New Handicapped area in CHH

[SueM in MN]

We were just there this weekend and I had a wheelchair so they directed us there. I usually walk but am unsteady on my still healing broken leg (15+ months later) and with the crowds hubby insisted. ANY WAY!

We ate at CHH and there was the sign, there was a CM but there were also 1/2 the tables taken up with people with strollers. No HC card on the stroller (not visible anyway) and no one else in the party with a scooter or wheel chair or anything else obviously HC about the parties. I'm sure they could have a reason for being there... but do you think it is always up? Or do you think they rope it off when it starts getting busy? Just curious... not judging them.. .I thought maybe they were there and then they put the sign up maybe.

We've been there when the restaurant was not busy.
The CM told us when we came in and left that we would be sure to close the chain behind us.
It's possible someone did not close it and they just came in or that they really did have a reason to be there. It's also possible they just opened it themselves and came in anyway.

 

[cmwade77]

ECV's, WC's,crutches, leg braces if your visibly disabled they will let you in.

I can see issues with this though, what about the disabled guest with nonvisible disabilities that needs the extra room?

 

[cynzilla]

I wish also they would do this as Cosmic Rays. It is almost impossible to get a table there. I actually had a breakdown once at Cosmic Rays as I looped around the two seating areas, while balancing a tray on my ECV handlebars, numerous times trying to find a table. (Never THAT bad at Pecos Bills even at lunch time!)

 

[darthtatty]

It's actually been there for over a year.
We used it October 2012, again in Spring 2013 and October/November 2013.

As pug dog mentioned, it was roped off and the rope has a Handicapped symbol on it. It is available for guests with visible disabilities, but not required to use it.

It is becoming known; 2 times we were at Columbia Harbour House, it was full (even though a CM at the counter suggested we go there).
It is nice to have the extra space and nice if there are tables there, but you can't completely count on it.
If it's full, CMs will try to help you find a spot.

Its been there a lot longer than people think.
They actually started it in August 2011, I know as that's when we were there.
They said they had just started a new system in place for disabled users to order and where to sit. We were directed to an end till, which was then opened for us to order and then we were escorted to the area to sit in.

Hahahaha this may be inappropriate but are we taking bets on how long it takes someone to be offended by this, have a CM imply a handicap person MUST use this area or for a guest to misunderstand a CM and think they're saying they have to use it?

well Ive got to say I was offended right away.
I think as the system had only just been set up, they hadn't fully appreciated it should be an option. So they were very forceful in making us sit there.
It really didn't feel right to us, we did return but It was quiet so I found a table and sat there. The amount of cast members that kept coming up and telling us that we had to sit in the wheelchair area was frustrating.
I did post about it on my return but no one seemed interested.
I know there is a need, to have some free tables for people who can not use stairs. I have worked in fast food restaurants in the past, where there has only been a handful of tables downstairs. I have found, its much easier for the cleaning staff around the restaurant to mention to customers that we also have seating upstairs.

It felt like a few times on our last trip, that they were changing their ways toward the disabled. To me it felt like going back to the old days when the disabled were segregated.
I remember when we were at the Haunted Mansion and due to having a wheelchair, we had to go a different way. The cast member shouted- out the way handicapped family coming through. Of course that made every turn around and look at us.
This is only a couple of instances in otherwise a great couple of weeks.
We're going next August, it will be interesting to see how things are now.