Epcot jostle
Ellen's Energy Adventure: New rule only allows manual chairs
I've got a few comments because some things have changed recently or I have explantion to add.
For Ellen's Energy Adventure, the ride car is a 'moving theater' car; there are 2 sets of theater cars in the attraction for each show. There is a wheelchair spot at the back of the row of the back car of each set.
Because this attraction was made many years ago, the wheelchair space is small and the ramp (which folds out of the back of the car) is steep. Someone with a power wheelchair tipped on the ramp, so power wheelchairs were no longer allowed.
We don't have any recent reports of whether that has changed or not.
Turtle Talk with Crush:
There is a separate wheelchair line. It is to the left of the long line. You might be given a return time. A girl in a wheelchair was allowed to sit up front with the kids (towards the back) but the parent had to ask.
Turtle Talk recently moved to a new theater. There are many marked wheelchair spots and most are in the front. That is different than the 'old' theater, which had just a few spots.
The old theater had a sloped floor; the new one has a flat floor, but the bench seats have higher and higher legs as you go back in the theater.
When we went with DD in her manual wheelchair before the theater change, she was seated right behind the children at then end of a row (the children are all sitting on the floor). We didn't ask, that's just where they put her.
It did not appear that they have a separate wheelchair line, but DD with the wheelchair was not with the members of our party who went to EMH at Epcot the night we went to Turtle Talk. The reason for the separate wheelchair line in the old theater was that they had a very limited number of wheelchair spaces (we got a number once when all the spots were already taken when we came). It appears they have a lot of wheelchair spots now, so there might not be a need for a separate entrance.
Soarin':
Cast Members request that you park by the pole and walk (or are carried) the few feet to your seat. They will allow you to park right next to the seat and move your chair if you request it.
The 'pole parking' is mostly for people who can walk so that they don't have to take time moving the wheelchair after they got out.
We've ridden probably 20 times with DD. Once or twice, we've been asked to park by the pole. We said DD can't walk and the CM said 'park as close as you need to and we'll move the chair.' If my DH is putting DD in, he parks right in front of her seat about 4 feet away and lifts her in. If it's me, I park the wheelchair touching the seat and have her do an easy stand and pivot. We've found Soarin one of the easiest attractions to transfer DD to because the seat is chair height and you have a lot of open space so have room to position the wheelchair where it works best.
We don't ask, we just park the chair where we need it. DH or I go get it when the ride is finished (when the CM wheels it away, it is parked in the area between the sets of rows of ride cars). Some people have reported that the CM will get it, others have reported the CM didn't bring it. It's not been a problem for us to get it, but if it would be for someone, I'd suggest asking the CM when you board if he/she will bring it back to you.
Additional note: The attraction loads in 'shows' of many people at once. This means the line doesn't move at all for a while. As the CMs take people for the next preshow, the line suddently moves forward very fast while those people go thru. When they have enough for the next preshow, the line stops suddenly. The entrance path is long and has some fairly steep areas (up and down) whether you are using the regular line or the Fastpass line. It is wide, which is nice, but, if you have a manual wheelchair or an
ECV, plan that you will sometimes be parked on a slope.
Living with the Land:
Two wheelchair boats with one spot each. No FP needed-separate wheelchair entrance. You may be given a return time. We had a slight problem being allowed on this ride. At first the cast member said they only allowed Hoveraround chairs (???) but after my mom explained that experienced drivers of electric wheelchairs can make very tight turns, he let us on. You may have problems depending on the CM. Those who have problems using steps can walk down the ramp in the wheelchair boat.
The ramp is rather steep because it is short. It also has a sharp turn at the end. One of my DD's manual wheelchair tires actually was just on the edge of the ramp when she made her turn, so it is definately a tight boat.
Honey I Shrunk the Audience:
Separate wheelchair entrance-no FP needed. You will probably be given a return time. Unless you transfer to a seat, you will not get all the effects.
There is a limited number of wheelchair seats in the theater. We have not gone recently, but have always waited in the regular line until the line enters the building. At that point, there is a separate wheelchair area (so they can keep the wheelchairs together to enter the theater in the area where wheelchairs park.
It is listed in the current Disney Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities as a Mainstream attraction (which means that guests using wheelchairs and
ECVs wait in the same line with everyone else). Mainstream Attractions will usually not let someone using a wheelchair into the Fastpass line without a Fastpass or a specific GAC (Guest Assistance Card) that allows it.
It often has a long line early in the day, but by late afternoon (at least in our experience during Spring break) there is a very short line, so no need for Fastpass.
