Handicapped seating for Fantasmic

[es45]

Reading other threads about the availability of handicapped seating for Fantasmic makes me think I shouldn't keep our dinner package for that evening. Am I reading correctly that we should be able to get seating for my mother, who is in a wheelchair and the rest of our party (5 others) then sit on a row nearby? We are also traveling with my MIL who has difficulty climbing steps. Should I keep the package, or is there ample wheelchair seating?

 

[Phatoomch]

When we did it, it was my Mum and 4 others, total party 5 and we sat together. However, I wasn't too impressed with the seating - it was right over to the side. It may be different when you go not sure.

The real benefit of having the F! package is you do not have to line up for (up to) two hours, depending on what time of year you are going.

 

[elphie101]

Last year I went to Fantasmic a couple days before New Years (the 28th or 29th) with a friend of mine who was using one of those knee rests on wheels for his injured foot. We showed up maybe 15 minutes beforehand and were seated towards the back of the Witch section (the far right side of the audience), and the CMs were also able to squeeze in another family or two. I can't remember whether this was the first or second show of the night.

I'm not sure if there's other handicap seating available (something tells me there's a couple other sections, though I can't quite remember for sure) but I just wanted to give you my experience - if you're going to be using the handicap seating anyway, I wouldn't think a F! dining reservation was necessary.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The last three rows of the F! theater are reserved for people with disabilities. In the last row there are spaces for two wheelchairs or ECVs next to each other, and then seating for two people on either side. If the party is larger, they will sit in the first or second row down from the top, depending an party size, so all members of the party are together.

And the top row has no steps.

 

[Robo]

The last three rows of the F! theater are reserved for people with disabilities. In the last row there are spaces for two wheelchairs or ECVs next to each other, and then seating for two people on either side. If the party is larger, they will sit in the first or second row down from the top, depending an party size, so all members of the party are together.

And the top row has no steps.

 

[catne]

in answer to your question about timing: you do not have to show up 2 hours early in a wheelchair/ECV. I would show up about 1/2 hour before show to have some choice of where you're seated, but as you can see from Robo's map, all the handicapped seating is at the top.

We were there in mid-May, and I was using an ECV. We did have the Fantasmic seating so daughter & her friend chose to sit lower (not in handicapped seating area with us so they used the F! seating pass to sit about 1/2 way down.) I was parked in one of the ECV/Chair spaces, and hubby was on bench seat next to me. We noticed that the castmembers in charge of that area did not allow anyone (general public) to sit in the handicapped row or the handicapped family row directly in front of it (so basically the top 2 rows) They only allowed family members of handicapped people in the family row...kicked people out over & over before show started...actually had the aisles blocked with a rope, and stopped people from climbing down the benches to get to the seats, too. Even 10 minutes after the show started, people from the standing room only section kept trying to come down & sit in the handicapped area and the castmembers would not let them in (must have heard them tell people 50 times "sorry, this is reserved for handicapped and families." One guy even stood there and argued that obviously no one was using the seats, so why not. Several other castmembers had to join the one that was talking to the guy to get him to back down.) So, anyway, looked like you don't have to show up way early to get the handicapped seating. I suppose there may be times of the year that it is spectacularly busy and maybe all the handicapped areas are taken. But in May, the theater was full, the standing room only was mostly full...but only about 1/2 of the mid to far-right handicapped rows were filled 10 minutes into the show (and no one else showed up late to that area that I could see.)

 

[minnie mum]

Robos map and Cheshire Figments post show the location of the handicapped seating beautifully. DH and I have used both the reserved handicapped seating and the non-reserved. We still prefer the F. package seating in order to avoid the long wait in line.

Please note the relatively limited number of seats for handicapped visitors and their families. They can fill up fast from what we have seen in the past. If you give up your F. package, and don't want to be disappointed by finding no available handicapped seating, be prepared to get in line early. Our experience appears to be quite different from the PPs.

 

[es45]

Thanks, everyone!

