Confused about ECV access at parks?

[P&B's Mom]

I am planning first trip to WDW. I have read many posts, read the disability pamphlets from Disney, and read a couple of guidebooks dealing with disabilities at WDW. We are family of six traveling in June (hot and crowded) with my dad renting an ECV and a high-functioning ASD son. My dad does not use an ECV for everyday, but will need one for this trip--diabetes, heart condition, circulation issues in his legs, etc. He cannot walk very fast and when he does, he cannot walk for a long period of time. He will be able to transfer out of the ECV and can walk somewhat normal distances, but will experience pain rather quickly.

I have read that in many of the queues, a person must be able to transfer out of the ECV into a wheelchair. Are these wheelchairs provided? I am completely confused about this. Do we enter a completely different queue or do we have to wheel him through the regular one? I am sure it depends on the attraction, but many of them gave this information. I am not looking for "front of line" privileges, but would like to know the difference in waiting in lines with people with disabilities and waiting in lines without any "issues".

On top of this confusion, I will get a GAC for my son--sensory issues, waiting in line will be difficult (touches everything, cannot reason with him re: waiting, etc.). I have read that if I explain his issues with CM, we will be able to figure out how WDW can address our needs.

I plan on getting FP for as many things as possible and I am following TGM's advice to minimize waiting in lines. Since we are going during a busy time, I know we will experience problems no matter how much planning I do.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[SueM in MN]

I have read that in many of the queues, a person must be able to transfer out of the ECV into a wheelchair. Are these wheelchairs provided?

There are not really that many. They are listed in the WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities and also indicated on the park maps. The maps have an icon with a wheelchair if the line is totally wheelchair and ECV accessible.
If you have to transfer out of the ECV into a wheelchair, you will see an icon of a person getting out of the ECV and into a wheelchair.
The lines where you need to transfer from an ECV usually have something about the line that is not accessible to ECVs (maybe tight turns).
Some of the lines that are marked as needing a transfer are not accessible to the park rental ECVs, which are large and don't turn easily.
Some of those lines are accessible to smaller, more manouverable ECVs.
There will be a wheelchair at the attraction.

I am completely confused about this. Do we enter a completely different queue or do we have to wheel him through the regular one? I am sure it depends on the attraction, but many of them gave this information. I am not looking for "front of line" privileges, but would like to know the difference in waiting in lines with people with disabilities and waiting in lines without any "issues".

Most of the queues are wheelchair accessible; these are called Mainstream Lines, because everyone waits in the same line.
AK and the Studio were built with Mainstream Lines, so he will be able to stay in the ECV for almost all the attractions at those parks.

On top of this confusion, I will get a GAC for my son--sensory issues, waiting in line will be difficult (touches everything, cannot reason with him re: waiting, etc.). I have read that if I explain his issues with CM, we will be able to figure out how WDW can address our needs.

You understood it correctly. If you have not read the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is a section there about GACs.
[I plan on getting FP for as many things as possible and I am following TGM's advice to minimize waiting in lines. Since we are going during a busy time, I know we will experience problems no matter how much planning I do.

Any help is greatly appreciated![/QUOTE]
That is a good idea.
TGM will help you avoid the places that are busy. That will help your father for manouvering around with the ECV because it will be less busy. Being where it's not busy will also help with your son since the GAC is only used in lines.