Party of 7?

[cmwade77]

Ok, we will be traveling August 10-19 with my family as follows:
Me - I get a GAC because I have a bad knee and other issues.
My Wife
My Mom - Who will most likely end up renting a wheel chair or ECV, but may not.
My Dad - Who has neck issues that make it difficult if people were to bump into him.
My 8 year old sister
My 10 year old sister
and
My 2 year old brother

I know for the most part that the rides with long lines will not be an issue as not everyone will want to ride them, or if nothing else we can get a Fastpass if everyone does, but I am thinking about rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion, which the line can get quite long at, due to all of the issues doubling back could be very difficult and I am just wondering how it will work, I know the maximum party is generally 6, but it is a family vacation and we would like to be together, so I am just wondering if anyone has any advice, my family hasn't had a family vaction all of us together ever and I really want to make this the most enjoyable experience possible for my parents, brother and sisters.

 

[SueM in MN]

I thought I replied to this, but today I noticed you had not replies, so I better reply again......

The maximum is usually 6 (5 plus the person with a disability), but the CM can make an exception for a party like yours where there are a number of small children who need to stay with the adults. If you had a party of 10 or 12, they might not, but for 7, I don't think you will have any problems.
There wil also be some things that the 2 year old won't be able to go on, so you will sometimes have a party of 5 or less.

Then, sort of looking at each person:

My Mom - Who will most likely end up renting a wheel chair or ECV, but may not.

If she's thinking about renting one, she probably would be best off doing it. She will get tired with all the walking at WDW. If she gets a wheelchair, someone would need to push her, but she would be able to hold the 2 year old on her lap. She would have more independence with an ECV, but it might be more tiring for her because she would need to be more attentive to people while she is driving.

If she has a wheelchair or an ECV, she would probably NOT need a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) unless she has other needs that are not solved by having the wheelchair/ECV. People using wheelchairs or ECVs are routed to an accessible route for lines and attractions.
There are some links in the disABILITES FAQs thread for places to rent wheelchairs and ECV.

Me - I get a GAC because I have a bad knee and other issues.

If you were getting a GAC mostly to avoid things like stairs in line, you may find you don't need a GAC because you are traveling with your mother.
You might want to consider also renting an ECV for yourself because of all the walking.

My Dad - Who has neck issues that make it difficult if people were to bump into him.

I'm not sure what he might need. He would be as likely to get bumped into just walking around as he would in line.

but I am thinking about rides like Pirates and Haunted Mansion, which the line can get quite long at, due to all of the issues doubling back could be very difficult and I am just wondering how it will work,

The line for Pirates is not ECV accessible, but it is wheelchair accessible. People using ECVs need to transfer to a wheelchair that is available at the entrance. Because the line is accessible, you will be in the regular line.

For Haunted Mansion, wheelchair/ECV users wait in the regular line until a bit before the regular line gets to the turnstiles to get into the building. At that point there is a chained area marked with a wheelchair symbol (where you wait until a CM comes to get you). You wait in that area (in the exit area) to board. Your whole party can either go in a back door to the shrinking room if they can all walk 200 feet and stand for the show in the shrinking room or skip that. You may have to wait for a while in the exit area to board.

 

[cmwade77]

Thank you for your response, I get the GAC because of standing for long periods of time and the fact that a lot of the time (not all of the time, but a lot) when I have to use the restroom it is almost immediate, walking is not an issue though, so it all works out for the best not to have a wheelchair or ECV in my case, having tried both ways.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If she has a wheelchair or an ECV, she would probably need a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) unless she has other needs that are not solved by having the wheelchair/ECV. People using wheelchairs or ECVs are routed to an accessible route for lines and attractions.

Um, I think Sue meant to say your mom would NOT need a GAC unless she has other needs...

 

[SueM in MN]

Um, I think Sue meant to say your mom would NOT need a GAC unless she has other needs...

Thanks.
You are right.
That's what I get for trying to type and talk to DD at the same time.

 

[flynnmnstr]

We are a family of 4 two adults and two DS 5 & 2; my DS 5 uses a GAC card. There have been trips where we have been 7 people and have never had a problem using the GAC when we needed to. Especially since you are not going to be using it for 7 on the big rides.

 

[aaronandterri]

HI
we use the gac as a family of 8 with no problems, quite often on bigger rides the littlest ones dont go on , but even when we were all there it was no problem x

 

[SueM in MN]

HI
we use the gac as a family of 8 with no problems, quite often on bigger rides the littlest ones dont go on , but even when we were all there it was no problem x

One clarification to make,
You do need to let the CM know when getting the GAC how many are in your party. If the card says 5 (plus the person with a disability), the CMs at the attractions won't let you go on with 8.
They don't routinely give out GACs for more than 5, so you need to explain why you need a larger number when requesting the GAC.

 

[cmwade77]

Thank you all for your information, as always it has been quite valuable, if only everything in life had help as friendly ;-)

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you all for your information, as always it has been quite valuable, if only everything in life had help as friendly ;-)