Article on navigating Disneyland with a wheelchair and ride wait times

[imjen]

I hope this is ok to post here. I learned a lot on our last trip in April about trying to get around Disneyland with a wheelchair and the new ride wait time policy for those needing the handicap entrances. My daughter needed a wheelchair for the first time due to an illness. I wanted to pass along what I learned for anyone else wondering about the new ride wait time system and tips for individual rides so I wrote up a blog post. http://goodthingsrealized.com/disneyland-resort-with-a-wheelchair/ I hope this helps someone!

 

[disneyjunebug]

Thank you for this! I am sometimes in a wheelchair for my arthritis and it has helped me a lot with my planning for our trip in March. I know I do pretty terrible after being on a plane for a long time, so we are already looking at renting me a chair for our trip.

 

[imjen]

Thank you for this! I am sometimes in a wheelchair for my arthritis and it has helped me a lot with my planning for our trip in March. I know I do pretty terrible after being on a plane for a long time, so we are already looking at renting me a chair for our trip.

I'm glad this was helpful for you. I hope your trip goes well!

 

[HopLow1968]

Thank you. My gf has been having some issues lately and might not be able to handle all the walking and standing. Do we have to "prove" it if she needs a wheelchair?

 

[goofyfan4life]

My wife and I recently went to Disneyland right after the Labor day weekend. I am retired military and disabled due to my time in the military and have mobility issues. In past visits I have used the Disability Access card with great success. This last visit I went to the Guest Relations office and asked for the DAS card. I explained my physical problems and was told due to changes to policy they no longer issue them. I left the office and reviewed Disney's web site and sure enough there is still information about obtaining a pass. Later on I returned to the same office and spoke to someone else. This time I told them I was a disabled veteran they gave me the pass but now there is a change from the last time I received the card. You used to be able to go straight to the ride and they would stamp your card and give you a return time.
Now you have to find a customer relations kiosk to get a return time now. This is now involving me to do more walking aggravating my problem more. Because of my disability I cannot sit in a wheelchair for long periods or other wise I would use one. The past system they had worked fine by getting your card stamped at the ride entrance. Now they scan you entrance ticket and sometimes their scanner does not work
causing more problems.

Has anyone else had similar experiences.

 

[Heymy]

I loved your blog post, thank you! My mother is joining us for the first time in 3 years and things have changed since her last visit. Very informative!

 

[imjen]

Thank you. My gf has been having some issues lately and might not be able to handle all the walking and standing. Do we have to "prove" it if she needs a wheelchair?

No, you don't have to prove anything. Just bring your own wheelchair or rent one there. The wheelchair rental is to the right of the Disneyland gates, in the plaza before you enter. It's $12 for a manual wheelchair and $50 for an ECV. Both also require a $20 refundable deposit. They have you put your name on a large card that goes on the back of the wheelchair so you can easily find it. And you can drop it off and return later that same day without paying the fee again. Just make sure you keep your receipt.

 

[imjen]

My wife and I recently went to Disneyland right after the Labor day weekend. I am retired military and disabled due to my time in the military and have mobility issues. In past visits I have used the Disability Access card with great success. This last visit I went to the Guest Relations office and asked for the DAS card. I explained my physical problems and was told due to changes to policy they no longer issue them. I left the office and reviewed Disney's web site and sure enough there is still information about obtaining a pass. Later on I returned to the same office and spoke to someone else. This time I told them I was a disabled veteran they gave me the pass but now there is a change from the last time I received the card. You used to be able to go straight to the ride and they would stamp your card and give you a return time.
Now you have to find a customer relations kiosk to get a return time now. This is now involving me to do more walking aggravating my problem more. Because of my disability I cannot sit in a wheelchair for long periods or other wise I would use one. The past system they had worked fine by getting your card stamped at the ride entrance. Now they scan you entrance ticket and sometimes their scanner does not work
causing more problems.

Has anyone else had similar experiences.

That sounds very frustrating. Since we didn't need DAS I haven't experienced this particular problem but hopefully someone else chimes in. We did have the scanner not work once for a ride and the CM just decided to let us go ahead and get in the handicap line then instead of receiving a return time and coming back later. We always got our return times from the CM's at the ride. I can see how the kiosk would be helpful for some though because they could get the return time from other areas of the park and possibly save time.

 

[HopLow1968]

No, you don't have to prove anything. Just bring your own wheelchair or rent one there. The wheelchair rental is to the right of the Disneyland gates, in the plaza before you enter. It's $12 for a manual wheelchair and $50 for an ECV. Both also require a $20 refundable deposit. They have you put your name on a large card that goes on the back of the wheelchair so you can easily find it. And you can drop it off and return later that same day without paying the fee again. Just make sure you keep your receipt.

Thank you!