? About Wheelchair Use, No GAC

[Cleokitty]

Hi All. I thought I would have better luck posting here than on the Theme Parks board. And, I called WDW today and could find no one who could answer my questions. So, I thought I might post here.

Although not a permanent disability, DD10 broke her foot last week, just in time for our 9/17 trip. She has one of those removable black casts that goes up to her knee. It has the metal sides and velcro straps and a thick sole--that kind of cast. She can walk but not for long periods of time due to fatigue and pain. We are planning on renting a wheelchair so that she isn't exhausted after the first hour or two.

I know for some of the rides it says she can sit in the wheelchair until she gets up to the loading area and then get up and get on the ride. What happens to the wheelchair while she's riding? What happens on rides where you enter on one side and exit on the other?

For the queues that don't accomodate wheelchairs, we won't have a GAC. How does she board the ride? Do we leave the wheelchair in the stroller area and have her stand in the queue with us? What happens if someone steals our wheelchair? I'm under the impression that they charge our CC when we rent and then credit it back.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[BillSears]

Here is a good thread about accessibility for rides.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=818020

For most rides you will be entering in through the normal entrance. For some rides you will be diverted to a different boarding area after waiting in the main line. But you shouldn't ever have to leave your wheelchair outside of the ride. Sometimes the chair will ride on the ride with you sometimes it'll be taken to the exit by a CM and sometimes you'll board at the exit or a special boarding area.

 

[Cleokitty]

Thanks for the quick reply. When I called WDW earlier today, all the CM could tell me was most rides are accessible and couldn't really direct me to someone who could answer my questions about where to leave the chair, which rides she can wait with us for, etc. It looks like the thread you directed me to can answer a lot of these questions. Thanks again!

 

[Patsfan7]

For the queues that don't accomodate wheelchairs, we won't have a GAC.
Any help greatly appreciated.

Hi,
Sorry if this is a silly question, but what is a GAC? We may be renting a wheelchair for my dad who just tore something in his ankle and doesn't think he will be able to walk for long at the parks. Thanks.

 

[BillSears]

Patsfan7,

A GAC is a Guest Assistance Card. It's usually used to identify invisible disabilities that might need special handling. If you use a wheelchair and have no other unsual situations you probably don't really need a GAC.

If you check out the Disabilities FAQ the 6th post does a much better job then I can at explaining the GAC.

 

[Patsfan7]

Thanks Bill! No, I am sure that we will not be in need of anything like that. Thank you again for such a quick response!

 

[SueM in MN]

You did a good job, Bill.
I don't see anything to add.
Just to agree; you don't need a GAC to use a wheelchair in lines.
Someone with a wheelchair doesn't need a GAC unless they also have other needs that having the wheelchair doesn't address.

 

[BillSears]

You did a good job, Bill.

Thanks Sue. I learned it all from you.

I'm hanging out on the boards alot right now because I leave on the 9th for my trip. I'm too excited to get to sleep. It is 12:30 here though so I'm going to go see if I can fall asleep.

 

[Redbudlover]

You might want to consider renting an ECV... I did last year when I hurt my back and couldnt stand long or walk very far. I loved it. I was worried about the rides as well but Disney makes it very easy. You go right to where the ride starts - to the head of the line - though a couple of rides have holding areas for wheelchairs and ECVs; You can take it in restaurants and all around the resorts. It was great. And you scoot along without having to push it....

 

[kaytieeldr]

The OP actually can't rent an ECV, since it's her ten-year-old daughter who'll be needing the mobility assistance device
The OP really should consider renting a wheelchair from an off-site company (information available in that same FAQ linked above by BillSears).
Disney's wheelchairs really only come in adult sizes - which could be extremely uncomfortable for a child, depending on the child's size (Sue, please jump in here with your clearer explanation ) These companies would be more likely to have wheelchairs that would 'fit' the child, especially, I'd think, Care Medical - and the OP would have it 24 hours a day, not just in the parks.

 

[Schmeck]

You might want to consider renting an ECV... I did last year when I hurt my back and couldnt stand long or walk very far. I loved it. I was worried about the rides as well but Disney makes it very easy. You go right to where the ride starts - to the head of the line - though a couple of rides have holding areas for wheelchairs and ECVs; You can take it in restaurants and all around the resorts. It was great. And you scoot along without having to push it....

You went right past everyone in the FP line? Or are you talking about having to board at the exit? A GAC, or being in an ECV or wheelchair does not equal a 'front of the line pass', so I'm wondering what you mean?

 

[Cleokitty]

Thanks everyone! We will probably rent from an off-site company. I just have to finish looking through all the info and decide which company, etc. and then do it.
-Kim

 

[seashoreCM]

You went right past everyone in the FP line? Or are you talking about having to board at the exit? A GAC, or being in an ECV or wheelchair does not equal a 'front of the line pass', so I'm wondering what you mean?

