Help deciphering Disabilties Guide

[Scooterbritches]

This will be my first time in the parks using a wheelchair. This is probably a dumb question, but I'm finding that researching the parks from the disabilities angle is like getting a college degree. There's so much information I've got to study and know! I've been reading the disabilities guides and I am confused by the meaning of this one thing. By each attraction is has what its mobility access is. By some it says enter attraction through main queue. This I understand. What I'm not understanding is those that say "Obtain a FP or enter through queue at the right." What does it mean by obtain a fast pass? Why does it have the word "or" by it. I understand what it means to say "enter the queue at right", what I don't get is the fastpass part and the "or". Do I have choice between the two? How does having a FP help with accessing the ride? What exactly do I do when I get to that ride? Forgive my stupidity, but it's just not clear to me what that means.

 

[wilkeliza]

This will be my first time in the parks using a wheelchair. This is probably a dumb question, but I'm finding that researching the parks from the disabilities angle is like getting a college degree. There's so much information I've got to study and know! I've been reading the disabilities guides and I am confused by the meaning of this one thing. By each attraction is has what its mobility access is. By some it says enter attraction through main queue. This I understand. What I'm not understanding is those that say "Obtain a FP or enter through queue at the right." What does it mean by obtain a fast pass? Why does it have the word "or" by it. I understand what it means to say "enter the queue at right", what I don't get is the fastpass part and the "or". Do I have choice between the two? How does having a FP help with accessing the ride? What exactly do I do when I get to that ride? Forgive my stupidity, but it's just not clear to me what that means.

I believe the or is that if the stand by is under a set amount of time you will not be issued a return ticket and you will just wait in the alternate queue. If it is above a certain time (I can't remember if it is 10 or 30 minutes) then you will get issued a return ticket equal to the stand by line wait.

 

[nikkislaght]

The fastpass is a virtual wait in line.. depending on the resort you are in will determine how you access the rides..
WDW is very ADA compatible so the lines are wheelchair accessible etc. and you will wait in the lines like all the other guests.... using a fastpass will cut down on the wait time..
when you get to the ride with a fastpass,, go into the fastpass line.. and the only thing it will do is cut down on the actual waiting in line.. you will still have a wait..but not as long..

In DisneyLAND you can get a return time for some of the non ADA lines... and there for you would enter a different line... sometimes its the exit . sometimes is the fastpass line.....
I know in Fantasy land you can access from the exit ... spacemountain has its own line altogether ... its near the exit but splits at one point and you meet up with the line at another point...

Im thinking that is what it means??? I dont use a wheelchair , but I do use a cane... and so am treated like a mobility guest.. we got to Disneyland.. and depending on the ride.. I can get a F/P or a return time from the C/M at the ride.. usually the wait time less 10 minutes... but if there is no wait, they usually let you access the ride straight away..

if you still have questions on the day , get a brochure from the park that will tell you what the access points are and then ask the C/M at the ride.. they are more than willing to help you..

hope you have a great trip

 

[Scooterbritches]

I believe the or is that if the stand by is under a set amount of time you will not be issued a return ticket and you will just wait in the alternate queue. If it is above a certain time (I can't remember if it is 10 or 30 minutes) then you will get issued a return ticket equal to the stand by line wait.[/QUOTE
Oh, that's nice to know. So you just go to the CM at the ride and he/she gives you this return time?

 

[lanejudy]

Post #11 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has a lot of details SueM has provided about accessibility of various rides at WDW.

I believe the statement "Obtain a FASTPASS® OR enter through standard queue." simply means you can use a mobility device through either the standby queue or the FP+ queue. Each guest is allowed to pre-plan up to 3 FP+. If you have a FP+ for that attraction you will enter through the FP+ queue with your mobility device. If you do not have a FP+ scheduled, you may take your mobility device through the standby queue.

