My recent ECV / GAC Experience

[lovetoscrap]

Thought I would give a brief rundown of my 3 days in Disney and the experience I had with my ECV and a GAC. We went to 3 parks-- Disney Studios, Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

If I had to sum it up in one word it would be this "Frustrating".


To start with I wasn't even sure if I was going to get a GAC. I had read another recent poster here who said that she was denied one and told to just use a wheelchair or ECV . And of course that make sense and has been repeated several times, that Disney is telling people with stamina/standing/walking type issues that they don't need a GAC and to just use the ECV. But I was planning on trying to walk for some of the lines and wanted to have one "just in case". And honestly I was a bit curious after seeing that someone was denied one to see what response I would get.

I should also note that I was in my personal ECV that is very personalized and unique so it was obvious it was not a rental.

So I started out the trip at Disney Studios. I went to Guest Services and explained that I have stamina/mobility problems and asked if I needed a GAC. No Problems! She gave me a card that said I was able to use the wheelchair entrance. Okay. Well I am in an ECV so I thought that would be obvious so I threw it in the bottom of my bag and didn't give it much of a thought.

I didn't need it at all at Disney Studios. We made very good use of FastPass and with most of it being shows it was just not a problem being in the ECV.

The day at Epcot (actually our 3rd day) was also not really a problem. But We used Fast Passes for the big rides and most all of the lines are very HC accessable so it was not a big deal. Well except for one ride. We were in line for one of the big rides ( I dont' think I should say which) and it was a 75 minute wait. Even the FastPass line was about 20 minutes long! We had been in line for about 15 minutes (the line was outside the building) when a CM came up to me and told me that I needed to be in the FastPass line. Now I am not complaining but as I said--Frustrating! I am actually not sure why I needed to be in the "alternate" line except that they did hold us for a bit in the front and arrange for us to go through. Maybe just to have better control?

So I come to the Magic Kingdom day which was actually day 2 of our trip. My favorite park was the most frustrating and nearly a nightmare to do with my ECV and mobility issues. We started the day at Buzz Lightyear. I had decided to park my ECV and walk. It was early so I was in pretty good shape and we were going to go to Monsters Inc next and I did not want to be in the HC seating for that. We also thought we might go to Stitch and again I wanted to be in the regular seating with my kids.

I showed my GAC to the CM at the front of Buzz since the line was already getting long and I wasn't sure I could stand that long in line. I asked if I could sit somewhere to wait or if there was something I needed to do. She was a bit snotty (just a little) and said "All our lines are mainstreamed. You just get in the regular line. If you can't stand then you will need to get a wheelchair."

Okay then! My first experience with the GAC and apparently the whole "just use your ECV" is the party line no matter what so I will tough it out. Threw the GAC back into my bag and forgot about it. I walked for Buzz. We went to Monsters Inc and sat in front of "That Guy!" (great show BTW!). We decided to skip Stitch. After we left Tomorrowland was when things got bad. Trying to figure out where I was supposed to be with the ECV at each ride was so crazy. Some lines had handicapped entrances and some didn't. So much for "all the lines are mainstreamed". I would get in the line only to be pulled out and told I needed to be somewhere else. Then the best was when I started getting the hang of it and pulled up to the HC entrance at several rides and was asked if I had a GAC! The CM would not allow me in the HC entrance with my ECV until I showed him the GAC! If I hadn't had the GAC I am not sure what would have happened? I think they would have insisted that I had to walk through the line with no use of my ECV at all.

But what caused the nightmare though was mostly in Fantasyland. At most of the rides I was told that I had to park the ECV outside and walk. I was allowed to use the HC entrance but I still had to do way more walking and standing then I was really capable of. By noon I was in so much pain I could barely stand at all and was exhausted. I repeatedly told the CM's that I really couldn't walk and stand the much and needed to take my ECV in but I was told "No" every time. I have no idea what someone with any less stamina would have done. I was nearly in tears several times by the time we got to the ride.

The last major problem I had was in trying to get to the Train Station on Main Street at the end of the day. We had never been on the train and were going to end our day there. I went to the main entrance ( the stairs) and easily found the sign pointing to the right for the HC entrance. But we couldn't find the entrance! I ended up going out to the front thinking maybe there was an elevator somewhere and was pointed back inside. Then I found the ramp and discovered the problem. The landscaping/decorative trees were placed directly in front of the HC sign! It was impossible to see! When we got to the top I told the CM about the problem and she argued with me that they must have just moved some other trees over there temporarily and those were not decorative trees. But she did agree to check on it. She came back to me a few minutes later and apologized profusely since she checked and saw that yep, they were decorative items placed in front of the sign. She said she would make sure they were moved. They hadn't been moved by the time we went all the way around and came back to Main Street. If anone gets a chance, please check for me and make sure that sign is now clearly visable!

