DisneyLAND - Space Mountain Handicapped Entrance Issues

[SueM in MN]

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!

No need to google it, there is a link in post 3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.
I agree that it does have some good information.

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

Yes, livndisney is right.
The regular entrance is not accessible, so the 'mobility entrance' is at the exit.
You check in with a CM and then there are benches where guests can sit to wait until they are called.

 

[PatMcDuck]

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

I was going to post the same thing, with Spaceship Earth you go in a door on the side, and wait. It is very similar to the procedure at Space Mountain at DL. And the same long waits at times.


If the issue with some of the rides is being able to safely evacuate guests in an emergency, then I get it, and i will live with it.

 

[krisnme]

Just back from WDW a week ago, with DS in a manual chair. at SM we were sent up the FP lane and waited maybe 5 min at the end before loading. Actually even though the parks were pretty busy our waits were not bad at all. DS has a GAC, I don't know if this made much difference, as others in ecvs and chairs were sent the same way we were, mostly up the FP lanes. At spaceship earth we had a 10min wait, they wrote your name as you entered the HC loading area, then called 1 group about every 2 min.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Disney does a great job in accommodating people with mobility issues. DH and I recently returned from europe and were appalled at the lack of handicapped accessibility. Ever try driving an ECV down a cobblestone street? Even London's subway system is a challenge: less than half the stations have an elevator!

 

[lilwhiterabbit]

Disney does a great job in accommodating people with mobility issues. DH and I recently returned from europe and were appalled at the lack of handicapped accessibility. Ever try driving an ECV down a cobblestone street? Even London's subway system is a challenge: less than half the stations have an elevator!

They have in the past, but lately they've been making some changes that seem to be backsliding. I've been going to to WDW for over 10 years at this point and my experience has been declining, not improving, unfortunately. I'm not comparing them to anyone else, I'm comparing them to the standards they've already set for themselves. My experience last year pretty much sealed it that, after having used Disney transportation on every prior trip, I would never ride a Disney bus with a mobility aid again, and I've noticed the same sort of passive hostility has begun to creep into other areas relating to the disabled guest.

Yes, I realize this has a lot to do with the perception that many people are faking illness or disability to somehow game the system, but I really don't appreciate being treated like a criminal while on vacation or, as I said, feel like I'm being punished because there's this perception that there are a few bad apples out there.

Hopefully, with the recent report of the person who just returned from WDW a week ago they've given up on the "new" system at SM once they realized it was causing more trouble than it was worth. I still wish they'd invest the time and money in mainstreaming all the queues, one at a time, as this would solve everyone's problems, but I realize that this is probably a pipe dream.

 

[LisaBi]

Space Mountain has always (for us anyway) been the most difficult ride to figure out what the process will be from ride to ride (if we don't have a FP). And for a kid who is big on routine, and SpaceM is his favorite, that is not good. Sometimes they send us directly thru the FP line. Sometimes they tell us to come back in a time approximately equal to the standby time. Sometimes they try to have us leave the chair and go in the standby line.

I should absolutely be allowed to wait on a standby basis just like anyone else. I wonder if part of the problem is that they only put on WC party on at a time - because they only have one CM assigned to run chairs to the exit. If they give "reservations" they can better manage that?

 

[SueM in MN]

Space Mountain has always (for us anyway) been the most difficult ride to figure out what the process will be from ride to ride (if we don't have a FP). And for a kid who is big on routine, and SpaceM is his favorite, that is not good. Sometimes they send us directly thru the FP line. Sometimes they tell us to come back in a time approximately equal to the standby time. Sometimes they try to have us leave the chair and go in the standby line.

I should absolutely be allowed to wait on a standby basis just like anyone else. I wonder if part of the problem is that they only put on WC party on at a time - because they only have one CM assigned to run chairs to the exit. If they give "reservations" they can better manage that?

I know that is a problem on Pirates at WDW.
They have to have enough CMs to shuttle the wheelchairs from the boarding area to the exit.

At Spaceship Earth( and I am sure many other attractions with difficult evacuations) they can only have so many guests who would need assistance with evacuation on at one time. At Spaceship Earth, I know they can't let on any 'new' guests on who would need evacuation until the guests with special needs who are already on reach a certain point.
If you are lucky and come up to ride when they are past that point AND you don't need the ADA car with a wider opening, you could luck out and get to ride with a short wait. Our usually wait for Spaceship Earth is about 30 minutes ( at a time when the wait in the regular line may be 5-10 minutes).

For guests using wheelchairs and ECVs, the wait is often longer and we have no choice - we have to use an accessible entrance/boarding area.
For guests not using wheelchairs or ECVs, using Fastpasses and touring plans are going to help a lot with waiting times and consistency of treatment.

 

[TeddiBarra]

I'd like to clarify a couple of things:

This was at DISNEYLAND only.

It was done on the 4th of July weekend on a trial basis only

Word is, it didn't work out so well. Supposedly, HA is back to how it was.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'd like to clarify a couple of things:

This was at DISNEYLAND only.

It was done on the 4th of July weekend on a trial basis only

Word is, it didn't work out so well. Supposedly, HA is back to how it was.

Thanks, TeddiBarra

I know in the past, DisneyLand has had some problems with the handicapped lines getting so backed up that the wait was many times what it was in the Mainstream lines. Because of that, they have tried various things to help with the wait. Some have worked out and others have not. But, for the most part, they are trying to get things equitable with the regular lines.

 

[KPeveler]

I should be in the parks this weekend, so I will see what I can find out. I was injured in a car accident, so I have been banned from roller coasters for a while. I may have finally healed enough for Space Mountain again, so I will see how it goes!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I was just at DL SM Tuesday. Was directed in through the exit. There were about ten wheelchairs/ECVs ahead of me. They took two or three at a tine. When I got to the front I was given a plastic "Boarding Pass" which was collected from me before being able to actually get into the ride vehicle.

 

[WheelieBigDisFan]

Katy,
I sent you a reply to the PM.
I too should be in the parks this weekend (Sunday) and can try out SM when I am there.
For those of you in manual chairs, if you visit DLR alone, how do you get up the ramp at SM to exit? I always have issues b/c that ramp lacks level spots to hang out and rest, and when they send other chairs down, it can seem quite narrow. I usually only get to ride SM (and a couple other rides such as Soarin over California) when I have an AB friend with me.
Mandy

 

[KPeveler]

Katy,
I sent you a reply to the PM.
I too should be in the parks this weekend (Sunday) and can try out SM when I am there.
For those of you in manual chairs, if you visit DLR alone, how do you get up the ramp at SM to exit? I always have issues b/c that ramp lacks level spots to hang out and rest, and when they send other chairs down, it can seem quite narrow. I usually only get to ride SM (and a couple other rides such as Soarin over California) when I have an AB friend with me.
Mandy

It took me a long time to build up the arm strength to get up that hill! I will be in the park with some AB friends this weekend, so let me know if you wanna meet up and we can get you up that hill!

 

[Mom2Christina]

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.

That was my concern. Thanks Sue.

Someone messaged me asking where this was, I am sorry to have omitted it was Disneyland, not Disneyworld. When I was there last week they were not using this system anymore, it is my assumption that it did not work out.

 

[SueM in MN]

That was my concern. Thanks Sue.

Someone messaged me asking where this was, I am sorry to have omitted it was Disneyland, not Disneyworld. When I was there last week they were not using this system anymore, it is my assumption that it did not work out.

You know, I thought you did say, but when I re-read it, I had figured it out from other comments.

If fixed the title so it's clear it's about DL.