disabled seating

[nee]

?

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm not sure why they said you could not sit in the parade viewing area for guests with disabilities. It might be because they were already quite full or for some other reason. It might be because of exactly what the message on your GAC was; for example, if you had one that allowed you to wait out of the sun and you were going to a night parade, your GAC would not be needed. The GAC doesn't really require them to give you special treatment. It's a way to let the CMs know what additional assistance you might need.
Our DD uses a wheelchair, but we don't usually use the disability viewing areas for parades. They usually fill up quickly, are crowded and sometimes limit the seating to the person with wheelchair plus one other person. DD is not very patient to wait in one spot and is especially not too happy to do it if she can only have one of us with her.

 

[dclfun]

We were just at MK and a guest not in a w/c but with a GAC was allowed to be in the parade viewing area across from City Hall. He said he had a knee problem and that he couldn't sit on the curb, so he stood the entire time along with his family which blocked the view of those of us in chairs. I thought they should have benches in the back for people who did not have their own "seat" with them. There was a "discussion" with the CM though before he was allowed in the area, with the CM telling him that what was stated on his GAC didn't really allow him there, but that since it wasn't crowded he could enter. Those areas, to me, are for those of us who are stuck sitting and thus can't see over people in front of us, or in my case I need a protected area for all my equipment so it won't get bumped into. If there were benches though, then I could certainly see that someone who needed that type of accomodation should be allowed to sit there. As Sue said though, it's not always comfortable for our families as they have to stand behind us and it gets pretty crowded.---Kathy

 

[nee]

That was a good point about what was written on the card.
When I looked I had 2 cards and one said to use the wc entrances for the rides. I would of thought this would be good for the parade areas as well

 

[tammyh-oregon]

We had something similar to this happen once to us.
I had a GAC that allowed alternate entrances, etc. was not using a wheelchair. However, I know that the disabled seating in liberty square is near the liberty tree where there is a ledge around the tree. We went there and the CM tried to kick us out. I showed the GAC and explained what we wanted to do. I would be able to sit on the ledge and look over the people in wheelchairs. As the wheelchair users and their families began to fill up the area the CMs talked about us (there were 2 of us not what I would call a crowd) and said something about kicking us out so they could make more room for the wheelchairs?????? they could not have fit more wheelchairs between us and the rope except for the one wheelchair or ECV that was already there. We eventually got to stay and use the ledge. I figured that this would be a safe place to be able to sit somewhere off the ground but I guess it doesn't work. We haven't tried it again. We just don't do the parades now so we miss out. Oh well such is life.

 

[AprilsZoo]

It helps to be specific about your needs when you first get the GAC. Next time ask them to write "use disabled viewing areas for parades and shows" on your GAC and you will have fewer potential misunderstandings.

 

[SueM in MN]

You might also want to look for alternative places to watch paradesd. For example, for the parades at MK, you can find benches in areas that overlook the parade and avoid using the wheelchair seating at all. One good spot is the balcony on the second floor of the railroad station at Main Street or by Tony's restaurant. You will often have a better view and be less crowded by finding your own spot.

 

[doombuggy]

I agree with your tips, Sue about the train station balcony (saw Spectromagic there once) and Tony's (saw another parade there while eating dinner in 2000).

My question is what is a GAC and how can I get one for Grama, who I am taking to WDW in May (she has Parkinson's and we will be renting a ECV for her). Thanks for your help, guys!

 

[SueM in MN]

GAC stands for Guest Assistance Card and one can be requested from Guest Services at any of the parks. They are not meant (and won't usually) give you a shorter wait in line. The GAC is a way to let the CMs know what types of special assistance you might need (other than a wheelchair or ecv). Some examples might be a quieter place to wait or being allowed to wait out of the sun.

Since you will be renting an ecv for her, you probably won't need a GAC. Having an ecv or wheelchair allows use of wheelchair seating for parades, etc and for use of wheelchair entrances into rides (for example, if the regular line is not wheelchair accessible). If being able to use the ecv will meet her needs, she won't need a GAC. They are more for people who have other special needs in addition to needing a wheelchair or ecv. Also people who have special needs, but don't need a wheelchair/ecv.

 

[Talking Hands]

Just a note for those of you using the handicapped seating area across from Hall of the Presidents. There is less area for wheelchairs on Monday and Thursday as the are is shared with guests needing interpretation for the deaf and hard of hearing. The lined off area farthest from the bridge is reserved for these guests. We sure had it filled last Monday. Four groups of us with 1 ECV and 1 PC. Total of 12 people.

 

[nee]

Thanks for all your comments, I have just bought the unofficial guide book which gives some great tips on where to stand for parades.
I realize that Disney are trying to sort out the problem of people hiring wc's just to get ahead of lines etc and I have seen many examples of abuse myself, so I say good for them. I think though that if they stopped hiring out the chairs, then only real disabled folks would bring their own
At eurodisney they can't help enough and even ask the family members to stand if someone needs to sit on the wall or bench, so it is a shame that so much abuse happened at WDW.

 

[SueM in MN]

One problem if they stopped renting out wheelchairs is that there are people with real disabilities who can manage well in their daily life, but just can't walk the distances involved at WDW.
Examples of that would be a friend of mine whose child had a serious heart problem. He didn't have a wheelchair of his own, but there was no way he could be at WDW all day without one (especially in the heat). Someone I used to work with used an ecv at work, but she didn't have any way to transport it, so it stayed at work. She finally ended up getting a foldable manual wheelchair for shopping, etc, but she had been using the ecv at work for about 10 years before she got her own wheelchair.

With Mainstream lines (people in wheelchairs and ecvs waiting in the same line with everyone else), there is no "advantage" to having a wheelchair if someone doesn't have a disability. One of the things that has encouraged abuse is the Unofficial Guide keeps printing that people with wheelchairs get into ridees with (I can't quote exactly) no significant wait. There are also people who went to WDW 10 years ago when the lines were not accessible and tell other people that is still the case. It makes people think that guests in wheelchairs get all sorts of special treatment that doesn't happen.