GAC Lupus and I don't want a wheelchair help

[SueM in MN]

Thanks so much for the wonderful responses. they were very helpful

I am sorry if I misinterpreted some wheelchair comments, I just know my body and conditions and knew it wouldn't work out.. even pushing it that is one more thing i have to worry about but your comments had made me possibly rethink them. This is a last minute trip and so if i had more time i would try and get an rx beforehand for one.. but the cost of rental plus deposit ( if they would put a hold on my card) would severely deplete our "fun" money for our daughter during our visit. and i would feel guilty for that.
none the less i will try and possibly work something out since many of you with chronic illnesses think it is worth it. I do absolutely appreciate all those of you who wrote about your experiences and I will happily re post after my trip to let you and others know if it helped. A big hug and Thanks

and No i do not want to expedite my time in line, my comment there was more a frustration comment because I thought there were constant reminders about it. that is all, my bad, shouldn't have snarkly remarked don't know why i even went there lol.

Just one less thing to worry about - you don’t need a prescription to rent a wheelchair.
They can be rented at the parks or from off-site places. For Disneyland, you will find information about about renting wheelchairs and ECVs in post #14 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. (For those going to WDW, the information is in post 2). You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

Depending on your insurance, you might be able to get insurance to cover the cost; for that, you would need a prescription and enough justification from your doctor to satisfy your insurance company, so getting those is not a guarantee that the insurance company would pay for it. Plus, you would need to have met any deductible.

 

[KPeveler]

You should know that unlike WDW, I am pretty sure that DL does not have a stamp for avoiding sun exposure. The wheelchair/GAC entrances are often outdoors in full sun. Come to think of it, most of the regular lines are in the sun at least part of the way. I would definitely make sure you have LOTS of sunscreen and clothing covering all of you, because there is no way to avoid waiting in sun in Disneyland. Trust me, I have tried it.

I suggest lots of park touring in the mornings and evenings, and enjoy the afternoons either at a pool or in a hotel room napping. As another option, I would try figuring out what lines are mostly indoors or covered (a lot of the Mansion queue, the Pooh Bear queue, some of Buzz Lightyear, some of fantasyland) and do those then.

I suggest Muppets, the Aladdin show (you have to wait outside but a lot of it is in the shade), the Animation building (it is often overlooked but it is awesome! Lots of interactive things to do), Great Moments with Mr Lincoln, Capt Eo, and Innoventions for when you need an air conditioned break.

You can also ride the monorail in circles, or catch a movie in DTD.

I use all of these (and I use a wheelchair AND a GAC) as a way to take a break when things get bad.

 

[bookwormde]

While a wheelchair is the "standard" method of addressing mobility needs, if this accomidation does not work overall to give you equal access then disney must allow other reasonable accommodations. If that means an alternate waiting area where you can vary betwen standing and sitting and it is parctical for disney to do then yes they should allow it. Those providing accomidations can not dictate a specific accomodation for all in a disability class since for a small subset it may not meet the ADA standard.

Hope that helps a little, although you may have to ask for a manager when you get you GAC since this is not the "standard"

bookwormde

 

[livndisney]

While a wheelchair is the "standard" method of addressing mobility needs, if this accomidation does not work overall to give you equal access then disney must allow other reasonable accommodations. If that means an alternate waiting area where you can vary betwen standing and sitting and it is parctical for disney to do then yes they should allow it. Those providing accomidations can not dictate a specific accomodation for all in a disability class since for a small subset it may not meet the ADA standard.

Hope that helps a little, although you may have to ask for a manager when you get you GAC since this is not the "standard"

bookwormde

And Disney cannot provide what it does not have. Disney cannot suddenly create an alternate waiting area for one guest. Accomidations must be reasonable.

 

[Singledad]

And Disney cannot provide what it does not have. Disney cannot suddenly create an alternate waiting area for one guest. Accomidations must be reasonable.

Which is EXACTLY what she said.

"allow other reasonable accommodations."

and
" and it is parctical for disney to do" both show what you stated. just saying..

 

[KPeveler]

While a wheelchair is the "standard" method of addressing mobility needs, if this accomidation does not work overall to give you equal access then disney must allow other reasonable accommodations. If that means an alternate waiting area where you can vary betwen standing and sitting and it is parctical for disney to do then yes they should allow it. Those providing accomidations can not dictate a specific accomodation for all in a disability class since for a small subset it may not meet the ADA standard.

Hope that helps a little, although you may have to ask for a manager when you get you GAC since this is not the "standard"

bookwormde

Speaking from DL experience, I can only think of two attractions where this is possible, one in each park. Some of the rides are built in such a way that there is no alternate entrance.

The only way to alternate standing and sitting would be if you brought a wheelchair with you, to provide a place to sit.

 

[bookwormde]

I do not know much about DL, but informal accommodations are very often easily done and the CMs are great at it. We have experainced the "infomal wating area" and a "wave over to enter" several times ourselves.

There are certainly some situations where a WC is the only viable option, but it can not be mandated by disney to be the only way in all situations.

bookwormde

 

[livndisney]

Speaking from DL experience, I can only think of two attractions where this is possible, one in each park. Some of the rides are built in such a way that there is no alternate entrance.

The only way to alternate standing and sitting would be if you brought a wheelchair with you, to provide a place to sit.

Just saw someone do this today in Epcot. She pushed the wheelchair for a bit and then sat in it when she needed to. Very easy way to have your needs met.

 

[KPeveler]

Just saw someone do this today in Epcot. She pushed the wheelchair for a bit and then sat in it when she needed to. Very easy way to have your needs met.

I was in DL for 1 hr last night, and I saw three different people doing this.

DL is very different from WDW, and there is very little land. As a result, queues are tight and there is very little room to move. CMs, I have discovered, are very willing to listen, but also are more likely to stick to policy than a lot of WDW CMs I have encountered. I rarely see them allow any exceptions for the max party size of 6, for example. the only time I have seen it was when the family was made of two adults and about 6 children.

It is also important to know that most FP lines are not accessible in DL, so getting Fastpasses for things like BTMRR and Space Mt will not help unless you plan on using the main entrances (which have stairs)