Camp stools allowed in queues?

[TillyMarigold]

As if everything else weren't going wrong, back in mid-June I tore the meniscus in my left knee, and while I'm waiting on the MRI, it seems like the status quo of NSAIDs, ice, and elevation will still be the treatment while I'm at WDW in early September.

OK, so I *know* that Disney's official answer to most leg/back problems is "rent a wheelchair" ... BUT: both my orthopedist and primary doctor have specifically told me that I need to walk as much as I can stand to, in order to keep the muscles around the knee as strong as possible (to aid recovery from the surgery I'll probably need later in the fall). However, what I am supposed to avoid is *standing* for extended periods. (I walked all over the greater LA metro area for a week earlier this summer and was able to keep going; then I went back to work and had to stand 2-3 hours a day two days in a row, and couldn't move for the next 2 days.)

Obviously we'll be relying mostly on FastPass, trying to avoid attractions with long waits, taking frequent rests, getting ice at CS places, etc... but I was wondering if it would be possible to also take a small collapsible stool to sit on if I end up in a queue where I have to stand for long periods. It would probably fit in the backpack we're [by which I mean "mostly DH"] going to carry around in the parks, so I guess the question is whether I could pull out the stool and sit on it in the longer queues if there are any (we are also going at a slower time of year, I know, so hopefully it won't be an issue).

I guess the other alternative would be to rent a wheelchair I don't really need, push it around as I walk all over the parks (or make DH do so, since pushing things is on the list of things I'm really not supposed to do with the knee), then sit in it when I get to a ride, but that kind of feels like cheating.

Any other suggestions?

 

[dreamitdoit]

Having worked at DHS and seen all kinds of crazy stuff, my recommendation would be to get a GAC card. A stool does not allow you to move along with the queue, plus sitting down and standing back up to move up with the line may irritate your leg even more (having suffered through knee surgery too!). The GAC card can be tailored so that you can skip the queue and just board the ride. Also, many rides (especially where transfer from ECV to Wheelchair is required) have wheelchairs secretly hidden all over the place - access to these would make sure you didn't miss the wonderful theming of the queues themselves!

 

[TillyMarigold]

Having worked at DHS and seen all kinds of crazy stuff, my recommendation would be to get a GAC card. A stool does not allow you to move along with the queue, plus sitting down and standing back up to move up with the line may irritate your leg even more (having suffered through knee surgery too!). The GAC card can be tailored so that you can skip the queue and just board the ride. Also, many rides (especially where transfer from ECV to Wheelchair is required) have wheelchairs secretly hidden all over the place - access to these would make sure you didn't miss the wonderful theming of the queues themselves!

I was under the impression that the GAC no longer allowed alternative waiting areas, which is what (in the past) I'd imagine they'd give me, but that instead people who needed to wait sitting down were told to rent wheelchairs now. (I used to work at Epcot.)

I'm a master at getting in and out of chairs while balancing on my good leg, so I'm not worried about the up and down part, although I am a little worried about not moving with the queue of course. I guess it's mostly in show queues where I'd anticipate needing to stand in one place for a long time, as opposed to a continuous-loading ride, where I can certainly walk with the queue. But my limit for standing in more-or-less one place is about 20 minutes, and after I do that I need to rest for awhile.

 

[dreamitdoit]

You've worked there and you wait 20 minutes + for a ride?! You've got to be crazy! In the last four trips, the longest I waited was for Toy Story Mania, about 45 minutes. Fastpasses are amazing, and having a touring plan helps wonders.
The GAC will force the CMs to either get you a wheelchair or have you load immediately. On something like Pirates, they'd give you a wheelchair, because it's almost a continuously moving queue line, but TSM is pure standing with little jolts of movement and there is a separate wheelchair entrance they'd move you to, I'm assuming.

 

[livndisney]

Having worked at DHS and seen all kinds of crazy stuff, my recommendation would be to get a GAC card. A stool does not allow you to move along with the queue, plus sitting down and standing back up to move up with the line may irritate your leg even more (having suffered through knee surgery too!). The GAC card can be tailored so that you can skip the queue and just board the ride. Also, many rides (especially where transfer from ECV to Wheelchair is required) have wheelchairs secretly hidden all over the place - access to these would make sure you didn't miss the wonderful theming of the queues themselves!

