ECVs and rides - How do lines work with ECV's?

[3prettyprincesses]

My father-in-law is 79, has cancer and will be using a scooter for our end of Oct. trip. How will that work waiting in line? He can easily transfer from the scooter to the ride but I'm curious what to expect since we don't have any experience with one. He'll be the only one in an ECV in our group. Also, what do you do with the scooter when you transfer? Thanks! He's really looking forward to Disney and we want to make it as comfortable as possible for him.

 

[Robo]

My father-in-law is 79, has cancer and will be using a scooter for our end of Oct. trip. How will that work waiting in line? He can easily transfer from the scooter to the ride but I'm curious what to expect since we don't have any experience with one. He'll be the only one in an ECV in our group. Also, what do you do with the scooter when you transfer? Thanks! He's really looking forward to Disney and we want to make it as comfortable as possible for him.

Many (most) of the attraction queues allow the scooters to wait right along with guests who are walking.
The CM's will help anyone using a scooter or wheelchair with what to do and how to do it.
There are literally thousands of ECV's and wheelchairs in use at WDW every day.

Go to the disABILITIES Forum HERE for much more info.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Sorry to hear your FIL has Cancer but SO HAPPY you can all make the trip together. Just wanted to say that DISNEY is amazing with ANY/ALL disabilities from our experiences.......so ECV's to them is EASY as pie......as Robo said.....they see THOUSANDS..................
Have a GRAND trip!!!

 

[BabyEars]

I know that this has probably been asked a hundred times but how does this work. My father is handicapped with a severe back and mobility issue. While he can walk, it can only be for short distances. He could never stand in line for 30 minutes or more. Do the rides have lines wide enough for him to take his ECV? Will he join the FastPass line? Do they have a seperate line?

I know that we will be able to get the guide when we arrive but I am really trying to figure some of this out so I can make a plan on how to get the most of each park. For example the TSM ride.....I have heard that he will get on this through the FastPass line so do we need to fight the mad dash in the morning to get the FastPAss or does he not need it to board?

So much confusion on this issue. Any one have a link or something to this guidebook or have a typed list of ride policies?

 

[SilverL]

Disney is very accessible and so on most rides you can rice an ECV through the line with no problems. They're wide lanes. I wouldn't sweat it. Have a magical trip!

 

[seashoreCM]

On some rides persons with wheelchairs or ECV's board and alight from the same platform even when persons without those items board and alight from different platforms. Sometimes the entire party would go up the down staircase, er, ramp, so they all board together.

Small World used to be (still is?) this way. Boats come in pairs. One consequence was that sometimes all the handicapped boats came second (or first). Then the split off regular line coming down the other side of the paradox and feeding the second (or first) boat berth moved much more slowly.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

My father-in-law is 79, has cancer and will be using a scooter for our end of Oct. trip. How will that work waiting in line?

At the MK, the attractions were built over a nearly 35 year span of time, so accessibility varies from one attraction to the other. As soon as you get to the parks go to Guest Relations and ask for a copy of that park's Guidebook (or Guidemap) For Guests With Disabilities. Also ask at the attractions for accessibility; the CMs will be more than happy to direct you appropriately.

 

[Redbudlover]

I also recommend the disabilities forum, but as a sometimes ECV user I can tell you that every single ride is set up to make the ECV rider AND his family very comfortable going on the ride. In those rides where you can take the ECV to the loading area there will be a place to park at the end. In other places CMs will be on hand watching for ECVs and will direct you to a different loading area to wait for the ride. For example for the Safari ride the ECVer and his whole family follow the regular line until near the end where they bring all of you to the side down a path to a separate loading area. There you park your ECV and wait on it until your car is ready to load. You then get off the ECV and onto the safari car. The best thing to do is ask at the ride entrance where you begin the queu what you should do and they will help you. Disney is absolutely amazing when it comes to making the experience magical for those with disabilities. Have a wonderful time!

 

[Scully12]

It depends what ride you are in line for and how many people are in your party. Some attractions you will go the same way as everyone else, others you will go a separate way. I'll use the Great Movie Ride as an example because I worked there...