So I guess wrap up is this. GET A GAC! It doesn't matter if they tell you that as long as you have a WC or ECV you don't need it because I did, repeatedly. Just being in a WC or ECV is not enough for some CM's. There is absolutely no consistancy in how the HC/GAC policy is applied from ride to ride. Just ask if you need to.

I would love to hear from those with more experience how MK was for you. Maybe I needed to get the WDW Disabilities Guide to help me? I didn't bother since I really didn't think I would have any problems. Things ended up being way more difficult than I ever expected.

 

[mamaloya]

Wow, I am so sorry you had a hard time. Maybe they are discriminating against ECVs because I was rarely given a hard time by CMs. I always asked the first CM I saw where to wait and they were very friendly and helpful. I was sometimes asked by numerous CMs along the way if I could transfer or walk at all. At TT, I was asked if I could handle stairs in case of an emergency exit. I asked if there was handrails and how steep, etc. I told her I would be fine, I had my son. She told me that she just needed to know so that they could send someone to help me if I needed it. She was very nice.

I only had 2 rude/indifferent CMs. One was at the carousel. I wheeled up and could not tell where even the regular line was. I asked the first CM where I should enter. She pulled the rope back and said "here is fine". She had me stand up and park my w/c. She did not ask me how long I could stand and I was in pain by the time we got on. She then scolded me for not going to the w/c entrance. I asked here where it was and she said "here". Anyway, no biggie. Then at WtP, when I asked the CM if I there was a seperate w/c entrance she quite snottily said "No, you have to wait in line like everyone else." Like I was trying to line hop. I just asked a question so that I did not go the wrong way. The only other time was at HM. I was told to enter the line and then take the w/c entrance by the sign. I never noticed the sign and neither did the 3 w/c's behind me. We were scolded for missing the exit and had to backtrack through the crowd. I was also asked if I could stand for 5 minutes and walk a couple hundred feet. I said yes and was sorry for that. I stood way longer than 5 minutes and walked way longer than that. I should have just asked to skip the preshow. I know next time.

I think that it comes down to the CMs opinion of your situation. I guess in a personal w/c you appear more "worthy" of accomodation, whereas someone on an ECV may be perceived as not needed that accomodation. I wonder if WDW will ever fix this problem.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I think that it comes down to the CMs opinion of your situation. I guess in a personal w/c you appear more "worthy" of accomodation, whereas someone on an ECV may be perceived as not needed that accomodation. I wonder if WDW will ever fix this problem.

I agree with this completely. That is why I also included that I was in an ECV that was very obviously my personal one and not a rental one. It is a very unique model and has custom seat covers and Sparkly stickers on it!

I can see from their side there are so many people now renting scooters for reasons that they may not need accomodations for that they need to try to seperate those with real needs from those that don't have them. But since they have set up their own system to not have to prove if you have a legitimate need it is a bit of a Catch 22.

One the one hand we have "If you have stamina/ mobility issues you should just have a WC or ECV" and "You don't need a GAC if you are in a scooter or WC"

But the reality is that if they are going to "judge" each person requesting accomodation while in one then you do need the GAC. And even then you may not get the accomodation that you need.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you had gotten the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, it does tell you where to go (not in any great detail, but it does tell some). For example, for HM, it says to see a host or hostess at the entrance for directions - when there is one there, they will tell you to stay and that the wheelchair 'gate' is on the right, at the hearse. That attraction is one where people have complained a lot about the "5 minutes" part. The stretching room is probably 5 minutes, plus then you have to walk in a slowly moving line in almost complete darkness to get to the boarding area. They also should tell you that boarding involves a moving walkway. If people knew that, they would probably not choose to board there.
For Buzz Lightyear, that is a mainstream line and the guidebook does say to "Obtain a FASTPASS ticket OR use Stand-by queue." That is basically what the book says for all the Mainstream Lines (which Buzz Lightyear is).
Most attractions don't have a handicapped entrance even at MK and I think that some of the ones where you pulled up to were attractions that have Mainstream Lines but also have a door marked with a wheelchair symbol (those are often the exits, not the entrances). For some (like Peter Pan), there is a place marked with a wheelchair symbol, but the guidebook says to "Obtain a Fastpass ticket or use the Stand-by queue." It also says that if Fastpass is not available, to "see a host or hostess for additional options" (which involve that marked place).

