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- Aug 23, 1999
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If your muscle ticks involve your hand that would be on the control or tiller, then it would not be safe because you could hit the control and drive into someone.
The person said “I can’t wait in lines”
The CM said “What are your problems with waiting in line?”
And, the one person just showed the doctor letter and the other just repeated “I can’t wait in lines”.
If you are using a mobility device (wheelchair, ECV or rollator), many shows have separate waiting areas as I showed in the pictures in my last post. Guests with mobility devices will be sent to those waiting areas without needing a GAC. Guests without a mobility device would need a GAC to wait there.
There are some shows where all the accessible seating is in the back row.
These attractions have accessible seating only in the back of the theater for guests with mobility devices:
- Hall of Presidents at MK
- - You may be able to park in the rear and walk to the front. Ask the CM at the entrance and the one seating guests with special needs.
- Mickey’s Philharmagic at MK The mobility seating is in the rear, but the theater is small, so you are not that far from the screen. You may actually see better from the back because you would see more of the screen.
- Stitch’s Great Escape at MKThe theater is not that deep. There are spaces for mobility devices to park in the rear. Going to a further down seat would be difficult and not get you a much better view. Much of the action takes place in the dark. The theater is dark, so walking around to get a spot would be difficult.
- American Adventure at Epcot The seating is in the rear and there is a very steeply sloped floor from the rear to the front. CMs are likely to NOT let you park and walk to the front because of the slope. But, you could ask the CM who is seating guests with special needs.
- Impressions de France at Epcot The accessible seating is in the back row. The theater is not that large. You may be able to park at the rear and walk down toward the front. Ask the CM. The screen is around you to about 180 degrees. If you go down to the front, you will see less of what goes on to the sides.
- Movie in Norway at Epcot This is normally accessed by going into the theater directly after riding the attraction. If you want to only view the movie, ask a CM at the entrance to the attraction. The wheelchair seating is usually at the rear because that is the only place where the rows are wide enough apart for a mobility device to get thru.
- Captain EO at Epcot
- Circle of Life at Epcot The seating for guests with mobility devices is at the back of the theater. Going down any further involves going down steps to be seated and up steps to leave the show.
- Ellen’s Energy Adventure at Epcot The mobility seating is in the back of the rear theater car. You can ask the CM if you can park the mobility device and then you would be able to walk in and sit in any row.
- Sounds Dangerous at Hollywood Studio The majority of this show is the dark, so where you sit doesn’t make a lot of difference.
- Muppets 3D at Hollywood Studio Guests with mobility devices enter along with the other guests, so it would be difficult to park a mobility device at the rear and then walk further to the front. As guests from one show are leaving, guests for the next show are starting to arrive.
- Voyage of the Little Mermaid at Hollywood Studio Similar in how it ‘loads’ the theater to Muppets 3D.
- Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream at Hollywood Studio There is an optional movie at the end of the walk thru exhibition.
- Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studio There is a movie at the start with seating in the rear. There is also an interactive drawing class that is optional at the end to the tour. Seating is at the rear, but there are big screens that show what the CM demonstrating drawing a character is doing. For both, there is not really time to park in the rear and move to a further front seat because guests with mobility devices are ‘loaded’ into the theater at the same time as other guests.
- Bug’s Life at Animal Kingdom
These attractions have accessible seating in the front for all guests with mobility devices. No need for a GAC with a mobility device because that is where you would go anyway:
- Country Bear Jamboree at MK - There is a ramp to the front row and all guests with mobility devices sit in the front.
- Tiki Birds at MK
- Carousel of Progress at MK The mobility seating is at the end of rows at the front of the theater.
- Laugh Floor at MK The mobility seating is in the front several rows.
- Turtle Talk at Epcot The mobility seating is at the ends of rows at the front of the theater. The only places farther front are sitting on the floor, which is for children.
- American Idol at Hollywood Studios
- Festival of the Lion King at AK All of the mobility seating is at the front since the other seating involves going up and down steps.
These attractions have seating in the front and rear - you don’t need a GAC with a mobility device. Just tell the CM seating guests with special needs that you need/want to sit in front.
- Reflections of China - 360 film at Epcot There is no seating here unless you bring a mobility device. They do have lean rails that you can lean forward or against. The film takes place all around you and you can go where ever you want in the theater, without needing to talk to a CM. You will have less people around you if you are in the rear of the theater. There are no lean rails there, the CM who introduces the film will be in the front. At China, as you come in, the rear is to the left.
- O Canada at Epcot Another 360 film, similar to China in the way it works.
- Lights, Motors, Action Stunt show at Hollywood Studios Let the CM seating people with mobility devices know you need to sit in the front. The elevator leads to the higher up and farther seating, so when you get to the elevator, let the CM directing people know you need to sit closer and they will direct you somewhere other than going up in the elevator if any closer seats are still available.
- Indiana Jones Stunt Show at Hollywood Studios The majority of the accessible seating is at the rear of the theater, but there are a few spots in the front row.
- Beauty and the Beast at Hollywood Studios Ask the CM at the rear of the theater who is directing seating.
- Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios This is a night show, with the majority of the wheelchair seating at the top row. There are a few spots in the very front row. If you want to request them, be prepared to come early (an hour or more, depending on the crowd) and be prepared to get wet from spray from water screens and spray during certain parts of the show.
- Flights of Wonder Bird Show at AK
- Nemo Show at AK The majority of the mobility seating is at the rear. There is a small amount in the middle and a few seats in the front which have been part of a Nemo Dining package.
It does not matter which park you go to. All the Guest Relations CMs are trained the same way. You need to be able to explain what your needs are. Not in great detail, or with a diagnosis or letter. If you can’t tell them what you need or answer their questions, they can’t help you.
There are people who are looking for a GAC because they think it will let them avoid waits in line. CMs are very aware of that and do point out that a GAC is not meant to avoid waits in line.
Realistically, you need to be prepared that sometimes using a mobility device or having special needs means a longer wait. For many of the shows, there are only a certain number of spots to park a mobility device, so if there are enough people needing those spots already in line, you will have to wait for the next show.
Many attractions can only have a certain number of people with special needs on the attraction at the same time because of safety in case of an evacuation. If you arrive and they already have that number on the ride, you will wait longer.
You also need to be prepared that every attraction will be a little different in what they have available. Some have a separate waiting area, others don’t. In all attractions, you will be able to bring a wheelchair up to the boarding area, but some are not ECV accessible.
So, you need to be flexible and understand that not every attraction will be able to accommodate you in the same way.
Have a fun trip otherwise!!!
