Did definition of "can she transfer from the chair?" change?

[SonicGuy]

Just got back from our umpteenth visit to WDW with DD 26. She is special needs and as she has gotten older uses her chair almost 100% now. We've never had this problem until this last trip. We always get asked "can she transfer" which has always meant - she can physically get out of the chair and walk a few steps (with mom and I holding on to her) so that we do not take up the ride cart that can hold a wheelchair so that someone who can not actually transfer can have it.

On our trip earlier this month, almost every time we were asked that, the CM's interpretation of "can she transfer" was something more akin to - park the wheelchair here, walk 300 yards, go down three steps, and their should be a spot for you there. Two that were particularly frustrating were Haunted Mansion and Nemo the Musical.

Just curious if anyone else has seen or felt this change? We blamed it on the HUGE increase of "scooter people" that can obviously transfer and walk far enough to board the ride vehicle. This made our waits on some rides significantly longer than if we could have gone through the main cue - Small World for example. Posted time was 10 minutes. We waited 45 behind a TON of scooter people.

Not really a rant - just curious.

Thanks and have a great day!

 

[elmom]

Thats scary! Because in my world "can you transfer" means you you wheel up aside and transfer your body over without any standing or walking involved.

 

[BillSears]

Yea, as a paraplegic I can do some transfers. But what Disney is asking is can you walk. I always just tell them I'd like to stay in the chair or I'll need the accessible vehicle.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

We always get asked "can she transfer" which has always meant - she can physically get out of the chair and walk a few steps

1) Some CM's misunderstand.
2) When asked the question of "Can she transfer?", answer, "She can transfer from chair-to-ride, but not walk, is that what you mean?"
3) You are snot trying to be smart-aleck or argumentative, just clarifying.
4) Most CM's will actually appreciate it.

 

[elmom]

Its too bad they aren't as on top of things as they were. We went 7 years ago and the CMs were really understanding and on board. Transfer meant transfer, not walk.

 

[lanejudy]

As with many disabilities, there is a wide range of capabilities regarding transfers. CMs can't guess or assume what needs each guest has. It should be completely acceptable to indicate what the guest can do as a transfer -- yes, I can walk 10 steps unassisted; or yes, he can go from chair to ride; or no, she cannot transfer and must remain in the chair.

This has often come up with regards to Haunted Mansion and the question of "can you walk a short distance?" with "short" being a relative term defined differently by various people. Feel free to speak up and explain your abilities or needs to clarify a situation. Ask the CM "how far?" and if the answer is vague ask again "is it more than 10 steps?" (or whatever the limitation may be for you or your family member).

 

[smidgy]

what if "It is going to take my husband a while to S L O W L Y go from the chair down into the vehicle (be it a POTC boat, or the jungle cruise boat, or the haunted mansion car or splash mt. log.) as he recently had major back surgery

 

[disneydude365]

I'm a scooter user now was a walker wheelchair person luckily I can walk a distance if needed but you can tell I'm having to put a lot of effort into it
I think it's changed to where you can park in designated area and walk or if you need to be delivered to the ride

 

[SonicGuy]

I think the most frustrating thing for us was that it seemed systemic. We have been taking her since she was 4 - so over 20 years. NEVER been a problem until this time - and it was at almost every attraction. I guess y'all are right - we just need to give more specific answers. Good ideas - thanks

 

[I Love Pluto]

We always answer the can you transfer question with - " Yes, but she cannot walk any distance".
We haven't had any issues with that answer.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I think the most frustrating thing for us was that it seemed systemic.

1) Disney has significantly backed-off on training and indoctrination.
2) What used to be 2-days in a classroom is now a 1/2-day session.
3) Also, many managers are no longer truly managing.
. . . they don't lead/manage the CM's.
. . . they let the CM's get away with anything, such a texting and using phones while on duty.
4) Many of the newer CM's have no regard for guests or "Disney Tradition".

 

[SonicGuy]

1) Disney has significantly backed-off on training and indoctrination.
2) What used to be 2-days in a classroom is now a 1/2-day session.
3) Also, many managers are no longer truly managing.
. . . they don't lead/manage the CM's.
. . . they let the CM's get away with anything, such a texting and using phones while on duty.
4) Many of the newer CM's have no regard for guests or "Disney Tradition".

Interesting comments. Makes a lot of sense based on our visit earlier this month

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the others who said it is up to the guest to make sure that they explain what they can do. CMs don't know what people's abilities are and my guess is that the majority of guests using mobility devices are using them for long distance or the total distance, so that is what CMs expect.
Some are more exact about what 'transferring' means and that might depend on the training the CM got at that attraction. Many attractions seem to actually have a script because we have been on multiple times and heard different CMs give almost exactly the same 'this is what you need to do to transfer' message to people ahead of us who said they could transfer. Two of the specific places I'm thinking of are Small World and Haunted Mansion.

I do not think that the process has changed - what has changed in some attractions is where guests park their mobility devices. Some had places that were closer in the past, but have moved. One good example is Buzz Lightyear. At one point in time, guests could leave their device parked at the exit. That made exiting difficult and they are no longer parked there.

My daughter does not stand or walk independently. If there is not an accessible ride car, she needs to either have her wheelchair parked next to the ride car so we can stand her up and 'walk' her over or she needs to be lifted and carried over.
We are asked at every attraction whether she can transfer. One time, about 12 years ago, we didn't notice getting asked and as we got about 15 feet away from the boarding area, the CM said, "OK, you can park here and get into the next car." We explained we needed to lift DD, so needed to be very close. The CM indicated she had asked DD whether she could transfer and DD nodded (I don't know why we didn't notice). Anyway, when we asked DD why she nodded (she is also not able to talk), she indignantly signed to us, "Daddy help". We told her from then on that if she was asked if she could transfer, she should answer "no" . She was not happy and was 'muttering' to herself in sign for quite a while.

Now, if we are asked whether she can transfer, our answer is that we can lift her out of her wheelchair and into the ride car. We have not had any issues with that.

 

[ttintagel]

Sounds like really inexperienced CM's to me. Something similar happened to me on my first time riding PoTC. I was in a wheelchair with crutches strapped to the back, and the CM asked, "Can you walk a few steps?" I said, "Yes," and he asked me to leave my chair and go in on my crutches. Turns out his idea of "a few" was 250. Now, I'm sure some people will jump in and say it was my job to ask him what he meant by "a few," but seriously, what reasonable person would ever in their wildest dreams imagine that "a few" steps for someone on crutches would be in the triple digits? It would be like getting pancakes with sand in them and being told it was your fault because you failed to request them with no sand.