If you follow the Guidebook, you should not need a GAC with a wheelchair or ECV. The card that they gave you gives basically the same access as you get from having a wheelchair/ECV without the GAC. So, if access for wheelchairs and ECVs is Mainstream (like in Buzz Lightyear), you would be directed to use the Mainstream Access. The only attractions where the wheelchair access GAC helps are those with stairs - like Splash Mountain and Dinosaur, where using wheelchair access allows you to bypass the part of the line that has stairs.

i think the biggest confusion is, like you said, you think you have it figured out and then the next attraction is different. The other parks are not bad, but I don't know if they will ever be able to fix it at MK. Because the park is old and the queues were not made to be accessible to start with, they don't have a lot of room to work with. So, there is not consistency because some attractions don't have room to be consistent.

Some CMs could also be better and sometimes they do logical things for reasons that are not evident to the guest. On our recent trip, when we came up to Haunted Mansion, there were few people in line - the end of the line was further up than the hearse. The CM told us to go straight ahead in the exit (and bypass the line). While we were standing at the exit, waiting for a CM to come for us, a whole bunch of people came into the line, including another wheelchair party. The CM sent them into the line and it took them several minutes to get to the point of the hearse, where they waited at the wheelchair symbol chain. Why?
Well, when we came up, there were hardly any people in line and there was not a CM b y the hearse. So, whether we got into the line or not, we would have still had the same wait and we didn't bypass anyone who was already in line (and a CM would have had to come and let us thru the chain).
When the next people with a wheelchair came, letting them in the exit would mean they would have bypassed a whole lot of people who were ahead of them in line. Then, there was a third wheelchair/ECV party who just came thru the exit while the CMs back was turned, but that's another story.
That also makes it more frustrating because if I had not known those things, on our next ride of HM, we would probably expected to go thru the exit again and would be confused and frustrated when the CM told us to go thru the line.

 

[maleficent esq.]

I am so sorry you had such an unfortunate experience. But, this is the exact reason I do not like my mom using an ECV and I push her in her own wheelchair. She can not stand at all and to transfer from her wheelchair to the attraction is very difficult. The CM's are very understanding and always try to help, but I still get her a GAC. Everytime we go though it seems there are more and more utilizing this service.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Sue, about 11am in MK I found myself thinking that I really wish I had your phone number to call you and say "What am I doing wrong here???"

It was just all so confusing because I would try to get in the regular line and get told I had to be in a different place. Or I would ask and get sent to one place and then be told I couldn't use that unless I used the GAC. Or told there was no way to remain in my ECV even though I certainly couldn't see a reason why not. I really approached each line with the intention of remaining in my ECV and using the regular line.

 

[LauraVV]

We went to Disney in Jan/Feb. We had no problems. We spent most of our time at Magic Kingdom. At every ride I showed the GAC and asked the CM what I needed to do. I have a scooter and my daughter uses a w/c. I think I left my scooter at the entrance just a couple of times.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Sorry about your frustrating experience.

My b/f is in a power wheelchair and I have been to WDW with him 3 times. We always go to a CM at the attraction we want to go into and ask where we should go, this way you don't get pulled from one line into another.

I also read the disabilities guide and got Open Mouse from PassPorter, they both helped so much. I had a plan of what we would do and read a lot on the DIS, all I can say is plan ahead, it will save you headaches later on.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue, about 11am in MK I found myself thinking that I really wish I had your phone number to call you and say "What am I doing wrong here???"

It was just all so confusing because I would try to get in the regular line and get told I had to be in a different place. Or I would ask and get sent to one place and then be told I couldn't use that unless I used the GAC. Or told there was no way to remain in my ECV even though I certainly couldn't see a reason why not. I really approached each line with the intention of remaining in my ECV and using the regular line.

Sorry that it got so frustrating.
One thing the Guest Services could do to help would be to explain how to use the GAC a little bit. Not all GACs say the same thing and not all attractions work the same (even the same attraction, like I pointed out above about HM), so they can't tell you exactly.
But, it would help at least if they gave a copy of the Guidebook and point out how to tell if an attraction has a Mainstream line or not and how to tell which attractions you need to transfer from the ECV (there is an icon of a person getting out of the ECV and into a wheelchair on the park maps, guidebook and signs in front of each attraction).

