Making me walk way too far on rides

[bidnow5]

One thing I had a problem with last week in Disney World was the amount of walking. I use a scooter and can walk some but the more I walk the more I hurt On several rides they asked if I could walk a short distance and it ended up being way to far BTMRR the train ended on the other side and we had to walk out. I couldn't go on several rides after. On more rides now you have to transfer to a wheel chair my wife and I both use scooters and neither of us can push the other or wheel ourselves so we either have to walk and hurt on skip the ride. I don't mind so much when I know it but on thunder mountain I would have skipped the ride if I knew how far I would have to walk

 

[Gracie09]

So tell them you can transfer but not walk. For the transfer to wheelchair rides I think most of those are because the place you enter the ride and the place you exit the ride are in different areas and they can't get the ecv over there in time. I'm thinking Pirates and maybe Space Mountain.

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

The transfer can also be due to tight turns. Winnie the Pooh was like that when I worked there. We had a gretter that wasn't paying attention once and an ECV made it in and a CM actually got injured when it ran over her foot trying to make the turn. (NOTE: I am NOT blaming the guest, the greeter should have told them).

Unfortunately if neither of you can push a wheelchair, you may not have a lot of options on those rides. Do you have a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities? That normally has a decent explanation of the type of walking at rides. I would tell them that walking is not an option for you but that you are able to transfer. Maybe talk to guest relations in advance to see what rides this will affect and what are some good options for you.

 

[catra121]

I noticed this the first time I went to WDW since needing my walker...I learned VERY quickly to just tell them no...that I cannot walk more than a couple steps without the walker. Sometime I CAN...but the amount of pain it causes each time I do is severe and it means I will be doing less from that point on. Every once in a while someone still tries to pressure me...but I just hold firm because I know the consequences if I don't.

Last trip the only incident was at Buzz Lightyear in MK...it was so bad that I considered not going on it a second time when our FP+ time came up...but luckily there was a different CM working at the entrance and for as bad as the first experience was the second one was one of the best experiences I had. The first time I REALLY had to stick to my guns about taking the walker all the way up TO the moving walkway and then about having her slow the walkway down. Then when I got off the ride she made me stand at the end of the moving walkway for (no exaggeration) 5 minutes because I couldn't cross the path to get to my walker, she wouldn't bring it to me, she refused to let my family bring it to me, and would not ask the other people getting off the ride to allow me to cross. 5 minutes may not sound like a lot of time...but after getting off the ride onto a walkway that was NOT slowed down it was pure agony and I was very happy the next stop was an ADR so I could sit and recover for a while. I was so scared that I was going to fall getting off the ride...and I was 28 weeks pregnant at the time so falling was even more scary for me than usual.

Second time with different CM...they never questioned my taking the walker to the walkway, told me I could use the walker ON the walkway, when I got off the ride they had my walker and walked it all the way to the ride vehicle for me...we're talking same day but 2 hours difference with a different CM. So sometimes it's just luck of the draw when it comes to how things are handled.

But if you stick to your guns about not being able to walk they will take care of you. They might try to make you feel bad about it (no idea why they do this)...but you can't let that deter you from asking for what you need. At HM I always tell them I need the walkway stopped because that is the only way they will let me take my walker all the way to the ride vehicle...and the walk is WAY too far for me without it...but I always find it interesting that at HM they are pretty insistent about trying to convince guests that it's not THAT far of a walk. I fell for it the first time...and then it was lesson learned.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

The BTM long walk puzzles me. Every time we rocked up to ride (either with DD's DAS or our FP) I was given a little slip by the girl on the FP Return queue and sent straight to the exit. I parked halfway up the ramp and walked the rest of the way up into the 'exit platform' where they load people from wheelchairs and ECVs. Couldn't have been more than 40 feet or so.

 

[SueM in MN]

It's important to be clear about your needs and communicate in in as few words as possible.
In our case, when asked if our daughter can transfer, we answer , "No. We need to bring her wheelchair as close as possible to the ride car and lift her in."
In many cases, the CM thanks us for making their job easier and they often ask if we need the moving walkway stopped or say they will stop it.


