ECV and Haunted Mansion at WDW

[Selket]

We just got back from a long weekend trip to WDW to attend a couple of the Halloween parties. We were talking to one of the CM's at Haunted Mansion before we entered the que and she told me that ECV's were not allowed in line anymore - that the guest had to park it and go through in a wheelchair. She said it was a change from this summer (when I took the ECV through the line and then they took us back out near the exit and parked it - then went back in to board). She was actually not a regular CM (dressed more like a manager) and was standing next to the regular HM cast member overseeing the que.

We didn't actually end up riding HM right then - and planned to come back later that night and ride it and never did. So can you actually not take an ECV in the HM que anymore?

 

[mamabunny]

Wow, that's new! We were there just last month, and the night we did MNSSHP there were no restrictions on ECVs at HM, (we took the regular path through, and I handed off the ECV to a CM who parked it just outside like always) but then again we went during the first Hocus Pocus show when everyone was in front the of the Castle LOL, so it was basically a walk-on ride.

It will be interesting to find out if this is a permanent change.

 

[Simba's Mom]

That's interesting-we'll have to see what happens.

 

[book_junkie]

We just got back from a long weekend trip to WDW to attend a couple of the Halloween parties. We were talking to one of the CM's at Haunted Mansion before we entered the que and she told me that ECV's were not allowed in line anymore - that the guest had to park it and go through in a wheelchair. She said it was a change from this summer (when I took the ECV through the line and then they took us back out near the exit and parked it - then went back in to board). She was actually not a regular CM (dressed more like a manager) and was standing next to the regular HM cast member overseeing the que.

We didn't actually end up riding HM right then - and planned to come back later that night and ride it and never did. So can you actually not take an ECV in the HM que anymore?

Wasn't true as of the party last Friday. Our party went through the queue and stretching room, but then bypassed the normal line as we needed the belt slowed/stopped so we got on where you normally get off.

 

[Selket]

Hmmm....interesting. This was at the party on Sunday night. What everyone has described was what we did this summer - go through the que then take it out the exit and park - then go back in and get on at the exit. I halfway think she didn't know what she was talking about but we weren't going in the ride at the time so I didn't ever find out.

 

[MinnieMSue]

9/29 at Halloween party I went through with my rollator and a lady was on an ecv. We all exited the stretch room together and went through the exit to park and board.

 

[BroganMc]

Yes, this is a change they've made. My party went on it during the 9/30 party. My dad and friends were both stopped told they had to leave their scooters outside. My friend cannot walk it and my dad can barely manage it. I had no idea because I had entered the line in front of them to take photos. They finally caught up to me with my dad pushing my friend (and leaning on the manual push chair they loaned her).

My dad was quite upset about it. We usually ride together and both of us have wheels. No way could I ever push him.

I asked a CM about it after we got off. One of the ones working the line entry. She said they made the changes because too many people were running over guests in the dark. (I'm not a fan of people who leave their lights during the stretching room. And I've had to dodge many a park rental scooter myself.) CM said that in our case (where my dad can't walk it) they would either push him thru the queue (yeah, no CM is gonna be available to wait in line with a guest) or in special circumstances they'd make an exception.

This policy matches what Universal does in most cases. They don't allow scooters in ride queues. We've had to ask for special access in some cases because my dad can't handle the walking or standing in a queue. It works out most of the time because I wait to for a special vehicle anyway.

 

[BroganMc]

If this policy is permanent, I can see a lot of complaints coming. Funny thing is before the Apollyon of GAC and this push put wheels in queues with everyone else, they had a very efficient system in place. There was a separate wheelchair line formed at the exit by the hearse. Folks didn't have to leave their scooters until it was their time to board.

 

[PatMcDuck]

That separate line by the hearse was not always so efficient. We sometimes got stuck there for fairly long periods in the hot sun. Sometimes the line was sort of long, and other times it seemed like the CMs were not aware you were there.

Plus you miss the ride setup/preshow, and it does not provide the same experience as other guests. I can understand people having trouble in the darkness with the ECVs, and the lights on would also takeaway from the preshow. No easy answers here. And switching to manual WC is troublesome, because many of those WC are in disrepair.

 

[MinnieMSue]

On 9/29 we (me win my Walker and another lady on her ECV) went through the line and into the stretch rooms. It wasn't crowded though at the Halloween party. They did tell us to go into the stretch room and wait until everyone exited after that "show" before we were to move. Once everyone left that room we were directed outside to park and come back to get into the ride. Again it was very uncrowded at the time so maybe that is why she was allowed on the ecv.