I have a question about POC access

[Momelie]

Can somebody tell me the correct way to use either an ECV or wheelchair at POC?

When we got there last weekend, I noticed wheelchairs being parked with the strollers, and thought it was odd. We went on in, and the CM at the front said to "go up the left side and stay that way." We did, and wound up at the wheelchair entrance. I got out of the wheelchair and transferred with my cane into the boat.

When we finished the ride, my wheelchair was nowhere in sight. We asked the CM, who literally gave us a 15 minute lecture on how we should never have brought the wheelchair into the ride, we should have left it outside, and to NEVER take a wheelchair to the boat. Then, she called somewhere (I guess upstairs) and told them to bring the chair down whenever it was convenient. 43 boats unloaded after that (DD counted them) before it was brought down. By that time I had been leaning against a wall with my cane for over half an hour and was about to scream with pain. We then got another lecture that we shouldn't have brought the wheelchair to the boat, and we just got on the elevator and found our own way out, after a few dead ends.

What should we have done? There is NO WAY that I could walk with my cane from the front of the POC building all the way to the boats, or I would be in agony, and have to leave the parks completely (that was our first ride of the day, that day).

Is there a code word? A secret entrance? Should I just give up on POC?

 

[twinmum]

Hello! We were at WDW in early November for our first trip to WDW. POC was our first MK attraction (other than the train to get there) on our 3rd day (we'd been to AK and Epcot) One of our twin DS8's has cerebral palsy and uses walker/wheelchair - w/c in the parks, of course.

We received the same instructions you did to "go up the left side and stay that way." It was quite quiet and I really don't remember if my son's GAC came into play at all. None of the CM's seemed concerned that we had brought the w/c down to the boat, although it was probably pretty clear that our son would not have been able to walk, so perhaps we don't generate any questions (not that you should either!). The transfer was fine.

We had the same problem after the ride, though. I wish we had counted boats, but I was too busy entertaining my son who was growing impatient. The CM's did call up for the w/c, but it took a LONG time to come. It was the first and only time during the stay that we ever waited for the w/c to be returned to us if needed. When the CM did bring the w/c, he arrived with 2 other w/c's as well for adults who got off the ride after we did. He was a little rough than I would like with the w/c's (does he know how much they cost?!?). But to add to my frustration, the 2 adults in w/c and their companions (2 separate pairings) knew where the elevator was, so they pushed their way past us, without telling us where the elevator was, and managed to dash into the elevator ahead of us, practically slamming the door in our faces, and making no efforts to see if there was a way for us all to fit in, or for the 2 able-bodied adults to take another route so my son and I (he can't push his chair as these adults were doing) and the other 2 adults in w/c's could all get in the elevator. AAAAGH!!! Once we got upstairs, we too had a tough time finding the way out - and the way out wasn't exactly POC themed, wait it?!? More like the garbage route!

OK, so I didn't answer your questions, but I did vent! And I can confirm to you that you did follow the "official" instructions - you didn't miss anything from what I can tell!

 

[SueM in MN]

We were either very lucky when we rode in October, or they made a big effort to get DD's wheelchair to the exit in time because they saw the difficulty we had getting her in. She can't walk or even stand up by herself, so if we would have had to wait as long as you other posters had to, we would have had to sit her (or maybe even lay her) on the ground.

For the OP, it's not like you exactly snuck the wheelchair in. The CM at the entrance to the queue saw you and also the CMs who were at the boarding area. The CM at the exit was way out of line. You were doing what you were told to do to experience the attraction. It's not your fault that they had a snafu with the wheelchair movement.

There are some people (like my DD) who can't leave their wheelchair outside because they can't walk at all and they can't (or at least won't) sit in the park wheelchairs.
First, what makes POC so very difficult for wheelchair/ECV users?

The boarding area for POC (Pirates of the Caribbean) is one building on ground level. The waiting area is a series of inter-connecting hallways that can hold VERY many people. By dividing the hallways in various ways with chains, they can make room for many more people to wait in the queue area.

The exit is actually in another building, at basement level (down one floor from the entrance). To get back up to ground level, you have to either take a very steep moving ramp (we have done it with a wheelchair and do NOT recommend it) or the elevator - which is to the left of the moving ramp, down a little hallway. At one point, way back in time, they had enough CMs that one actually took you up the elevator and pointed you in the right direction to get out of the area. Just for 'pathfinding', when you get out of the elevator, you will be close to the bathrooms that are on the very end of path in Adventureland, where it starts going toward the Splash Mountain area.

For most of the rides where boarding and exit occur at different places, they have wheelchair/ECV users board at the exit. That allows a little extra time for boarding and, even more important, it puts the wheelchair/ECV at the exit so it's waiting for you there when you get off.
At POC, just after guests exit, the boats go up a steep ramp to get back to the boarding level. The passage the boats go thru is just high enough for the boats to clear, so no way that the passengers can board at the exit.

