GAC for use on mild rides?

[Nennie]

Hello All!

We are going to WDW next month and taking both sets of parents. We want to make this trip as magical as possible for them!!

Now for the question. My FIL has had multiple surgeries and walks with a cane. He's not capable of going on the thrill rides, or spinning-type rides, and he would be just as content to sit on a bench and people watch while the rest of us do those kind of rides.

I know he would like POTC, and some of the mild rides over at EPCOT, like Spaceship Earth, etc. He can't do steps too well, but to my recollection those rides don't have steps anyway.

Would a GAC help him not have to stand in line for those few rides? I know those rides don't have FP, so I wasn't sure. If the GAC won't help him for those rides, I probably won't even mention it to him as an option (as he's sensitive to the fact that he doesn't get around too well, and I wouldn't want him to think that we think he's slowing us down).

Also, we are going in September, so I'm thinking lines for those rides might be short anyway.

Thoughts?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Schmeck]

Yes, a GAC can help for those instances, but you might try to talk him into getting an ECV - there's so much walking (and standing) that doesn't involve attractions, and if he can't find an available bench (empty benches can be very hard to find) what would he do?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

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. Post #2 concerns mobility and Post #6 discussdes the GAC.

Also, the official accommodation for mobility/stamina issues is the recommendation that the Guest rent a wheelchair or ECV. Many of us here agree with that, as the average normal (whatever that is) person tends to walk 8-12 miles per day at WDW.

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

 

[Mary976]

One suggestion that comes to mind...would one of those little chairs that you carry like a cane work? I forget what they are called, but someone here should know. Basically it looks like a cane or umbrella and it folds into a small seat. The GAC could help you bypass stairs if there are any, but it's not intended to shorten the wait in line. You're right that lines should be less that time of year, plus many of the tamer rides and shows have shorter lines as it is.

Good luck!
Mary

 

[Libbyt]

I remember specifically from last week that Spaceship Earth had a bench seating area for the folks with GAC's to wait, then they took them in groups up a fairly steep ramp (the ride exit) to board the cars. There are steps as you get to the boarding area of POTC, but there is also an elevator - saw it as we exited. Every attraction is very different in how you will have to approach it, board, exit, etc. Toy Story Mania had a lot of steps, but we were able to do that - although they must have had wheelchair access somehow, I just didn't see it. If you explain specifically what your FIL's requirements are, I guarantee they will accommodate him as best they can at each attraction!

 

[Nennie]

Thanks so much everyone for all of the info and advice!!!

I don't know if he'd do well with an ECV, and I thought about renting a wheelchair, but I don't think he'd be too happy about that. I think maybe we'll play it day by day, and if he sees that's it's too much for him, then perhaps he'll let us push him in a wheelchair.

The bench for him to sit and wait at Spaceship Earth is exactly the kind of info I was hoping for! Thanks so much!!

Now, if he can wait on a bench, do we just go in the regular line and tell them when we get to the front that we have one person on the GAC bench or whatever? Just want to make sure he can still ride with us, and not by himself.

If that's the case, I think I'm leaning towards getting him a GAC at the beginning, and then if it gets to be too much walking perhaps convincing him to do the wheelchair. I just don't want him feeling like he has to go back to the resort, I want him to have fun!!

Thanks again!!

 

[SueM in MN]

If he has a wheelchair or ECV, there is no need for a GAC unless he has needs other than being able to bring it in line.
Officially, with a cane a GAC is not needed to use the wheelchair accessible entrances (which avoid steps and allow boarding at a place where the moving walkway can be stopped for attractions with moving walkways).
Even with a GAC that specifies person needs a place to sit, that is not always available, so it's best to bring your 'seat' along with you.

For Spaceship Earth, you will find pictures and complete informationnin the Epcot FAQs thread stuck near the top of this board.

For Pirates, there are no steps in the entire attraction/queue. There is aoving ramp (think escalator with no steps) but you can avoid that by using the elevator that is down a hallway to the left of the moving walkway. The bigger problem for Pirates is getting in and out. The boat is very low and he may not be able to get down to get in and/ or pull himself up at the entrance to get out.

