the line reaches the hearse on the right. At that point, guests in wheelchairs and their are directed to the exit to board.
Buzz Lightyear works the same way and Splash Mountain has guests with wheelchairs wait in the regular line until the line gets to a flight of stairs.

Your best bet is to get a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities in Guest Relations in the first park you enter. The current Guidebook is a map with extra information for people with disabilities; it lists the access point for all attractions (in most cases, it says, "Enter through the Mainstream Queue").

The stroller for your other child will need to be parked with all the other strollers in the designated stroller parking area for that attraction.

Another question, can she take her chair over to Tom Sawyer's Island or do we park it before loading the boat?

The island is listed as an ambulatory attraction and is not considered to be wheelchair accessible. It is bumpy and has narrow spaces, caves and wooden bridges.
But, when our DD was little and had a smaller wheelchair, we did go on Tom Sawyer's island with it. My DD can't/could not walk. If yours can, she can take the wheelchair onto the boat and then use it in some places on the island, walking in the places that are not wheelchair accessible.

And can she sit in her chair on the buses from the resort to the park?

That partly depends on her wheelchair.
The buses are equipped with ramps or lifts and wheelchair tiedowns. If she has a 'traditional' wheelchair, it can be loaded onto the bus and tied down with the tiedown straps.
If her wheelchair is actually a special needs stroller, it should not be tied down unless it was designed with a transportation option - those include specially strengthened frames to allow it to be tied down without damage.

Maybe I'd be better off using a double stroller for the both of them? She is just so tall though...doesn't fit well in a stroller.

Thank You!!!

Brenna
We are finally going to Disney!!!!

If she doesn't fit well, she would probably not be as comfortable as in her wheelchair.