Is this legal? New handrails

[dawnball]

On the bright side - Pirates is on that list, and the alternate entrance for Pirates was completely impossible for me most of the time. If the new return times mean that I can ride Pirates with my family, I'll be pleased.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just to clarify for other readers - this entire thread is about DisneyLAND.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You're all giving me a lot to think about regarding our planning for our upcoming trip. We use a GAC for DD15's issues associated with her autism and DD12 will be in a wheelchair. I'm trying to understand how some of this works.

I get that CMs are giving return time slips which work similar to a regular FP but how does it work if you actually have a FP? My plan was to try to build touring plans including using FP just like I do at WDW. If the FP line isn't accessible then what happens? Are we then given one of those return time slips with the duration of the FP line and after that passes we'll be brought to the accessible entrance? I'm just trying to set my expectations. DD15 in particular really needs to have expectations set appropriately or else she'll get confused and melt down.

I have another question. DD12 can walk, just not long distances. Are there some rides where we'll be better off just parking the wheelchair and walking throught the queues? She can walk up stairs and walk around school (she's in more pain by the end of the day but it's tollerable though I think she's developed a high pain tollerance at this point) but walking around the mall is definitely too much for her so the plan is really to have the wheelchair mainly for between attractions. I would hate to end up increasing our wait times because of the wheelchair when she can do without it for a little while here and there.

 

[cmwade77]

You're all giving me a lot to think about regarding our planning for our upcoming trip. We use a GAC for DD15's issues associated with her autism and DD12 will be in a wheelchair. I'm trying to understand how some of this works.

I get that CMs are giving return time slips which work similar to a regular FP but how does it work if you actually have a FP? My plan was to try to build touring plans including using FP just like I do at WDW. If the FP line isn't accessible then what happens? Are we then given one of those return time slips with the duration of the FP line and after that passes we'll be brought to the accessible entrance? I'm just trying to set my expectations. DD15 in particular really needs to have expectations set appropriately or else she'll get confused and melt down.

I have another question. DD12 can walk, just not long distances. Are there some rides where we'll be better off just parking the wheelchair and walking throught the queues? She can walk up stairs and walk around school (she's in more pain by the end of the day but it's tollerable though I think she's developed a high pain tollerance at this point) but walking around the mall is definitely too much for her so the plan is really to have the wheelchair mainly for between attractions. I would hate to end up increasing our wait times because of the wheelchair when she can do without it for a little while here and there.

Generally what has happened in the past for these attractions was that if you had a FP with a GAC, they would put you at the front of the accessible line, which seemed to make sense as you already waited. So I would assume that with a FP, you would just go in the accessible entrance, after all you already waited. But I don't think anyone I know has tried this yet.

 

[KPeveler]

Generally what has happened in the past for these attractions was that if you had a FP with a GAC, they would put you at the front of the accessible line, which seemed to make sense as you already waited. So I would assume that with a FP, you would just go in the accessible entrance, after all you already waited. But I don't think anyone I know has tried this yet.

I understand why a few of the big ones, but some of this makes no sense. So I am supposed to go find a person to get a GAC for Peter Pan so their wheelchair line evens out? Even if no one is in their wheelchair line right now? And where are they going to put these CM with their podiums? I was in the park on Saturday and Monday, and saw no evidence of this at Space, Jungle Cruise, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Star Tours, Pirates, or Haunted Mansion.

I am confused - are they putting this system in place all the time? Only when the wheelchair line gets too long? Do I HAVE to get a return time for Jungle Cruise, or can I just get in the regular wheelchair line? I get it for rides with a FP, but most of the ones you mentioned do not have a FP, so it just sounds like more work, more confusion, and less of an accommodation for people with disabilities.

Is Disney going to explain any of this new process on their website or anything?

What I understand is that Disney is trying to do away with standby lines for people with wheelchairs and other disabilities, and now we all need to try to get this return pass. That works fine if there is an accessible FP line to put us in, but how does this work with the tiny wheelchair entrance to Jungle Cruise? And how will they assume my "return time" is no longer than the standby time? I know the purpose is to space out the wheelchairs showing up at rides to make things more fair AND to be able to tell the "public" that now everyone has to "wait." But I have no idea how this is supposed to work on rides where there is no standby option.

ETA: This system has been in place for months, and while it is nice sometimes, there is still always a long wheelchair line.

I have a feeling this has a lot less to do with helping people with disabilities and more to tell the "public" changes were made and now they have made things "equal."

 

[disney david]

I understand why a few of the big ones, but some of this makes no sense. So I am supposed to go find a person to get a GAC for Peter Pan so their wheelchair line evens out? Even if no one is in their wheelchair line right now? And where are they going to put these CM with their podiums? I was in the park on Saturday and Monday, and saw no evidence of this at Space, Jungle Cruise, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Star Tours, Pirates, or Haunted Mansion.

