Parade viewing and wheelchair?

[scrappinmom]

This is all great information - thanks everyone.

I think we'll stick with our favorite spots and just do what I normally do.

I almost always try to watch a parade from next to/close to a garbage can....i love to set my mini tripod up on it...

 

[mechurchlady]

Perhaps my problem was that this parade, the Electrical parade was in California Adventure not in Magic Kingdom, but I was told several times that they have NO WC viewing area in that park at least. So if anyone does know different please let me know.
Also I was there this last weekend. and not one attraction had a CM in front of it, so the first contact was once your got to the ride part of the attraction. So if you were not sure how to get in or went in the wrong line in the WC you were pretty much stuck.

DCA is undergoing major renovations and it also does everything it can for the disabled. They do have wheelchair seating for the past 10 years or more and last time I was there it was at the Wharf. Again the guest services is on your left as you enter the park and the plaids there know where everything is or know how to find it. All parks on both coasts are supposed to have on the maps where disabled parade viewing is located.

I also do not understand why you did not see any greeters on lines as some lines absolutely need greeters to keep certain guests off the ride and to deal with disabled guests. Even on the slowest days they have had greeters on all rides. I wish my friends at the other site could see this as they would be as flustered as me about hearing about incompetence in plaids. Plaids are special people and it is very hard to be a plaid.

 

[McCall]

DCA is undergoing major renovations and it also does everything it can for the disabled. They do have wheelchair seating for the past 10 years or more and last time I was there it was at the Wharf. Again the guest services is on your left as you enter the park and the plaids there know where everything is or know how to find it. All parks on both coasts are supposed to have on the maps where disabled parade viewing is located.

I also do not understand why you did not see any greeters on lines as some lines absolutely need greeters to keep certain guests off the ride and to deal with disabled guests. Even on the slowest days they have had greeters on all rides. I wish my friends at the other site could see this as they would be as flustered as me about hearing about incompetence in plaids. Plaids are special people and it is very hard to be a plaid.

Sorry but the first place I went was to the guest services on the left as you enter the park. They told me there was no special WC viewing area. I notice that the downloadable disability assistance booklet also says the same thing, that there is no special area but you can find a spot anywhere.
The second place I asked was at the information booth at the corner there where they do the High School Musical thing. Answer there was ask the Parade personnell when they show up. I did that and was told there is no area but I could stay where I was which was next to trash can near the Priority seating area.
as I say in Magic Kingdom there were no CM's at any of the attractions until you got way inside.

 

[Mary976]

I agree that the w/c viewing locations can be hit or miss. My DD is very fussy about her personal space. She does not like people standing over her, leaning on her wheelchair, or crowding her. So we usually avoid the designated viewing areas as they tend to be crowded. For Spectromagic (MK) we have found that better viewing is available near the end of the parade route (over in Frontierland, I think) than right on Main Street.

Mary

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is related but not exactly On Topic, I recently went to Disney Land and I was surprised and very disappointed to find they have NO WC viewing area in the parks. Also I asked several CM's from the one's at the entrance to guest services and info booth and none seemed to know, finally the actual parade handlers told me no there was no special areas. Just fend for yourself and hope no one gets in front of you.

That is incorrect. They have several. "Worst" case, there's a wheelchair viewing area just before the (evening) parade goes backstage.

at MK; the squeeze the chairs in so they are touching. Not even an inch between. Then all of the people with the chairs are piled behind you. VERY CROWDED. VERY TIGHT. And just not magical. Easier to stake a spot like everyone elase along the parade route.

Try the (much less popular) viewing area in Liberty Square, opposite the boarding entrance for the Liberty Belle.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Perhaps my problem was that this parade, the Electrical parade was in California Adventure

Oh. Well. That's an entirely different issue.

My ECV ran out of power at "It's Tough to be a Bug" at DCA. I had to 'paddle' it to the wheelchair rental area at the park entrance, using a crutch. NOT ONE PERSON offered to help, or asked if I had a problem, or even seemed to see me. I don't know for sure, because I was expending all my energy in maneuvering the ECV and trying to keep it in a straight line, so I can't say for sure if anybody tried to make eye contact. But I know I was moving slowly enough that ANYBODY could have easily offered help.

 

[darthtatty]

the thing that annoys me about the seating areas is that too many people in each party are seated in these places. my son wasnt allowed in an area last time as there wasnt any space, some wheelchairs had about 6 people with them.

 

[mechurchlady]

My friends are CMs and I am getting tired of CMs being blamed for a lot of stuff when I know in fact that they are good people who help and care for guests.

If your ECV breaks down then flag down a CM and they will get you the help you need. If you do not get help or are treated wrongly or the CM is not up to speed on something the GET THE MANAGER. This is standard park procedure for all guests. I remember as a kid my dad getting gum all over his pants so he asked for help and they sent him to the nurses station. He took off his pants in private and someone used ice to get most of the gum off the pants. I think it was mom as that would be her probably. That was back in the 1960's.

AS Sue and many others have stated before hand, too often there are better viewing areas for the disabled guest and their party. I would never use disabled viewing areas as I rather stretch out with my party on a large spot and not worry about elbowing a stranger. I rather get a spot near where I next plan to go. At Disneyland why should I be at Plaza Inn when it would be better to take up a nice wide spot up by Small World then scoot over to the bobsleds, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland or ToonTown. At MK you can get some nice spots near Liberty Square then shoot over to Splash Mountain, Big Thunder and the Mansion instead of being stuck up at the front of the park. At DCA there are some rocks at the wharf on the south side and I would get dinner and park my rump right there for an hour to see the Electric PArade. I had my back to the rock and nobody behind me. I had stuff spread out so nobody sat too close and nobody could set in front of me. That is the best spot to be in a char as you have nobody behind you along the railing there.

I am now going to wave to Sue an wait for her to come by.