Can I preboard buses if i'm not in a wheelchair?

Mikes:)Mom

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Hello everyone..I'm very nervous to go to WDW again. My last trip didn't go so well. I should have rescheduled. I just had surgery on my elbow. I had an arm brace on, but I was still bumped into all the time, and I had a hard time standing on the buses. Not one time was I offered a seat. Anyways...That surgery didn't work. I had to get a whole new elbow. But now I can't left, push or pull more then 5 lbs for life. I can't stand on the bus, I tried but it's hard! I'm was wondering if anyone has used the handicap line for the bus without being in a wheelchair? Did it go OK?

I was also wondering about using the GAC for a couple of rides. Like the HM. It's dark and people always push their way though to the ride part. I don't know if you can skip that part. Also the ride with moving platforms.

I've never been the person who hates crowds but now I'm scared of them! Last year I tried to walk on the left (my bad arm is the left) so people won't bump into my arm, but some people would get so mad at me. One guy started yelling at me. I tried to tell him why I was walking there but he couldn't see my brace because I had a coat on. (yes it was COLD) he said he didn't see a doctors note so now would he know. He yelled all that! :sad2:Having a hidden disability is hard sometimes!

I love WDW too much to let this stop me!!

Thanks!
Carrie
 
Hello everyone..I'm very nervous to go to WDW again. My last trip didn't go so well. I should have rescheduled. I just had surgery on my elbow. I had an arm brace on, but I was still bumped into all the time, and I had a hard time standing on the buses. Not one time was I offered a seat. Anyways...That surgery didn't work. I had to get a whole new elbow. But now I can't left, push or pull more then 5 lbs for life. I can't stand on the bus, I tried but it's hard! I'm was wondering if anyone has used the handicap line for the bus without being in a wheelchair? Did it go OK?

I was also wondering about using the GAC for a couple of rides. Like the HM. It's dark and people always push their way though to the ride part. I don't know if you can skip that part. Also the ride with moving platforms.

I've never been the person who hates crowds but now I'm scared of them! Last year I tried to walk on the left (my bad arm is the left) so people won't bump into my arm, but some people would get so mad at me. One guy started yelling at me. I tried to tell him why I was walking there but he couldn't see my brace because I had a coat on. (yes it was COLD) he said he didn't see a doctors note so now would he know. He yelled all that! :sad2:Having a hidden disability is hard sometimes!

I love WDW too much to let this stop me!!

Thanks!
Carrie
That is a great question about boarding. I don't think they will allow you to board w/o some form of wheel assistance:confused3, Maybe if they allowed GACs to be used for that then you would qualify, but since they don't allow GACS to be used outside of the park I am not sure that they can accommodate you. Maybe you can ask the driver and she what the results are?

I am not sure that GAC would help you in the park while walking around, but I supposed you can always see:confused3
:flower3:

I'm sorry that you were given a hard time, and next time if the bus is too filled, you do have the option of waiting for another one! We do it all the time:rolleyes1
 
The GAC is not valid for any Disney Transportation; it is intended only for attractions in the Theme Parks. The only reason people in wheelchairs or ECVs are allowed to board first is the chair/ECV needs to be parked in a specific location and tied down; boarding first allows this to be done easily.

About the only thing you can do is judge, at the bus stop, if you will be able to get a seat when you board. If you feel the answer is no, when you get to the front of the line step aside to allow people to pass you, and then wait for the next bus so you will be one of the first to board.
 
but I would say you have a few options. The first is making sure you will have a bus seat when you board the bus before you board it, if not, then wait for the next bus. Obviously, you will need to be towards the front of the line for this to work. We can almost always tell if we are going to have a seat or not. I know it's not fun to wait for another bus, but it will be safer for you.

Another option is to have a car and go to the parks on your own. I know no one wants the added expense of a rental, but it's a way not to be bumped or to fall, etc. Under this same train of thought would be to taxi back and forth from the parks.