A GAC can be "tailored" but is states right on it "Not intended to shorten wait time". The only ones who get to "skip the line" is certain MAW families. SOME attractions may have another waiting area (Spaceship earth comes to mind as it has limited seating in the line). I think Sue has done a list in the sticky section.

 

[KPeveler]

You've worked there and you wait 20 minutes + for a ride?! You've got to be crazy! In the last four trips, the longest I waited was for Toy Story Mania, about 45 minutes. Fastpasses are amazing, and having a touring plan helps wonders.
The GAC will force the CMs to either get you a wheelchair or have you load immediately. On something like Pirates, they'd give you a wheelchair, because it's almost a continuously moving queue line, but TSM is pure standing with little jolts of movement and there is a separate wheelchair entrance they'd move you to, I'm assuming.

No, the GAC will not "force" the CMs to give the OP a wheelchair. The CMs may tell the OP to go get a wheelchair, but getting a GAC does not automatically get you a wheelchair at the ride. This may have been one of your experiences, but it is neither the standard nor the policy.

The GAC will also not "force" the CM to load anyone immediately. The only people who are loaded immediately are Make a Wish kids. If someone says they cannot stand in line, the CM will tell that person to use a wheelchair, ECV, or fastpass.

TSM does not have a "wheelchair line." The wheelchairs divert from the main line at the very end... And it takes longer than the regular line most times.

Pirates has a special arrangement with wheelchairs, so that may be why you remember something different.

To the OP - When I first became ill, I was also supposed to walk as much as possible, (same thing when I tore my meniscus), but you are not going to suddenly lose all muscle tone by using a wheelchair some at Disney. I suggest renting one, pushing it empty, but by the end of the day, you may want it for more than avoiding standing in lines. You do NOT need a doc's note to rent a wheelchair.

I don't know when you worked at DHS, but policy about the GAC has changed in the last few years. What you suggested no longer happens

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks for the accurate information, KPeveler! When I first read the response you quoted, nothing registered on me as misleading or misconceived (gotta stop reading the DIS Boards half-awake ).

 

[TillyMarigold]

You've worked there and you wait 20 minutes + for a ride?! You've got to be crazy! In the last four trips, the longest I waited was for Toy Story Mania, about 45 minutes. Fastpasses are amazing, and having a touring plan helps wonders.

A touring plan that will have me running from one end of the park to the other and back? Yeah, that would be great if I only wanted to actually be able to walk for the first day or two.

Most shows have theater/pre-show alternating at 20 minute intervals, which is why I mentioned 20 minutes. They don't move anyone at all until the show changes out (so, up to 20 minutes of standing) and then the entire queue moves into the pre-show area at once (where they stand for another 20 minutes) then into the theater.

I last worked there the summer they were installing the FastPass machines; they turned them on the week after I left. I knew the alternate-waiting-area policy for where I worked, but I also knew they didn't give that one out anyway.

Anyone know if wheelchairs are likely to run out? It might be easiest to pick one up later in the day rather than have to push it all day. I know ECVs will run out early on (can't afford one anyway), but what about wheelchairs?

 

[r1lissa]

What about getting one of those walkers that has a built in flip down seat?
My father has one artificial leg and the other one is pretty much shot. He can walk but not for long periods and has to rest often. I believe my mother bought the walker at the pharmacy. Maybe you can rent one for your trip.

 

[TillyMarigold]

What about getting one of those walkers that has a built in flip down seat?
My father has one artificial leg and the other one is pretty much shot. He can walk but not for long periods and has to rest often. I believe my mother bought the walker at the pharmacy. Maybe you can rent one for your trip.

I'm trying to avoid having to carry anything large and heavy around, plus I don't think a walker would work for me. I did think about a cane with a flip-down seat though, but none of those things solve the real problem any better than a camp stool (in fact, they're worse, because they're larger and harder to carry), which is that I need to be able to sit down anywhere I'd need to stand for 15-20+ minutes. If I'm not allowed to do so, then it doesn't matter what I'm doing it *on* (camp stool, walker, or cane), I don't think.

