Honey I Shrunk The Audience

[Madibeme]

Has anyone had problems with this show? I got the disabilities book from Epcot and followed the directions of getting a fastpass. Well I show up at the fastpass time and I am denied admission because they claim to operate on a reservation system. I eventually got them to let me bring my ECV clsoe to the entrance and I transferred (I have RA and diffiulty standing for long periods of time) and sat in regular seating. Imagine my surprise when over half the handicap section was empty when I got in there. I said something and was told that I still could not bring my ECV in (was going to have a family member go get it).

 

[Talking Hands]

Were was your ECV from? I know they will not allow Disney ECVs to enter but I have used my personal ECV as well as my power wheelchair in HISA with no problems. In fact the only ride I have been asked to transfer to a manual chair as opposed to my power wheelchair is Pirates of the Caribbean. Every other rided I have remained in my wheelchair until I transfered to the ride or my chair was actually loaded onto the ride.

 

[Haley Whippet]

I had no trouble at all going in on my personal ECV..
No one said anything..
Deb

 

[Val]

See my thread about the reflective captioning disaster- sounds like this is a general issue at HISA....I talked at length with the manager of the area yesterday and she has assured me that some significant training regarding disabilities would be going on soon. Her name is Martha White, I will try and find a contact for you!

 

[SueM in MN]

Has anyone had problems with this show? I got the disabilities book from Epcot and followed the directions of getting a fastpass. Well I show up at the fastpass time and I am denied admission because they claim to operate on a reservation system. I eventually got them to let me bring my ECV clsoe to the entrance and I transferred (I have RA and diffiulty standing for long periods of time) and sat in regular seating. Imagine my surprise when over half the handicap section was empty when I got in there. I said something and was told that I still could not bring my ECV in (was going to have a family member go get it).

The 'reservation system' is a new one to me and we have been on that attraction many times. The last time was in March.
What has sometimes happened to us is that they already have enough people for all the available wheelchair spots when we arrive for our Fastpass time, and we need to wait for the next show.
That doesn't sound like what happened to you - even if the show that began when you showed up was full for guests traveling in wheelchairs or ECVs, you should have been allowed to bring your ECV into the next show.

Imagine my surprise when over half the handicap section was empty when I got in there. I said something and was told that I still could not bring my ECV in (was going to have a family member go get it)

The handicap section in that show is entered thru the raised preshow area that is behind the rest of the preshow area. Your family member would have had to go back thru that area to get it and then bring it thru that door. The way most of the shows are run - once you leave a preshow area, they start filling it up for the next show. I imagine that is why they would not allow your family member to go out and get the ECV for you. Also, once the show begins, it's controlled by computers, so they often can't hold the show for a few minutes to wait.

Here's what it says in the official Disney Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities (my bold)

"Honey, I Shrunk The Audience"

Professor Wayne Szalinski is at it again and this time you're the one who gets shrunk. This interactive adventure goes beyond 3-D with incredible special effects and awesome surprises. Be ready to make nice to mice, face the fangs of a python and duck when a dog has a very itchy nose. You might feel small, but your laughs will be big!

Location: Future World West - Imagination!

Guests may remain in wheelchair/ECV.

This attraction may be frightening for children.

Assistive Listening devices which amplify the audio at this location are available at Guest Relations.

Guest-activated captioning is available on selected video monitors at this location. Please visit Guest Relations to obtain an activator.

Reflective Captioning which projects captions onto an acrylic panel is available at this location. Guests should contact a host/hostess at this location.

Due to the nature of the experience, Guests with service animals should check with a host/hostess for attraction and boarding information.

As was already mentioned, there are some attractions where the large park rental ECVs are not allowed because they are too big.
If this was one of them, the guidebook would say something about needing to leave your ECV and switch to an available wheelchair.
I noticed you had a copy of this booklet. I stongly suggest that everyone get a copy of the guidebook to carry with them, even if they don't need it themselves to know how to access the attraction. It's very useful for showing to CMs when they tell you that something you need/want to do is not possible.

One of the things that we have found consistently at HISTA is that they will only allow the person using the wheelchair/ECV and one companion into the raised area for the preshow (we've had 2 when it was just DD, DH and I). The rest of the party is told to wait along the area right in front or alongside of that area. That happened to us in March and we saw several people who just left the attraction rather than split up their party. That raised area is rather small and was filled just with guests in wheelchairs for the show we went to. If they allowed the rest of the party to stand there too, they would have been able to accomidate less than half the number of wheelchair guests in.
The other thing is, as you are waiting along the side, another CM is telling people to keep moving forward. That doesn't apply to the people who are part of the wheelchair parties, but the 'moving' CM and other guests still looks at you with a 'people, you are not being cooperative sort of look'. If they don't have enough room for the rest of your party to wait in the wheelchair area, I wish they would have some other clearly designated spot.