Maneuvering DLR with a disabled person

[amorosa1970]

Hi DISers. I have been lurking around these boards for a while but I have never created a thread. I was looking for some advice regarding an upcoming trip to DLR. So let me give you a little back story. In May of this year I went to DLR with my DD, it was her first time and my 3rd time (my previous visit was in 1991). We were in parks with a 5 day park hopper and we went on all the rides we could or that my daughter wanted to ride. This trip is going to be a little more low key and to enjoy the details.

So here are the facts: We are driving from the central valley of CA and will arrive on 11/28/14 and leaving 12/03/14 We have a 4 day park hopper. It's going to be me, DD age 4 and my mom, age 63. This trip is special because it will be my first time to DLR during Xmas holiday season and it will be my mother's first time ever to DLR. My mother has mobility issues, she is able to walk but uses a walker for stability and it has a built in seat for her to stop and sit when she needs to rest. My mom doesn't want to use a wheelchair because she does not want to burden me with pushing her or an ECV because of the difficulty it would be loading and unloading from my vehicle and renting one from the park is not budget friendly for 4 days.

I am wondering how we will maneuver the rides with her walker. Would she be able to go through the regular lines or have to use the disability exits. I was wondering what the protocol was as to how DLR handles disabled people who are somewhat mobile but still need assistive devices.

Thank you guys.

 

[SMD]

At DCA, all of the queues are accessible. On some like TSMM and RSR you will be directed to a different loading area at the end of the queue to avoid stairs.

At DL many of the queues are accessible with a walker, but what makes rides like POTC and IASW inaccessible is the fact that you load and unload on different sides of the boat and they can't pass the walker over. In those cases you will be sent to the alternate entrance, which is usually the exit, and depending on the number of people waiting you may be given a return time instead of being allowed to wait in the line that forms at the exit. But on rides like Dumbo and teacups you can use the regular queue. There should be a CM you can ask at each ride.

If she has stability issues, are you able to assist her climbing in and out of ride vehicles? Some rides load below ground level and she will have to climb in and out of those, so be prepared for that.

 

[nikkislaght]

Just to be on the alert... I too have a cane with a seat and going through security you may be stopped and told you cant take that cane in... Everytime I use that cane, I get held up at the bag check with them telling me I cant take the cane in and if I have a problem then get a wheelchair... they say its a liability if you sit on a seat like that .. if you fall or someone trips over you they don't want to be sued...

You can go to city hall and get a DAS card... when you go they will ask you what your needs are,, not what your disability is.. make sure your mum tells them she cant do the stairs.. this will allow her to use the exits... etc...
make sure you take advantage of the F/P and with the cane and a fast pass , you will be able to use the wheelchair entrance for rides like Space mountain... as the F/P entrance for Space is still a hike...

The rides that have stairs you will go in via the F/P lanes and then branch off. In Fantasyland her cane will be considered a mobility device and you will be able to use the exits on all the rides... sometimes the C/M will give you a hand written fast pass.... with the DAS you will go to guest relations green umbrelled Kiosk spaced around the park to get your return time... if you are hoping.. you can get a return time for a ride in the other park and then make your way over...
If mobility is a big problem then a wheel chair or ECV would be the way to go...
Deckers rents them and they have a great reputation and you can take it back and forth from park to hotel.. if you rent in DL you cant leave the parks with them..

Hope you have a great trip

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just to be on the alert... I too have a cane with a seat and going through security you may be stopped and told you cant take that cane in... Everytime I use that cane, I get held up at the bag check with them telling me I cant take the cane in and if I have a problem then get a wheelchair... they say its a liability if you sit on a seat like that .. if you fall or someone trips over you they don't want to be sued...

Were you eventually able to take your cane through? I've seen conflicting reports and was hoping to come across someone who had actual experience recently at Disneyland with a cane seat. (I know you can't use them to sit and watch fireworks or parades.)

 

[nikkislaght]

Were you eventually able to take your cane through? I've seen conflicting reports and was hoping to come across someone who had actual experience recently at Disneyland with a cane seat. (I know you can't use them to sit and watch fireworks or parades.)

Yes after a good 10 minutes of back and forth , it came down to them insisting on me renting a wheelchair... when I said that was fine.. but they will pay for it... they said I could use the Cane inside... but not the chair..

funny thing was the second day,, after the same arguement , I was on one of the sail boats and saw a little old lady.. pull up to the rai.. open up her cane chair and sit down.... bold as you please... and no one said anything... at that point my hip was screaming at me, so I used mine too as a chair... no one said anything.
A couple more times through out the parks I used the seat.. at places that were out of the way... up against a wall type of setting ..so there was no chance of someone falling over me...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Yes after a good 10 minutes of back and forth , it came down to them insisting on me renting a wheelchair... when I said that was fine.. but they will pay for it... they said I could use the Cane inside... but not the chair.. funny thing was the second day,, after the same arguement , I was on one of the sail boats and saw a little old lady.. pull up to the rai.. open up her cane chair and sit down.... bold as you please... and no one said anything... at that point my hip was screaming at me, so I used mine too as a chair... no one said anything. A couple more times through out the parks I used the seat.. at places that were out of the way... up against a wall type of setting ..so there was no chance of someone falling over me...

The inconsistency on disney's part is ridiculous but good to know it's possible. Thanks for the info!

 

[5forMickey]

.. ECV because of the difficulty it would be loading and unloading from my vehicle and renting one from the park is not budget friendly for 4 days.

Have you called Deckers and asked how much it would be to rent one. I'm not sure what you budget is but it seems like the last time we rented one for my parents it was not really that much. I could be up in the night but it seems like it was 25-30 dollars a day? If you could reconsider this I think it would make your trip so much more enjoyable, it's just a really hard place to be with mobility issues without the ECV. With the ECV you just breeze through like everyone else

Good luck!

 

[amorosa1970]

Thank guys this is really helpful info. We found a scotter rental place that is 1/2 the price of DLR. So after much thought we have decided that renting an ECV is the best way to go.

 

[5forMickey]

Thank guys this is really helpful info. We found a scotter rental place that is 1/2 the price of DLR. So after much thought we have decided that renting an ECV is the best way to go.

I'm so happy for you, I think this will make life SO much easier for all of you. Have a great trip!!!