Changes to Handicapped Rules at Disneyland

[Olaf]

Sorry if this has already been posted. This was in my local paper.

http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayPressRelease.asp_Q_id_E_264SAP

 

[bringoutyourdead]

Disney is directing visitors with special needs to waiting areas, which gives them access to the ride but not necessarily expedited boarding.

HMM Separate but equal, where have I heard that before.

 

[disneychrista]

Special Assistance Passes were WAY over used at Disneyland. Anyone could walk into City Hall and request one and would get it with very little if any questions asked.

The chanage is a good thing.

 

[olena]

They already did that.....or so I thought. When my Mom was in a wheelchair at MK, they pulled us aside and we waited a bit before they came to take us to the boarding area.

Ask questions at City Hall? I get that enough from people. I'm not sure I want a probe from a CM. I don't look like I have a visual problem (cane, dog or elderly), but I do. Sitting up front and center makes a world of difference to me. Otherwise I wait in line like everyone else.

I wonder what these questions are? I guess I'll start taking my identity cane to WDW from now on......

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by bringoutyourdead
HMM Separate but equal, where have I heard that before.

Okay that's a bit unfair. Wheelchairs at Disneyland have often had to go to the exit to board the ride simply because the place is not handicapped accessible. It may be a separate entrance or way of boarding but it did give equal access to the ride. The problem in Disneyland came when too many people were using the separate entrance as a way to by pass the lines, thus getting on faster which is hardly fair to those waiting in line. The funny thing is the majority of wheelchair users will still have to use the exit to board a ride, the separate waiting area is probably for those with "hidden needs" that can't wait in line. Now they won't have wait in line but they will have to wait their turn. Seems pretty fair to me, they still have access to the ride but now they have special waiting place to avoid having to stand in line.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Its about time DL did something...

Some days there seemed to be more "disabled" people (yes that means the ones whod run from ride to ride- not the real need people) than regular peoples--
'
One day the SAP entrance to Pirates had a longer wait than the regular line....

-em

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by olena
Ask questions at City Hall? I get that enough from people. I'm not sure I want a probe from a CM. I don't look like I have a visual problem (cane, dog or elderly), but I do. Sitting up front and center makes a world of difference to me. Otherwise I wait in line like everyone else.

But the way it was at Disneyland anyone and everyone could and did get a SAP. And the biggest problem was there was no distinction between one who needed to sit in the front at shows and those who needed to avoid the lines.

Many Many times a group of teenagers would rent a wheelchair and get a SAP so the entire group could bi-pass the line. You would see the same group of teens throughout the day and each time a different kid would be in the wheelchair.

 

[CinderellaPrincess]

Just because one doesn't look like they have a disablilty doesn't mean that the disability doesn't exist. For example, it may be difficult for a child with autism to stand in line for a length of time.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by CinderellaPrincess
Just because one doesn't look like they have a disablilty doesn't mean that the disability doesn't exist. For example, it may be difficult for a child with autism to stand in line for a length of time.

That is why it appears Disneyland is going to have a separate waiting area. They will no longer have to wait in line but they also don't get to bypass the wait time. Seems like a fair compromise.

 

[olena]

Originally posted by disneychrista
But the way it was at Disneyland anyone and everyone could and did get a SAP. And the biggest problem was there was no distinction between one who needed to sit in the front at shows and those who needed to avoid the lines.

Many Many times a group of teenagers would rent a wheelchair and get a SAP so the entire group could bi-pass the line. You would see the same group of teens throughout the day and each time a different kid would be in the wheelchair.

I still wonder about these questions. Like I said, waiting is not a problem for me. I wonder if carrying an identity cane (which your average teen doesn't own) is adequate to obtain the pass that says to let me sit up front. If the cane were enough, then I'd only have it out to acquire the pass.

I'm curious about these "questions". What will they be asking? What could they ask that your average SAP abuser couldn't talk their way around? Will they begin requiring Doctor's letters?

Is this change in policy only at Disneyland? It seems that way.