If you can walk and they ask if you can walk 'a short distance' ask how far.
Or, tell them how far you can walk.
Some people may consider a 'short distance' to be 20 feet, others 5 feet and someone else 2 steps.
So, it's important for you and the CM to be in agreement about what distance is short enough.

I noticed on our last and this trip, they seemed to be using a script at Haunted Mansion. The first step was "can you transfer".
For those who could transfer, the next question was '"can you walk xx number of feet?"
Then, "can you walk on a moving walkway?"

For people who can't walk, can't propel a wheelchair and have no one to push them, I agree with a previous poster who suggested some attractions may not be doable any more. That is sad, but really not anything Disney can do about it.

 

[POOHsie]

The BTM long walk puzzles me. Every time we rocked up to ride (either with DD's DAS or our FP) I was given a little slip by the girl on the FP Return queue and sent straight to the exit. I parked halfway up the ramp and walked the rest of the way up into the 'exit platform' where they load people from wheelchairs and ECVs. Couldn't have been more than 40 feet or so.

Depending on how many trains are running at BTMRR, you could exit on the same side as your parked scooter, or you could exit on the other side of the tracks. My memory isn't clear but I thought in the past, no matter which side you exited on, your scooter would be there for you. Guess things have changed (personnel cutbacks?). Two years ago on a solo trip, I exited on the other side and my scooter wasn't there for me. The CM told me to get in a wheelchair and make my way to the other side where my scooter was still parked. I'll tell you, handling a wheelchair on that exit without assistance was nearly impossible. There was an incline until you reached outside, then downhill to the main MK walkway. Then uphill again to where the scooter was parked. When I was climbing the first incline with the wheelchair, it was so steep that the chair almost tipped over backwards. I turned the chair around backwards and pushed myself up the hill with my one good leg. It was a NIGHTMARE.

Fast Forward two years (last month), I was at BTMRR with my DD. I told her what happened last time and that I was afraid. It turned out that they were running enough trains so the trains exited on the same side they started from, and it was a quick hop to the scooter. If you exit on the other side from your scooter and you can't handle it, explain to the CM at the exit that you can't walk that far, and ask to ride again so that you can exit on the same side as your scooter is parked. This is what I learned to do if the issue came up again.

 

[bidnow5]

I've been on thunder mountain dozens of times this was the first time I was let off on the wrong side I just wasn't expecting it I told the CM I could only walk a very short distance

 

[ttintagel]

Yeah, I fell for the "just a couple of steps" business the first time I used an ECV. Unfortunately, it ws also my first time in the parks as an adult, after a long absence, so I had no way of knowing what the real distances were.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Off the topic a little but will the cm stop the moving walk way for anyone? I will have an ecv bc I have bad ankles and recently found out I have some sort of weakness on my right side which causes me to get super dizzy. Anyways it would be a huge help if they could stop the walk ways for me so I don't fall on my face. Do I need to speak with guest services first or just the ride operators?

 

[bidnow5]

They can slow or stop most walkways not Peter Pan or the people mover at times they seem reluctant to slow or stop the one at haunted mansion

 

[Mrsjvb]

One thing I had a problem with last week in Disney World was the amount of walking. I use a scooter and can walk some but the more I walk the more I hurt On several rides they asked if I could walk a short distance and it ended up being way to far BTMRR the train ended on the other side and we had to walk out. I couldn't go on several rides after. On more rides now you have to transfer to a wheel chair my wife and I both use scooters and neither of us can push the other or wheel ourselves so we either have to walk and hurt on skip the ride. I don't mind so much when I know it but on thunder mountain I would have skipped the ride if I knew how far I would have to walk

every CM indicated how long the walk would be when asking if I could do so/transfer.

nothing stopping you from doing the asking if the info is not forthcoming

 

[bidnow5]

every CM indicated how long the walk would be when asking if I could do so/transfer. nothing stopping you from doing the asking if the info is not forthcoming

after riding the ride as many times as we have there was no reason to suspect they would drop us off on the opposite side the CM asked if I could walk a short distance and did not say I would have to walk out from the other side

 

[minnie mum]

after riding the ride as many times as we have there was no reason to suspect they would drop us off on the opposite side the CM asked if I could walk a short distance and did not say I would have to walk out from the other side

It's unfortunate that you had this happen to you. As described in an earlier post, I think this only happens when they are running only one train. I had this happen only once in all the years (decades) I've been riding it. But the CM seemed to know I had my chair on the other side, and just told us to stay on for one more ride. Yes, please!