I think I would secure my arm to my body if you really feel you are in harms way. I know there are ways to do this; so, you can protect your elbow.

If you are not going alone have your companion(s) block your way to a degree. Let someone be in front of you. If you have another companion you can have someone in back of you, too.

Also, use a different strategy to avoid the more crowded times like doing early entry to the parks. Be among the first ones to get into a show and maybe leave last to avoid everyone.

I wish there was something more to help you, but you may have to try to visit there in a different way to protect yourself.
 

GAC definately won't help with HM at all. Once you get in you are still in the huge crowd that goes from 10 people wide and merges into where you go through one at a time to board. You still have to go through that area with the GAC. Pretty much any area we've gone through with the GAC you still get people in lines, bunched together and can get bumped. With my son, who is hit or miss with being touched, we Oreo cookie him. My husband stand on one side (or in front) and I take the other side and we create our own space around him.
 
About the only thing you can do is judge, at the bus stop, if you will be able to get a seat when you board. If you feel the answer is no, when you get to the front of the line step aside to allow people to pass you, and then wait for the next bus so you will be one of the first to board.


THIS! We do this and really it is fine. If you do not like the idea of possibly waiting on another bus due to time then go earlier. We refuse to stand with our two Autistic kiddos. I usually have both boys and DH has the Stroller. We always ask when it is our turn to board if their are seats. DH stands, I hold the boys down lol. One in my lap till he gets too big and the older one right beside me. We tried standing and it was a mess.

If there are no seats just let the ppl behind you know there is standing room available if they wish to pass you. Most will because they are in a hurry, those who need the seats will wait.

I only had one issue with a driver who huffed and rolled his eyes when I asked if there were seats. Know what, he does not need an explanation why and he will get over it. Do what you need to hon.
 
I don't have a suggestion on the bus, but for HM I do. We have a DD with Spina Bifida who rides a wheelchair throughout the parks but walks onto most rides. She has limited balance so we either hold her hand in crowds or avoid them. On HM if you go to the opposite side of the exit in the stretching room and allow all of the crowd to exit before you head out you avoid all or nearly all of the jostling.
 
Thanks for all your replies. I was thinking No on pre boarding too, but had to ask. It sucks to have to wait for the next bus all the time. But at least I’ll be at WDW right? I can’t complain about that! Last time I tried to have my friend links arms with me. So my bad arm would be protected but we had a lot of people try to walk right through us. I can’t really blame them; most people are looking around at all the awesome thing to see, not at the person walking towards them. I don’t need to wear my brace anymore but I might use it at WDW. It won’t hurt as much to get bumped into with it on. I think I’m just scared more than anything. I’m still trying to adjust to this. Thanks again for the info.
 
you can get a handicap pass at guest services (good for only in the parks) that will let you bypass the standard waiting lines and let you board at the handicap spot.
you will need a official letter from your doctor to show to guest services. this info is available at disneys godisney.com
we have taken injured,perm. handicaped and autism children to wdw and it works out great. as for the bus only our wheelchair people were aloud to board first.
bye uncle duck
 
Transortation must accomodate disabilities just like (actually there are in some case more stringent standards) any other public accomidation. The core question in your case is does your situation rise to the level of a disability under ADA. If it does then yes you can request to preboard. It is really no different thatn the accomidations for flying (except that it is coverd by a different section of the code, but the same standard apply). In the end it is about equal accomidation.

GAC is a tool devised to attractions so no it does not have the same value, but can be an indicator for the driver that you have declared that you have a disability but the stamp may have no meaning.