The whole party goes in the regular line together and at a certain point another cast member will have the party go a separate way than the rest of the general people (here it is because the regular line zigzags and an ECV will get stuck). Then the group waits until they are loaded onto the ride. Very easy

The general rule of thumb is that if there are 6 or less people in the party then everyone goes together but if there are many more than that (like 10 or more) then the person in the ECV and another from the party can go the separate way while the rest of the arty follows the regular line. Everyone will still be loaded at the same time when the larger portion of the party reaches the loading point. They are acting as a place holder.

Of course this isn't true for all rides!

A couple things I'd keep in mind (because I've seen this happen many many times) is that if you are taken a way that the general public doesn't go this doesn't necessarily mean you will get on the ride any faster. Sometimes you still have to wait just as long.

When you are getting in lines it helps to have the person with the ECV at the front of the party. This way the cast members will know there is an ECV. SOO many times I've had groups walk right passed me and then the ECV is last. Then the whole party has to back track and it can get confusing...

Know how many people are getting in line each time! You will probably asked a lot how many people are in your party. This helps the cast member know what to do! So if you have this info up front it makes things a lot quicker instead of having to count heads each time!

I hope this helped!

 

[Debbie-TN]

You won't have any trouble with the rides. Like everyone has said, on most of the rides, the ECV goes in the regular line and then at a certain point the CM will tell you which way to go. In some of the shows they take the ECV's in first and you sit in the back. If all of your group can't fit in the back with you, they sit in the row in front of you. The one ride that is strange to get on to is Spaceship Earth. You have to enter at the side of Spaceship Earth where the handicap sign is. Go to where the people are exiting the ride. Check in with the CM there. When they're ready for you, they will take you up the exit ramp and load everyone there in the back. They can even stop the moving belt if you need more time to get in the car. Any time you're not sure where or how to load, the CM's will help you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

The majority of attraction lines in WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that a wheelchair or ECV will use the regular entrance and line all the way to either a show seating or ride load area. If a line is not mainstreamed there will be signs and/or Cast Members to direct you where to go.

If a show, normally there will be spaces to park a chair or ECV and there will be seats next to the space for other members of the group.

If a ride, usually you will have to transfer to a ride vehicle, although some rides will allow a person in a wheelchair to remain in their chair. If you have to transfer to a ride, and unload is not at the same location as load, your ECV will magically appear at the unload area.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Note that Post #2 discusses mobility and equipment. Post #3 had a wide variety of information and links; it might be a good idea to look at the various park "Guidebook For Persons With Disabilities" for more detailed information.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[newdeal]

Father had an ecv on our last trip. It was great to help carry cameras purses etc. If you plan to park hop you have to leave it behind and are not guarenteed another one at the new park but it was never a problem for us. If your dad is heavy be prepared to work hard getting onto the monorail it can be a tough push since you can't take the ecv just a regular chair. Some rides are equal wait for everyone. Some like Peter pan have a shorter wait for disabled people and some like kilimanjaro safari the wait is longer because you only get loaded into the front car. Some rides they will take you in a separate entrance but you still wait in the normal line like haunted mansion but you don't need to worry about it because there are always cast members there to guide you. Having an ecv is great it helps carry things (great if you pack alunch) and everything is easy I am not disabled but I took my dads for a little spin when he was having a mickey bar it was fun lol

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The lines for almost all attractions at WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that the queue is set up to allow wheelchairs and/or ECVs to go through the line just as a person without a mobility problem. As it was built prior to the ADA, the Magic Kingdom is most likely to have non-mainstreamed lines. Some attractions, such as Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion you will go part way throught the regular queue and then be diverted. Other attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain or SpaceShip Earth you will initially be directed to an accessible entrance.

All the theaters are set up with seats (usually in the back row) removed so a wheelchair or ECV can pull into a space and there will be regular seating on either side of the space for the others in the party.

Where there are quantity limits on space, or other limitation involving acessability, you may have to wait longer to see a show or ride an attraction than people without disabilities.

The normal (and official) response of Guest Relations to people with mobility and/or stamina issues is to recommend rental of a wheelchair or ECV. The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is intended for "invisible" disabilities not related to mobility or stamina. A wheelchair or ECV is sufficient to notify Cast Members of special assistance normally needed. However, if a person has other issues, such as auditory or visual, they would probably also need a GAC.

Note that a GAC is not intended to allow bypassing of lines, and it so states on the card itself. The only people who will get the special Front Of The Line GAC are where a terminal or midically fragile child is traveling on a trip from Make A Wish or similar foundation.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board.

