Character Meet lines - wheelchair issues?

[Donnababe]

When we visited Disneyland Paris last year, with one exception, the lines for Character Meets were disasterous for me and my family. People just ignored my wheelchair, there seemed little or no stewarding from the CMs and most people just helped themselves to their turn without consideration.

I realise it is probably bad organisation and perhaps 'cultural ignorance', but how are the character lines handled at WDW? From memory we didn't experience many problems on our 04 trip, but since my kids are so excited about meeting the characters I'd hate for them to be disappointed again.

FWIW I am not expecting front of line access, I just want to be able to queue up with my kids and have fun!

TIA!

 

[PirateFairy8]

I haven't had too much of a problem in the lines that are outside - I've never done them at toontown. I'm 20 now, but still love to grab the occasional "favorite" character picture. For the most part, the experience has been great - I can stand, it just takes a bit more effort to get up. Everybody (including those in line) has been real patient about waiting for me to get up and move to the characters and not pushing me out of the way - the characters acted like it was perfectly normal. It's the reason I love going to Disney - I don't feel "ill" there. The character interactions with them have been great, and the handlers have made sure that I wasn't not pushed out of the way and that I got my time with them. It was great!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Normally there tends to be at least one handler per character, and they make sure that people queue up. You should not have any problem here.

 

[Donnababe]

Thanks!

 

[barrysprot36]

WDW is nothing like DLP, everything is much more organised. From our own DS2 experience in a wheelchair at both DLP and WDW I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised on your trip to WDW.

Caron

 

[Joanna71985]

Wheelchairs are no problem. There are lines set up for all the characters, and the wheelchairs can fit in all the indoor queue lines.

 

[SueM in MN]

agreeing with what the others said.

They are pretty organized with the characters. The indoor and permanent outdoor areas have actual marked off lines for waiting.
The outdoor ones that don't have permanent lines do have CMs to keep order.

 

[JoyMouse]

I agree, you should not have any problems with a wheelchair at WDW. The characters make an effort to make the encounter good for everyone. Often a walk-around character has made special efforts to show attention to my DD. Devine even wrapped herself around my child, wheelchair and all. It was so funny, we were there so long that we were wondering about hedge clippers... I feel like your experience will be great. Just enjoy!

 

[Donnababe]

Devine even wrapped herself around my child, wheelchair and all. It was so funny, we were there so long that we were wondering about hedge clippers... I feel like your experience will be great. Just enjoy!

Oh wow, that sounds amazing!

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[BrandyC1974]

Just wanted to let you know a secret about the Toontown Tent Character Meet and Greets. When we go in their, (my DD10 is in a wheelchair), we get in the shortest line. First we go inside the first room and when we are finished we polietly ask the CM if we can visit the other two rooms without getting back in the lines. We have never been told no. They are always glad to help us out and bring us to the next room. They then let the CM in that room to walk us to the third room when we are finished.

I hope noone gets upset over this, but we didn't ask the first time we went. They asked if we had visited the other rooms and when we said no, they said that they would allow us to visit the other rooms without getting back in line. The also said to just ask next time we visited and they would assist us again.

Lastly, for the outdoor greetings, we always get in line. Occasional, but not always, the handler will see us and tell the "character" that they have a special guest and escort us to the front of the line. If this happens, we are grateful and try not to take too long.

 

[Joanna71985]

Just a little heads-up that this does not always happen- especially with the outside queue lines (wheelchairs can fit in them). Actually, now that I think of it, wheelchairs can fit in the indoor queue lines as well.

 

[waltfan1957]

When we visited Disneyland Paris last year, with one exception, the lines for Character Meets were disasterous for me and my family. People just ignored my wheelchair, there seemed little or no stewarding from the CMs and most people just helped themselves to their turn without consideration.

I realise it is probably bad organisation and perhaps 'cultural ignorance', but how are the character lines handled at WDW? From memory we didn't experience many problems on our 04 trip, but since my kids are so excited about meeting the characters I'd hate for them to be disappointed again.

FWIW I am not expecting front of line access, I just want to be able to queue up with my kids and have fun!

TIA!

Don't worry in WDW it's done properly with lines, hope you and your kids have a great time one of the best places foe character meets is Epcot