Is there any problems we should be aware of using a transport chair instead of a wheelchair?
If it's an adult transport chair, it should be recognized pretty readily as a wheelchair by CMs. If it's smaller, it might be looked at as some sort of stroller. If it looks more "stroller-ish", ask for a GAC that allows a stroller to be used as a wheelchair.
Even though we have the chair I would still like the GAC to assist in some areas to keep him away from the crowds while waiting for attractions.
When you go to request a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) at Guest Services, explain the difficulties you expect to see while waiting in crowds and ask for the ability to wait in a quieter spot. There are some rides where the set up of the attraction doesn't really allow that, but in many cases, you will usually be able to wait in a spot that is more appropriate to your needs.
Also thought it would be a benefit to allow us to sit at the end of a row during show so we can make a quick exit if necessary--is there a provision on the passes that would allow this?
If you are using a wheelchair, there are designated wheelchair spots. The movie type shows (Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Muppet 3D, American Adventure, Bug's Life, the movie in the Land, for example) have all the wheelchair seating in the back rows. There are exit doors on both sides in the rear of the theater and also usually along the sides. If you have a wheelchair, you usually have to park in one of the wheelchair spaces; not at the end of an aisle. That's for 2 reasons, first if in the aisle, the person in the wheelchair won't really have a good view of the action. Second, because it's dark, if you are parked in the aisle, people who don't know you are there and are trying to leave can bump into the wheelchair.
The CMs usually just make an announcement that the back rows are reserved for guests traveling in wheelchairs. They don't direct you to a seat. You could tell the CM that you would like to be in the wheelchair spot on the end of the row, but usually you just seat yourselves. If you are the last wheelchair party in, you will be close to the door where you came in and can exit there if you need to. If you are the first to go in, if you go all the way across to the other side of the theater, you will be closest to the doors that will be used by the whole group to exit.
If you are not using the wheelchair, just pick a line and move all the way to the end of the line. Almost all shows have people enter the show on one side and then exit on the other (that way, they can start bringing in the next audience as the first one is leaving). Most people don't like to sit all the way at the ends of rows - the "preferred" spots are in the middle of rows. If the show is totally full, it may be a bit more difficult to get spots at the end, but it's usually not at all a problem. If you don't want to be the first out, just wait until a row has filled a bit and then sit on the end of the row closest to where you came in. There is also usually the ability to exit if you need to from that side.
You don't need a card to do any of these things. You might want to ask the CM which way the back of the theater and where the exits will be compared to where you enter and then look for the lit up
EXIT signs once you are inside the theater.
I do know the wheelchair itself gives us access to seperate entrances etc but I am thinking of the accessible lines where he would be in close proximity to alot of people as well as the times when we will be without the chair. Since we have 2 weeks we will be making frequent short visits that I would like to do without the chair.
There are very few separate entrances for guests traveling with wheelchairs. In most cases, the lines are accessible, so there is no separate entrance. In some cases, the boarding area is not wheelchair accessible, so there is a pathway that goes to the exit for baording, but the "pull off point" is usually very close to where the normal boarding area is.
Another hint is to go early in the day if you can possibly do it. We can't get our DD ready in time to get to the park by 9 (10:30 is what we consider pretty early). But in March, during the busy Spring break time, my DH, older DD and my niece and nephew made it to MK before 9 and were able to go on many, many rides with hardly any wait and without even using fastpass. DH and I went back in July and did the smae thing. We got there a little after 9 and were able to go on all the Fantasyland attractions (except Dumbo, Carousel and Teacups), plus Pirates and Haunted Mansion with 15 minutes our longest wait.
You also might be pleasantly surprised. You are going at a time that is not historically busy, so you probably won't encounter long lines. Also, my nephew has ADD (I'm not sure what else his diagnosis includes, but it seems very similar to Aspergers). We were worried about how he would react waiting in lines, but he had very little problem. We found that the rides/attactions he had the most problem waiting in line for were the ones he was not real keen on going on. Some of the ones he wanted to go on had longer lines, but because his motivation was wanting to go on very badly, his ability to wait in those lines was much better.