They could also do better training of their staff - sometimes it's necessary to transfer from the ECV because the line is too narrow for larger ECVs, including the ones they rent. But, for smaller, more manouverable ECVs it might not be a problem, especially if it's the person's own ECV that they are familiar with. Sometimes it's because the ECV would have to be taken across the ride track. If you have to transfer, they are supposed to have a wheelchair people could transfer to.
Also, they could do a better job of explaining distances so people can make informed choices - we were in the Fastpass line at Soarin' in back of 2 women who had left their ECVs at the entrance because they knew they would only wait 15 minutes or less in the Fastpass line. They were not prepared for the long, long walk up and down ramps and were hurting by the time they got halfway thru. I've seen the same thing happen at Bug's Life.

All, in all, they could do a much better job with their Guidebooks. They don't have to give away any surprises about the attraction, but some realistic distances and options would be nice (if you look at the Universal or Seaworld Guidebooks, they are much more detailed). The Passporter book has a lot of detail, but kind of big to carry along.
Anyway, this is why I'm working on FAQs for each park. The EPCOT one is started and I'm working on it slowly as I have time. (If someone would pay me to do it so I could take time off from work, it would go faster). But, I hope to have one for each park with more info before your next trip.

 

[KPeveler]

A lot of what i learned about wheeling at disney is to advocate for yourself. for example, on Buzz, i was told to get out of my chair (i can walk for short periods of time, as in a few minutes, without pain) and wait at the end of the moving walkway to get on. there was a man in a wheelchair in front of us who had to wait for the wheelchair car, and so i had to wait for the ride to make a full loop before he could get on. basically i was going to be there for a while. so i had my mom go and get my wheelchair and i sat in line, and then a CM came and got it. That may not be their normal thing, but it was what i needed, so they did it.

Fantasyland is probly the worst in terms of wheelchair entrances. there is no rhyme or reason to it. my suggestion is to ask at every ride before entering a queue, even if you have been there before. there should be a CM at the entrance to every line, so it shouldnt be too hard to find them. i do not travel with an ECV (cant use them), I I would suggest the "Open Mouse" book, as it gives a little more detail about entrances.

I will think about getting a GAC next time i am there, since depending on the day, i definitely cannot park my wc and walk.

 

[Talking Hands]

A lot of what i learned about wheeling at disney is to advocate for yourself. for example, on Buzz, i was told to get out of my chair (i can walk for short periods of time, as in a few minutes, without pain) and wait at the end of the moving walkway to get on. there was a man in a wheelchair in front of us who had to wait for the wheelchair car, and so i had to wait for the ride to make a full loop before he could get on. basically i was going to be there for a while. so i had my mom go and get my wheelchair and i sat in line, and then a CM came and got it. That may not be their normal thing, but it was what i needed, so they did it.

Fantasyland is probly the worst in terms of wheelchair entrances. there is no rhyme or reason to it. my suggestion is to ask at every ride before entering a queue, even if you have been there before. there should be a CM at the entrance to every line, so it shouldnt be too hard to find them. i do not travel with an ECV (cant use them), I I would suggest the "Open Mouse" book, as it gives a little more detail about entrances.

I will think about getting a GAC next time i am there, since depending on the day, i definitely cannot park my wc and walk.

If there was a guest waiting for a wheelchair vehicle and you did not need one then you should have been taken around that guest and loaded into a regular vehicle. No reason for you to wait for him to get his wheelchair accessible vehicle before getting on the ride. This is what they did with me when I was there at the beginning of the month.
Only place I had the least problem was the Laugh Floor. CM was clueless that the show was interpreted and kept telling me it wasn't. Finally a young man stepped up and said follow me, my wife is the interpreter and this is the right show. CM started to pull me to an area for wheelchairs but terps told them no she is with us.

 

[Eeyore's Tiara]

Thought I would give a brief rundown of my 3 days in Disney and the experience I had with my ECV and a GAC. We went to 3 parks-- Disney Studios, Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

If I had to sum it up in one word it would be this "Frustrating".

I would get in the line only to be pulled out and told I needed to be somewhere else. Then the best was when I started getting the hang of it and pulled up to the HC entrance at several rides and was asked if I had a GAC! The CM would not allow me in the HC entrance with my ECV until I showed him the GAC! If I hadn't had the GAC I am not sure what would have happened? I think they would have insisted that I had to walk through the line with no use of my ECV at all.

