DisneyLAND - Space Mountain Handicapped Entrance Issues

[Mom2Christina]

I meant to put this in the regular disABILITIES section, can it be moved? Sorry for any inconvenience.

It has come to my attention that they are "testing" a new system at Space Mountain for the HCA line. I was told that during the day, you arrive at Space Mountain, are informed that you need a "reservation" and you give them your name and apparently come back later. Although I am not sure what is happening during the day, It has been reported that there are some people who are getting turned away late at night when they are informed that the "reservations" are already taken. Correction. You have the option to wait to see if someone does not show up for their "reservation" but basically they are turning those who do not have one away. Does'nt this border on discrimination? Not quoting here but it sure feels like, "Sorry, you are in a wheelchair and we can't take any more wheelchair users but the regular line to the ride is still open." It is reported that there are several cast members actually running around with clipboards trying to take down these reservations and it has appeared very labor intensive.

It will be interesting to see if this test will remain in effect over the next week. As I said in the WOC Accessibility thread, I am spending an obscene amount of money to enjoy all of Disney and not just part of it. What if I did not know about this and chose to wait until the last day to see Space Mountain and end up missing out just because I am using an ECV? GRRRRR.

 

[peemagg]

If that is what they are actually doing, then yes they are discriminating and are breaking the law.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am moving this thread from the disABILITIES Community Board to the disABILITIES Board.

Just to clarify - is this regarding WDW or Disneyland?

If they are doing it to artificially limit the numbr of guests with wheelchairs who can ride, it would be discriminatory.

What we don't know is why they are doing it.
If there is a temporary problem that limits the number of guests with wheelchairs or EVCs can ride, then what they are doing is not discrimination.
It may be the only way that they can be accommodated if there is a problem with either the ride car or loading area.

So, more to be seen.

 

[POOHsie]

... As I said in the WOC Accessibility thread, I am spending an obscene amount of money to enjoy all of Disney and not just part of it.

I am in an ecv and there's stuff I can't do at WDW. Like the WEDway Peoplemover, Swiss Family Treehouse, Space Mountain. Yes-Space Mountain! I tried it once and I could barely get out of the ride vehicle at the end. They had to stop the ride, and my family had to assist me out. So, I won't try that again. I have heard the DL SM is much better for handicap access. I wonder if you would have trouble with SM at WDW, like I did.

If your argument is about handicap discrimination, OK let's all discuss and learn. If your argument is that you can't access everything at Disney and, for the money, you think you should be able to, I would beg to differ. My handicap has limited my mobility, and I don't feel that it's Disney's fault that I can't fully access the parks like someone who is not impaired. IMHO, WDW does a darn good job of being one of the most accessible places to vacation, and that's why I return year after year.

 

[gothtinkerbell]

This is not quite what we experienced in March. If you did not have a Fastpass but were still in a wheelchair (which I was) or an ECV, they gave you the equivalent of a Fastpass for that ride. It used the waittime for the regular riders and that is when you came back and entered the queue. Never once did I get turned away from a ride.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think the OP's concern is that Space Mountain had been accessible in a different way that did not limit the number of guests wi wheelchairs or ECVs.

It could have been because of a problem with the ride car that limited the number of guests with wheelchairs or ECV s who were able to ride in that day.

If so, there might be a limit to the number of 'passes' available. That would be totally uderstandable and total legal.

This is not quite what we experienced in March. If you did not have a Fastpass but were still in a wheelchair (which I was) or an ECV, they gave you the equivalent of a Fastpass for that ride. It used the waittime for the regular riders and that is when you came back and entered the queue. Never once did I get turned away from a ride.

we've had that happen at WDW.
That is a perfectly reasonable accommodation.

It also brings up another possible explanation for what happened to the OP.
It's possible that the CM thought that if all the Fastpasses had been given out, then no more 'Fastpass equivalent' tickets could be given out. So, it may have not been a new policy, just a CM unaware of how to handle the situation when all the Fastpasses are gone.

And, as other posters pointed out, it's not discrimination if something is not available for guests with disabilities. It's not discrimination, just reality if there is no way to accommodate enough ( like Peter Pan, Peoplemover, Tom Sawyer Island and Swiss Family Robinson).

