disabilities

[nana50]

I know there must be info somewhere but I can't seem to find it. My sister will be visiting in October and I want to take her to Disneyland. She is currently using a wheelchair but will hopefully be able to walk by October. I assume however she will need to use one of those ECV things for major walking though. I know they will deliver to the hotel, (we will be at the Grand) but what should I know about the parks?

 

[KPeveler]

In DCA, all lines are mainstreamed, so you will be using all of the regular lines. There is very little you will do differently because of the ECV.

DL is a little different - there a lot of the lines are not mainstreamed, which means you will use an alternate entrance. Ask for a guide at Guest Services to tell you where to enter each ride. Buzz, Capt Eo, Innoventions, Matterhorn, Nemo, Roger Rabbit, Mickey & Minnie's houses, Haunted Mansion, Mark Twain river boat, and Pooh bear are all mainstreamed - you will use the regular line there.

Some people believe that using an ECV will let you "skip lines" - there will be a few times when the wait may be shorter, but it is also not uncommon to wait longer for things. For instance, i often have to wait for 3 or even 4 trains to come by before there is room for me. There are a few rides where there is a limit on the number of wheelchair-users allowed on the ride at a time for safety reasons, so there may be times you have to wait for the people ahead of you to cycle through.

Hope this helps some! Come check out the disABILTIES board for more info

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I have never been to DL but I can tell you that at WDW the CM's really seem to go out of their way to make things easier for parents with a child who has disabilities. I've traveled with a friend who's daughter has CP and is confined to a wheelchair. Almost every ride we were moved to the front of the line. Her Dad has to lift her out of the chair and onto the ride. It also seemed like the characters spent just a little longer with her. She loved it.

 

[MagicStarFan]

I think if you're disabled, you're allowed to cut the lines hahaha.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I think if you're disabled, you're allowed to cut the lines hahaha.

Agreed.

 

[KPeveler]

I think if you're disabled, you're allowed to cut the lines hahaha.

Actually, in DCA, it is more common to have to wait longer. You get to wait in the regular, standby line, since they are all mainstreamed. And then you get to wait in the wheelchair line after that! There can only be so many people with wheelchairs or ECVs on an attraction at one time (for evacuation safety reasons), so I get to wait in the standby line for california screamin, then I get to wait in a second line with wheelchair users.

In DL, you do not wait in the standby lines about half the time, but in general the wait time evens out.

Do not go thinking that you will skip lines - you may even have to wait longer.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

I know there must be info somewhere but I can't seem to find it. My sister will be visiting in October and I want to take her to Disneyland. She is currently using a wheelchair but will hopefully be able to walk by October. I assume however she will need to use one of those ECV things for major walking though. I know they will deliver to the hotel, (we will be at the Grand) but what should I know about the parks?

So she'll have her own offsite rental scooter correct? A lot of the times they are smaller than the huge beasts available for rent at the parks. My mother has MS and uses a scooter while at Disneyland, so I'm very familiar with the experience, and the stress !

If you stop by City Hall at DL, or Guest Relations at DCA ~ and not sure but maybe also any ticket booth or the Guest relations outside either park, you can get a leaflet guide that will list where you can enter if you are traveling with a scooter or wheelchair.

Yes KPeveler is correct about DCA vs. DL. . Here's some DCA tips - and by "you" I do mean your sister, but I'm already "you-ing" away so it's just easier :

If you enter with the scooter at the Soarin' attraction you will be placed in row number 3, which is the lowest row so you will have feet dangling above you - you can always request the top row but you may have to wait longer.

If you see the Aladdin show and wish to enter with the scooter, I suggest showing up as early as possible so you can line up in the Orchestra section (45 to 40 minutes if you don't have a Priority seating pass) . This will allow you to enter directly into the theater when the doors open up, you will have the option to park the scooter inside or ride it into the seating area, they have areas reserved for chairs and it is a pretty good spot. If the Orchestra section waiting area fills up and you can no longer access the ground level then it's elevator time which is a pain and a very slow process.

World of Color will have sections reserved for chairs/scooters, if you decide to see it, when you are ready to wait in the line ask a cast member where you should go because they do have a waiting section for people who need priority seating. This group will be let in first so they can get settled in safely.

Now for Disneyland:

Usually the exit of the attraction is where a scooter or chair will enter and line up, but this is not true for all attractions so that leaflet guide will come in handy. Haunted Mansion will let your sister ride the scooter in if she doesn't feel comfortable walking a short distance - she will be standing/walking for at least 15 minutes, it's quite the experience if she brings it in and she can drive it directly to the loading area, and get a little behind the scenes peek - you do not enter via the exit.

Pirates is via the exit, wait is not too bad, however if you see a long line of chairs and scooters outside then that is a bad sign because it also means that there's a long line waiting inside - you only see a long outside when it's very crowded and backed up.

Indiana Jones is via the exit, just follow the exit path until you can't continue and a castmember is usually stationed there to help. You will use an elevator to cross over. I don't think people should view using a scooter or chair as a way to skip the line, but it sure does come in handy for this ride !

Space Mountain is via the exit, and the line is usually slow and long, but sometimes it's not so give it a try, or use a Fast Pass (without the scooter).

Captain E.O. will let you enter before the stand-by public, same with the Jungle Cruise which is also via the exit.

