Handicap viewing for fireworks/DAS

[BethanyMouse]

We are traveling to WDW this summer. We are annual visitors. Our trip is a little different this year because the past two years have been hard on my dad. He is in his mid 70's, has undergone 4 kidney operations, and 3 invasive spine operations- all within 2 years. He may be using an ECV but at this point he is insisting on trying without one. We may be looking into the DAS for him because he cant be in the heat for long with his medications and the kidney issues bring about their own concerns. This is above and beyond the mobility issues that I know will impact him. Either way, he just received a handicap pass from his doctor after me pleading with him for months for his safety.

I am concerned about the fireworks viewing for him. I know how crowded it can be hours before it begins, there are no seats, and a lot of pushing. Can someone recommend a place for us to watch the fireworks? We are traveling as a family of 6 (4 adults, 2 small children). Is there a handicap area?

I am grateful for any advice you can offer about the DAS and this specific questions. We have never had to utilize this service before and I feel overwhelmed by it all. As his main caregiver, I feel like it is my responsibility to be the most educated on our options.

 

[DisneyOma]

Ask him if he can walk 8 miles a day in the heat. Ask him if he wants to make the trip special for the kids, or have everyone worrying about him walking around. There's very sparse seating at WDW, so if he needs to sit, he needs to bring a place to sit, like an ECV, wheelchair, or rollator. There are handicap areas for fireworks, but no seating there as it is for people using wheelchairs, etc.

ETA: most of the queues are shaded, have fans, or are interior with AC. I found it harder to find places to wait out of the heat when I wasn't in a queue.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We are traveling to WDW this summer. We are annual visitors. Our trip is a little different this year because the past two years have been hard on my dad. He is in his mid 70's, has undergone 4 kidney operations, and 3 invasive spine operations- all within 2 years. He may be using an ECV but at this point he is insisting on trying without one. We may be looking into the DAS for him because he cant be in the heat for long with his medications and the kidney issues bring about their own concerns. This is above and beyond the mobility issues that I know will impact him. Either way, he just received a handicap pass from his doctor after me pleading with him for months for his safety.

I am concerned about the fireworks viewing for him. I know how crowded it can be hours before it begins, there are no seats, and a lot of pushing. Can someone recommend a place for us to watch the fireworks? We are traveling as a family of 6 (4 adults, 2 small children). Is there a handicap area?

I am grateful for any advice you can offer about the DAS and this specific questions. We have never had to utilize this service before and I feel overwhelmed by it all. As his main caregiver, I feel like it is my responsibility to be the most educated on our options.

the one thing to remember about DAS is why he can not be in line and not mobility. a doctor note will not be looked at. I do not use an EVC in normal life but use one at Disney. and a plus is I always have a seat to rest as benches are hard to find. and EVC can go in lines for rides and shows so you can rest. I would rent one off site and have one of other adults drive it to park first day. park it in stroller parking until it is needed. because at that time of day only wheelchairs will be available in parks. and with you party do you have someone who could push? unlike strollers ECVs/wheelchairs are allowed in lines. the few that ECVs can not go have wheelchairs to use at that ride, Pirates comes to mind. if there would be a handicapped viewing area only dad and one other person allowed because of room.

 

[tetera]

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[Her Dotness]

Another good place to watch fireworks is from Geyser Point open-air lounge at Ft. Wilderness.

It's near the lagoon and has comfy chairs and good food besides.

There'll be people standing at water's edge, but the fireworks view is still fine from the tables. Usually a nice breeze off the lake, too.

 

[SueM in MN]

Be more specific than asking if he can walk 8 miles a day - people can’t visualize that and often think they can do it. Think of a familiar place he goes fairly to fairly often that is 4-5 miles away from his home and ask if he could walk there. If he says he thinks he could, ask if he could walk there AND back home. Likely, at that point, he’ll look at you like you are crazy and agree that‘s not possible and wonder why you asked. At that point, tell him the average guest walks 8-10 miles per day at WDW.
If he’s familiar with EPCOT, you can point out that just walking around the World Showcase path along the water is 1 mile and includes walking up and down some steep hills.