 

[KPeveler]

I'm trying to avoid having to carry anything large and heavy around, plus I don't think a walker would work for me. I did think about a cane with a flip-down seat though, but none of those things solve the real problem any better than a camp stool (in fact, they're worse, because they're larger and harder to carry), which is that I need to be able to sit down anywhere I'd need to stand for 15-20+ minutes. If I'm not allowed to do so, then it doesn't matter what I'm doing it *on* (camp stool, walker, or cane), I don't think.

a rolling walker allows you to scoot yourself through lines using your feet - I do it in the grocery store when i have my walker and need to sit! you would abslutely be allowed to sit on a rolling walker, including when you are waiting to see shows and parades...

and a rolling walker is very light, easy to push, and folds up small. unlike stools, which would be difficult to deal with on say RnR, where you exit in a different place than you board. you cannot hold on to a stool in the RnR ride, and CMs are not going to carry furniture to the exit for you, but they WILL move medical equipment, like a wc or walker.

It is ultimately up to you, but i think a rolling walker (aka a rollator) may be a good idea.

 

[TillyMarigold]

a rolling walker allows you to scoot yourself through lines using your feet - I do it in the grocery store when i have my walker and need to sit! you would abslutely be allowed to sit on a rolling walker, including when you are waiting to see shows and parades...

and a rolling walker is very light, easy to push, and folds up small. unlike stools, which would be difficult to deal with on say RnR, where you exit in a different place than you board. you cannot hold on to a stool in the RnR ride, and CMs are not going to carry furniture to the exit for you, but they WILL move medical equipment, like a wc or walker.

It is ultimately up to you, but i think a rolling walker (aka a rollator) may be a good idea.

The type of stool I'm talking about collapses to be put in a backpack, it measures 12-18" long and 3-4" diameter when collapsed and weighs about a pound to 1½ lbs. It seems like a lightweight rollator weighs about 12lbs? I couldn't find any dimensions in the closed size but I'm guessing it would be something extra to carry rather than putting it in a backpack.

Don't you have to walk differently with a walker than you do when walking? I have extremely long legs and take very long strides (though not as fast lately as I normally do!), I can see myself getting very frustrated with having to shorten my steps for a walker, which is the main reason I'm less convinced by that idea. Not to mention that adapting the way I walk would probably cause me more pain in different muscles, correct? I know when I was on crutches a couple years ago, that caused me a lot of leg pain because I wasn't used to working the muscles that you usually use with crutches.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Chances are excellent that Disney will not allow a camp stool inside the parks. They do permit the canes with seats, and they do allow the rollators described above - because those are mobility assistance devices.

If the OP chooses not to use the rollator/walker - which (a) is height-adjustable and (b) matches the user's pace - then the alternative is the wheelchair suggested above. The OP can push it for support if necessary, and sit in it at any time she/he needs to sit.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no alternate waiting areas - with or without seating - at any of the theater shows about which the OP is concerned.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Chances are excellent that Disney will not allow a camp stool inside the parks. They do permit the canes with seats, and they do allow the rollators described above - because those are mobility assistance devices.

If the OP chooses not to use the rollator/walker - which (a) is height-adjustable and (b) matches the user's pace - then the alternative is the wheelchair suggested above. The OP can push it for support if necessary, and sit in it at any time she/he needs to sit.

To the best of my knowledge, there are no alternate waiting areas - with or without seating - at any of the theater shows about which the OP is concerned.

No one has yet answered my question about whether or not the wheelchair rentals are likely to run out by the end of the day like the ECVs do. (Yes, I know I'd have to get one from near a park entrance.)

There is definitely a seated waiting area just outside the doors to Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (next to the gift shop, behind the jumping fountains), as well as a ledge people can sit on just inside the doors. It was where I used to put guests when that was a GAC option (depending on whether it also specified no sun or not). There was also a bench at turnstiles to allow those who couldn't stand through the pre-show to sit for it instead (but you couldn't actually *see* the pre-show from there--to discourage people from sitting if they didn't need to).

I guess I really don't see why I should be forced to spend ten full days carrying/pushing around a large, heavy, awkward, expensive piece of medical equipment that I don't need because it has a secondary feature that I do need, that in fact would hamper my ability to comply with my doctor's orders (such as not pushing anything and not doing anything that would cause me to favor one leg over the other), and that would cause extra work for me, my DH, and all the CMs ... when I could easily acquire a much smaller, lighter, and cheaper piece of equipment dedicated solely to the accommodation I need.

