Parade/Fireworks Viewing

[catra121]

I have a question for you guys about the parade/firework viewing.

I was at Illuminations on Thursday. I use a rollator (4 wheeled walker) and have always been allowed access to this area because I cannot stand for any length of time and need to sit on the seat of the walker. I also have difficulties in very crowded areas and experience extreme pain when bumped or jostled...so the handicap areas are typically easier on me pain wise. I've never needed to explain the details of this but have no issue doing so if questioned.

When I arrived at the area 45 minutes prior to the show there were 2 parties in there already. When I got there, there was a man who had two arm brace canes (I am sorry I don't know what the technical term for these are) who appeared to have great difficulty walking. He had two companions with him. The CM monitoring the area told him that he could not watch the fireworks from there...that he needed to walk around the world showcase to find a spot. She said this location is for wheelchairs and scooters ONLY. They questioned her because this man clearly could not walk very far and needed to sit. She went on to say that the entire world showcase was ADA compliant and this spot was only for those in scooters or wheelchairs.

I was, quite frankly, appalled by this. Those men walked away...not too far...and sat on a bench a little ways away. The companions with this man came back again and asked where they should go and she told them to go back by France. Great suggestion for a man who can barely walk...why not just suggest he walk over to HS to watch the fireworks...

Anyway...now it was my turn to approach and I also was refused entry because I did not have a wheelchair or scooter...just my walker. I explained that I need to sit to watch the fireworks (as that seemed to be her explanation for why wheelchair and scooter users needed the area) and was told that IF the area was not full 5 minutes before show time then I could enter.

I sat down next to the rope and waited quietly. During this time I saw her continue to refuse entry to anyone not in a wheelchair or scooter...including one woman who had a stroller as a wheelchair tag on her child's stroller.

She DID end up letting me into the viewing area 5 minutes before the show...I was the 5th party to enter the area and got a spot right up front by the railing. There was still room and I really wished the man with the arm brace canes and the woman with the stroller as a wheelchair tag had been allowed in.

So my question is this: IS the handicap viewing area ONLY for people with wheelchairs and scooters or was this abnormal? This was my fourth time viewing wishes since I have had the walker and this is the first time I have encountered this. After all...it's not a wheelchair/scooter viewing area...it's a handicap accessible viewing area.

I want to write Disney about this...and I probably will anyway...but I just wanted to know if I am wrong and what your experiences have been. Thanks.

 

[ttintagel]

What was the man using the crutches sitting on when he was in the accessible area?

 

[catra121]

He never got to come in...he sat on a bench over by the shop there (view blocked by people, trees, and the boat station). He would have sat on the ground...at least that's what his friends said. The problem with doing that elsewhere would be that people would be standing in front of him...compared to an area where everyone was either seated or standing behind the seated people.

Maybe I'm just wrong...but it really shocked me and not in a good way.

 

[Takket]

I always use these areas as I travel with a someone in a wheelchair. I can't ever recall seeing someone NOT in as wheelchair or scooter in the handicapped area. maybe that is just a coincidence but that's what i've noticed.

I was at disney last week and saw illuminations twice from the handicapped area next to the UK pavillion. I've also seen it in other areas in the past.

i did not even know there were handicapped viewing areas for wishes. where are these?

 

[GrammyJudy]

A couple of years ago we were in the handicapped area for Illuminations, I use a scooter. My husband was with me and he sat on a bench. There was another couple there, he was in a scooter, and they had their while family there....like 4 adults and 4-5 kids. Do they limit how many companions can be with you?

 

[jmartinez1895]

The last time I went I had my sons in his stroller with the wheelchair tag and they let our family ( 2 adults and 3kids) in. The only thing the CM said to us was that if it got crowded to have one adult and the other kids stand behind the stroller. There was also a child with autism who was not in a wheelchair or stroller and his parents. They showed their GAC and got to sit in the area.
I do nto know what hte official policy is for these areas, but maybe they are changing how they open the areas or maybe it is up to the CMs to decide.

 

[ttintagel]

Do they limit how many companions can be with you?

It depends on the conditions at the time. When I was there on a busy, crowded June night, they were letting one person stand behind the wheelchair and one person sit on the ground in front of it. I've heard of more being allowed when it's less crowded.