I'm freaking out now! I need poitive thoughts.

[las3888]

Believe it or not when we were there during Super Soap weekend, we didn't really know about it really, or the fact that they would be at MGM on certain days. We were at MGM on one of those days - only know it because we saw that Soap Stars have little areas set aside where people line up to get their autographs. We honestly had no problem with crowds at MGM even on the soap opera days. All should be okay! If going back again during soap weekend, I wouldn't hesitate to visit MGM on any day...

 

[SueM in MN]

Put Nana in a wheelchair and then it will be MUCH easier for her!
PLUS you get to go thru all the rides with no wait by going thru the handicapped entrance. I see it done all the time with elderly people. Then it should not matter to you about the lines.

i never thought about getting to the head of the lines because of the ECV. Great thinking!!

I just wanted to mention that this is a common misconception. There never was "front of the line access" except for children who are on MAKE A WISH trips. People with wheelchair and ecvs were commonly pulled out of line 10 years ago because the lines were not accessible. Now, most of the lines at WDW are Mainstream Access, which means people with wheelchairs and/or ecvs wait in line with everyone else. For the rides where wheelchair/ecv users board at the exit , like Splash Mountain, Haunter Mansion and Buzz Lightyear, you will wait in line and fairly close to the boarding area, your party will be pulled out of the line and brought to the exit for boarding. There are a few rides (like Small World and Spaceship Earth that have handicapped entrances and waiting areas. In our experience, there are usually other people with disabilities waiting there and you will often wait there the same amount of time as if you had stayed in the regular line.

 

[addictd2disney]

I have just always seen elderly people in wheelchairs coming in a side gate and sometimes they have even stopped the ride for them. I hope you will not have to wait long in any case.

 

[SueM in MN]

You will see people with disabilities coming in the exit, but they generally will have waited in line first.
You are right about the moving walkway. They can stop the moving walkways or slow it way down if necessary. The only exception is Peter Pan; they can't stop the walkway there for boadring or unloading.

From what I have read historically, that time period is not that busy. We've been to WDW in September and found no waits to very short waits for almost everything.

 

[jgates]

I would suggest checking with Disney. I know there are medical cards that you can get that allow you f.o.l. access but you have to have medical request from doctor. We were in line at T.o.T. this summer and the fellow in front of us asked us if we wanted to go 2x. My dd said 'SURE!' and he said put your FP away and save it - just stand by us. (this was in the FP line). He showed them a card (I thought they were VIPs of some type-there was a cheerleading event that day) and we were there. When we got down into the loading area I asked if the girls were participating in the event and that's why they had a FOL type of pass and they said no-he was able to walk but unable to stand for the durations required for the regular lines. So somehow they were issued this pass.

 

[epcotfan]

My mom, aunt, uncle and cousins went last November and it was more crowded than our trip this past August. If you get up early and do the things you really want to do first it should be fine. The key is making a list of priorities. Figure out before you go what you really MUST see and do. This is especially important since the hours are shorter.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would suggest checking with Disney. I know there are medical cards that you can get that allow you f.o.l. access but you have to have medical request from doctor. We were in line at T.o.T. this summer and the fellow in front of us asked us if we wanted to go 2x. My dd said 'SURE!' and he said put your FP away and save it - just stand by us. (this was in the FP line). He showed them a card (I thought they were VIPs of some type-there was a cheerleading event that day) and we were there. When we got down into the loading area I asked if the girls were participating in the event and that's why they had a FOL type of pass and they said no-he was able to walk but unable to stand for the durations required for the regular lines. So somehow they were issued this pass.

The only Front of the Line passes that exist are for MAKE A WISH guests. This has been confirmed a number of times on the boards by WDW CMs.
The guy that let you in had a Guest Assistance Card that he was abusing by letting people who were not part of his party in line with him. You can request Guest Assistance Card from Guest Services in any of the parks. It is not a medical card and whether or not one is granted is dependent on the CMs assessment of your needs. The card is not meant (and often does not) shorten the wait in line, it just gives a more appropriate place to wait. I know this from 15 years of touring with a multiply disabled DD and communicating with numerous people with disabilities who visit WDW.

Here is a quote from the Guest Assistance Card:

Some attractions have alternate entrances for Guest with disabilities. These are intended to offer Guests with wheelchairs or service animals a more convenient entrance to the attraction. Alternative entrances are not intended to provide immediate access.
Additional waits may be incurred at certain attractions due to the need for a special vehicle or other operational concerns.
At entrances offering Disney's FASTPASS, Guests should obtain a Disney FASTPASS Reurn ticket.

In some cases (especially when it is not busy) guests with disabilities might be sent thru the fastpass return line, but that is not a given.

Quote From WDW Guidebook for Guest with Disabilities (available at Guest Services at any park):

Stamina or Endurance Concerns:
Some Guests may be concerned that they do not have the stamina to wait in our queques. We strongly suggest these Guests consider using a wheelchair or ECV, as the distance between our attractions is much greater thatn the length of our queues

Most people who are concerned about standing for the duration of the wait in line will be told just that by Guest Services. Almost all waiting lines are wheelchair/ecv accessible so someone who can't stand for the wait in line is able to bring a wheelchair or ecv with them.

 

[indigo]

Another voice here....

I think some people should avoid using wheelchairs or ECVs if at all possible. If the extent of your injury or disability allows you to walk (maybe with resting breaks) but not to stand in one place for a long time, I would still suggest you skip the wheelchairs.

Here are my reasons. In the last ten or so years, the parks have begun to change their smooth walking paths to textures (cobblestones, fake dirt, etc). This makes for a bumpy ride for the person in the wheelchair and can cause naseau.

Another reason is the person in the wheelchair tends to be excluded from conversations, have their views blocked, kicked or bumped by passers-by, etc..

Get a GAC and ask the CM at the ride for a place to sit in the shade or A?C for the duration of the queue, or for a fast pass to come back later. If neither of those can be provided, then an alternate access should be provided.

Trust me. Those who visit the parks with a disability still experience long waits, have to rest more often, arrive earlier for parades, might miss a bus because the handicap lift isn't working, etc. No one is getting off light here.

 

[The Duchess]

We always go during Halloween week and the crowds never seem to be bad. I think the majority of people don't want to pull their kids out of school. Historically, attendence doesn't pick back up until Thanksgiving.

 

[SamanthaL]

Thanks everyone! I think we will wait and see how it goes. If things seem difficult and we feel we need the GAC(?) card we will look into it. We do not expect to get to the head of any lines, but I know My grandmother can't walk more than a few minutes at a time. We definately need the ECV. She also could not stand in long lines and would get frustrated if we did.
I will just remember we will be in WDW and take in the atmosphere, if not a ton of rides.
This trip is about her and we will try to make it as easy as possible and play it by ear.
If there are any other thoughts out there I would definately welcome them

 

[SueM in MN]

i wouldn't worry about her standing in the lines if she has an ecv. She will be able to take that into almost all the lines without having a GAC. For the few places where an ecv can't go in the line (like the Pirates ride) they do have wheelchairs available to switch to for the time in line.
I'm sure you'll do fine and everyone will have a good time.

 

[sandramaac]

The time frame you are going is also "Jersey Week". School up in New Jersey are closed from Wed. on for the teachers state convention. Many families head to Disney for the week, just blowing off Monday and Tuesday too. I do here it is a bit busy that wee.

Any other states have state teachers conventions anyone. I never hear anyone else talk about another state week like they speak of Jersey teacher week