I am confused - are they putting this system in place all the time? Only when the wheelchair line gets too long? Do I HAVE to get a return time for Jungle Cruise, or can I just get in the regular wheelchair line? I get it for rides with a FP, but most of the ones you mentioned do not have a FP, so it just sounds like more work, more confusion, and less of an accommodation for people with disabilities.

Is Disney going to explain any of this new process on their website or anything?

don't forget this could also have something to do with fast pass plus they putting it on ride at disney world that did not have fast pass them. so when it comes to disney land it be put on rides that don't have fast passes now plus with fast pass plus they do have a podium out side and some rides have another on the inside with a screen. so when you swipe your magic band/ ticket it check you in so maybe that could also be used to scan gac return times. because i know in wdw when they did the test their was reports of the regular que being longer then posted. so maybe they figure let test this now and see how it goes then decide what to do next. but again they should put it on the web site or somewhere that guest can know what going on.

 

[KPeveler]

don't forget this could also have something to do with fast pass plus they putting it on ride at disney world that did not have fast pass them. so when it comes to disney land it be put on rides that don't have fast passes now plus with fast pass plus they do have a podium out side and some rides have another on the inside with a screen. so when you swipe your magic band/ ticket it check you in so maybe that could also be used to scan gac return times. because i know in wdw when they did the test their was reports of the regular que being longer then posted. so maybe they figure let test this now and see how it goes then decide what to do next. but again they should put it on the web site or somewhere that guest can know what going on.

Here in DL, there is no FP+, or even FP queues for many attractions. In fact, they keep taking AWAY FP lines instead of adding them.

There in no RFID tag, no scanning, and no reports we are getting that any time soon. Here in DL, we still have paper GACs and FPs, so each of these "return passes" will have to be written by hand at a podium somewhere, maybe near the front of the attraction. The problem is, in DLR, we are over 60% passholder. They are going to have to make it very very clear that we cannot just get in the accessible line anymore, and when that is true.

You cannot see the queue entrance from where the accessible entrance is, so maybe they will stand by the exit? Don't forget, in DLR at least, CMs standing with no shade in a set place have a whole set up as regulated by DL CM safety and OSHA. So I am trying to figure out where they will put this for Dumbo, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, etc.

And, if they still have a "stand by accessible queue" for people without a Fastpass, I cannot figure out where the queue for the "return pass" people will be. We go in the exits, and can barely fit there. There is no way to fit two queues!

Something about this does not make sense. I look forward to finding out more about it next time I am in the parks.

 

[disney david]

Here in DL, there is no FP+, or even FP queues for many attractions. In fact, they keep taking AWAY FP lines instead of adding them.

There in no RFID tag, no scanning, and no reports we are getting that any time soon. Here in DL, we still have paper GACs and FPs, so each of these "return passes" will have to be written by hand at a podium somewhere, maybe near the front of the attraction. The problem is, in DLR, we are over 60% passholder. They are going to have to make it very very clear that we cannot just get in the accessible line anymore, and when that is true.

You cannot see the queue entrance from where the accessible entrance is, so maybe they will stand by the exit? Don't forget, in DLR at least, CMs standing with no shade in a set place have a whole set up as regulated by DL CM safety and OSHA. So I am trying to figure out where they will put this for Dumbo, Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise, etc.

And, if they still have a "stand by accessible queue" for people without a Fastpass, I cannot figure out where the queue for the "return pass" people will be. We go in the exits, and can barely fit there. There is no way to fit two queues!

Something about this does not make sense. I look forward to finding out more about it next time I am in the parks.

i know but disney land is going to get fast pass plus with in the next 5 years or sooner. i was just saying that attractions that didn't have fast pass might be getting fast pass plus. since you mentioned the other list of rides that didn't have fast pass i thought to add that about fast pass plus. plus with them adding fast pass plus they had to make adjustment to ques for example now nemo will have a entrance that will be shorter. So hopefully they will allow guest with using gac to use even without a fast pass plus reservation because it will cut more then half of the que out and puts you at a point where their a light more light in the que. your right in disney land their not that much space to work with and they may not be able to make more ques. I see them doing that at attractions that have fast pass so they have a que to send through but not for ride that don't have it. so i don't know how they will handle fast pass plus when they get it but after disney world gets it they can see what works and dose not.

what slowing them down in disney world besides them wanting to get it right is all the ques they have to add to rides and shows that didn't have fast pass. plus the shows like fantasmic is getting que work that supposed to be for fast pass plus that might get down in oct.

 

[KPeveler]

Things are so tight in terms of land that it is not uncommon for parts of the accessible queue at Jungle Cruise to have to back up out of line so there is a space wide enough for my powerchair (26 inches wide) to fit through.