Bookwormde
 
I don't have a suggestion on the bus, but for HM I do. We have a DD with Spina Bifida who rides a wheelchair throughout the parks but walks onto most rides. She has limited balance so we either hold her hand in crowds or avoid them. On HM if you go to the opposite side of the exit in the stretching room and allow all of the crowd to exit before you head out you avoid all or nearly all of the jostling.
That is a good suggestion. If you stay close to the place where you entered the room in the first place, you will be farther from where the line exits into the boarding area.
Another alternative, with a Guest Assistance Card or a mobility device is to skip the Stretching room altogether. Because my DD can't walk, we need to skip that room with her and go directly from the line to the accessible boarding spot. That avoids the stretching room entirely.
Check with the CM at the entrance.
you can get a handicap pass at guest services (good for only in the parks) that will let you bypass the standard waiting lines and let you board at the handicap spot.
you will need a official letter from your doctor to show to guest services. this info is available at disneys godisney.com
we have taken injured,perm. handicaped and autism children to wdw and it works out great. as for the bus only our wheelchair people were aloud to board first.
bye uncle duck
There is information about Guest Assistance Cards in post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
The official Disney website does not have anything about Guest Assistance Cards on their pages about disabilities.
You don't need a doctor's letter (and, in fact, most CMs won't look at one).
It is not meant to bypass lines or shorten waits - that information is printed right on the card. Most attractions are Mainstreamed, so that everyone waits together in the same line.
Transortation must accomodate disabilities just like (actually there are in some case more stringent standards) any other public accomidation. The core question in your case is does your situationt rise to the level of a disability under ADA. If it does then yes you can request to preboard. It is really no different thatn the accomidations for flying (except that it is coverd by a different section of the code, but hte same standsrd apply). In the end it is about equal accomidation.

GAC is a tool devised to attractions so no it does not have the same value, but can be an indicator for the driver that you have declared that you have a disability but the stamp may have no meaning.

Bookwormde
The reason for preboarding guests with wheelchairs is not an accommodation; it is because it is easier and more efficient to board a bus with a wheelchair or ECV before other guests are on. It is more for the bus driver and other guests (since it is faster) than for the person with a wheelchair or ECV. The lift is at the back of the bus and the driver must close the front door, walk to the back and operate the door and lift to put the wheelchair/ECV on.
In city transit systems, everyone waits in line together and the guest with a wheelchair boards when they get to the front. WDW does have lines set up for that, but it doesn't work well having guests with wheelchairs wait in line; by the time they get to the front, the bus is going to be to full to board. This is different than city buses, which often have their lift and accessible seats in the front of the bus.

Flying is covered by the Air Transport Act and has specific standards written into the Air Transport Act defining pre-boarding, who it applies to, etc.
This is above and beyond what is in the ADA.

There are no similar guidelines in the Federal Transit Administration rules for Transportation Services for Individuals with Disabilities. Those deal with making things Mainstream Accessible, non denial of service for riders just because they have a disability, service dogs and making rules for the ParaTransit systems for individuals with disabilities who are not able to use the mainstream accessible buses/routes.

Even with a VERY visible reason for boarding first - a wheelchair - we have heard many comments over the years from people who do not see why we should be boarding before they do. And, many of the comments are not nice, even if the other guests have gotten a seat.
PREBOARDING guests without a very visible need would be an invitation to a riot at a busy place like WDW and would not be a reasonable accommodation for that reason. There have been enough really nasty threads on the DIS Boards over the years about who should get a seat, etc to show what sorts of problems would occur. And, there was a recent situation where a guest actually attacked a bus driver because he thought he should get priority on a full bus with a child.

There are seats at the front of the bus that have signs that say that people riding in those seats must give them up to guests with disabilities or the elderly. There are also signs over the seats in the back of the bus that fold up to make a wheelchair spot. The bus driver can ASK people to move, but even in the case of the wheelchair spots, if the person sitting there refuses to move, the driver can't make them. That is the extent of protection to sit on the bus.

As others suggested, if you want to make sure you get a seat, the best bet is to wait for the next bus if you see the one you would be getting on is too full. We have seen people get to the front and then step aside at the front to wait for the next bus because they want a seat. Other people who don't care if they stand just go around and board the bus.
When leaving the park, by waiting a few minutes after a parade or fireworks show, you will also have much less crowded conditions. You will be able to walk out without worrying about people hitting into you and when you get to the bus stop, the first few buses will have left. In our experience, the people waiting for the first few buses are the ones in the most hurry to get home and are usually the least patient.
 