Some (relatively few) attractions simply are not accessible through the main queues because there are stairs or other obstacles. In those situations, the CM at the opening of the queue will direct you appropriately. They may or may not be issuing "wheelchair return times" for such access -- it seems to vary at WDW based on crowds and the specific attraction. If you receive one of these cards, it acts like a FP to return within that window of time and go to the alternate entrance for accessibility.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Scooterbritches]

The fastpass is a virtual wait in line.. depending on the resort you are in will determine how you access the rides..
WDW is very ADA compatible so the lines are wheelchair accessible etc. and you will wait in the lines like all the other guests.... using a fastpass will cut down on the wait time..
when you get to the ride with a fastpass,, go into the fastpass line.. and the only thing it will do is cut down on the actual waiting in line.. you will still have a wait..but not as long..

In DisneyLAND you can get a return time for some of the non ADA lines... and there for you would enter a different line... sometimes its the exit . sometimes is the fastpass line.....
I know in Fantasy land you can access from the exit ... spacemountain has its own line altogether ... its near the exit but splits at one point and you meet up with the line at another point...

Im thinking that is what it means??? I dont use a wheelchair , but I do use a cane... and so am treated like a mobility guest.. we got to Disneyland.. and depending on the ride.. I can get a F/P or a return time from the C/M at the ride.. usually the wait time less 10 minutes... but if there is no wait, they usually let you access the ride straight away..

if you still have questions on the day , get a brochure from the park that will tell you what the access points are and then ask the C/M at the ride.. they are more than willing to help you..

hope you have a great trip

So I guess my confusion is whether or not this Fastpass is separate from the FP+ that I will sign up for before getting to the parks. I will be at WDW btw and not DL.

 

[wilkeliza]

So I guess my confusion is whether or not this Fastpass is separate from the FP+ that I will sign up for before getting to the parks. I will be at WDW btw and not DL.

Yes it is separate but at WDW very few rides use them and not all uses them all the time. Also this FP does not guarentee imidiate access. So the few for WDW MK that I know off hand that may be using the passes are

Big Thunder
Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Jungle Cruise

For Big Thunder, IASW, JC you actually enter through the exit (or you use to there are reports of BT changing with the wind) and for Space you go up the FP queue but then split off to the WC waiting and loading area. With the FP it is for the same amount as the Stand By so if you are going during Easter and Space Mountain has a 90 minute wait the return ticket will be for 90 minutes later. On rides like Jungle Cruise you may have to wait longer than Stand By due to the fact there are only so many accessible boats same goes for IASW.

 

[gap2368]

yes for the rides that the main street line is not wheel chair assemble you will go to the CM and if the wait is 10 minute or less they will let you know where you should go to get on the attraction for Big thoughder it is the exit for space it is the FP line if it is over 10 minutes they will give you a return time so wait - 10 minutes so if you are wanting to ride space and it had a 30 minute wait you can come back in 20 minutes and ride ( you will then enter the FP and for BTMRR you will go thought the Exit)

when in sought just ask a CM they will be more them happy to let you know how to assess the attraction most people do not go to disney that often some just one time in there life and there are a number of people that do not need a mobility device in there every day life but do at disney with those 2 things there are a lot of people that re like you and just need some guidance on what to do.

 

[Scooterbritches]

Yes it is separate but at WDW very few rides use them and not all uses them all the time. Also this FP does not guarentee imidiate access. So the few for WDW MK that I know off hand that may be using the passes are

Big Thunder
Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Jungle Cruise

For Big Thunder, IASW, JC you actually enter through the exit (or you use to there are reports of BT changing with the wind) and for Space you go up the FP queue but then split off to the WC waiting and loading area. With the FP it is for the same amount as the Stand By so if you are going during Easter and Space Mountain has a 90 minute wait the return ticket will be for 90 minutes later. On rides like Jungle Cruise you may have to wait longer than Stand By due to the fact there are only so many accessible boats same goes for IASW.

I will not need to ride the ride with the wc. I'm only using it to help decrease the pain that comes with constant standing. I will totally be able to transfer easily to the ride. Will this affect things? For example, I will not have to wait for wc boat at IASW. I can just use a regular boat.

 

[Scooterbritches]

So now my question is.....if I decide to get a rollator instead of a wc, can the rollator go through the regular line or will it work just like the wc?

 

[wilkeliza]

So now my question is.....if I decide to get a rollator instead of a wc, can the rollator go through the regular line or will it work just like the wc?

