Disneyland and Wheelchair Return Cards

[KPeveler]

I am not certain if this was posted elsewhere, but the wheelchair return times in Disneyland now have a return window. This means there are expiration times for the wheelchair return times for 9 non-accessible rides throughout the park.

They now function more like regular FastPasses, and the windows seems to currently be about an hour. Technically this does not stop people from collecting multiple wheelchair return times (and therefore being "in line" for more the one ride at once) but it does keep people from collecting all 9 and using them at the end of the day or other peak times like after parades. This really does help spread out the lines and has effectively eliminated the stupidly long line at Space Mountain (for example)! Previously, you could show up with a wheelchair and wait for longer or shorter or the same as standby. There was no way of knowing how long the line would be, and no way to plan. Now when you go to the ride, you know you will be waiting the same amount of time as the standby line - something you can check via app or CM before getting there.

To get a wheelchair return time, the whole group riding must be present when the Return Card is issued. Annoying, but still the rule.

The DAS is unaffected by this. There is still no end time on a DAS card return time. You can still send a runner for the DAS.

I did not want to post this is the DAS thread for fear of confusion.

 

[SueM in MN]

That makes sense,
I had heard that there would be a time window for those to address just the issue you mentioned - someone getting a return time ticket for all of those attractions and then using them whenever they wanted.

Do you have a list of the 9 attractions?
I'm working on revising some of the information in the FAQs threads.

 

[KPeveler]

That makes sense,
I had heard that there would be a time window for those to address just the issue you mentioned - someone getting a return time ticket for all of those attractions and then using them whenever they wanted.

Do you have a list of the 9 attractions?
I'm working on revising some of the information in the FAQs threads.

There was also an increase in abuse with the first roll-out, not a decrease. Since they changed the rules to have a window, it has helped a LOT with decreasing return lines.

I am hoping they get rid of the need for the whole group to be present to get the time, as this would allow runners to get to the more difficult distribution spots (like the entrance/exit area of Indiana Jones or up the hill at Pirates!). It would allow people who use manual chairs and push themselves (I do not have push handles on my chair) to send someone ahead to worm through the crowd, and I could take my time getting there. It would also allow me to conserve my strength, so I do not have to wheel all the way to Splash Mountain, to be told to come back in 70 minutes. Going in circles is exhausting! And as long as the person with a visual cue (wheelchair, walker, cane, etc) shows up when it is time to ride, I do not see a problem with the new return window system.

Right now the rides are:
Jungle Cruise
Indiana Jones
Pirates
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
it's a small world
Peter Pan's Flight
Tea Cups

It is expected that Big Thunder will be added to this list once it (finally) opens.

It is also possible that some of these attractions may change, or not have return times during slower times, like Jungle Cruise.

They may also add to the list during very peak weeks, like Christmas Week, for things like Dumbo or Alice in Wonderland. This is a rumor, but I wanted to give a heads up.

Some rides one would expect to find the cards at (Star Tours, Nemo, Autopia, Matterhorn) do not need them as the line is accessible, at least to a point. The cards are only being used for those rides where the exit or another entrance must be used.

There are no wheelchair return cards in use at all in DCA, as all lines are wheelchair accessible.

 

[disneymum58]

I was wondering if they are giving the return cards to those of us without wheelchairs who have difficulty with stairs and need to use the exit to avoid the stairs?

 

[KPeveler]

I was wondering if they are giving the return cards to those of us without wheelchairs who have difficulty with stairs and need to use the exit to avoid the stairs?

You should be able to - just speak to the CM at each ride, tell them you cannot climb stairs, and they will tell you what to do. There are some rides which have fully accessible queues, but stairs at the exit, such as RSR and TSM in DCA. So even when entering an accessible line, you may want to make sure that you check with a CM about whether a ride has stairs or not. Sometimes, like the ones mentioned above, they will have you use a different loading area. Some, like California Screamin or the Swings or Golden Zephyr, there is an elevator in the loading area.

Just like if you had a GAC before that said you needed to avoid stairs and showed it at every ride, just tell a CM you cannot climb stairs and they will tell you if you must do something differently.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I am glad they are addressing some of these issues.

There are unique challenges with manual wheelchairs. My adult son does not self propel, he cannot. He uses a Convaid chair, because he could not self propel safely with his disabilities. But I have to push him myself, and it is only me and him on most Disney trips. I cannot leave him alone to act as a "runner". (autism, Downs, non-verbal). Even with the old GAC, it was a lot of work for me (I am getting older…) I have not tried out the newer DAS yet, or worked with the WC return passes.

I have concerns that I will be pushing him around in circles, worse yet, up and down the same hills. Even getting meals is a bit tough, lots of times I need a CM to carry my tray to a table.