Peter Pan - Bad and Good News

[Cheshire Figment]

Recently while in MK I met the woman who is the "Area Manager" for the Peter Pan ride. I told her about this forum and asked about how people with mobility problems could ride.

1. Unlike the Peter Pan at Disneyland, the one at WDW is original and has never been totally rebuilt and the equipment and controllers are old.

2. The ride and boarding area cannot be slowed down.

3. If it is necessary to stop the ride for an emergency, the policy is that all Guests must be evacuated from the ride prior to restart.

4. Therefore, people who need lots of assistance to get out of a wheelchair or back into one normally are unable to ride the attraction.

Now the good news.

5. If you get to the ride right at Park opening, or at Park closing you will be able to ride.

6. When there are no other Guests in the ride vehicles they can stop the ride. People with disabilities will be able to board while the platform and the ride are not moving. As the people are in only the boarding area they can safely restart the ride.

7. After one (or maybe two) cycles they will stop the ride when the occupied vehicles are again in the boarding area and the people will be able to unload.

Note that if there are morning or evening Extra Magic Hours, Park Opening is considered at the start of morning EMH and Park Closing is considered as at the end of evening EMH, not the regular, public, Park hours.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for gathering and posting this information.

 

[ICan'tWait]

Thanks so much! This was one of the things I was specifically wondering about for our upcoming trip.

 

[KPeveler]

My question is more about loading - I can still do a couple steps with help. But last time I was there they told me that all wheelchairs had to park outside!! Like in stroller parking!

Does anyone know what the "official" rules are? Or what your experiences are?

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Darned! Why didn't I see your posting earlier today? Now I made Sue repost as if she's got nothing else to do.

Thanks for the update, CF! As I just posted on another thread, I'm very enthousiastic to read about the good news. I never even considered they might do that and had already totally written PP off for my enjoyment. I will definately check this out when we're down in september and see if this now enables me to ride.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When I talked with her I did not ask any technical details. But I would imagine that they have a procedure in place to handle the wheelchairs of the riders so they are available for unloading.

My thought is that the platform can be stopped independently of the ride, so when the vehicles return and the stop the ride the wheelchairs will be where they were left. The other is they would be moved off to the side after boarding and then brought back afterwards.

 

[lovetoscrap]

My question is more about loading - I can still do a couple steps with help. But last time I was there they told me that all wheelchairs had to park outside!! Like in stroller parking!

Does anyone know what the "official" rules are? Or what your experiences are?

Fantasyland has been the most frustrating place I have encountered in all WDW. Since it is the least accessible area, it should also be the place with the most training of all the CM's on exactly what the procedures are so that they are consistent every time and they all know the rules.

Fantasyland is the reason that I get a GAC even though I have my own personal ECV. Twice I have been told that I had to have a GAC in order to remain on my ECV up to the ride otherwise I had to park it, or that because the line wasn't "that long" I needed to park it outside and stand in line. And not by the most "Magical" CMs.

I get a GAC on my first day just so I have it when someone insists that my ECV has to remain outside. I should probaby fight it and insist on a supervisor and make sure the CM gets retrained, but darn it, it is my vacation. My kids are already dealing with Mom in an ECV which is embarrassing enough (okay, just being with Mom is embarrassing!). For me to push the issue would just make it worse for them.

 

[KPeveler]

Fantasyland has been the most frustrating place I have encountered in all WDW. Since it is the least accessible area, it should also be the place with the most training of all the CM's on exactly what the procedures are so that they are consistent every time and they all know the rules.

Fantasyland is the reason that I get a GAC even though I have my own personal ECV. Twice I have been told that I had to have a GAC in order to remain on my ECV up to the ride otherwise I had to park it, or that because the line wasn't "that long" I needed to park it outside and stand in line. And not by the most "Magical" CMs.

I get a GAC on my first day just so I have it when someone insists that my ECV has to remain outside. I should probaby fight it and insist on a supervisor and make sure the CM gets retrained, but darn it, it is my vacation. My kids are already dealing with Mom in an ECV which is embarrassing enough (okay, just being with Mom is embarrassing!). For me to push the issue would just make it worse for them.

I was in a personal power wheelchair that I cannot get out of, it does NOT look like an ECV (which I know cannot go into some queues) , AND i had a GAC. I was told to park my ECV in stroller parking and then walk in the exit (about 50 feet), then stand there and wait behind some other people.

Another time I was there, I brought my wheelchair right in to the edge of the moving walkway, and got in there. I can't figure out why I was told to park the chair and walk!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I was in a personal power wheelchair that I cannot get out of, it does NOT look like an ECV (which I know cannot go into some queues) , AND i had a GAC. I was told to park my ECV in stroller parking and then walk in the exit (about 50 feet), then stand there and wait behind some other people.

Another time I was there, I brought my wheelchair right in to the edge of the moving walkway, and got in there. I can't figure out why I was told to park the chair and walk!

You just have to laugh at the absurdity of that. How can someone mistake a power chair and an ECV?? That is a really sad statement on the training.

And with the exception of Pirates (for the obvious reasons) I have been able to bring my ECV into every ride up as close as I could to park it and get on. It is just the misinformed CM's. But in their defense, I do suspect that there are some that are abusing the use of the ECV and that does put an additional burden on the CM's. Dealing with wheelchairs and ECV's does cause them extra time work and makes things more difficult for them. Sometimes there is really not a very convenient place to park a chair out of the way, or a CM has to move it out and back to you in addition to their other job duties. If they can get those that really are able to stand and walk to park outside it is much easier.