 

[TriMom]

{{{{{TillyMarigold}}}}}}

I think that you have come up with a solution that you think will work for you. Since a campstool is small, and won't be a problem to carry around - go a head and try it. Being a former CM you would probably know better than the rest of us if you will be able to use it.

I think that what the other posters are trying to offer is this - by the letter of Disney law - you have no leg to stand on (pun not really intended ) If a CM tells you that you can't use a campstool then you can't use a campstool. They are trying to offer solutions to your problem where you CAN say - No - you have to let me use this. With a wheelchair, or a walker, or a cane - you can insist on using it no matter what the CM's personal feelings are on the subject. With a campstool - it is really up to the discretion of each individual CM.

And while not guaranteed - I think that the probability of a late day wheelchair is very good. I know that before we owned our own ECV, we would often hop and just take the wheelchair when the Disney ECVs were not available.

Good Luck - have a great trip! - and I hope the leg feels better soon!

 

[livndisney]

From the info on this board:


Prohibited Items

The following are not allowed to be brought into the Disney Theme Parks:

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
Alcoholic beverages
Weapons of any kind
Folding chairs
Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
Pets (unless they are service animals)
In Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted. Note: they now have biodegradable paper straws.



http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/dress-code.htm

 

[SueM in MN]

I could not weigh in before because all I had was my iPod and it's too hard to write a long response or quote anything with it.

No one has yet answered my question about whether or not the wheelchair rentals are likely to run out by the end of the day like the ECVs do. (Yes, I know I'd have to get one from near a park entrance.)

There is a good chance they will run out of ECVs, but it's hard to know on any given day whether or not they will run out of wheelchairs. I don't personally think they are likely to run out of wheelchairs except in very busy times, but it's always a chance you take.

You won't be able to bring in the folding camp chair - the information posted by livndisney about prohibited items is from the Disney website (here's a direct link to the Disney website).
Also, some people have posted in the past that they did try to bring something like that in and were made to take it back to their car at the security checkpoint.

As other posters mentioned, GACs don't allow front of the line/access without waiting.
And, even if they did, that would not really help for some attraction because you will end up standing for the preshows as you mentioned. This is a link to a thread with a list of attractions guests need to stand for. Some have some seating, but people's posted experience is that it's pretty much first come, first serve and that even with a GAC allowing a place to sit, they may not necessarily get one (the exception is the attractions that have wheelchairs for people using ECVs to switch to). So, unless you bring a seat with you, there is no guarantee that you won't have to stand while you wait.

People have posted about successfully bringing in canes, canes with flip down seats (as was mentioned, those can be considered mobility devices). Lots of people also use rollators (the walkers with fold down seats). There are places that rent them and you may be able to try one at home to see if one would work for you. You might also find that a cane or a cane with a seat is helpful. You would not need to use it to walk - just carry it until you need some support.
Something else people have done is not move all the way forward in the preshow/waiting area. That way, they were able to walk around in the back of the preshow area instead of standing still the whole time.

Also, if you need to avoid stairs, you will need a GAC to do that unless you have a wheelchair, ECV or walker. For most attractions with stairs, the wheelchair 'pull out' point where guests with mobility concerns get pulled out is just before the stairs or other impediment to a wheelchair. Those areas often mean a longer wait - we have waited there for 25 minutes at Small World when the guests who could walk in were coming so fast that some boats were sent out without being filled.
Some attractions also have ramped areas where you stand to wait (The Backstage Tour and the Great Movie Ride, both at the Studio come to mind).

And, the last thing I can think of, not all touring plans mean running from place to place crisscrossing the park. In some cases, it's just knowing where to be to find the least crowds. For example, Spaceship Earth and Honey I Shrunk the Audience often have long waits first thing in the morning, but by mid-afternoon, they are practically walk right in. The opposite often happens at MK where going for park opening can mean you walk right on to the Fantasyland attractions. If you use Fastpass, also keep in mind that you can send one person from your party with all of your park passes to get Fastpasses for everyone.