 

[Carnator]

Went to Mk Monday and Wednesday last week. I rode Btrr three times each day. I use an ECV for mobility. I asked all 6 times if I could be let off on the same side as entering. All 6 times I was told no. The 1st time they offered me a courtesy WC and had it waiting on the other side. The other 5 times a courtesy WC was not available. I had to get someone from my group to bring ECV around to the other side the other times. Because of the crowds they had both trains running both days.

 

[lizard1]

It's unfortunate that you had this happen to you. As described in an earlier post, I think this only happens when they are running only one train. I had this happen only once in all the years (decades) I've been riding it. But the CM seemed to know I had my chair on the other side, and just told us to stay on for one more ride. Yes, please!

This happened to us this summer at BTMRR. The ride ended on the other side and the attendants looked for my sister's wheelchair to be there. When it wasn't there, they asked if she could walk a bit (meaning back to the entrance where her wheelchair was). While she can walk a few steps, there is no way we could have walked her that far. We told them she couldn't walk that far, and they let all of us (3 cars) stay on for another ride.

 

[bidnow5]

It's unfortunate that you had this happen to you. As described in an earlier post, I think this only happens when they are running only one train. I had this happen only once in all the years (decades) I've been riding it. But the CM seemed to know I had my chair on the other side, and just told us to stay on for one more ride. Yes, please!

they were running at least three they had just added one we waited five trains to get on with no other guests there

 

[Toffeewoffy]

This happened to us this summer at BTMRR. The ride ended on the other side and the attendants looked for my sister's wheelchair to be there. When it wasn't there, they asked if she could walk a bit (meaning back to the entrance where her wheelchair was). While she can walk a few steps, there is no way we could have walked her that far. We told them she couldn't walk that far, and they let all of us (3 cars) stay on for another ride.

I rode it twice, I think, in February. Both times I boarded and disembarked from the exit side. I didn't know there was another way on and off! It would be nice if, in March, they have to let us stay on and ride again so we can get off the right side!

 

[kamik86]

I think when the CMs say a short distance you have to assume a bit more of one. If walking hurts I would say no.

I brought my mom in a wheel chair twice. She always said yes but she was just post a knee replacement and she has issues with retaining water and having her feet swell and be painful in the heat. But back home she doesn't use a wheelchair at all. So she can easily handle say walking from Epcot guest relations to the bus if she takes her time, more if she had her cane with her too. So saying yes isn't a big deal, she actually likes to walk a bit as she gets stiff sitting to long so it gives her a chance to do that and being a line she can go slow and not be in anyones way because you can only move as fast as the line does anyway.

So assume they ask for cases like her, people that can walk and do back home but just can't handle the MILES of walking at disney. If it hurts to walk say no.

 

[Mommee]

I'm puzzled about the thunder mountain. Are you guys saying that sometimes you are getting off on the same side as where everyone else is getting on? I thought everyone got off on the "exit side". I'm having a hard time understanding that. I have only ridden twice in the last several years since it's just too hard on my body, so maybe they've changed how they're doing it?

My only issue has been with the new little mermaid ride. After waiting at the rope, the attendant told us to park the wheelchair and then move up to the boarding area. Ok, I can handle that just fine, but then he left us standing there almost 15 minutes! I was so miserable. That only happened once, though. The rest of the time my husband has been told to wheel the wheelchair up to the boarding area and then they take it from him to park (or he does it himself) once they're ready for us to board.

Though I will say once I did get a bit of attitude at spaceship earth when I said I couldn't walk up the hill. But only once out of dozens and dozens of rides