But what caused the nightmare though was mostly in Fantasyland. At most of the rides I was told that I had to park the ECV outside and walk. I was allowed to use the HC entrance but I still had to do way more walking and standing then I was really capable of.

So I guess wrap up is this. GET A GAC! It doesn't matter if they tell you that as long as you have a WC or ECV you don't need it because I did, repeatedly. Just being in a WC or ECV is not enough for some CM's. There is absolutely no consistancy in how the HC/GAC policy is applied from ride to ride. Just ask if you need to.

Boy do I understand the frustration part!

I didnt need a GAC the last time I went, I used an ecv from a medical supply, and not one cm actually made me present one. Is this something new?

Before when I had picked up a GAC card, I noticed they didnt even ask me what I needed it for... No stamps, nothing. I had requested one because of my immune system and heat & sun sensitivity from medication. They just handed me a card. Maybe I just got a new CM?

And Fantasyland was bad. The CM's there made snap judgements about whether we were able to walk or not. They were extremelly rude. I try not to get upset and I try to return their rudeness with a smile, but it doesnt always come out as a smile....

 

[KPeveler]

If there was a guest waiting for a wheelchair vehicle and you did not need one then you should have been taken around that guest and loaded into a regular vehicle. No reason for you to wait for him to get his wheelchair accessible vehicle before getting on the ride. This is what they did with me when I was there at the beginning of the month.
Only place I had the least problem was the Laugh Floor. CM was clueless that the show was interpreted and kept telling me it wasn't. Finally a young man stepped up and said follow me, my wife is the interpreter and this is the right show. CM started to pull me to an area for wheelchairs but terps told them no she is with us.

I have no idea why they did that with me at Buzz, but it only took a few minutes, so i wasnt too stressed about it. i just didnt want to stand when i had the option of sitting. the CMs seemed pretty confused that night, but when i went back later in the trip, the CM was great. who knows...

i agree, they REALLY need to do something about fantasyland! especially with all those darn strollers! (not that i have a problem with the strollers themselves, just that stroller parking makes wheeling out of philharmagic a bit of a slalom run!)

 

[HonnyDipp]

Please dont think I'm stupid here guys, but what is a GAC what exactly does it do?

 

[SueM in MN]

Boy do I understand the frustration part!

I didnt need a GAC the last time I went, I used an ecv from a medical supply, and not one cm actually made me present one. Is this something new?

No, you should not need a GAC with either a wheelchair or a GAC.
Some of the problems the OP mentioned were because she was getting out of her ECV and using a GAC that allowed her to use wheelchair entrance. If the attraction has a Mainstream Line, that means that people using wheelchairs or ECVs use the regular line. When she walked up and asked to use the wheelchair line, they directed her to the Mainstream Line. She didn't know they were Mainstream Lines.

The way that things are done can be confusing if you don;t see a CM

Before when I had picked up a GAC card, I noticed they didnt even ask me what I needed it for... No stamps, nothing. I had requested one because of my immune system and heat & sun sensitivity from medication. They just handed me a card. Maybe I just got a new CM?

Before 1999, there were no specific stamps.
If you told them what you mentioned here, they would not have had to ask any questions. They may have had some 'pre-stamped' cards with the things that you needed and gave you one of those.

And Fantasyland was bad. The CM's there made snap judgements about whether we were able to walk or not. They were extremelly rude. I try not to get upset and I try to return their rudeness with a smile, but it doesnt always come out as a smile....

unfortunately, some are just very focused on keeping the line moving.
There is an assumption that someone with a rented ECV can walk. Maybe not a correct assumption in every case, but the assumption is that you are able to walk if you have a rented one, especially a park rental one.

Please dont think I'm stupid here guys, but what is a GAC what exactly does it do?

A GAC is a Guest Assistance Card. It is meant to alert the CMs about what type of assistance a guest with a disability needs. The information on the card is very basic, so it is important to let the CM know if you need something specific.
There is a whole section about GACs on the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board.

