Help New... Lines ?

[brockash]

Hello,

We'll be traveling to WDW and while we've gone many times this will be the first time going with my mom who is not technically disabled (no medical diagnosis) however due to her age and her needing 2 knee replacements (won't be getting them until after the trip) we will ve renting a scooter and very confused on lines for rides. I assume that for most rides she can just get in the regular line with her scooter? - She can transfer she just is unable to walk steadily or far and cannot do steps. For the lines with steps; can you tell me how those work?

Thank you so much...I was looking for a ride by ride line guide but didn't see anything. I'm trying to remember all the rides that have steps (getting on or off) so far I've come up with the following (please let me know if I've missed any and how you handle the lines...

MK

Splash
Thunder
Space (she won't ride)

DHS

TSM
2 new star wars rides?? - never been

Epcot

none?

AK

Pandora

Thank you so much for your help...it's like being a newbie all over again.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hello,

We'll be traveling to WDW and while we've gone many times this will be the first time going with my mom who is not technically disabled (no medical diagnosis) however due to her age and her needing 2 knee replacements (won't be getting them until after the trip) we will ve renting a scooter and very confused on lines for rides. I assume that for most rides she can just get in the regular line with her scooter? - She can transfer she just is unable to walk steadily or far and cannot do steps. For the lines with steps; can you tell me how those work?

Thank you so much...I was looking for a ride by ride line guide but didn't see anything. I'm trying to remember all the rides that have steps (getting on or off) so far I've come up with the following (please let me know if I've missed any and how you handle the lines...

MK

Splash
Thunder
Space (she won't ride)

DHS

TSM
2 new star wars rides?? - never been

Epcot

none?

AK

Pandora

Thank you so much for your help...it's like being a newbie all over again.

most rides you can roll right up to ride. there are a few where you need to transfer to a wheelchair at the ride. your best plan is to ask CM at beginning of line how ECVs are handled at that ride. you will not be the only ones there with an ECV and the CMs are used to dealing with them and it is part of their job to help those with questions

 

[MinnieMSue]

Splash you wait until the point of stairs in the regular line. Then they move you to a waiting spot and have you go in the exit and enter the boats from the opposite side. FYI it is hard to get in and out of those boats. Thunder mtn they give a return time or just have you go to the exit and wait and a cast member takes you inside to a holding area and eventually has you enter from the exit side. Toy story has a loading area without stairs so they will direct you there when the line splits. Pandora has a loading area without steps so they will direct you there when you get to where they separate people. The boat ride there has no steps. I didn’t take any steps in either of the galexy’s edge rides. You can take the scooter pretty far in them if I am remembering correctly. Just remember most boat rides are hard to get in and especially out of because they typically seat low.

 

[Selket]

Hello,

We'll be traveling to WDW and while we've gone many times this will be the first time going with my mom who is not technically disabled (no medical diagnosis) however due to her age and her needing 2 knee replacements (won't be getting them until after the trip) we will ve renting a scooter and very confused on lines for rides. I assume that for most rides she can just get in the regular line with her scooter? - She can transfer she just is unable to walk steadily or far and cannot do steps. For the lines with steps; can you tell me how those work?

Thank you so much...I was looking for a ride by ride line guide but didn't see anything. I'm trying to remember all the rides that have steps (getting on or off) so far I've come up with the following (please let me know if I've missed any and how you handle the lines...

MK

Splash
Thunder
Space (she won't ride)

DHS

TSM
2 new star wars rides?? - never been

Epcot

none?

AK

Pandora

Thank you so much for your help...it's like being a newbie all over again.

I have two terribly arthritic knees and use a rental ECV at WDW - but I don't use one at home. I can go grocery shopping and what not for an hour but cannot handle the walking at WDW just to give you some idea of how it is for me. There are a few rides I really have trouble with - mostly because it requires your knee to be very bent to fit in the seat. Splash is probably the worst one for me of all the WDW rides in that respect. I can still ride it but by the time I get off I'm at my limit. One time it got stuck and we were in there maybe an extra 10-15 minutes and I was about crying when I got off. I almost never ride it after that. If your mom cannot do steps I wouldn't do it cause getting in and out is a challenge.

Space Mountain is ok - not that you said she'd ride it - but once you get in your legs can stretch out. Astro Orbiter is another one hard to get in and out and I wouldn't recommend. I found the "accessible" boat on Small World has seats that didn't seem as low or somehow had more leg room and I like that better than the regular seat which is also very hard for me in just being able to sit through the ride with my knees bent that sharply. I have no problems with Pirates, Frozen, or the Navi River Journey but it does require a step down and up or at least a step over. If you're there and can help her she may have no problem with that but if she can't bend her knee enough to do even one regular stair step I wouldn't try it. The other ride in Pandora - FOP - where you're sitting on a motorcycle style thing - is fine for me but some have trouble with the knee bend.

I'd say if she wants to do some of those things - try it - and if she says NOPE then no harm done - all you have to do is just tell the CM and go on to the exit. I wouldn't be afraid to try it - especially if she has people there who could help her get out if she gets in and has an issue but Splash is the one I'd least advise - slippery, big step, painful knee bend....

 

[kaytieeldr]

@BettyRohrer provides the best advice here: at each attraction, ask the Greeter.

 

[Bete]

I think your mom will have the most difficulty with any boat rides. Pirates of the Carribean at MK is an example. Epcot's Frozen ride is another one. They are hard and unsteady to get in and out of. It's advisable to have family member get in before her and someone after her; so, exiting won't be a problem.

Test Track at Epcot is a bit difficult. Again, having someone before and after her on the ride will be most helpful. Some rides have moving ramps like Haunted Mansion in MK or Buzz Lightyear to get on the ride. In those cases some ramps can be slowed down or stopped if you are in the handicap line.

Also, keep in mind it can be tiring doing ride queues with a scooter. There are a lot of turns to manuever through. Also, if you are using Disney transportation especially buses it is quite a learning curve to get a scooter on and off. In some cases it's better for another family member to do it.