Another SD Question: Haunted Mansion

[BethCPTSD]

Hi!
I know at WDW, Haunted Mansion is layer out a bit differently than at DL. So, I'm wondering, where does someone with a service dog get on the ride, so that the dog is not trampled on the walk through part?

Thanks...
Beth

 

[gap2368]

I am all most sure you will go through the exit so you go through the stretching room then you will go through the Exit.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Thank you, Gap! I think I also found the specific answer to this question for myself, a second ago. It's talking about accommodating a wc, but would be the same for a service dog. If you're interested, please go here:
http://www.rollingwiththemagicblog.com/accessible-attractions-the-haunted-mansion/

Hopefully the link works!
Beth

 

[gap2368]

I all ready know I do not use a wheel chair but need more room when I enter for a different disability it is a little harder for me since I do not have any visible sign that I need help most CM think I just need to skip the stretching room but I also need to go troth the exit.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Oh, I didn't mean to direct the "If you're interested (read) here" to you, Gap! Sorry if I said that in a confusing way. I meant, anyone else reading the thread who wanted a specific answer. Also, this answer was slightly different than what you said, but I can see that maybe you prefer not being in the stretching room either. The other answer starts with the disabled person hanging back in the stretching room, after that part of the attraction is over. Thank you again, for your input!

 

[gap2368]

No problem

 

[Chainsaw]

Beth, you are very kind-it is nice to see!! Thank you <3

 

[BethCPTSD]

haha. Thank you so much, Chainsaw. That is very sweet of you!

 

[ttintagel]

How do you all persuade the CM's to let you bypass the stretching room? That's the accommodation I need, but every CM I've ever talked to has point-blank refused to allow it. One even insisted it was physically impossible to enter the ride any other way.

 

[gap2368]

I have just said I need to by pass the stretching room now that is Easey for me I also need to go through the exit that is harder sometimes I will say why I needed to then it is no problem so you might want to tell the CM why

 

[ttintagel]

Oh, I always do tell them why. Then again, I always seem to have the bad luck to encounter the worst CM's at The Haunted Mansion. I'll have a white ID cane with me the next time I go, so maybe that will help. Thanks for taking the time to reply!

 

[gap2368]

You could ask to speak with a manager but I would only do this as a last resort. The HM was something I avoided like the plague then I saw a HM CM with a manager and talked about my problems with it and the manager chimed in and told me what to ask to by pass the stretching room and go through the exit.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Just to go back to service dogs for a second: I got to thinking today that there might be a way not to even need accommodations for myself with Harrison on HM, but I'm also wondering what people think. My other dog, Ella (the one in my profile pic!) has a red light up accessory on her collar that you can turn on and it glows red, or you can make the red light blink. If I put that on Harrison's collar, I'm wondering if that would be enough to alert people to his presence so that he doesn't get stepped on and we could actually walk through the entire ride queue safely? On HM, that's really the only reason I think I would need any kind of accommodation. Do you guys think this would be sufficient to keep him from getting stepped on (he's a standard goldendoodle, so fairly tall)? Also, would that be rude to have a blinking light on, about hip height in a dark ride? Or any other ride?

Thank you!

 

[BethCPTSD]

Oh, I'm sorry... one last question regarding this for now. I meant to ask, am I correct in understanding that pretty much all the rules about mobility devices (esp in terms of rides) at WDW apply to disabled handler's with service dogs? Ty

 

[gap2368]

I think you can do the stretching room very easy and then I would go through the exit even with the light on I think people may not see him. and you are not missing much and it should not be that much longer. also you may not sure need a little more time to load since it is a moving walk way but not sure.

 

[gap2368]

Oh, I'm sorry... one last question regarding this for now. I meant to ask, am I correct in understanding that pretty much all the rules about mobility devices (esp in terms of rides) at WDW apply to disabled handler's with service dogs? Ty

I think so as fair as where you can load but you can check with GS when you get to the park or ask the CM at the ride they will tell you what you need to do.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Thank you, Gap! Yes, since my husband and I are very familiar with the ride anyway, I don't think it would be a big loss to have to go through the exit after the Stretching Room if needed. I definitely don't want Harrison to get hurt. I was also wondering about how quickly we would be able to get on the ride with him and if we would need to have the walkway slowed. In the past (all my trips have been to Disneyland) and Ella has been with me for several of those times (despite her small size she too is a PTSD service dog) and I've always been able to pick her up and carry her on, as she's only 5 lbs. Not so with Harrison. I think it was also stated somewhere we need to mention the idea of slowing the walkway at the beginning, before the stretching room too? Any other rides anyone might have tips on? Just since we're on the subject... Thank you, Gap, as always!

 

[gap2368]

if you need the walk way slowed you just have to tell the CM there that you need it slowed as the one you see at the stretching room is no the same one ( you will get a white card and told to go out a set of doors where you will wait for another CM ( or this is how it works for skipping the stretching room) then you will go through the exit you might want to piratic with exselaters ( SP? this may help not sure it would be close enough ) but the CM should have a garage door looking button that will stop the moving walk way if it takes to long for you to load

 

[ttintagel]

You certainly wouldn't be the only one with a flashing light - lots of kids were carrying them just for fun the last few times I've been in there.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I haven't been to Disney in a while, but have been since the renovation where they started sending people with service dogs through the regular line (they used to not allow service dogs in the stretching room, so handlers were sent through the exit). I tried the stretching room. My service dog was used to big, close crowds, so I knew she wouldn't have an issue. However, the room was packed like sardines, it was dark, and as soon as the doors to the next part opened, everyone pushed towards it (even though we were in the back corner against the wall) as if they could miss out on the ride if they didn't get there as fast as possible. We've been in similar crowds before, but this crowd was actually scary because they not only didn't see the dog, but when they did know she was there, they didn't care. I had to stick my arm out to block people from walking into her. I will never again do the stretching room with a service dog, especially a dark one (the one I spoke of was black and white, but my current one is all black).

I do have a Pluto light-up collar that I got on Amazon (also saw it later on eBay) for my service dog to wear at night in non-blinking mode (the blinking could harm me) so she is seen. (I have several light-up collars, but Pluto is the only Disney one I have.) You can find tons of different ones on eBay and Etsy. I recommend white or yellow instead of pink and such colors for the lights because the pink one I have is hard to see in my yard.