New Mainstream Cards; Mansion and Jungle Reminders...

[Safari Steve]

We have just started a new system for attractions with separate wheelchair entrances (Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Fantasyland rides, etc). Those of you who have experienced Peter Pan's Flight without FastPass may be familiar with it.

If the standby queue is longer than 25 minutes, wheelchair guests are given a yellow card that shows the date, the number of people in their party, the attraction they're visiting, and a time to come back to board ASAP. For instance, if it's 11:15am and the queue is 45 minutes when you get to Jungle Cruise, the greeter will approach you and give you a yellow card that you can bring back around 11:55am. It works kind of like a FastPass, but there's no limit to the number you can get and the delay will be no longer than the posted standby wait. If the posted wait is less than 25 minutes, the greeter will give you the standard instructions and direct you to the alternate entrance. I worked with this system all week, and it seems to be pretty agreeable. I know that the Boarding Cards are being used all over MK, and I'm pretty sure that they're at the other three parks as well (although I have not personally seen them in use.)

Also, Please remember to see the Greeter at the front entrance of the attraction for directions Every Time. This is especially necessary at Haunted Mansion, as we have more than one method of boarding guests with disABILITIES, and depending on staffing at that particular moment, you may be assisted differently from your previous visit. (I wish I had a dollar for every time I found a guest wandering into the building without a CM escort because "This is the way we came in last time." It's dark and there is moving machinery, folks... not a good thing to let yourself in.)

Also Also, WDW Safety and WDW Engineering are still working on getting the Wheelchair lifts operational on Jungle Cruise. We do not, however, have an estimated time of arrival for said lifts. The guidebook for guests with disABILITIES still lists Jungle Cruise as totally accessible, however we are still ONLY transfer accessible until further notice.

Also Also as well, please remember that WDW CMs are not allowed to physically lift guests. We can park chairs/ecvs, we can offer a hand at the wrist and elbow (not to support entirely, but just to assist), we can slow or stop the attraction altogether (at designated times and locations), but we can not transfer anyone. I know that you all know this already, but I had two situations this week regarding this and just wanted to reiterate.)

That's all I can think of, if you have any specific questions about either of my attractions (Jungle Cruise or Haunted Mansion) re: guests with disabilities (not just mobility), please PM or respond to this thread.

Kungaloosh!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the update and reminders, Steve.

 

[LvsTnk]

Thanks Steve, the new system sounds good to me!

 

[SueOKW]

Just in time for our big trip!! Thanks for the info - one question - can we come back late? I mean after the time noted on the pass? We find we are not the most timely bunch in the park once we get in!

Sue

PS- thanks for info re: Jungle Cruise. DH just said he plans on carrying Kevin on board for it this year.

 

[Leia's Mom]

I've been wanting to ask about the Haunted Mansion. We are taking my Mom in May. She is completely nonambulatory. Will be in a manual wheelchair and transfers are simply not a good idea. (Great to hear that the jungle cruise may be an option for her one day ). Anyway, I was surprised to hear that her wheelchair could go on Buzz but not in a doom buggie. Do you think they will ever add one or two wheelchair buggies?

Thanks for all you do!

 

[Safari Steve]

1) Yes, you can come back after your appointed time... but I wouldn't be more than an hour late.
2) The big difference between Buzz and Mansion (they're both the OmniMover system) is the steep angles that the Mansion track contains (as opposed to the relatively level terrain on Buzz). I am sure that R&D is looking into some way to make Mansion fully accessible, but it will be quite a feat of engineering, and I wouldn't even venture a guess about if/when we'll see it happen. Same deal with Spaceship Earth.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes, on those rides besides being steep angles, the ride car is held at that angle for a pretty long time. It would be hard to have a system that would reliably hold assorted types and sizes of wheelchairs in that position for that long of a time. I'd say the angle is pretty close to the angle of an average stairway.

 

[lisapooh]

Steve,
What about JUngle Cruise when it is interpreted? Coming back for that is not an option as only 1 boat is interpreted. That is the only ride that this would be a factor. Also how about teaching the castmembers the sign for interpreter. Sometimes I feel like I need a sign that says deaf because it is not obvious. They see the wheelchair and never go beyond that.

 

[Safari Steve]

The interpreted cruise is, of course, a special circumstance. I'm fairly sure that interpretation is scheduled for the early morning when our queue is usually not long enough to warrent use of the yellow cards. Even if it is, one should only go to the dock box (the podium at the unload point) and let a skipper there know that they are there for the sign language cruise.

