Disability question???

[mystic_path]

Just wondering if anyone has gone to Disneyland with a cane. My friend who is coming walks with a cane. She cant stand in longer lineups. I know a wheel chair might be our best option, but if she just wanted to use her cane, does anyone know if she can use the wheel chair entrance/exit for rides?

 

[kylieh]

I'd like to know this too - my MIL uses a cane as well. We're trying to convince her to use an ECV or wheelchair, but so far no luck. She may change her mind though when we get there.

 

[bumbershoot]

I believe that I've read before, in situations like this, the CMs are really going to urge the use of a wheelchair.

Plus, just using the other exits doesn't necessarily make a line shorter. One time when we rode Nemo, there was a grandmother, mother, and son. Grandmother waited at the wheelchair entrance while mother and son made their way through the line. Once mother and son got up to the spot, they let grandmother through, and the three of them went into a separate line for the ride. They do try to keep the waits around the same.

At Buzz, you go in the line, then just before you get to the moving walkway, you go through a door to board without the moving walkway. But you still wait in that line.

So I think they are going to urge the rental of some wheels, and given out not-totally-flat it is at DL/DCA, if I were in your friend's situation, I would probably get an off-site ECV rental. Plenty of places; but whenever I think of it, I can only ever think of Deckert's.

 

[mystic_path]

Thanks!

I am not concerned about wait times and waiting in lineups, I just gotta do what is best for my little buddy. I suggested the chair too. It will probably be way easier for her in the end anyway.

 

[KerBear]

I use a cane every time I go to Disneyland. Basically a cane or crutches are viewed the same as a wheelchair when it comes to access, I go to the alternate enterance, or alternately in CA I will let the cast member know I have a hard time standing in lines and they will give me a return time pass, based on the posted wait time for that ride. It sometimes results in a longer wait if the line moves faster than expected, but I can't stand still or almost still for 40 minutes, so it works for me. If you stop by guest services in either park they will give you a brochure that tells you where to go at each ride. I am very thankful for the assistance they provide, if I had to rent an ECV every time we went we wouldn't go often as it is just too expensive!

 

[NWPrincess]

I would also urge an off-site ECV rental. I went to DLR with my mom and she rented a ECV through DL while we were there. I have to say, they were less than friendly about it and if I ever experienced a non-DL magic moment, the rentals had to be it. My mom cannot walk or stand very much (on oxygen), so this may not be as bad for your friend. However, our problem was getting the ECV. This was the typical morning for us:
1. My dad drove my mom and I to the closest drop off spot he could on Harbor Blvd. then drove back to the hotel to drop of the car and walk to the security line with us (we stayed at the HoJo's).
2. I assisted my mom to the walk to the security line (which was almost too much for her).
3. She couldn't walk to the gates, so she sat down while I waited in the entrance line, waited in line to rent the ECV, then drove it back to her.
4. She got in the ECV and then we had to get in line again to enter (since she had not entered the park).

Not only did this process take about an hour and half, but we had to ask various cast members who were in varying states of knowledge about ECV's and whether we our plan was possible. The worst time we had was our last day when my dad drove and parked since we checked out of the hotel. She couldn't walk from the tram, through DTD, to the security gate...it was just too far for her. They will not let you take their on-site ECV's past security through DTD. NO ONE of the CM seemed to know what to do...I finally begged the security guard to escort the wheelchair they happened to have at security to my mom and wheel her back. Then the whole process described above began again.

Sorry for the long winded response, but I couldn't help sharing my bad experience with Disney ECV rentals.

As far as when my mom did get her ECV, she had a wonderful time and felt so free at DL . Sometimes we couldn't keep up with her which was a nice break from her daily struggles.

 

[I worked there]

Yes she can use the same entrances and exits as wheelchairs. Just stop by Guest Relations on your way in and let them know your situation and they will issue you a Special Assistance Pass so that you can use the special entrances/exits. Show it to the castmember greeting you at each ride and they will direct you where to go as it is different for every ride. In DCA, however every ride's queue was made wheelchair accessible so the line/wait time will be the same until you get really close to boarding, where they may show you down a different ramp/pathway.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

Yes, I too would say try to get a Guest assistance pass just in case the cane is questioned. Doesn't happen often, but every now and then you do run into a somewhat jerky CM or security person- again doesn't happen often.

I've seen teens limping with nothing but a wrap around their knee go through the handicap entry (exit). My mother has MS and travels in her ECV while at Disneyland, when she needs to transfer from the chair she uses a cane. Once while at Alice and Wonderland, since the exit is a little awkward for an EVC, and for a slight change in things she decided to bring along her cane and line up in the regular cue. The castmember operating the ride spotted her in line and called out suggesting that she go through the handicap entrance instead. Usually that sort of thing doesn't happen, but it was nice of the castmember to suggest that even though we were trying to kill time by lining up in the regular queue.

Yes, it's true about the NEMO ride. It's terribly long even if you go via the handicap entrance. Your friend may still want to consider a wheelchair or EVC because there's still some rides where even if you go through the handicap entrance your friend will still have to walk a long way, rides like: Space Mountain, Small World, Indiana Jones (especially this ride!), Haunted Mansion. Honestly if your friend is going to have issues walking or will become tired easily, a chair will be best rather than a cane only. She and the group will cover more ground and see more which would be better for everyone considering how expensive Disneyland is, she'll also be more comfortable. She can take breaks from the chair and switch to the cane, empty chairs are always great for carrying bags!