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

I'm a bit confused. Is this a temporary or permanent change? I'm also not entirely sure how it's in any way superior to their previous system.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Also confused if this is at DL or WDW. If my memory is correct, they have 2 different loading procedures. I think at WDW we go thru the regular line up to a when you get inside and the line splits to the left and right? Then you are pulled up and you wait in a short handicapped access line, and board pretty quickly. At DL, it is totally different. You go by the exit, near the rest rooms, and wait in a handicapped line. This line can be quite LONG. It is the special needs guests and their entire parties, so it is lots of people.

So, if the OP is talking about DL, this new system might help.

Some of the issues are that only a certain # of special needs guests can be actually riding at one time, in case of an emergency evacuation. CMs can only handle so many guests with special needs at one time.

I have been handed a FP with a return time at WDW, at Epcot, for of all things, the Land boat ride.

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

Also confused if this is at DL or WDW. If my memory is correct, they have 2 different loading procedures. I think at WDW we go thru the regular line up to a when you get inside and the line splits to the left and right? Then you are pulled up and you wait in a short handicapped access line, and board pretty quickly.

This is also similar to what I remember from WDW from last year, only we waited a long time at the handicapped access area. Something like 20 minutes, which meant we spent almost 45 minutes in line when the posted wait was 30. It rivaled TSM and IASW for longest handicap accessible wait times on that trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is also similar to what I remember from WDW from last year, only we waited a long time at the handicapped access area. Something like 20 minutes, which meant we spent almost 45 minutes in line when the posted wait was 30. It rivaled TSM and IASW for longest handicap accessible wait times on that trip.

In that case, it would make sense to issue only a certain number of Passex to get in. If they don't have enough capacity to take care of everyone who shows up, they need to come up with some way to deal with it.

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

In that case, it would make sense to issue only a certain number of Passex to get in. If they don't have enough capacity to take care of everyone who shows up, they need to come up with some way to deal with it.

It didn't seem to have anything to do with capacity. We were the only ones in the accessible area other than a party of four behind us, and were the first ones against the "gate." We literally stood at the gate for 20 minutes. They knew we were there too, because they looked up when we came down the walkway. No idea why we waited so long. Why CMs do things a certain way is sometimes a mystery.

 

[KPeveler]

I understand trying to get a better handle on the wheelchair line at DL, but this system would be very hard on those of us who do not do a full day in hte parks. Usually I go just for the evening. If I can never ride Space Mountain b/c I cannot get there in the mornings, I will be quite unhappy.

 

[WheelieBigDisFan]

I understand trying to get a better handle on the wheelchair line at DL, but this system would be very hard on those of us who do not do a full day in hte parks. Usually I go just for the evening. If I can never ride Space Mountain b/c I cannot get there in the mornings, I will be quite unhappy.

It's the same for me Katy. I am a Premium AP holder and usually only go for a partial day (never there first thing in the morning). I would hate to lose one of my fav rides b/c all the "FP's" are taken earlier in the day. I am only able to ride SM when I am having a "good day" pain wise, so when I can ride it I take full advantage of riding it...usually right before I leave the park for the day (it throws me around enough it usually causes my pain to increase, but it is worth it). I visited DLR yesterday (7/3) and did not go on SM b/c I fell out of my chair last weekend (6/25) and really messed up my back. If you make it to SM before I do please update on what you find out. If this is a new procedure going into permanent effect, or if this is temp b/c of capacity issues, etc.
Thanks,
Mandy

 

[Allie Howell]

My fiance, who is a paraplegic, and I just got home about a month ago from Disney! When we went to ride Space Mountain, the cast member told us that we could either get a FastPass and come back at the printed time or wait thirty minutes (because that was the estimated wait time at the moment) outside.

Although we were completely okay with doing this (it's Disney World - why complain?!), we asked the cast-member about this system. As I'm sure you all know, the accessible lines typically move a lot faster than the regular queues, and Disney is trying to rid the parks of that.

...which kind stinks, but at the same time is understandable. Handicapped doesn't mean special treatment, you know?

 

[disneyobessed]

My fiance, who is a paraplegic, and I just got home about a month ago from Disney! When we went to ride Space Mountain, the cast member told us that we could either get a FastPass and come back at the printed time or wait thirty minutes (because that was the estimated wait time at the moment) outside.

Although we were completely okay with doing this (it's Disney World - why complain?!), we asked the cast-member about this system. As I'm sure you all know, the accessible lines typically move a lot faster than the regular queues, and Disney is trying to rid the parks of that.

...which kind stinks, but at the same time is understandable. Handicapped doesn't mean special treatment, you know?