With a wheelchair and/or a GAC your wait should be approximately the same as without either or both. Unfortunately the CM's at the ride do not follow the instructions exactly which often results in a much shorter wait and once in awhile results in a much longer wait.

Many rides have separate entrances and exits but have only one ramp. So wheelchair guests have to board and disembark at the "exact same" place while other guests do not do that.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[kaytieeldr]

At DisneyLand last year, I tried waiting my turn. I really did. Just as with WDW, many of the attractions in FantasyLand have alternate entrances for wheelchairs and ECVs because the regular line can't accommodate them. I would try to note who was getting in the regular line as I was heading for the alternate entrance, or else once I got to the loading area, whenever possible I'd determine who was at the end of the line. Then I'd tell the Loader that I would wait until "that party in the lime green t-shirts" boarded, and I should be after them. Everyone thought I was silly. Sometimes I'd get to wait a couple of minutes, or for the next car or boat or something - but mostly they'd insist on loading me right away. On the other hand, there are 131 or 137 Doom Buggies at DL's Haunted Mansion - and DB # 5 is the one they stop for Guests needing boarding assistance. THAT was a long wait - first, only a certain number of HP Guests were allowed in the building at any one time, so there was generally a line of wheelchairs and ECVs outside. Then there was the line at the boarding area. I think it took me 45 minutes to get into a Doom Buggy, at a time when the Standby line was only 20 minutes.

Cleokitty - call the various companies and see if they have wheelchairs sized for children. She'll be a lot more comfortable.

 

[seashoreCM]

In addition, if there are only a small number of evenly spaced vehicles that can handle guests needing wheelchairs, CM's usually use these vehicles for these guests ignoring wait time.

I have observed some anomalies, for example one day at It's A Small World, I observed boats were loaded in pairs where the left line boarded the rear boat while the right line boarded the front boat. Handicapped boats always arrived as the second of a pair and taking on wheelchairs (from a "third line on the wrong side") each time, and as a result the left regular line moved much more slowly.

 

[keishashadow]

DS didn't need a GAC when we brought our own transport chair last Dec.

Glad we brought our own, the ones they have @ the park looked to be of the one-size-fits-all type & heavy to push, by the end of the day we were glad to have a lighter chair, especially for lugging on bus back to resort (could easily fold it up & have him sit in a seat).

Was surprised to find that a wc doesn't necessarily = front of the line. Many times we waited longer than the folks that entered the "regular" line in front of us, especially on small world...the longest wait by far.

 

[SueM in MN]

The OP actually can't rent an ECV, since it's her ten-year-old daughter who'll be needing the mobility assistance device

The renter and/or driver of the ECV have to be over 18 to rent from the parks and also from most of the off-site companies.
A few companies may make an exception for a person under 18 who uses an ECV on a regular basis, but doesn't want to bring theirs with them.

The OP really should consider renting a wheelchair from an off-site company (information available in that same FAQ linked above by BillSears).
Disney's wheelchairs really only come in adult sizes - which could be extremely uncomfortable for a child, depending on the child's size (Sue, please jump in here with your clearer explanation ) These companies would be more likely to have wheelchairs that would 'fit' the child, especially, I'd think, Care Medical - and the OP would have it 24 hours a day, not just in the parks.

I'll try to explain.
Most children are too short to fit comfortably in an adult wheelchair. If they sit all the way back in the seat, the seat may be too long and the end of the seat will hit in a place that doesn't allow their legs to bend at the knee. If they sit forward so their legs can bend, they will often be too far forward to have the back of the seat supporting their back. Also, the armrests might hit somewhere between the neck and the middle of the arms - kind of uncomfortable.
Another thing to think of is whether or not you need the footrests to be raised to support the leg.

With a wheelchair and/or a GAC your wait should be approximately the same as without either or both. Unfortunately the CM's at the ride do not follow the instructions exactly which often results in a much shorter wait and once in awhile results in a much longer wait.

It's not really a matter of the CMs not following instructions exactly, it's that sometimes conditions are different. There may be other people with special needs already waiting, which may make an increased wait. There may be no one waiting, but the number of CMs at the attraction right then is just at the minimum so the guest using a wheelchair or GAC may have to wait until the CM is free. There may be a lot of CMs at the attraction at that time, but someone is going on break, so they may take the guest using a wheelchair sooner because the staffing is better right then.

For example, for the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, there is space for 8 wheelchair parties. If you arrive when there are already 8 waiting, or there are large parties waiting, you may have to wait for the next show.

In addition, because of fire and evacuation rules, only a certain number of people with special needs can be in the waiting area and in a part of the ride where they would require evacuation by the fire department in case of emergency (this number varies by the attraction) . So, even if it's not busy, you may have to wait until some people with special needs leave the area.

So, there are many reasons why the CMs may not always treat every guest with special needs the same and in most cases, it will not be beccause they are not following directions.