So, how do wheelchairs get to the exit?
In the past, if you had a folding wheelchair (like one of the park wheelchairs), the CM would fold it up and throw (pretty literally throw) the wheelchair onto the back seat of the boat with you. Then, when you got off, the CM there removed the wheelchair and sat it near the boat. If you had a non-folding or heavy wheelchair, a CM had to bring it from the boarding area to the exit. If they were too busy to do that, you could not ride.
I don't know if they are putting folding wheelchairs on the boats any more because I have not seen that happen recently (DD's wheelchair doesn't fold). I suspect (but I don't know) that they stopped doing it because of injuries to CMs from lifting wheelchairs onto the boats (the rental wheelchairs probably weigh 40-50 pounds).

What's happening now is that they are routing wheelchair users to one side of the boarding area so that the wheelchairs can be moved from boarding to the exit. What happened to you should not have happened. They should have not boarded your party until there was a CM available to shuttle the wheelchair from boarding to the exit.

What about ECVs?
The queue was never ECV accessible. The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities says ECV users must switch from the ECV to an "available" wheelchair (one that 'belongs' to the attraction). My best guess is that they want people to switch from their ECVs or their personal wheelchair to an "available" wheelchair. That way, the CMs at the ride don't have to get any particular wheelchairs from boarding to the exit. As long as they have some at the entrance to the queue and some at the exit, they are covered.

 

[cmwade77]

When we were there in September we didn't have a wheel chair, but I do have a GAC, which makes it possible to go somwhere like this in the first place, but that is besides the point, the point is we went in with people in wheelchairs, they excorted us backstage and down to the loading area, all of the wheelchairs were immeadiately taken to the exit area after we were loaded, what is so hard about this concept? Really, I would like to see them get a wheelchair boat, which could be done fairly easily at WDW with only one short drop, here at DL, we have a short drop as well as a longer drop, so it would be a bit more complicated, but could be done.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

At some point this year they seem to have changed they system with wheelchairs at Pirates. When we went in September they told us to park the w/c in the stroller bay and transfer into one of their chairs which were waiting there. At the end of the ride we could then borrow another of their chairs to get back to ours. It was a bit of a fuss, and their chairs weren't exactly comfortable as the foot pedals were up really high (I practically had my knees around me ears), but it seems from the stories here that we were lucky to have a chair at the end. I hope they sort this system out soon.

 

[barrysprot36]

In August this year we went on POC twice. The first time a CM took us around the back entrance of POC with DS in his own wheel chair and it was waiting when we finished the ride. This has happened on all our previous visits as well.

The second time we had to transfer DS to a ride wheelchair and join the regular line. We were told the line was only 15 minutes but if we could have we would have come straight out as the line area was so noisy for our ASD DS. A ride w/c was not waiting for us at the end and we had to wait a while, not an easy feat to stop DS from bolting.

I don't think we will go on this ride again next year.

Caron

 

[Schmeck]

In August this year we went on POC twice. The first time a CM took us around the back entrance of POC with DS in his own wheel chair and it was waiting when we finished the ride. This has happened on all our previous visits as well.

The second time we had to transfer DS to a ride wheelchair and join the regular line. We were told the line was only 15 minutes but if we could have we would have come straight out as the line area was so noisy for our ASD DS. A ride w/c was not waiting for us at the end and we had to wait a while, not an easy feat to stop DS from bolting.

I don't think we will go on this ride again next year.

Caron

Did WDW require you to wait after getting off the ride, or could you have walked out? Just wondering what the policy is, since you mentioned your fear of your son bolting away from you.

 

[ToriLammy]

Interesting thread. Last time we were there, 2003, my daughter transferred to a "ride" wheelchair and they folded it up and put in the boat with us. So, is that still happening or not? We leave in 2 weeks and I'd like to know for sure so we aren't caught off guard. (If it's a problem with the CMs lifting the folding wc my DH or DS can do that with no problems at all).

Thanks

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Interesting thread. Last time we were there, 2003, my daughter transferred to a "ride" wheelchair and they folded it up and put in the boat with us. So, is that still happening or not? We leave in 2 weeks and I'd like to know for sure so we aren't caught off guard. (If it's a problem with the CMs lifting the folding wc my DH or DS can do that with no problems at all).

Thanks

I would also like to know, some of this sounds normal and some does not. For those that went before and after the Ride changes. We used to park the ECV and transfer to their wheelchair then get in reguar line, WC was folding and put on boat, at end of ride the chair was taken from boat and we exited through door to left and went up a small elevator and out into the shop at the end of the ride, then pushed THEIR wc back to where ECV was parked. Has this changed since the renovations?

 

[Forevryoung]

I was there in 2005 (June) with a child who has CP who like Sue's daughter cannot stand or walk unassisted. She was in a special needs stroller (I believe the convaid cruiser) on our MK day.

