Parades,etc with FP+ and wheelchair

[LisaBi]

Can anyone give me the scoop on any of the parades or evening entertainment and how the FP+ areas are for wheelchair guests? I'm familiar with the normal WC areas (at least where they were before FP+ started.). Do the FP+ areas do a good job with wheelchairs? Or would I be wasting a FP?

 

[LisaBi]

Any input? My primary goals are limited waits and, more importantly, less crowded. He's done OK with the normal wheelchair areas for parades, and hanging back in Fantasyland for Wishes. But if a FP+ might give us an even less crowded space, it would be worth it.

 

[BillSears]

I hopefully will be testing out the FP+ area for Wishes on 9/2. When I get back I'll let you know how it worked out.

My biggest concerns are how crowded is it, is there a spot near a railing where no one will be stepping in front of me, is it flat ground, and is it grass or paved.

Of course as the hub construction continues this can all be changing.

 

[lizard1]

While travelling with my sister who is in a wheelchair and does not transfer, we had FP for MSEP and Fantasmic.

For MSEP, the FP area is in the HUB in the same place that they have FOF FP seating I believe. For starters, they would not let you in the area or even line up to get in the area before the time stated on the FP. This caused a HUGE jam of people when they finally opened the area because then people are coming from all directions (both sides, front, and behind, and wanting to be let in the FP seating area). The good things are that there was more room in general (we had enough room to sit at the curb and put our legs out) and you don't have to get there way in advance to get a spot. However, there are no spaces reserved for wheelchairs (there are spots they had marked on the pavement, but I asked and was told those are reserved for CMs to guard the area). Therefore, there is no guarantee that you won't be in the back of the area and someone will stand in front of you. However, I have found that most times when people don't have to fight for a spot to begin with, they are more accommodating for others.

For Fantasmic with the FP, it was fantastic. I don't know how it works if you don't have a FP, because I've only seen it once. They took all of the people in WC who had FP and took them in front of the rope (where the other FP were held until they were let in). There were several CMs that stood there with everyone. When they had finished cleaning up (we went to the second Fantasmic), they took us to the seats. They have seats in the top row and seats in the very first row for WC. Knowing this, when we were standing with the CMs, we requested to be in the front row (we were the only ones who did so prior to them opening the seating up for everyone (at which point everyone else filled in the bottom row). We were seated and had sent someone back to get refreshments prior to them letting others in.

 

[BillSears]

I just did the FP+ area for Wishes tonight and it was great once I was inside.

I watched MSEP from across from the Hall of Presidents and immediatly after the parade passed I headed to the FP+ Wishes area. But tonight the Hub was packed with wall to wall people. They watched the parade and then never left. Plus everyone else joined them!

I managed to make it across the Hub by heading to Main Street and then going against the flow of traffic back to the Hub on the other side while asking politely to be able to pass by. This was the day after Labor Day one of the least crowded times and the Hub was still packed. I guess this shows why they need to expand the Hub.

Anyway once I was in the Wishes FP+ area everything was fine. The grass is trimmed to a nice low level so I could wheel across it. Almost everyone was seated so I just grabbed a spot behind them. There seemed to be no crush and the crowd was calm. The view was pretty good.

Here is a photo of the area in daylight. If I had shown up early I would have probably tried for a spot up against the roses but after seeing it in action a spot just behind those who were seated worked out fine.

Here is a shot at night of the crowd. It was pretty small on 9/2. The roses from the above shot separate the seated FP+ people from those who are standing on the path outside of the FP+ area in front of them.

Here is a shot of the view of the fireworks. It's not straight on but it's about what I normally see since I've never tried to see them from the Hub.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report and the pictures, Bill.
The pictures really help make it clear.

There never was a wheelchair viewing area for Wishes in general (from what I've heard, the reason was that they felt most of the 'show' was up in the sky, so could be seen ( I would argue with that).

 

[blondietink]

I would also argue with that. I don't know how many times people stand in front of my son in his wheelchair to view Wishes and he cannot see most of it. This is especially true when the people stand in front of him and put their child on their shoulders. UGH! They really should have a handicapped viewing area for Wishes, IMHO.