As for DAS, the first post in this thread has all the details of how it works.
The quick summary is:
- guests can register for DAS by video chat or in a theme park on the day of visit. Video chat can be done within a window of 30 days to 2 days before the first park visit. Be ready to discuss (briefly) concerns with waiting in the regular line.
- guests doing video chat can register ahead of time for 2 DAS Advance Selections (DAS AS). Attractions and times are limited. DAS AS have a 1 hour window for use and are separate from any DAS Return Times obtained in the park
- DAS Return Times can be obtained in the My Disney Experience app, by a CM at the attraction or st Guest Services/Guest Experience umbrellas. DAS Return Times are based on the current wait in the Standby Line and don’t expire. Guests can only hold one active DAS Return Time at a time.
- DAS AS and DAS Return Times can only be used for attractions the DAS registered guest is going on. The DAS user scans first at the Lightning Lane, the CM verifies and then clears the rest of the party to enter.
- even when using DAS, waits in line can still be up to 20-30 minutes with no place to sit unless using a mobility device

 

[Baytothemax]

If he was using the scooter, he’d have seat and could go into the wheelchair section that’s roped off in front of the hub grass. They line people up so those in wc/ecv can see while seated. It does fill up and is first come first serve, so you do need to plan for that. And with crowds you’ll be stuck in there for a bit afterwards. The alternate locations are great to avoid that sea of people

One thing you can let your dad know is you can always park the ecv with the strollers and walk when he wants. It’s actually easier if he has ability to walk away from it to go into stores & restaurants. Plus he can help you all out carrying the book bag and other things. Make him know it’s a benefit he’s using it, not a detriment

 

[tetera]

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[SteveMouse]

Disney often, at least at Epcot, limits admission to the wheelchair/ECV areas for fireworks to the user of the wheels and one or two companions. We dont have children of our own, but always try to make sure a child under 6 or 7 is invited to stand or sit in front of me (Im the wheel user). They get a great view and it doesn‘t interfere with me at all. we usually have something that glows with us to give as an extra bit of fairy dust- glow in the dark bracelets or rings or something.

 

[Her Dotness]

Geyser Point IS another great place from which to watch the fireworks (and the Electrical Water Pageant) - but just a note that it is at Wilderness Lodge, not Fort Wilderness (a lot of people, including Disney CMs, get these confused - WDW really should have chosen a different name for Wilderness Lodge)!

DUH! Thanks much for the correction.

I was clearly not functional when I posted that.

:::: shaking head while muttering, "I said it was at FtW? I needed lots more coffee!" ::::

 

[elaine amj]

MK has a fireworks viewing spot and so does Epcot. Epcot’s wheelchair viewing area in particular is a very prime location. They were adamant none of our party could sit on the ground in front of the wheelchair user - we had to sit behind them. Even a while before the fireworks when we were gathered around munching on some snacks from Food and Wine. That trip was with our family of 5 including one wheelchair user.

We have not been going there lately as we are usually in a different area of the park so have only watched Harmonious from that one time.

For MK - we have stuck to staking out our preferred spot next to a garden fence so that we have fresh air and are not hemmed in on all sides. Haven’t tried the wheelchair spot yet although considering it on next trip.

Does anyone know how they arrange people in the wheelchair viewing area in MK?

 

[ttintagel]

In my experience, the number of people allowed in the area with the wheelchair/ECV user will vary some, depending on the general crowd level that night. To be safe, I wouldn't go into it counting on being able to bring a certain number of people in.

 

[sarabguerra]

Does anyone know how they arrange people in the wheelchair viewing area in MK?

I'm sure others will have more to add. Last year we only stayed for the lighting of the castle and left, but they had already filled up the majority of the space. There were 3 or 4 "rows" and it appeared that there were whole parties with each guest. DX was in her chair and our other 2 children have DAS passes for other reasons, but they didn't ask us for anything. They just asked us how many and let us all through. I think DS might have had his noise-canceling headphones on at that point. There were CMs walking groups to the spots they wanted them to stand in. The CMs did ask us to have the kids stand 3 across and parents stand behind them. We were in a "middle row" one row back from the fence with 2 rows of groups behind us. They put us near the entrance/exit since we told them we were only staying for the castle lighting.

 

[gap2368]

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Does anyone know how they arrange people in the wheelchair viewing area in MK?

when I have done this witch is quite a few times. there are 3 rows the first row is behind a small wall the second row is about 2 or 3 feet back behind a creak on the ground and the 3 is for people that have no mobility devices ( just DAS) against the fence your group stands behind/beside incase of the back row of the person needing assistance

 

[KMP12]

Our son uses a wheelchair and MK allowed up to 6 people in the fireworks viewing area last February. I'd get