 

[scroot]

I just want to say that Disney does have a ways to go but they sure do a better job than other places we've been. At one non-Disney park I was told the lift was hard to work so it might be eaiser if I just carried my wife up and then down the twenty or so stairs to load the ride. To me Disney is a leader in access. Not just the happiest place on earth but also the most accessible!

 

[JudithM]

Steve, thank you very much for sharing this information with us. The idea sounds good. I'm looking forward to trying it on my next trip to WDW.

 

[LisaF]

Steve, Thank you for the very "timely" information!! We leave next Friday and my mother will be using a manual wheel chair when necessary (especially in the large parks). She had major abdominal surgery 5 weeks ago, and walking long distances then standing in long lines will be just too difficult for her. Will she be able to use these new mainstream cards even if she can walk right onto the ride?? I had intended on getting her a GAC card, but it sounds like I may not have to with this new system. Please let me know - and again, thank you!!! LisaF

 

[SueM in MN]

Hopefully, Steve will post again and answer your questions, but from what I understand, the cards are only being used at the rides where wheelchair and ecv riders board at the exit. There isn't much waiting room at the exit and this will make it easier for CMs and for people waiting. Steve had a list of rides in his other posts on this thread.

You might want to check with the CM at the ride entrances about how long the wait is before you get into a line. Often, it's less than the time that is posted outside the ride. If the wait will be minimal, you can leave the wheelchair outside. If it's longer, you can bring the wheelchair into the line with you. You don't need a GAC to bring the wheelchair into any lines, so with the new cards, fastpass and bringing the wheelchair with inot lines, you might find that a GAC is not something you would need.

 

[Safari Steve]

If you're using a wheelchair, you won't need a GAC. If you're not using a wheelchair or a GAC or if the queue is shorter than 25 minutes (at attractions without mainstream queues) you won't be given a yellow card. Sue hit the nail on the head as far as the reasoning, it gets waaaaaay too crowded in the small holding areas we have. Ironically, this is a result of mainstreaming/improved access, which has caused (as far as I have seen) a dramatic increase in the number of guests with disabilities. This system will also (I hope ) finally put an end to the practice of guests renting wheelchairs expressly for the purpose of skipping queues, which will mean that there will be an ample supply of wheelchairs for guests who genuinely need to rent them. A group of 24 perfectly able spring breakers with 6 rented chairs actually LEFT their chairs in front of Mansion last week when they found out their "brilliant scheme" would not work. I think this system creates a situation where everybody wins. Hooray!

The Yellow Card system is used on all attractions without mainstream queues. At MK, Pirates, Splash Mountain, Aladdin, Tikis, Alien Encounter, Timekeeper, Carousel of Progress, and I think Pooh have mainstream queues. I have not seen the cards at any of the other three parks, but I was not looking. I'm sure that if they are not already using them, they will start soon.

 

[LisaF]

Thank you Steve and Sue for the additional explanation!! Sounds like a win-win situation for everybody.

 

[Safari Steve]

I totally misread the cards. They are being used only at FastPass attractions. Keep that in mind. (although, generally, attractions that don't have FastPass don't often have waits longer than 25 minutes, which is the minimum wait for which the cards are used. I do think it is worth looking into, however, to try using them at all attractions with alternate entrances during peak seasons.

Sorry for any confusion.

-Steve

 

[lisapooh]

Steve I know you can not physically lift a person for good reason but are castmembers allowed to offer a steadying hand. Often if I am out of the chair this is all I need for a short distance or to negotiate a few stairs. I will not have my family with me in June (kids are coming but won't be with me) or September. I'm trying to use the wheelcahir less but don't wait to fall either.

 

[Safari Steve]

It really depends on the attraction, I think. At Jungle Cruise we are to assist every guest by the wrist and elbow. Mostly, this is a matter of courtesy. At Haunted Mansion, we can offer a hand while assisting guests in wheelchairs, but not at the Load area, only unload. This is not compulsory, though.

 

[Michigan]

Steve

The thing that bugs me the most is the rides where there is a wheelchair car for example Winnie the Pooh why can't the CM's let people who are riding in the wheelchair car go to the front of the line and wait for that car. It never fails the car gets there about 3 families before us with no one to ride in it and we end up waiting longer then we would have if we didn't need the special car.

 

[SueOKW]

The pass system worked out great for us. We visited around, collected our passes, and then rode when it was our tun. It was extremely helpful to be able to have more than one "fast pass" at a time. Kevin can't be out in the sun or heat for long, his body temp goes totally wacko, so we like to maximize our visits in the am, and return in the pm. He had a real blast!!
Sue

ps - wheelsie- your comment makes sense.

pps - tribe home opener tomorrow!! yay, spring is here!