 

[MousekeMommy]

I have to agree that the inconsistency from ride to ride, from cm to cm, from time to time, is confusing and frustrating! I had a 4 year old in a stroller as wheelchair for stamina, mobility problems (heart condition, pacemaker, etc.) last July. Most cms went to the trouble of reading our GAC and sent us an appropriate route that met our needs, some glanced at it and sent us a route that later led to being re-routed, and 3 times (out of 4 days--not a bad record, all in all, but . . .) we received a very snotty "a big boy like that should be walking--maybe you could carry him if he WON'T WALK?" (the WORST of which was PoC--that cm was insistant that I park the stroller, even though I showed the sticker, the GAC, and argued--come on, you're suggesting that I carry a 45 lb child 43" tall for 45 min- 1 hr 15 min?!? I'm in good shape, but . . .?!?!!! Another was teacups (I did carry him for a 20-35 minute line, and never did get a clear answer about a handicap entrance or quicker transfer from chair to ride--any advice for the future? The 3rd was star tours--we went during "after hours", and aside from the guy outside that dismissed my questions and GAC with saying "just go ahead, lady!", there was NO ONE to help us at all, so I still don't know what to do other than my husband and I physically hefting my child through the mainstream line (which had some problem areas??? Maybe just a late night problem, but . . .) The "snotty" attitude also appeared in a DTD store where a cm just had to make a comment about "what is a big boy doing being pushed around in a stroller???" Perhaps she just wanted to exercise her training in CPR . . .
Anyway, my sympathies to those who have had difficulties when using a GAC . . . no, it's not a perfect system. I agree that subjective decisions are made by cm's about an individual's ability to walk, regardless of using a GAC (and regardless of whether the cm is ignorant or biased). On the other hand, when I consider how many situations I deal with daily that don't make any accomodations for my child's disability . . .
okay, that's my 2 cents . . .

 

[lovetoscrap]

No, you should not need a GAC with either a wheelchair or a GAC.
Some of the problems the OP mentioned were because she was getting out of her ECV and using a GAC that allowed her to use wheelchair entrance. If the attraction has a Mainstream Line, that means that people using wheelchairs or ECVs use the regular line. When she walked up and asked to use the wheelchair line, they directed her to the Mainstream Line. She didn't know they were Mainstream Lines.

The way that things are done can be confusing if you don;t see a CM

Actually just to clarify, I only walked on to Buzz (the first time, used FP and my ECV the 2nd time) and the Monsters Inc show. After that I was in my ECV the entire time when I approached the lines. The only reason that I subsequently parked my scooter and walked (hobbled!) in was when I was told that was the only option and I could not take it in the line (regular or HC) at all.

Part of the confusion also was in understanding the idea of having to transfer to a regular wheelchair. I did see those signs in many places but it is not clear if the idea is that you have to transfer from the ECV just to get into the line (like at POtC) or if that just means if you want to remain in a chair for the actual ride you will have to be in a regular wheelchair. Some rides can't accomodate a wheelchair in the ride vehicle, but some can. With the exception of POtC, I was never offered a wheelchair to transfer into to get from where I parked to the ride, nor did I see any available.

 

[SueM in MN]

Actually just to clarify, I only walked on to Buzz (the first time, used FP and my ECV the 2nd time) and the Monsters Inc show. After that I was in my ECV the entire time when I approached the lines. The only reason that I subsequently parked my scooter and walked (hobbled!) in was when I was told that was the only option and I could not take it in the line (regular or HC) at all.

Part of the confusion also was in understanding the idea of having to transfer to a regular wheelchair. I did see those signs in many places but it is not clear if the idea is that you have to transfer from the ECV just to get into the line (like at POtC) or if that just means if you want to remain in a chair for the actual ride you will have to be in a regular wheelchair. Some rides can't accomodate a wheelchair in the ride vehicle, but some can. With the exception of POtC, I was never offered a wheelchair to transfer into to get from where I parked to the ride, nor did I see any available.

Sorry, I misunderstood then.

For the rides that say you need to transfer from the ECV to a wheelchair, they are supposed to have one that you can transfer to. If the attraction has the wheelchair symbol at the entrance sign/on the park map, then it is considered an accessible line and you should be able to go in with a wheelchair or an ECV.
Buzz Lightyear is listed in the guidebook as one where ECV users must transfer to a wheelchair. I agree their book should be written more clearly. I know they have some wheelchairs at the wheelchair boarding area and I have seen ECVs parked there, so it's not clear whether you can stay in the ECV until boarding and then switch to a wheelchair before boarding (going in the wheelchair accessible ride car). The queue in that ride is very wind-y and narrow, so trying to drive an ECV thru it would be hard.

