Full time wheelchair user - what do we need to know?

[elmom]

We went to WDW 7 years ago and I have forgotten everything and I know some things have changed.

My husband is paralysed from chest down (complete, he can't walk or stand at all). We had pretty good luck last time with him being able to transfer onto rides (even some difficult ones, the CMs were great!). The worst part was people making rude comments about us getting to board the shuttles first. *sigh*.

But I don't know what we need to do. Do we need a special card? Does he need to get a doctors note? Waiting in line isn't a problem (well unless the line was on stairs), so I don't think we need a DAS.

What do we need to know/do? Has there been any changes in the past few years how they manage things? At times they would have us move up in the line or skip the line. But just as often we had to wait twice as long because there was only one car for disabled people.

 

[Bete]

More rides are such that you wait with the regular line, now. The ride queues are set up that way. I think in some ways it has gotten harder with a wheelchair. We tend to do more shows, parades, and fireworks than rides, now.

There are some rides where you can bring the wheelchair unto the ride like The Great Movie Ride, Universe of Energy, Toy Story Mania, and Jungle Cruise.

 

[elmom]

More rides are such that you wait with the regular line, now. The ride queues are set up that way. I think in some ways it has gotten harder with a wheelchair. We tend to do more shows, parades, and fireworks than rides, now.

There are some rides where you can bring the wheelchair unto the ride like The Great Movie Ride, Universe of Energy, Toy Story Mania, and Jungle Cruise.

Most rides we stood in line. There was only a few where we got moved up. And quite often we would wait in line and then have to wait one or two cycles for an accessible car to be available. Still, we got the stink eye a lot. People are jerks sometimes. The only real problem on rides was my 3 year old son REALLY wanted to ride the train around MK. So we got there. Waited 20 minutes (or what ever). Then a make a wish kid came right when the train arrived. They let him on and not us. So we waited. He was still on when it finally came back around and they still didn't get off. I was a bit annoyed. It threw off my plans for the entire day.

I do feel like the whole process is abused a lot, and that is why they have to make it harder for people with actual physical disabilities. I head from a friend who has a disability its kind of like the real world now...not fair or equal, but harder for those with disabilities.

I still hope we have a great time.

 

[Bete]

Make sure you do fastpass plus and get them ahead of time. If you stay on site you can do them 60 days ahead of time and 30 days ahead if you are offsite. Also, after you finish all 3 original fast passes you can sign up for a fourth right in the park at a kiosk or your smart device. Then you can do a fifth and so forth.

 

[gap2368]

you are right you do not need a DAS or any card for that matter at the line ask the CM what you need to do most are wheel chair assessable so you will not need to do much of anything just enjoy your trip ( Toy story ) has a track that will break off for wheel chair guest so you can take as long as you need to board although you might have to wait a very long time since there is only one assessable vehicle for the ride.

Bete is right get your FP as soon as you can they do heliport a lot

I know you did not mean it this way but I did take offense to you saying "and that is why they have to make it harder for people with actual physical disabilities." as I have a few non visible disabilities that I struggle with trumindisly every day I do not think one disability is worst then another as any one with a disability has very bad days and better days and sinner tries to help every one with disabilities be able to do things.

 

[elmom]

I know you did not mean it this way but I did take offense to you saying "and that is why they have to make it harder for people with actual physical disabilities." as I have a few non visible disabilities that I struggle with trumindisly every day I do not think one disability is worst then another as any one with a disability has very bad days and better days and sinner tries to help every one with disabilities be able to do things.

I also have non-visible disabilities, so do my kids. But I really do think that people take advantage of WDW's accessibility and now they are having to make it harder for people who otherwise can't participate in many, many, many activities in life. At WDW they could. Now...who knows. People are taking advantage of it. I am not saying you are. But I know it happens.

See, my husband is blocked from doing so many things on this planet because he can't walk. WDW was one of the places he could do most things. Even as a kid they used to go there and he could do everything with his family instead of sitting on the side lines. Thats all changing. And I don't think its right. Thats all.

 

[gap2368]

I know a lot of people go to disney and a lot of people go there that have disabilities since disney is so good st helping people with all disabilities some people that go need help just at the parks other like my self and your husband need help all the time there are a number of things that I would love to do but can't do because of my disabilities. I think your group will have a great time I have been with some one in a wheel chair and he can do very little even things he can take his wheel chair in he can not do ( either too noisy like the great move ride or moves too much like toy story) and he still has a great time. some rides will give you a return time to come back to ride so if you know what ones then you could get a return time and go to another ride near by and ride that one or do a show nit sure what your husband can do. also if you find your husband can not do things a one park he can still set up FP and you could use them to do a ride that way he is not waiting a lone for a long time

I think since they changed the system and have mainstreamed the lines and have the DAS for people that need it the wheel chair lines are not as bad ( I know small world use to be 3x longer now I only see no one or just one person there, ) yes toy story can be very long may be 10 minute longer ( but the last few times I went someone either infant of me or behind me was in a wheel chair and ever time but 1 I saw then go on the ride before I did and the one time they were first in line when I was loading.

I think you will still have a great trip just like you had lost time yes a lot of things have chanced at disney but I think it is for the better of all guest

 

[lanejudy]

Just a reminder that on the disABILITIES Forum we do not get into discussions or arguments of which disability is worse that another. No one person or disability is "more deserving" than anyone else.

Those who need an accessible ride vehicle do have to wait for said vehicle to cycle around. There is another current thread discussing that issue. It is not caused by others with invisible disabilities, it is due to the operational dynamics of the attraction. There is another current thread about how in-accessible are the rides at Universal vs how many attractions are accessible at WDW. Some with similar abilities yet different perspectives.

There is no perfect system. WDW has to manage the volume of guests, including those with and without various disabilities. Further discussion pitting one disability against another will result the thread being closed.

 

[gap2368]

I did not mean one disability is worst I was just trying to say that I think it is more streamed lined now I do not think that anyone would fake a disability and if they do then that is on them. I do think the OP and her husband will have a great time

 

[elmom]

Just a reminder that on the disABILITIES Forum we do not get into discussions or arguments of which disability is worse that another. No one person or disability is "more deserving" than anyone else.

Those who need an accessible ride vehicle do have to wait for said vehicle to cycle around. There is another current thread discussing that issue. It is not caused by others with invisible disabilities, it is due to the operational dynamics of the attraction. There is another current thread about how in-accessible are the rides at Universal vs how many attractions are accessible at WDW. Some with similar abilities yet different perspectives.

There is no perfect system. WDW has to manage the volume of guests, including those with and without various disabilities. Further discussion pitting one disability against another will result the thread being closed.

I also didn't mean to say anything is worse then anything else. I don't think that way. But after 16 years of traveling with my husband, the whole thing makes me stressed out and nervous.