Rollator can go through most regular lines. Ability to transfer, I am unsure of for IASW and Jungle Cruise.

 

[gap2368]

the region why WC can not go through the regular line is that they have steps in the line or the line is too narrow to accommodate them so you will need to the the same thing with a roller or WC for rides that use a different entrance it is also because there is no where to put the device when at the end of the line

so you could do the main line for JC if you do not need your mobility device at all in line. not sure what IASW is but I am sure once someone say is I will be like duh

 

[SueM in MN]

Post #11 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has a lot of details SueM has provided about accessibility of various rides at WDW.

I believe the statement "Obtain a FASTPASS® OR enter through standard queue." simply means you can use a mobility device through either the standby queue or the FP+ queue. Each guest is allowed to pre-plan up to 3 FP+. If you have a FP+ for that attraction you will enter through the FP+ queue with your mobility device. If you do not have a FP+ scheduled, you may take your mobility device through the standby queue.

Some (relatively few) attractions simply are not accessible through the main queues because there are stairs or other obstacles. In those situations, the CM at the opening of the queue will direct you appropriately. They may or may not be issuing "wheelchair return times" for such access -- it seems to vary at WDW based on crowds and the specific attraction. If you receive one of these cards, it acts like a FP to return within that window of time and go to the alternate entrance for accessibility.

Enjoy your vacation!

Yes. Your interpretation is correct.
This is correct. The information was copied from the WDW park maps. Fastpass and Fastpass Plus are the same thing.
When paper Fastpasses First started being used in about 2006, there were some attractions where the regular line was not accessible, but the Fastpass line was.
As Fastpass lines were built, they were accessible. As many attractions as possible were also renovated to be accessible thru the regular (Mainstream) line.
The issue with that was that people assumed that the Fastpass entrance was the 'handicapped entrance' for all attractions. And, they also assumed nothing changed between their visits, when lines were being renovated to be accessible at a pretty steady rate.

It's just basically saying, this is what you need to do to access this attraction. In many cases, it is either get a Fastpass Plus or use the regular line. The map sometimes said to enter thru a specific door or side because that was the part of the regular line that was accessible.

Yes it is separate but at WDW very few rides use them and not all uses them all the time. Also this FP does not guarentee imidiate access. So the few for WDW MK that I know off hand that may be using the passes are

Big Thunder
Space Mountain
It's a Small World
Jungle Cruise

For Big Thunder, IASW, JC you actually enter through the exit (or you use to there are reports of BT changing with the wind) and for Space you go up the FP queue but then split off to the WC waiting and loading area. With the FP it is for the same amount as the Stand By so if you are going during Easter and Space Mountain has a 90 minute wait the return ticket will be for 90 minutes later. On rides like Jungle Cruise you may have to wait longer than Stand By due to the fact there are only so many accessible boats same goes for IASW.

Small World actually has guests with wheelchairs who don't have Fastpass Plus go into the regular line and follow it until the last turn, which is the last point where it comes close to the accessible entrance ramp.

But, as you said, this is really variable. If there are already a lot of guests waiting in the accessible boarding area or if the wait in the Standby (regular) line, they may give out return time cards.
If the wait in the Standby line is very short, they may send guests with mobility devices directly into the accessible boarding area (or Fastpass line) for 'flow' reasons; if the regular line is moving quickly, it can actually slow the line for everyone if guest with mobility devices are left in the regular line.

I will not need to ride the ride with the wc. I'm only using it to help decrease the pain that comes with constant standing. I will totally be able to transfer easily to the ride. Will this affect things? For example, I will not have to wait for wc boat at IASW. I can just use a regular boat.

if you are using a mobility device in line, you need to follow whatever is the accessible route. In some cases, that will be the same route as everyone else.
In many cases, the regular boarding occurs in one place or side of the track and exit on the other. In those cases, guests with mobility devices will be boarding and unloading at the same place.
If there is an accessible ride car, guests who need to use it will have to wait. In many cases, they will be asked to wait to the side and other guests in the area who don't need that ride car will be boarded in a regular car ahead of them.