Parking wheelchairs outside attractions?

[NikitaZee]

We are leaving for Disney next week and my mother was just diagnosed with a probable tear in her achilles tendon. We'll be renting a wheelchair from a local medical supply place so she can have it whenever she needs it. She'll use it to get around, but she'll be able to stand in line for rides (assuming they are not an hour wait). My question is what is the procedure for 'parking' a wheelchair for an attraction? Do we just place it with the strollers, or is there a specific spot for them? Also, if she does need to enter an attraction with her wheelchair, what does she do? This is completely new to us so I'm trying to be as informed as I can be to help things run smoothly. Thanks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

The majority of attraction lines in WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that a wheelchair or ECV will use the regular entrance and line all the way to either a show seating or ride load area. If a line is not mainstreamed there will be signs and/or Cast Members to direct you where to go.

If a show, normally there will be spaces to park a chair or ECV and there will be seats next to the space for other members of the group.

If a ride, usually you will have to transfer to a ride vehicle, although some rides will allow a person in a wheelchair to remain in their chair. If you have to transfer to a ride, and unload is not at the same location as load, your ECV will magically appear at the unload area.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Note that Post #2 discusses mobility and equipment. Post #3 had a wide variety of information and links; it might be a good idea to look at the various park "Guidebook For Persons With Disabilities" for more detailed information.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[KPeveler]

A note about shows - the seat for wheelchairs are all the way in the back, and they are limited (sometimes VERY limited). If she wishes, your mom can take the wheelchair into the queue/pre-show, use it to get to her seat, then the CM will move the wheelchair to the side, so she can sit in the regular seats. Sometimes the WC seats are so far back that it is difficult to see (I am thinking of American Adventure). She does not have to do it, but if you have almost no choice in where to sit with wheelchairs. I often end up all the way on the end of the back row, and sometimes it is difficult to see, even in 3D shows.

I suggest she keep the wheelchair in as many queues as possible, since there is no point in her being in pain just to stand in line. She will go in the normal entrance with the wheelchair almost every time. She may prefer to transfer to a regular ride car when possible, as it can take a long time for the wheelchair car to come around the track, and others may be waiting for it.

She will not be skipping lines at all, even if you use the wc in the queues, so there is no difference whether she keeps it in the queue or not! I say sit and be comfortable as much as possible.

 

[Debbie-TN]

A few of the rides have a different entrance or you start in the regular queue and then the CM will show the way to go with the wheelchair. Usually they see you coming and show you which way to go. There are a few rides that you have to step down into. Sometimes my cousin has trouble with these rides because of her knees. These rides are It's A Small World, Test Track. Pirates of the Caribbean, the boat ride in Mexico and Norway and the Jungle Cruise. That's all I can think of. It depends on how much pressure she can stand on the heel. Like a PP said, you might as well take the wheelchair through the line so she won't be in too much pain. Sometimes the lines are longer than they look.

 

[NikitaZee]

Thanks for the replies . My mom was a bit worried about the rides that have 'moving sidewalks' leading up to them - like Spaceship Earth and Haunted Mansion. She thought she'd take her cane to walk the lines, and see if they'd stop the ride for her to board. I'll let her know what I found out here

 

[Debbie-TN]

Thanks for the replies . My mom was a bit worried about the rides that have 'moving sidewalks' leading up to them - like Spaceship Earth and Haunted Mansion. She thought she'd take her cane to walk the lines, and see if they'd stop the ride for her to board. I'll let her know what I found out here

I know they can stop those two if needed. The other ones with belts are TTA(which also has a steep incline), Peter Pan, and Buzz Lightyear, but I don't remember if they stop them. I guess they would have to if you couldn't get on the ride. I would ask before getting to close to turn back. Pirates has an incline people mover at the end, but when you take a wheelchair in, you leave by elevator. The thing you have to really watch out for is the end of the belt. That's the hardest part. We have had a couple of pile-ups with the people behind us because it takes my cousin so long to get off the belt. I've learned my lesson. I get off first.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the replies . My mom was a bit worried about the rides that have 'moving sidewalks' leading up to them - like Spaceship Earth and Haunted Mansion. She thought she'd take her cane to walk the lines, and see if they'd stop the ride for her to board. I'll let her know what I found out here

If she uses the wheelchair in line, they will board her at the accessible boarding area. They should also do the same with a cane. Just seeing a wheelchair or cane should clue the CMs in to the need.

For the attractions with moving walkways, the accessible boarding area is at the exit (usually, you wait in the Mainstream Line until just before the 'regular' boarding area. At that point there is a wheelchair bypass in order to get to the accessible boarding area.
This also happens on attractions where the boarding area is at one side of the track and the exit is on the opposite side. In order to get the wheelchair/ECV on the correct side of the track for the exit, those rides also board at the exit.

I know they can stop those two if needed. The other ones with belts are TTA(which also has a steep incline), Peter Pan, and Buzz Lightyear, but I don't remember if they stop them. I guess they would have to if you couldn't get on the ride. I would ask before getting to close to turn back. Pirates has an incline people mover at the end, but when you take a wheelchair in, you leave by elevator. The thing you have to really watch out for is the end of the belt. That's the hardest part. We have had a couple of pile-ups with the people behind us because it takes my cousin so long to get off the belt. I've learned my lesson. I get off first.

Peter Pan and TTA have moving walkways and can NOT be slowed or stopped, except for emergency stops. TTA has a steep moving ramp to get to/from the 2nd floor loading area and it also has a moving walkway for getting on and off the ride.
Buzz Lightyear, Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and Haunted Mansion have a moving walkway both as you are boarding and as you are getting off. They all can be slowed and stopped, but only when you board at the accessible boarding area. The CM at the regular boarding area does not have that control (you can explain what you need to the CM at the entrance to the ride). They usually will slow the moving walkway, rather than stopping it because that is usually enough for most people. They can stop those attractions if needed though - ask.

Pirates stops for loading and unloading, but has a moving ramp that goes up to ground level (you actually unload below the level of the stores/shops that the ride exits into). At the exit, the moving ramp is straight ahead. To avoid it, there is an elevator down a small hallway to the left of the moving ramp.

 

[Earstou]

If you want to park the wheelchair, leave it with the strollers. If you park it elsewhere, the cm's may move it over with the strollers (and you'll wonder where it is!).

 

[SueM in MN]

If you want to park the wheelchair, leave it with the strollers. If you park it elsewhere, the cm's may move it over with the strollers (and you'll wonder where it is!).

Good point -
AND, if you park it, make sure it is in the actual designated stroller parking area. Sometimes, you may see a group of strollers parked in an area that is not a designated spot. Someone parked theirs and other people added their strollers; the CM will move them to the designated parking area eventually.

There are a few attractions with a stroller parking area inside the queue, about 1/2 way or more to the boarding/show area. You can leave your wheelchair in those areas too. The queue is designed for those so that guests pass the 'drop off' side of the parking area on the way in and the 'pick up' side on the way out. Kilimanjaro Safari, It's Tough to Be a Bug and Fantasmic are some that have that kind of parking (their queues are a very long distance to walk).

 

[prncess674]

I concur with others to take the WC as far as possible. Even if the wait time listed is short you still could be walking a lengthy portion of the queue area just walking around in circles to get to the ride boarding area. Also note that some attractions have stairs in the queue area, noteably Toy Story Mania.