And for those who don't know, I have Stargadrt's disease. It's juvenile form of macular degeneration. I haven't had any central vision or ability to focus in 24 years. I get around fine. I just need to be up close at movies and shows and rides. I do get a lot of grief from people because I don't "look" like I have a problem. I also get guff because I look way too young to have macular degeneration. I'm just wondering what frustrations could now be in store for me when I try to get a pass in the future.

I know the abusers make people angry, but they especially make ME angry. It's people like me who end up paying for their dishonesty with doubts about our special needs.

 

[Kismetdreams]

Olena,

The only thing I could recommend is to call Disney and ask what they will need to verify your status. Possibly, you can obtain some sort or identification card via your doctor that will ensure you qualify for the SAP? I know not every special need is always appearent to others, but there has to be a way to ensure that those who need it have access.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

I would say the best way to alleviate the debate - bring DL up to code.

I am not disabled but would be highly insulted to have some pimply teen ask me to explain exactly what my disablity is.

I don't see an easy solution but if they have room for separate waiting areas why can't they make lines wheelchairs accesible.

 

[olena]

I understand, but I don't think the government is into labeling people via ID cards. My ID card is just that anyway. I can't get a drivers license. Doctors don't issue "disability" cards....at least none I've ever been to. If I have to carry a doctor's note just to sit up front (not go to front of line), then I'll just take my business elsewhere.

Besides, every pass I've ever gotten, I was told at City Hall that it didn't entitle me to the front of the line. They also stamp it on the card in nice bold letters. But this is at WDW. It doesn't sound like standard procedure at DL.

Are there such cards that give "front of the Line" privileges? If a regular card at DL did, then they need to modify that policy to match what I've experienced at WDW. As far as I know, the only folks who get the 'front-of-the-line' treatment are Make-A-Wish kids and Michael Jackson. Like I said before with my Mom, they showed us to an area and said we'd wait in line there. Then they'd come and get us. That seems fair to me and my family in that situation. If they forced all the faking teenagers to wait, then maybe it would discourage abuse.

 

[disneychrista]

Originally posted by olena
Are there such cards that give "front of the Line" privileges?

At Disneyland that is what the SAP were amounting to, Front of the Line Passes.

I am not disabled but would be highly insulted to have some pimply teen ask me to explain exactly what my disablity is.

I am not sure they can ask you to explain the disability but they can question as to what accomindations you require. Meaning do you need to sit in front for shows, can't climb stairs, need to avoid the sun etc. This why you can get the assistance you need w/o allowing the system to be abused.

 

[SueM in MN]

I still wonder about these questions. Like I said, waiting is not a problem for me. I wonder if carrying an identity cane (which your average teen doesn't own) is adequate to obtain the pass that says to let me sit up front. If the cane were enough, then I'd only have it out to acquire the pass.

I'm curious about these "questions". What will they be asking? What could they ask that your average SAP abuser couldn't talk their way around? Will they begin requiring Doctor's letters?

Is this change in policy only at Disneyland? It seems that way.

The change in policy is only at DL because WDW already does their Guest Assistance Cards in the way that DL is changing to.

At DL, they were not asking any questions about the type of assistance that was needed; whether you had a child with autism, a need to sit front and center, a wheelchair or could not climb stairs, you got the same card and the same treatment. That's why the "special" lines were so long.

At WDW, for at least 5 years, they have asked what your needs are (they don't want a medical diagnosis - they want to know things like, do you have to sit front and center, do you need to avoid stairs, do you need to sit where you can see sign language interpreters?? The CMs use that information and stamp it onto a Guest Assistance Card that is speciifc for that person's needs -like a person with autims would have a stamp that allows them to wait in a quieter place, a person who needs to avoid sun would have a stamp that says they can wait out of the sun (if the queue is in the sun for a significant amount of time), a person who neds to avoid stairs will have a stamp that lets them do that.

That is the system that is in place at WDW and is being implemented at DL. The one difference between the parks is that most of the lines at WDW are wheelchair/ecv accessible (so most people do not require a Guest Assistance Card). Most lines at DL are NOT wheelchair /ecv accessible.

 

[olena]

Thanks, Sue....