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

in answer to your question about timing: you do not have to show up 2 hours early in a wheelchair/ECV. I would show up about 1/2 hour before show to have some choice of where you're seated, but as you can see from Robo's map, all the handicapped seating is at the top.

We were there in mid-May, and I was using an ECV. We did have the Fantasmic seating so daughter & her friend chose to sit lower (not in handicapped seating area with us so they used the F! seating pass to sit about 1/2 way down.) I was parked in one of the ECV/Chair spaces, and hubby was on bench seat next to me. We noticed that the castmembers in charge of that area did not allow anyone (general public) to sit in the handicapped row or the handicapped family row directly in front of it (so basically the top 2 rows) They only allowed family members of handicapped people in the family row...kicked people out over & over before show started...actually had the aisles blocked with a rope, and stopped people from climbing down the benches to get to the seats, too. Even 10 minutes after the show started, people from the standing room only section kept trying to come down & sit in the handicapped area and the castmembers would not let them in (must have heard them tell people 50 times "sorry, this is reserved for handicapped and families." One guy even stood there and argued that obviously no one was using the seats, so why not. Several other castmembers had to join the one that was talking to the guy to get him to back down.) So, anyway, looked like you don't have to show up way early to get the handicapped seating. I suppose there may be times of the year that it is spectacularly busy and maybe all the handicapped areas are taken. But in May, the theater was full, the standing room only was mostly full...but only about 1/2 of the mid to far-right handicapped rows were filled 10 minutes into the show (and no one else showed up late to that area that I could see.)

The reason why CM's are required to save the rows for parties traveling with a wheelchair is because of the ADA. The American Disability Act requires that these seats be saved for guests requiring special assistance, and may not be taken up by any other guest, even if the show has started.

Would you park in a handicap spot in a parking lot because no one is using it?

Orange County Sheriff's and Fire Marshall's are at Fantasmic a lot, and because of this ADA requirement, they are able to issue tickets for these infractions if the guest does not listen to the Cast. This is also true of the Reflective Captioning Area

 

[Schmeck]

The reason why CM's are required to save the rows for parties traveling with a wheelchair is because of the ADA. The American Disability Act requires that these seats be saved for guests requiring special assistance, and may not be taken up by any other guest, even if the show has started.

Would you park in a handicap spot in a parking lot because no one is using it?

Orange County Sheriff's and Fire Marshall's are at Fantasmic a lot, and because of this ADA requirement, they are able to issue tickets for these infractions if the guest does not listen to the Cast. This is also true of the Reflective Captioning Area

Show me the ADA proof that anyone has to leave empty seats during a show. We are not talking about a placard-required parking spot. We are talking about a section of seating accessible to those with ambulatory devices. It's a completely different set of regulations.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The reason why CM's are required to save the rows for parties traveling with a wheelchair is because of the ADA. The American Disability Act requires that these seats be saved for guests requiring special assistance, and may not be taken up by any other guest, even if the show has started.

Not correct. I think it may be a management problem.

Several years ago I worked at Indiana Jones, and when show time came, especially if we were in a standing room situation, we would take down the ropes for the disabled-reserved seats and open them to everyone.

 

[jenfromjersey]

Show me the ADA proof that anyone has to leave empty seats during a show. We are not talking about a placard-required parking spot. We are talking about a section of seating accessible to those with ambulatory devices. It's a completely different set of regulations.

Yeah, I agree with Schmeck. They have to hold it for a specific amount of time, but then they can fill them, which is why day of is when arenas and theaters sell accessible seats that have not been purchased by those needing assistance.

 

[buzzCMlightyear]

Not correct. I think it may be a management problem.

Several years ago I worked at Indiana Jones, and when show time came, especially if we were in a standing room situation, we would take down the ropes for the disabled-reserved seats and open them to everyone.

I don't see how it is a management problem at all. I can tell you even at Epic now the seats do not get filled in.

Yeah, I agree with Schmeck. They have to hold it for a specific amount of time, but then they can fill them, which is why day of is when arenas and theaters sell accessible seats that have not been purchased by those needing assistance.