My son is in a wheelchair and when we went in 2009 we would have to wait the estimated time on a few of the rides but in a seperate entrance.. I remember the Pooh ride Spaceship Earth were a few... Soarin didnt have a seperate entrance or line but ive been told otherwise..? Either way we dont care.. we get Fastpasses for as many of the rides we need and go from there!!!

 

[Piper]

My fiance, who is a paraplegic, and I just got home about a month ago from Disney! When we went to ride Space Mountain, the cast member told us that we could either get a FastPass and come back at the printed time or wait thirty minutes (because that was the estimated wait time at the moment) outside.

Although we were completely okay with doing this (it's Disney World - why complain?!), we asked the cast-member about this system. As I'm sure you all know, the accessible lines typically move a lot faster than the regular queues, and Disney is trying to rid the parks of that.

...which kind stinks, but at the same time is understandable. Handicapped doesn't mean special treatment, you know?

I have actually had the opposite experience: Accessible lines often moved slower than the regular. The first week of Dec. last year, I was part of a large party. The "regular" riders were usually finished riding before me. When there is a special accessible line, it was often long and when there wasn't, we were diverted and had to wait for a special vehicle. This was a slow time of the year.

I am not sure where you got the idea that people with disabilities expect "special treatment." Most of the time, we are just thrilled to actually have an activity in which we can participate since so many of them are not available to us!

 

[Allie Howell]

My son is in a wheelchair and when we went in 2009 we would have to wait the estimated time on a few of the rides but in a seperate entrance.. I remember the Pooh ride Spaceship Earth were a few... Soarin didnt have a seperate entrance or line but ive been told otherwise..? Either way we dont care.. we get Fastpasses for as many of the rides we need and go from there!!!

Yeah, that's what they did for us! We just had to wait the estimated wait time and then go through the FastPass line. But you're right in that Pooh, Spaceship Earth, and Soarin' do not have special entrances. Those lines are completely accessible.

Richard and I go to Disney quite often, but the first trip he made post-accident (in 2005), this The Mouse on Wheels website helped us out A LOT with knowing how accessible each ride was, the difficulty of transfers, and etc.

I would link it, but since I'm new to DisBoards, I can't post a url. But you should definitely Google it!

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

Sometimes the wait is shorter, sometimes its longer, sometimes the same. It varies from attraction to attraction and day to day. Really, it would be in Disney's best interest to mainstream all the queues and make them all accessible if possible. I understand it's difficult to do that with some of the older attractions, but at this point it seems almost as if they're punishing us because they feel their current system doesn't work.

Get a Fastpass? Okay, so what if...

All the Fastpasses are gone for that day?

The disabled individual is already holding two Fastpasses at that time thus doesn't have the option of getting a third? Do they then have to expend the energy (something that tends to be a precious commodity for some of us) hurrying around the park using their Fastpasses so they can come back to the attraction they're already standing in front of, just to get another one?

In the past I felt that Disney was very good about accommodating the disabled guest but, honestly, with some of the recent changes they've been making I'm really not very confident in that claim anymore.

 

[livndisney]

Yeah, that's what they did for us! We just had to wait the estimated wait time and then go through the FastPass line. But you're right in that Pooh, Spaceship Earth, and Soarin' do not have special entrances. Those lines are completely accessible.

Richard and I go to Disney quite often, but the first trip he made post-accident (in 2005), this The Mouse on Wheels website helped us out A LOT with knowing how accessible each ride was, the difficulty of transfers, and etc.

I would link it, but since I'm new to DisBoards, I can't post a url. But you should definitely Google it!

Spaceship Earth DOES have a special entrance. And the wait can be long.

 

[livndisney]

I have actually had the opposite experience: Accessible lines often moved slower than the regular. The first week of Dec. last year, I was part of a large party. The "regular" riders were usually finished riding before me. When there is a special accessible line, it was often long and when there wasn't, we were diverted and had to wait for a special vehicle. This was a slow time of the year.

I am not sure where you got the idea that people with disabilities expect "special treatment." Most of the time, we are just thrilled to actually have an activity in which we can participate since so many of them are not available to us!

Sadly, I think a lot of people (both disabled and non) have it in their heads that disabled expect/deserve "special treatment". I see it more and more on these boards and in the parks. That being said, I don't know that the pp expected special treatment, but I have seen posters that do.

Piper, I tend to me more like you and am just happy when there is something we can do. We don't mind waiting as long as there is "safe" place for us to wait. We have met some really sweet people while waiting.