Yes preboarding is a "system" choice to safely provide an accomodaiton. If the person can be safely accomidated by post boarding or in the flow that is fine also. What method the system uses is up to them, but each has standards to be compliant. As we know if a blended system (like WDW) can not accomodate a disabled pasenger (all the spot taken) then they must not board anyone at that stop. This is not directly in the regulation, but has been required as a result of consent decrees and rulings.

Bookwormde
 
I know all about people who get upset about wheelchairs boarding first. I've traveled to WDW with my very disabled foster sister. It's sad really. I can totally see people getting mad if I board first too but that shouldn't mean I can't. My disability is ADA approved. I get mean looks all the time because people don't know I can't do something. Like shopping: I can't push a shopping cart. So I pull it. I get mean looks and people say means things sometimes. I just say "It's called a hidden disability, look it up online sometime". I think it makes it worst that I'm young.

I think I'll just wait in line and ask the driver if there are any seats. Then wait for other bus if i have too.

It's good to know I can skip the Stretching room. Thanks.

Air travel is a whole other story. I fly southwest because it's cheap. But I want to sit by the window on the left side of the plane so my arm is completely protected. Last year I asked to preboard. They let me but they made me feel like I was just doing it to board first. :rolleyes: I needed help with my bags too or I would have just wanted because I had an "A" boarding pass.
 
hey mikes mom
know what you mean by peoples attitudes. i had to do wdw in an ecv the first time we went. 10 days of crud from people in every park. told my wife never ever again
 
Use small business cards to explain your disability; don't put your name on them. Hand them off to the jerks who annoy you. Apologize to them that you need to pre-board and ask them to read your card. If needed, go the extra step and explain you wish you were totally healthy to stay in the regular line. I wouldn't do this in a mean way, but it may help others understand people have hidden disabilities.

My personal way is to avoid any confrontation. I know there will be those who understand and there will always be some that don't understand.

I sure wish we were all kinder to one another.
 
Use small business cards to explain your disability; don't put your name on them. Hand them off to the jerks who annoy you. Apologize to them that you need to pre-board and ask them to read your card. If needed, go the extra step and explain you wish you were totally healthy to stay in the regular line. I wouldn't do this in a mean way, but it may help others understand people have hidden disabilities.

My personal way is to avoid any confrontation. I know there will be those who understand and there will always be some that don't understand.

I sure wish we were all kinder to one another.

Just an FYI, at Disney you *cannot* hand out cards to other Guests. ---Kathy
 
Just an FYI, at Disney you *cannot* hand out cards to other Guests. ---Kathy

I can understand that to be correct of true business cards to promote sales, but this is not in that category. No one is soliciting in anyway.

There are many of us that have used cards to give people a heads up on certain conditions like autism or Alzheimer conditions at the parks. I do it as an apology of sorts when my mom's Alzheimer's is acting up in a negative way in public. I don't want to single her out to a stranger, but I want the situation to be calmer and without intervention by strangers who will only make my mom act out more.

I never heard of a policy about this at Disney. Please expand on the details if this is really correct.
 
For the buses, I would just wait for another bus if there are no seats.

I had brain surgery in june and it was right around the area that controls balance. I am currently at school and we use teh same types of buses that Disney uses to get around campus and I have had trouble with balance on those buses if I have to stand. I am not going to DIsney for another 7 weeks but my neurologist and neurosurgeon both said that it would probably be another 6-8 months until my balance is back to normal, if it ever gets back to normal so I am planning on just waiting for a seat on teh bus if I feel liek I am uncomfortable with standing.
 
Just an FYI, at Disney you *cannot* hand out cards to other Guests. ---Kathy

Actually according to what I was told by the Executive offices and Guest Services you can hand out cards explaining a medical condition.
 














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