I get that they are trying to make it so the accessible queues are not as crowded by spacing us out, but I cannot see how there can be an exit and two queues there. And with the wheelchair boat on Jungle Cruise, there already is often two queues as they pull people who cannot transfer out of line. So I guess a person who waited in the stand by line, then waited in the wheelchair boat line gets to go before a person who needs the wheelchair boat but has a return pass, or the other way around? There are just so many ways this can get ugly on rides which do not have an accessible FP (the only accessible FP in DL Park is Star Tours, and only the outside part). All other queues are at the exit.

I can see how this can help with Soarin and such, when you have to deal with people with disabilities from the stand-by line, the FP line, and the Return pass line.

But I can only see confusion and even danger in most of DL...

 

[SueM in MN]

Disneyland and WDW are so different in terms of available space to make 'new' lines that they can't really even be discussed together.
WDW has space to work with. Disneyland as a lot of attractions that were squeezed in next to each other as attractions were added and renovated. They really don't have space to make changes.

Disneyland was built long before people with disabilities started traveling in any numbers, so wheelchair access just was not thought about. Queues, load and unload were designed to 'deliver' a steady flow of walking guests into the attraction, get them onto the ride as quickly as possible and 'deliver' them to the exit and out the door as soon as possible.
Any guest who can't do that in the 'regular' way becomes an exception. When there were few guests with wheelchairs or invisible needs, exceptions were easier - one small group of guests can come into the exit or wait at boarding without disrupting the flow of the attraction too much.

I don't even know if there is a way to make a 'standard' way at all attractions to handle guests at DL who have mobility devices and/or GACs. There is so much variability in attractions.
Even at WDW, which is more standardized, there are exceptions to how thins usually work. DL would have mostly exceptions from what I can see.

 

[KPeveler]

I can see WDW doing this at some rides with the new RFID system but I highly doubt I will see too many changes during the most crowded time of year. Yes I can see them doing this where there is already a FP or former FP line. But I cannot even figure out how they will make it work in fantasyland or adventureland.

I believe any sudden changes have nothing to do with equality for people in wheelchairs and more to do with recent bad press.

 

[KPeveler]

I can see WDW doing this at some rides with the new RFID system but I highly doubt I will see too many changes during the most crowded time of year. Yes I can see them doing this where there is already a FP or former FP line. But I cannot even figure out how they will make it work in fantasyland or adventureland.

I believe any sudden changes have nothing to do with equality for people in wheelchairs and more to do with recent badlress.

 

[cmwade77]

I understand why a few of the big ones, but some of this makes no sense. So I am supposed to go find a person to get a GAC for Peter Pan so their wheelchair line evens out? Even if no one is in their wheelchair line right now? And where are they going to put these CM with their podiums? I was in the park on Saturday and Monday, and saw no evidence of this at Space, Jungle Cruise, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Star Tours, Pirates, or Haunted Mansion.

I am confused - are they putting this system in place all the time? Only when the wheelchair line gets too long? Do I HAVE to get a return time for Jungle Cruise, or can I just get in the regular wheelchair line? I get it for rides with a FP, but most of the ones you mentioned do not have a FP, so it just sounds like more work, more confusion, and less of an accommodation for people with disabilities.

Is Disney going to explain any of this new process on their website or anything?

What I understand is that Disney is trying to do away with standby lines for people with wheelchairs and other disabilities, and now we all need to try to get this return pass. That works fine if there is an accessible FP line to put us in, but how does this work with the tiny wheelchair entrance to Jungle Cruise? And how will they assume my "return time" is no longer than the standby time? I know the purpose is to space out the wheelchairs showing up at rides to make things more fair AND to be able to tell the "public" that now everyone has to "wait." But I have no idea how this is supposed to work on rides where there is no standby option.

ETA: This system has been in place for months, and while it is nice sometimes, there is still always a long wheelchair line.

I have a feeling this has a lot less to do with helping people with disabilities and more to tell the "public" changes were made and now they have made things "equal."

It is not happening all of the time, I think it depends on how long the stand by line is and/or how many wheelchairs are in line. For example, when the wheelchair queue gets too long for Peter Pan they have had a CM out at it. I would think that when it reaches that point that they would be doing return time passes. There is no need for a podium, the CMs usually have the passes in their pockets and simply write the return time on it. The only one that I have traditionally seen a podium at is RSR, but I have seen them issue return time passes on just about every attraction over the years. The difference now is they are doing it more often.

 

[KPeveler]

Ok so this does not sound like a policy change so much as a CMs discretion.

There is a difference in the way Return passes and Recovery passes are handled. I have seen people with Recovery passes usually have to wait in the accessible line at the exit an d they are not given priorrity over people with wheelchairs and GACs already in line (if there is no FP line they can use.)

A return pass is different and acts like a FP. I have never seen a Return Pass given out for a non FP ride... I guess CMs may have both Recovery and Return passes now.