Accessiblity of Star Tours

[JaxsonsMom]

Has anyone used the HC entrance for this ride? I can tell my Dad would like to go on this first, but I imagine there is going to be a mass heading that way first thing due to ST and SMGG.

I think the HC entrance is via the exit - I was wondering how far they will allow you to take a manual wheelchair and if you experianced a wait? My Dad will not be able to stand long and I will have to transfer my Mom

At think at this point it would be better to wait until the mass thins a bit and we won't have to worry about manuvering the wheelchair through people.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

t

 

[ArchOwl]

Are both your parents in manual wheelchairs? Because I think the boarding procedure varies if you have a scooter vs. wheelchair. Scooters go up the exit and wheelchairs go in the queue and then up an elevator I think.

 

[Potterswife]

Hi

You must stop by the front entrance to ST and get a return time pass. Don't lose it. Return at your designated time, enter through Star Traders, go to the exit (if you get lost just ask a CM where to go). Give your pass to the CM at the exit and proceed up the ramp. Another CM will tell you where to wait and give you some 3d glasses (in their wheel chairs or scooter). Then the CM will tell you which doors to go in, you will most likely always be in row 1, closest to the exit door of the star speeder. I have never seen a WC accesible speeder, they will have to transfer out of their wheelchairs, it's not a long walk to get on the speeder and everybody is very patient. Have fun!! (oh there are no elevators...I take it back, there are, but we were never offered one and other WC's were pushed up the ramp)

 

[JaxsonsMom]

My Dad is ambulatory and basically uses my Moms chair as help. He just can't stand for long periods of time and takes a lot of breaks.

There is an elevator? Wow... didn't know that.

 

[Potterswife]

He won't have to stand at all, they have benches up at the exit area.

 

[JaxsonsMom]

Hi

You must stop by the front entrance to ST and get a return time pass. Don't lose it. Return at your designated time, enter through Star Traders, go to the exit (if you get lost just ask a CM where to go). Give your pass to the CM at the exit and proceed up the ramp. Another CM will tell you where to wait and give you some 3d glasses (in their wheel chairs or scooter). Then the CM will tell you which doors to go in, you will most likely always be in row 1, closest to the exit door of the star speeder. I have never seen a WC accesible speeder, they will have to transfer out of their wheelchairs, it's not a long walk to get on the speeder and everybody is very patient. Have fun!! (oh there are no elevators)

Thank you! This is the same thing we do for Toy Story Mania, so at least I am somewhat used to the procedure!

 

[skiingfast]

Hi

You must stop by the front entrance to ST and get a return time pass. Don't lose it. Return at your designated time, enter through Star Traders, go to the exit (if you get lost just ask a CM where to go). Give your pass to the CM at the exit and proceed up the ramp. Another CM will tell you where to wait and give you some 3d glasses (in their wheel chairs or scooter). Then the CM will tell you which doors to go in, you will most likely always be in row 1, closest to the exit door of the star speeder. I have never seen a WC accesible speeder, they will have to transfer out of their wheelchairs, it's not a long walk to get on the speeder and everybody is very patient. Have fun!! (oh there are no elevators)

Is this still currently happening? I'm wondering if they have changed that and the other option where they make you wait in the FP line. Now that things are calmer for ST have they gone back to just letting you go through the FP or exit like they did right when it opened?

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Is this still currently happening? I'm wondering if they have changed that and the other option where they make you wait in the FP line. Now that things are calmer for ST have they gone back to just letting you go through the FP or exit like they did right when it opened?

As of last week what Potterswife described (through the exit, not FP) is what we did with my friend who uses an electric wheelchair. It is a transfer but they place you in the first row on the end.

 

[skiingfast]

As of last week what Potterswife described (through the exit, not FP) is what we did with my friend who uses an electric wheelchair. It is a transfer but they place you in the first row on the end.

Does that include the description of being giving the return time pass too?

I am wondering if it changed this week since Summer wound up this weekend in the parks.

 

[Potterswife]

I guess I should add that we were there in August so things could have changed...but whatever the policy is, they make it as easy as possible for wheelchair/scooters/gac to get on the ride as possible. Just talk to the CM at the entrance and they will explain everything.

 

[Saylan]

This past weekend, a lady using a manual wheelchair was in one of our speeders. She was in the front row and loaded from the same side as us (it was MM so no 'FP' queue but she came through the front, not the exit). She did have to transfer to a seat and her chair was pulled back out onto the entrance side of the speeder. I believe she exited out the normal exit but I can't confirm that portion nor can I confirm if she checked in prior to, all I know is she loaded from the same side we all did.

 

[JaxsonsMom]

Is the queue really big enough to accomodate a chair? It's been a few months, but I seem to remember some narrow parts....

 

[ArchOwl]

GACs, scooters, and wheelchairs can be handled differently at different times of day or year. So it is entirely possible that someone can approach in a wheelchair one time and have one procedure and approach another time and do another procedure.

Star Tours does have alternate boarding methods and it would be hard to say for certain what the OP would experience.

As seen here on the disAbilities board, ST does have different methods for loading and unloading including an elevator (which can be seen when you are in the loading area). http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2735175&highlight=star+tours

Here is an excerpt:

I did have the opportunity to ride ST (Star Tours) and AUSA (Ariels Under Sea Adventures). I had to rent an ECV today (will detail why in my report) and when I rode ST they directed me up through the exit ramp of the Star Traders store. Previously when I rode ST I was always directed through a certain portion of the que to the double doors and finally to an elevator that took me up to the main loading platform. I would be last in line, board the car and transfer into the seat then the CM takes my manual chair back out the car and at the end of the ride returns it for me to transfer back into and I exit the opposite side. Today, with the ECV as said earlier I went up the exit. I guess because of the weight of the ECV I had to transfer to a manual chair they had on site and the CM pushed me down the ramp and sat on the seat on the far right side of the screen. Had to ask for some 3D glasses (the CM's on the exit side forgot) and enjoyed the new ride. Upon exit they brought the manual chair back into the ride, I transferred to the manual chair, got pushed up the ramp and transferred back to the ECV. It was difficult doing all those transfers from the ECV to Manual to Ride to Manual to ECV since I am recovering from a fractured hand.
I asked one of the CM's if there was a seat that had a moveable arm rest for ease of transfer, and he said that the arm rest on the entry side (far left side when looking at screen) in the front row has an arm that swings out of the way to aide in transfers. If you are able to enter through the main que then you should be able to have that arm move out of your way, if the CM doesn't offer to help, ASK.

You can also see the elevator at a blog post here:
http://www.wheelchairtraveladventures.com/2011/06/disneyland-star-tours-adventure.html

So if you do have a manual wheelchair you could be directed to the queue and bypassed through an elevator or you could be given a time to return and proceed through the exit. It probably depends on multiple factors. But the CMs will always give you guidance.

I wouldn't wait until later in the day either. Things just get busier like with Space Mountain or Pirates. I would go as soon as you feel comfortable in the crowd.

Have fun!