El Rio Del Tiempo (Mexico):
2 wheelchair boats-one spot per boat. The seats are pretty low if you transfer. There is a separate wheelchair entrance. But if you have trouble walking do NOT park your chair outside because you will not be allowed in the wheelchair entrance. We got separated from my Grandma this way. She was fine but walking the cue would have been bad for mom because the line is on a sloped surface. There is space to park about 4 chairs by the ride and you can transfer from that point.
When they recamped this attraction recently to a 3 Caballaros theme, they changed the wheelchair access.
Now, you enter the regular line with everyone else. The wheelchair entrance (which was using the exit) has been elimiated. If you go into the exit like you did before, you will be told you can't board there and will be sent back into the regular line. (Happened to us on our last trip).
The American Adventure:
You will be directed to seating in the very back unless you request the handful of seats up front (we sat in the back)
The floor is VERY steeply sloped.
When we first started coming to WDW with a wheelchair in 1988, we were able to sit in the front row a few times with DD. We have asked a few times since then and were told we could not because the slope to go down to the front is not a 'legal' slope for a wheelchair. The 'wheelchair lane' in the theater lobby is roped off so that you can only access the last few theater rows.
When you enter the building, you will enter a large rotunda area where a group of singers presents a show several times a day. There are some benches in the edges of the rotunda area. The usual access from the rotundo to get into the theater is up a very steep, long flight of stairs or escalator.
There is an elevator on your right as you first enter the building (It is cleverly disguised with paneling, so you may not see it). People using wheelchairs, ECVs or trouble climbing stairs will be sent up the elevator by a CM. You should come at least 15 minutes before the scheduled show time to allow enough time to be taken upstairs. If you are not taken up right away, stay in the general elevator area or the CM might not know you are there in order to take you up.
Fantasyland
“it’s a small world”:
2 wheelchair boats with spots each. Enter through the exit.
If you see a CM at the entrance, ask before entering thru the exit. (some will make you wait in the regular line until you reach the wheelchair 'pull off' point). The wheelchair lane is the right half of the exit ramp from the ride. Most of the time, no one will be in it, but you will encounter a 'stray' person here and there.
Adventureland
[Accessible stations for the railroad are Main Street, Mickey's Toontown, and Frontierland. Two wheelchair spots.
Toontown is the easiest to get on because it is level. The other spots include a long steep ramp to get to the second floor level where the train boards.
Wheelchairs and power wheelchairs can go on the train. ECVS can't; some small ECVs might be OK on an individual basis, but the WDW park rental ones and any oversize ones can't.
Star Tours:
There is a nonmotion ride available! I was thrilled to know this. There is a separate wheelchair entrance so no FP is needed.
The non-motion ride involves running one of the simulator theaters with only the movie, no motion. They may not have staff (or a theater) available to do this, especially when it is busy.
Ask the CM at the entrance; you may be given a 'come back' time when it would be available.
Star Tours is listed as a Mainstream Queue, so wheelchair users will usually be expected to wait in the regular line unless they have a Fastpass or a specific GAC that allows that. (It's possible that the OP was taken in a back way without a Fastpass because the CMs were able to do a non-motion ride for her family right then.)
Backlot Tour:
2 wheelchair spots...I don't know how many accessible trams there are. Mom walked up the ramp to transfer.
The front row of each tram has wheelchair spots.
During the walking part of the tour, keep to the right. The other rows have steps.
The waiting area for the show is a quite steep ramp and you may be waiting there for a while. The waiting area 'loads' people into a standing show area, so it's an attraction where you will be waiting in one spot on the ramped are without moving until the CM opens the show area for your tour to enter.
The Great Movie Ride
2 wheelchair trams with one spot each. I took off my footplates and extra bags and fit (barely) by backing in.
The very back row of each set of trams has a wheelchair spot. It is a tight fit though (and a sharp turn)
I had a hard time locating the Companion bathrooms. One of the best bathrooms (female) is the one located just outside the entrance to the park. The stall is as big as a companion restroom and has a sink. It's usually empty or has very few people.
There are not that many Companion Restrooms in the Studio, but most of the regular handicapped stalls are very large as the one described.
We can't use them because DD has too much trouble with all the noise and activity in the regular bathroom, but for someone who just needs the space for an assistant, the regualr restrooms may do nicely.
Kilimanjaro Safaris:
2 wheelchair vehicles with one spot each. I find it easier to back in.
Check with your wheelchair manufacturer/in the manual about backing. DD's old power wheelchair was a back wheel drive and was not a problem backing. Some midwheel drive wheelchairs have cautions on the instructions against backing up a ramp because the wheelchair may tip.
!! The wheelchair spots experience all the special effects!