We waited in the regular line (I remember because I had to answer all the questions for 20 minutes about if the ride is "really really scary" or just "really scary" )

They had us put her in in the boat (the "one-two-three pass off" because of the step down) and then we folded the stroller and I put it into the boat. They gave us a small hard time about having it with us and told us that we should have used one of the available wheelchairs. We pointed out that it folded and fit and that should be enough. There was no way she was going to fit or sit in an adult chair. We went on our merry way.

 

[BillSears]

I just got back. Last week they had CMs moving the wheelchairs from the boarding area to the exit. I went right through the normal line, staying to the left, and had no troubles at all. My wheelchair was waiting for me at the exit when the ride was over.

 

[steffali]

I wish there was a way to make getting on the boats more accessible so my DD can ride POTC

 

[SueM in MN]

I wish there was a way to make getting on the boats more accessible so my DD can ride POTC

Well, I know from a DisneyLAND CM who posted a while back that they are working on a boat at Disneyland. If they can get it to work there, they might be able to make one for WDW. The low ceiling in the part where the boats go back up to the boarding area from the exit might make some further constraints for them though.

 

[Chuck S]

At some point this year they seem to have changed they system with wheelchairs at Pirates. When we went in September they told us to park the w/c in the stroller bay and transfer into one of their chairs which were waiting there. At the end of the ride we could then borrow another of their chairs to get back to ours. It was a bit of a fuss, and their chairs weren't exactly comfortable as the foot pedals were up really high (I practically had my knees around me ears), but it seems from the stories here that we were lucky to have a chair at the end. I hope they sort this system out soon.

Last year, Mom had to transfer from her chair to a POC chair, it worked out OK. In December, she stayed in her own chair to the boarding area, using the left queue, and her chair was waitig at the exit. I see advantages to both systems, as long as the person can transfer fairly easily. It would be nice if they were consistent.

Hello! But to add to my frustration, the 2 adults in w/c and their companions (2 separate pairings) knew where the elevator was, so they pushed their way past us, without telling us where the elevator was, and managed to dash into the elevator ahead of us, practically slamming the door in our faces, and making no efforts to see if there was a way for us all to fit in, or for the 2 able-bodied adults to take another route so my son and I (he can't push his chair as these adults were doing) and the other 2 adults in w/c's could all get in the elevator. AAAAGH!!!

You should not have had the issues you encountered, but to address the elevator issue, even if the ambulatory people did take the stairs, it is a pretty small elevator, like most ride elevators at Disney. It really only holds two chairs and a couple of ambulatory "pushers" comfortably.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

In fact unless they have changed the elevator at POTC it only accomodates ONE chair and pusher.

I am still waiting to hear definitively whether access there has changed or not.

 

[SueM in MN]

In fact unless they have changed the elevator at POTC it only accomodates ONE chair and pusher.

I am still waiting to hear definitively whether access there has changed or not.

When we were there in October, the elevator had not changed at all. It is kind of an ancient, very small elevator. DH, DD in her wheelchair and I rode it together. When DD was smaller and had a shorter wheelchair, we have been in it with 2 wheelchairs, but it's a very tight fit and all the people have to know what they are doing to get that many wheelchairs in.

 

[shovan]

I sure was hoping with the refurb. of the ride, that they would have done something to make it more accessible. When my DH (51 with MD) & I were there in Oct., I skipped the ride feeling guilty, that he couldn't ride. (and I'm a total Pirates Johnny Depp fanatic!)

We are going again in Jan. with family & may take a look to see if we can lift him in & out of the boat. But I'm sure it would be with great difficulty.

 

[SueM in MN]

I sure was hoping with the refurb. of the ride, that they would have done something to make it more accessible. When my DH (51 with MD) & I were there in Oct., I skipped the ride feeling guilty, that he couldn't ride. (and I'm a total Pirates Johnny Depp fanatic!)

We are going again in Jan. with family & may take a look to see if we can lift him in & out of the boat. But I'm sure it would be with great difficulty.

It would be very difficult to lift someone in.
There is a picture of the boat on allearsnet. It doesn't show the step into the boat, but you have to make a small step over the top of the boat and then a step down to the seat and down again to the floor. http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/mk/mk_pir2.jpg The seat backs are low and don't provide a lot of support. The seat part is fairly narrow to sit on.

 

[BillSears]

Here's a picture of the last row of the boat. The entry area for the last boat is wider and allowed me to roll my chair right up to the boat. Then I lifted my legs over the edge and slid into the boat. On the way out I grabbed hold of the back of the boat with one arm and the seat in front of me with the other and lifted myself up to the side of the boat. Then I slid back into my chair.

 

[shovan]

Wow, thanks Bill! You are one resourceful guy!

I know we could get him in that back seat. Getting him out?! Well, that might be a problem!

I'll show by DH the pic & see if he wants to give it a try. At least we will now be able to avoid the line just for a "look see"!