Newbie question about services in park

[Kyradavis]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to Disney World for the first time with my family this June. My stepfather is not in the best of health. Among other things he has decreased lung capacity as well as some muscular issues. He can't handle being on his feet all day and I know he's going to be spending a good deal of time sitting on benches and back at the resort. I would like for him to be able to go on at least a few attractions with us but I'm worried that he won't be able to physically handle the lines. I realize that Disney allows people in wheelchairs to bypass some of the lines but my stepfather is too embarrassed to use one (yes, I know he shouldn't be but that's just how he feels). The fastpass might be helpful but at first glance it looks like fastpasses are mostly given out for the thrill rides he won't be able to ride with or without a line.

Does Disney ever allow people without wheelchairs or scooters to use the disability entrance for rides?

 

[mrsksomeday]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to Disney World for the first time with my family this June. My stepfather is not in the best of health. Among other things he has decreased lung capacity as well as some muscular issues. He can't handle being on his feet all day and I know he's going to be spending a good deal of time sitting on benches and back at the resort. I would like for him to be able to go on at least a few attractions with us but I'm worried that he won't be able to physically handle the lines. I realize that Disney allows people in wheelchairs to bypass some of the lines but my stepfather is too embarrassed to use one (yes, I know he shouldn't be but that's just how he feels). The fastpass might be helpful but at first glance it looks like fastpasses are mostly given out for the thrill rides he won't be able to ride with or without a line.

Does Disney ever allow people without wheelchairs or scooters to use the disability entrance for rides?

Have you ever been to WDW before? They say you walk an average of 3 -7 miles a day in the parks. He will not be able to handle this with his lung capacity and muscular problems. Maybe if you all talked to him together about this issue, letting him know you want to enjoy the experience of WDW with him and it would feel bad if he had to spend a lot of time back at the resort. Maybe telling him to remember that he will never see these people again and there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

I know accepting a disability can be very hard. There are so many wonderful things to do and see that he is going to miss if he doesn't get a wheelchair. It is over a mile walk around the World Showcase, he might not even make the walk to the World Showcase from the front of the park. That makes me sad, it is gorgeous there.

As for allowing people to use the disability entrance, if he is unable to do stairs, then yes, he would need to get a GAC. Look here to read about it. It is in post #6, but the rest of the thread is a great read too.

With his mobility issues I would think they would also recommend a wheelchair.

I am sure Sue and Cheshire will be around to add to this. Good luck to you and your family.

 

[Schmeck]

I realize that Disney allows people in wheelchairs to bypass some of the lines but my stepfather is too embarrassed to use one (yes, I know he shouldn't be but that's just how he feels). The fastpass might be helpful but at first glance it looks like fastpasses are mostly given out for the thrill rides he won't be able to ride with or without a line.

Does Disney ever allow people without wheelchairs or scooters to use the disability entrance for rides?

The only lines a person in a wheelchair is allowed to bypass are the ones that are pre-ADA with stairs, and those are found mainly in the Magic Kingdom. All other lines are accessible.

Disney's response to stamina issues is to rent a wheelchair or an ECV, as there is much more walking and standing getting between the attractions compared to the actual queues.

 

[Piper]

It sounds as though he really needs to rent an ecv (from offsite would be best.) Read through the FAQs at the top of this thread for lots of information.

And as noted in the post above--he wouldn't need to feel guilty about skipping lines--because he wouldn't be! Many people have the misconception that wheelchair=front of line.......not! In fact he may actually have to wait longer for some of the rides, but that is okay because he will be comfortable and not exhausted!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

As others have stated, most people walk at least 4-7 miles per day at WDW; I have seen people reporting pedometers indicating 12 miles.

The normal response from Guest Relations for almost all stamina/mobility problems is the suggestion to use a wheelchair or ECV.

Please ask him the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

And I have had times that I had to wait longer for admission to an attraction using an ECV than if I had been standing in the regular line.

 

[SueM in MN]

People tend to think about the distances in lines, but they forget that the distances walked outside of the lines are going to be at least as far. There are also places where you need to stand and wait in line - things like counter service restaurants and even sometimes for full service restaurants and rest rooms.
Many attractions have preshow areas where you will have to stand, sometimes for as long as 10-12 minutes with no seats unless you have brought a 'seat' with you.
Those things are why WDW recommends an ECV or wheelchair for someone
with the kind of stamina needs you are describing.