If I can I will try to go to Fantasyland early in the day and at the beginning of our visit. My stamina is better and I can park and walk easier (if the parking is close) and get on to Peter Pan easier.

 

[KPeveler]

the people at RnR and ToT ALSO told me they could not let me in with an ECV - it was a powerchair!

I would not change your plans too much - if you get an uninformed CM either ask for a supervisor or just wait for them to change out (about 1/2 hr)

 

[jmartinez1895]

We use a special needs stroller and have always been able to take it in all the lines and leave it at the boarding are, but I know ECV are bigger. The only time we had a problem was at the Tea Cup when the CM told us that we could not bring it in to transfer ( which we always do). We asked him what we where expected to do then and he told us " It's just a kid, you can pick him up and bring him in". ( sorry, venting).

 

[dclfun]

Back when I used to be able to ride Peter Pan I was told to bring my power w/c up to the ride "car" and then step in, while it was moving- so I had to be really quick! My chair was not waiting for me- I had to walk down a walkway to get to it, where it was parked inside the queue area. So if you can only transfer, you'd still not be able to ride this attraction as it requires you to take a short walk back to get your chair. Due to the configuration of the boarding area, there would be no way for a CM to bring your chair right back up to the loading/unloading area UNLESS they are willing or able to go the extra mile and only if there weren't guests standing in that area. Frankly I'm amazed that chairs have not been damaged. My chair, for instance, is not easy to maneuver. In power mode it is very quick and difficult for someone to control manually and in non-power mode it's extremely heavy to push and control.---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

We are going in May and might check it out.
The last time we rode it, DH lifted DD on and then I was directed to the ride car behind them. That was difficult, but not impossible. But, because tne ride is so short, by the time DH got DD and himself settled, it was time to get off.
The gettoff did not work so well. When DH and DD got to the exit and had to get out in a very short time. DH almost ran out if space and nearly ran into a wall. And, I could not do anything to help since I was in a car behind them and had not reached the unload area.

Given that, we will investigate very well if we decide to try it. If the wheelchair is further than a few steps away, we won't be able to do it since DD can't walk at all.

 

[livndisney]

We are going in May and might check it out.
The last time we rode it, DH lifted DD on and then I was directed to the ride car behind them. That was difficult, but not impossible. But, because tne ride is so short, by the time DH got DD and himself settled, it was time to get off.
The gettoff did not work so well. When DH and DD got to the exit and had to get out in a very short time. DH almost ran out if space and nearly ran into a wall. And, I could not do anything to help since I was in a car behind them and had not reached the unload area.

Given that, we will investigate very well if we decide to try it. If the wheelchair is further than a few steps away, we won't be able to do it since DD can't walk at all.

A suggestion that was made to me(have not tried it). (Using Sue as an example) But if Sue were to get in a car a few cars ahead of husband and dd, you could get off first, grab DD's chair and have it waiting at the ramp when it was time for DD to exit ride. Personally I think it would need to be more than a "few cars ahead" to make it work.

 

[SueM in MN]

For more Fantasyland strangeness -

we had Fastpasses for Winnie the Pooh and when it was our time to return, we showed our Fastpasses to the CM at Fastpass return. The CM looked at them and asked us if we had a GAC and said we could not bring the wheelchair in without a GAC. Luckily, we had a park map that said "Obtain a Fastpass or use the Mainstream queue" and another CM came by who said we were had a Fastpass so should enter the Fastpass line.

That's a training problem!

 

[cmezaa228]

I have a question wondering if someone could help me. My son is 10 years old and I confined to a wheelchair. How would I obtain a pass when I go to WDW?do I need any doctors notes or special paperwork?please let me know thanks!!!

 

[KPeveler]

I have a question wondering if someone could help me. My son is 10 years old and I confined to a wheelchair. How would I obtain a pass when I go to WDW?do I need any doctors notes or special paperwork?please let me know thanks!!!

There is no pass, and you do not need a dr's note. Read the FAQs about the GAC and accessiblity.

Most queues are mainstreamed, so you just go in the regular line and wait with everyone else is most cases!

 

[zaksmom]

Had the same problem with Toy Story ride in DHS. We had a fast pass and came through the fast pass line. Then we were told that we could not enter the wheelchair loading area without a GAC. Didn't have it on us...Dad had it. He carries it and didn't want to ride this ride. After a little pleading we were let on. We always take a GAC card now even if we have a fast pass.

 

[SueM in MN]

A suggestion that was made to me(have not tried it). (Using Sue as an example) But if Sue were to get in a car a few cars ahead of husband and dd, you could get off first, grab DD's chair and have it waiting at the ramp when it was time for DD to exit ride. Personally I think it would need to be more than a "few cars ahead" to make it work.

That was my intention, but the CM loading people on filled the Pirate ships ahead of DH.

There is no pass, and you do not need a dr's note. Read the FAQs about the GAC and accessiblity.

Most queues are mainstreamed, so you just go in the regular line and wait with everyone else is most cases!

The disABILITIES FAQs thread is near the top of the board or you can find a link in my signature. Information about Guest Assistance Cards is in post #6 of that thread.

 

[freepixie]

Last summer when we rode PP the ride came to a halt! (we were riding first thing in the AM) And let me tell you that when it stops, its like whiplash for real!! I thought something had happened to the ride, but they must have been stopping it for someone needing assistance, it started back up pretty quick and when it starts back up its a little crazy too!!

Thats when I understood why they do need those lap bars on that ride