If you look at the 'definition' page for the MK Guidebook, the icon that shows someone transferring from an ECV to a wheelchair says "Guest must transfer from their motorized scooter or ECV to an available wheelchair to experience the attraction." Those are the attractions that have (or should have) wheelchairs at the entrance to the queue. If all their wheelchairs are in use, you may have to wait for another guest to exit to bring one back for you to use.
That's where having a guidebook helps - if you have seen that the ride says "must transfer from ECV to wheelchair", you can also point out to the CM that you need one of those "available wheelchairs". Some of the lines are very long, or )in things like Monsters, Inc., you will be standing for a long time because they actually 'load' a group of people into a standing room so they are ready to go into the show as the last audience is leaving. There are usually not chairs in those rooms , so unless you have a wheelchair, ECV or a cane with a fold down seat, you have to stand. It would be nice if their guidebook specified some of those things so people could make informed choices.

And, some of the rides that have the 'must transfer from wheelchair to ECV' icon, also allow ECVs in the line (like Small World). So, do they mean you only need to transfer if in one of the WDW ECVs?

Also, some of the instructions in the guidebook probably sound clear, if you already know where to go. But, for example, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel says "Enter thru the exit located on the RIGHT". But, it doesn't explain what that means, right if you are coming from the castle, right if you are coming from Tomorrowland direction, right if you are coming from Small World??


As it sounds like you found out, a GAC often doesn't shorten the distance you walk.

 

[Talking Hands]

i agree, they REALLY need to do something about fantasyland! especially with all those darn strollers! (not that i have a problem with the strollers themselves, just that stroller parking makes wheeling out of philharmagic a bit of a slalom run!)

I use the shove it out of the way method to get through. You park a stroller where it is blocking my entrance or exit or a ramp I need, it will be pushed out of the way. Sorry but it is rude to block entances, exits and ramps.

 

[SueM in MN]

(the WORST of which was PoC--that cm was insistant that I park the stroller, even though I showed the sticker, the GAC, and argued-

POC is a problem because the boarding area is in another building and down one floor from where you enter the queue.
They actually have to have a CM get the wheelchair/stroller and bring it to the exit. They have been experimenting with a way to achieve that. At the least, they should have offered you one of the ride wheelchairs to use to take him down the line.

Another was teacups (I did carry him for a 20-35 minute line, and never did get a clear answer about a handicap entrance or quicker transfer from chair to ride--any advice for the future?

That is one where the guidebook is actually not that bad. It says "Enter thru exit located on the RIGHT"; they don't specify that it is the exit just to the right of the entrance to the regular queue, but the exit gate there is clearly marked with a wheelchair symbol. There is often only one CM working that ride (at least that I have seen) and they will usually keep you waiting there thru several ride cycles, but that would be the appropriate place. We just rode earlier this month getting on there and also saw a small child with a stroller as a wheelchair and a larger child with a special needs stroller get on there too.

The 3rd was star tours--we went during "after hours", and aside from the guy outside that dismissed my questions and GAC with saying "just go ahead, lady!", there was NO ONE to help us at all, so I still don't know what to do other than my husband and I physically hefting my child through the mainstream line (which had some problem areas??? Maybe just a late night problem, but . . .)

I have not been on that ride in a few years, but do know that a wheelchair can get all the way from the queue entrance to boarding, so you should have been able to bring your stroller as a wheelchair in without problem.
It's possible that the regular line is not totally wheelchair accessible at all times (sometimes they use alternate routes when it is busy compared to when it is not, but the Fastpass line is.

Again, having a copy of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for that park is useful even if you know what it says. If the CM says something else (like the one at Star Tours), you just show the GAC or sticker that says you can use the stroller as a wheelchair and the page in the book where it says the line is accessible.

Also, people should not be afraid to ask for a supervisor. You DO sometimes run into a totally ridiculous CM - like we had problems with when a CM would not let us thru the wheelchair 'gate' that allows you to bypass the stairs at Splash Mountain. She kept saying that would be allowing us to 'cut' in line and I kept pointing out that we could go no further in the regular line because there were stairs right in front of us, DD can't walk and is much too big and heavy to carry (she was about 18 yrs old at the time). I said I needed a supervisor and the CM continued to even argue with the supervisor. That is about the only way to deal with the real unreasonable ones - just calmly ask for a supervisor.

And, last, for having to hear any comments about the size of your child and being too big for a stroller. That you had a 'stroller as wheelchair' sticker or GAC should have been enough to show that not everything was as they thought it appeared.