Besides what was already written, here are some specific links that are from the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
This one is about the distances people estimate they walk in a day at WDW (it is from post #2 of that thread).

Here is a link to a thread written by a man who did not want to accept using an ECV, but finally did and saw how 'silly' he had been to have refused to use one for so long.

And another to a thread about accepting using an ECV.

One thing that often helps people understand their need for a wheelchair or ECV is to think of a familiar place about 2-3 miles from home. Ask if they would be able to walk there. Most people will understand that the distance is too far. If he says he could walk it, ask whether he could walk there and back.
And, do it again the next day.
That is what a WDW trip would be like. If he would be uncomfortable walking that far, he really needs an ECV or wheelchair. Without one, his trip will be uncomfortable and he will miss out on a lot.

 

[Kyradavis]

I'm sure you all are right. I haven't been to Disney World before but I have been to Disneyland and even there the walking is a lot. I had suggested to my mother that he use a wheelchair (this was before we were talking about a Disney trip) because she's always complaining about how the two of them can't do anything anymore due to his inability to walk for extended periods of time. She seemed open to it but he definitely was not.

I suspect that a lot of this has to do with my mother. She's 66 with the body of a 26 year old athlete. He's uncomfortable with the dichotomy. But of course she would be much happier if he swallowed his pride, got in a wheelchair and accompanied her on the trips she likes to take. Hopefully this trip will be the thing that makes that happen and then maybe he'll realize that there is no shame in doing what you need to do to overcome your limitations.

We shall see. In the meantime I'll use your tips in hopes of convincing him.

 

[chaospearl]

I would definitely suggest talking to him about renting an ECV. It's not the same thing as a wheelchair, and he may feel there's less of a stigma attached to it. An ECV is an electric scooter basically. Lots and lots of people in the parks at Disney use them for stamina \ mobility issues, and he may feel less embarassed about driving a scooter than having somebody push him in a wheelchair.

One solution may be to sneakily suggest that 5 - 10 miles a day is a lot for ANYONE to walk, and tell him you'd like to rent an ECV not specifically for him, but for your entire family to switch off using when you can't handle walking any longer. After he sees your mother and maybe even you driving the scooter around for a while he'll probably be much more inclined to use it himself. And that way he doesn't feel like he's the disabled one or that he's being singled out because he can't keep up, but he will have a more enjoyable time and not be hurting every step of the way and refusing to admit it.

Jenni

 

[maroo]

One solution may be to sneakily suggest that 5 - 10 miles a day is a lot for ANYONE to walk, and tell him you'd like to rent an ECV not specifically for him, but for your entire family to switch off using when you can't handle walking any longer. After he sees your mother and maybe even you driving the scooter around for a while he'll probably be much more inclined to use it himself. And that way he doesn't feel like he's the disabled one or that he's being singled out because he can't keep up, but he will have a more enjoyable time and not be hurting every step of the way and refusing to admit it.

Jenni

This is a really good idea and one we should suggest more often here!

 

[penny1022]

I'm so grateful for all the feedbacks here.These are very informative. ..I haven't been to Disney World..I'm looking forward to a great travel in the future.

 

[bidnow5]

The difference between renting an ECV and not is the difference between having fun and being miserable. I went through it with my mom she refused to get an ECV or wheelchair and we didn't get 10 minutes into Magic Kingdom before she needed to rest. She was ruining the fun for everyone. I had to give her an option either go back to the room or rent a wheelchair.

Once she was in a wheel chair for a little while she loved it the next day she rented an ECV.

 

[Earstou]

I have chronic lung disease and had more trouble breathing at some points due to high humidity. Usually it was early morning, before the sun had burned some of it off, but also after a heavy rain. There was no way I could have walked the parks at those points. So having an ecv really saved those days!
Also, using the ecv, it was really great having energy to enjoy the parks, and to not be totally wiped out each day. I ended up being the designated fastpass runner, thus letting others save their energy for walking the parks! So more selling points for your stepfather!