Selling accessible seats is a little different then not knowing how many or when parties with a wheelchair are going to show up. Many times in these theaters people have been sat in handicapped seating and then certain parties must be turned away later because they don't have a place to go since there reserved seats had been taken. Turning no one away is the ultimate goal.

 

[Schmeck]

I don't see how it is a management problem at all. I can tell you even at Epic now the seats do not get filled in.



Selling accessible seats is a little different then not knowing how many or when parties with a wheelchair are going to show up. Many times in these theaters people have been sat in handicapped seating and then certain parties must be turned away later because they don't have a place to go since there reserved seats had been taken. Turning no one away is the ultimate goal.

You are turning away people when you do not allow access to empty seats. Coming in after a show starts is not a valid excuse to save seats for the disabled. If anyone needs a seat, they should be there before the show starts. Why would one group of people be given the right to have empty seats left for an entire show, when they could be used by others? That would be a violation of ADA section 12182 (b)(1)(A)(ii). Being turned away later is not a valid excuse to keep the seats open either.

Still waiting to see the proof behind your opinion.

 

[minnie mum]

Just wanted to note that on our last time at F. we were seated in the reserved handicapped seating in Witch section. There was one empty spot for a wheelchair and an empty small bench beside it that was next to us. It was SRO that night and the gates were closed to capacity. The CMs repeatedly turned guests away who attempted to use the empty bench. I'm not speculating or giving an opinion as to the reason for this- just making an observation.

 

[penny28380]

When I was there in May, I had a choice of front row or back row. She was seating me at the back. I told my adult kids to find a closer seat. The CM then told me that she could seat me on the front row but that I might get wet. She took me to the left of the seats and there was a curvy path we went down. I sat on the front row in my wheelchair and I could feel the mist from the show.

 

[joelkfla]

When I was there in May, I had a choice of front row or back row. She was seating me at the back. I told my adult kids to find a closer seat. The CM then told me that she could seat me on the front row but that I might get wet. She took me to the left of the seats and there was a curvy path we went down. I sat on the front row in my wheelchair and I could feel the mist from the show.

Yes, there are wheelchair spaces in the very front row, as well.

I don't think those are reserved, though, and I don't know whether cm's will ask able-bodied guests to move from them, as long as there is there is still space available in the back row.
Fantasmic wc spaces by joelkfla, on Flickr

 

[Robo]

Yes, there are wheelchair spaces in the very front row, as well.

I don't think those are reserved, though, and I don't know whether cm's will ask able-bodied guests to move from them, as long as there is there is still space available in the back row.

That very steep ramp to/from those front-row seats can make
for a difficult situation for anyone in a chair or ECV to negotiate.


.

 

[joelkfla]

That very steep ramp to/from those front-row seats can make
for a difficult situation for anyone in a chair or ECV to negotiate.


.

I've been on it in an ECV, and it wasn't that bad. It's a switchback trail.

 

[aubriee]

Just wanted to note that on our last time at F. we were seated in the reserved handicapped seating in Witch section. There was one empty spot for a wheelchair and an empty small bench beside it that was next to us. It was SRO that night and the gates were closed to capacity. The CMs repeatedly turned guests away who attempted to use the empty bench. I'm not speculating or giving an opinion as to the reason for this- just making an observation.

We've saw the same thing. We were seated in the handicapped section with my mom who uses an ECV. There were empty handicapped seats around us, but the CMs would not let anyone sit in there, even after the show started. The show was standing room only and they made those standing stand in the very, very back behind us. Several tried to sit in the handicapped area after the show started and CMs immediately moved them back, saying they were for the handicapped only and only the handicapped and their parties were allowed to sit there. I really felt bad for them, since no one was using them.

I haven't been to Indi in several years, so am not sure what they are doing over there. But at the Lion King Show over at AK, anyone who comes in late, they are putting in the handicapped seating down at the bottom, even if they are not handicapped. We've seen it alot there. It seems like the same rules should apply at one as the other, but they don't.