 

[Libbyt]

We had a hard time finding a cast member at the entrance to Spaceship Earth......walking toward the ride, go around to the right side. There's an elevated walkway of some sort along the side, with a rail......at the end of that, you'll see the handicapped entrance. Go in and around to your left and you'll see where people are exiting the ride; there is where they sort of "corral" people who are waiting to enter - they take them in small groups - should be a couple of cast members there. You still have to go up a ramp to get to the loading area.

I swear I thought there were steps at the end of POTC, because as you come around a curve in the walkway, you look down at the loading docks......maybe it's just a steep ramp, but I thought I remembered stairs. BUT there is also the elevator that goes up into the gift shop - I guess that's where you would enter to ride it down? The moving walkway exit is quite steep, so the elevator may be best if your IL's are less stable on their feet!

 

[Schmeck]

I swear I thought there were steps at the end of POTC, because as you come around a curve in the walkway, you look down at the loading docks......maybe it's just a steep ramp, but I thought I remembered stairs. BUT there is also the elevator that goes up into the gift shop - I guess that's where you would enter to ride it down? The moving walkway exit is quite steep, so the elevator may be best if your IL's are less stable on their feet!

Since the boats on POTC go through a very low (no head room at all) tunnel between the exit area (where the elevator is) and the boarding area, no, you can't go down the elevator to board.

 

[SueM in MN]

We had a hard time finding a cast member at the entrance to Spaceship Earth......walking toward the ride, go around to the right side. There's an elevated walkway of some sort along the side, with a rail......at the end of that, you'll see the handicapped entrance. Go in and around to your left and you'll see where people are exiting the ride; there is where they sort of "corral" people who are waiting to enter - they take them in small groups - should be a couple of cast members there. You still have to go up a ramp to get to the loading area.

I swear I thought there were steps at the end of POTC, because as you come around a curve in the walkway, you look down at the loading docks......maybe it's just a steep ramp, but I thought I remembered stairs. BUT there is also the elevator that goes up into the gift shop - I guess that's where you would enter to ride it down? The moving walkway exit is quite steep, so the elevator may be best if your IL's are less stable on their feet!

no steps at Pirates at MK.
As was mentioned, it's not possible to get on at the exit because of low clearance after guests get off the boats.
Might you be thinking of Disneyland?
At WDW, there are no steps to enter the attraction. There are some long ramped walkways on the way to the boarding area.
At the unloading area, the moving ramp does take you up into the gift shop. The elevator delivers you to a semi-backstage area just behind and beyond the restrooms that are at the far end of the gift shop. It is a little disorienting when you get off there, but just follow the path and you will find yourself in the restroom area on the end of the 'road ' that eventually leads past Splash Mountain or you can turn and go back past the POC gift shop.

The boats come to a full stop for loading and unloading, but they are not that easy to get in and out of. You have to step over the side of the boat and then down into the boat seat. Then step down again to get your feet into the foot area. On the way out, you reverse the process. I have some pictures of the boat, the boarding and unload areas. I'll try to post them tonight.

 

[SueM in MN]

One more point, at the time you are going, you should not have lines for many attractions. We have been to WDW many times in Sept/Oct and most of the types of rides you are talking about will have a very minimal wait (POC was walk right on when we were there last October and they were actually sending some boats out empty or half full because they have to keep the line of boats going thru.

Also, keep in mind that using a GAC does not usually shorten the distance walked. I don't think anyone has measured the distance for POC, but someone has for Soarin' and the distance 'feels' roughly similar to me. In both Soarin' and POC, you would have to travel the same distance to get from the entrance to the actual boarding area. At Soarin' the distance has been measured at 1/4 mile.

If he won't do a wheelchair or ECV, you might want to look at something called a rollator for him. It's a walker that has wheels and a seat that can be used if the person becomes tired or needs a place to sit down for a few minutes. Those are very popular and you will see lots at WDW because they are very useful. They range in price from under $100 to about $600. You might see if a place close to home rents them so he can give it a try and you could use it for the trip. If you bring one and are flying, it will be transported free of charge by the airline.

 

[Libbyt]

Pirates' line does move very quickly.......even last week, when crowds were fairly heavy, it was only a 5 min. or so wait. Somehow the length of the pre-show area doesn't seem as long, I guess because of the twists and turns and little vignettes with pirate skeletons along the way, but OMG the entrance to Soarin was ENDLESS - that night I was feeling ill and I thought we were NEVER going to get up to the actual ride! ACK!