 

[holz99]

Ok so my mom will be using an ECV when we go in December. She can walk for a bit but has knee issues (she needs double knee replacement but they want her to wait as long as possible) and just can't do very long distances or extended periods of standing.

If we are doing ITTBAB or another show or a ride with short wait time, is there somewhere that we can leave the ECV and they just walk in? I don't want us to be taking up the handicap row when they can walk in and someone else may need that row way more than we do. Plus, for things like ITTBAB, my mom wants to experience the full effect so she wants to sit in one of the regular seats.

My other concern is that when I talked to a CM recently about places to rent an ECV the CM told me that my mom should have her doctor write a generic note saying that she could not stand for long periods of time. She said that she would need to take it to Guest services at one of the parks and they would give us a pass. From reading on the boards, I'm assuming that would be a GAC. I've also seen here that we don't need that if we have an ECV because CMs will see the ECV and let us know what to do and most times we just go through the line. I understand all of this but why would a CM tell me that we needed to get the GAC? We are planning on doing what the CM said but I just wanted to see what your thoughts are. Please don't flame me for saying that we plan on doing what the CM said! TIA for your help!!!!!

 

[KPeveler]

The CM was wrong several times...

NO dr's note is needed to rent an ECV
NO dr's note is needed to get a GAC.
NO GAC is required to use an ECV.

If an ECV meets her needs, then she will not need a GAC. I am pretty sure that if you speak to a CM when you get to a show, tell them she will transfer, and they will have her park the ECV and sit in a regular seat.

She should keep the ECV until entering the theatre, because there is often a lot of standing involved in preshows/waiting areas, and I know that standing is worse for my knees than walking.

If she is going to walk sometimes and cannot walk on stairs, she can get a GAC to avoid stairs. This will not be needed if she plans on always using the ECV.

CMs in general will not look at a dr's note, and legally they are not allowed to ask for one.

 

[holz99]

The CM was wrong several times...

NO dr's note is needed to rent an ECV
NO dr's note is needed to get a GAC.
NO GAC is required to use an ECV.

If she is going to walk sometimes and cannot walk on stairs, she can get a GAC to avoid stairs. This will not be needed if she plans on always using the ECV.

CMs in general will not look at a dr's note, and legally they are not allowed to ask for one.

Well I guess the way I wrote it, it sounded like the CM said she needed a dr's note to rent an ECV and/or use it. That isn't what I meant. We know that anybody that wants to rent an ECV may do so and nothing is needed. The CM just stated that she should get the note and take it and get a pass (GAC). She didn't say that we had to have it or anything like that. She just suggested we get the note and get a pass. She said it didn't need to be specific, because it was none of their business why my mom needed it.

She will definitely need one to avoid stairs as that is one of the biggest issues she has. Thanks for the info!

 

[KPeveler]

If she remains in the ECV, she will be automatically rerouted around the stairs. I would not bother with a dr's note at all, since the CMs wont look at them. All she has to do is go in and explain her needs, and the CMs will do everything they can to help!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

The CM just stated that she should get the note and take it and get a pass (GAC). She didn't say that we had to have it or anything like that. She just suggested we get the note and get a pass. She said it didn't need to be specific, because it was none of their business why my mom needed it.

She will definitely need one to avoid stairs as that is one of the biggest issues she has. Thanks for the info!

Disney does not (and cannot) require a doctor's note to get a GAC. If she cannot do stairs but is planning on walking through the line on some attractions, it probably doesn't hurt for her to get a GAC saying she can't do stairs, but if she's always going to stay on the ECV or transfer to a wheelchair (for the places that's required) through the lines, you don't need to.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

And it is actually best to travel in the ECV all the way into the theater or to a ride load area in the ECV. For example, it is actually about a quarter mile both in and out from the parking area to the theaters for Soarin', and if you are going to ITTBAB at AK the line is very long and you don't exit the theater anywhere near the entrance (or stroller parking).

And the only reason a person with an ECV or wheelchair would need a GAC is if they have other needs, such as vision or audio related, in addition to the stamina/mobility problems which make a chair or ECV necessary.

And generally a doctor's note (a) tends to be useless, and (b) cannot be verified anyway.