Matterhorn is via the stand-by line at first, but you get to skip the line within the houses so it does save on time.

Nemo has an entrance next to the exit, it is usually slow but the wait will be shorter than the stand by line.

Big Thunder Mountain is via the exit, I noticed that they've organized things a little more and they now have a sign and a castmember there to assist - well at least it was like that when we were there 2 weeks ago.

Peter Pan in my opinion is a nightmare! It's through the exit but the exit is not chair friendly and things can really get uncomfortable and crowded if there's a lot of people waiting.

Fantasmic has a section reserved for chairs, it's to the right and right next to the Mark Twain dock. No area for fireworks show in front of the castle, best to show up at least an hour early to be able to access that area before it fills up.

Nighttime at Disneyland for a scooter isn't fun, especially if you're fighting Fantasmic and fireworks crowds, wouldn't hurt to get a lot of things that light up or glow to help your sister stand out. We use flashing bicycle lights that we bought at a dollar store and a flashing necklace.

Good luck!

~Michelle

 

[nana50]

Thank you SOOO much for all the info. We don't expect special treatment or expect to cut in line, just logistics. GGG thank you for all the tips. I'm going this Sunday with my daughter and will stop by guest services to get that leaflet. I'm so excited to do this for her. 2 of my siblings have already died. My brother had a heart attack at 63 and my oldest sister died at 62 due to Lou Gherig's. My sister who died had a very rough life.... six kids and an ******* husband who left her with bills and the kids. She raised them by herself while getting her nursing degree. She never got to go anywhere or have much fun. We were planning (my other siblings and I)on taking her on a cruise when she was diagnosed, she died a few months later. So for my younger sister who is in the wheelchair (due to a stroke and back problems) I don't want to wait, because who knows. She has had back surgey and is recovering from that but after 3 years of barely walking she is very weak also due to the slight stroke she had. So as you can see, I want this trip to be special and fun. Thanks again.

 

[rebecca1176]

You guys so deserve this wonderful experience! Don't worry too much about how to get on lines with a wheel chair. Cast members approach you and are always there to help direct you - usually through the exit. I agree with the previous posters. CA is very accessible other than kids darting in front of you!

Nemo, among others, was one of the rides that people with disabilities wait longer to board. The spiral stair case is not very easy to manage to boot. Some of the rides had specific boats/carts for those in wheelchairs so at times there was a wait if you/she is unable to transfer herself.

We spent 3 days hopping from park to park and I am in a personal wheelchair. I wouldn't wish being disabled on anyone. Many of the rides I needed two assistants to board. I'd prefer to stand in the "normal" lines for 30 minutes & hop on a ride with ease any day! Although it wasn't easy,the cast members were beyond helpful in making our trip great.

You are welcome to message me
Becca

 

[rebecca1176]

I know there must be info somewhere but I can't seem to find it. My sister will be visiting in October and I want to take her to Disneyland. She is currently using a wheelchair but will hopefully be able to walk by October. I assume however she will need to use one of those ECV things for major walking though. I know they will deliver to the hotel, (we will be at the Grand) but what should I know about the parks?

I wanted to add -
Make sure your sister transfers for any 3D shows. I didn't and felt I was "missing something"

 

[Barbday62]

Id like to add a small warning about haunted mansion. My husband always uses his own power chair when we go. Not a rental unit. They always ask him can you walk a short distance to the entrance and leave his power chair outside. The answer to that is Yes. They fail to ask the more importnat question in fact they seem oblivious to this part. The exit is an uphill esclator that is flat all the way up. Not even steps that raise like a normal esclator. He nearly fell backwards trying to wait for the ride to the top he and me had to hold him upright. If they was truley asking the right question it would be can you stand on an uphill ride out? Then and only then should you walk in. We always take wheel chair in and ride elevator backwards out now. Its way to dangerous for someone with Muscular dystrophy to get out even if he can walk a "short distance".

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

Id like to add a small warning about haunted mansion. My husband always uses his own power chair when we go. Not a rental unit. They always ask him can you walk a short distance to the entrance and leave his power chair outside. The answer to that is Yes. They fail to ask the more importnat question in fact they seem oblivious to this part. The exit is an uphill esclator that is flat all the way up. Not even steps that raise like a normal esclator. He nearly fell backwards trying to wait for the ride to the top he and me had to hold him upright. If they was truley asking the right question it would be can you stand on an uphill ride out? Then and only then should you walk in. We always take wheel chair in and ride elevator backwards out now. Its way to dangerous for someone with Muscular dystrophy to get out even if he can walk a "short distance".

You have a point, and I've never thought past the "can you walk a short distance part", they really should describe the rest. The Haunted Mansion is full of thrills and chills, and spills if you're not careful.

To nana50, if your sister's back is sensitive then it's probably best to skip the jerky rides like Indy and all the small coasters. As for the Haunted Mansion, I think riding the scooter in will help deal with the crowds and keep her back safe. You're herded into the elevator like cattle, easy to get bumped or gently pushed, same with the walk down the hallway. If you ride the scooter in a CM will assist you and you will go down a roped off pathway to the left, by passing the herd of pushy Foolish Mortals. Plus they'll stop the moving platform which will allow for safe entry into your Doombuggy.

And if she decides to walk in and leave the scooter out, when you reach the moving platform/walkway you can ask the CM to please slow it down, if necessary.