Pirates and Haunted Mansion - Our Experiences...

[PrincessWendyBird]

First, I want to thank Sue and everyone here for much help and input as we planned our recent trip to WDW. Pirates and The Haunted Mansion were the 2 attractions I was the most concerned about. During our last trip, the CM at Pirates had me attempt to walk the entire queue line and I had a few days of terrible pain. I was so worried about it that I asked tons of questions here before we left. Even then, I was worried sick. We got to Pirates and I was prepared this year! The CM was so nice and explained that they no longer placed chairs in the boats, but had CMs who would take the chair to the exit to wait for me. This year, the experience was magical! (The transfer was a little tougher than I remembered, but I'm lucky to have a strong 6'4" DH to help me in and out) The CMs were SO helpful!

Now, a warning about Pirates. We returned to ride a few days later, a different CM at the entrance. He tried to talk me out of using my wheelchair. He actually started to "debate" with me whether or not I needed it in the line. I stood firm and remained in the chair. He was very disgusted with us as he sent us to the line. The other CMs were very helpful. There was a family in front of us in line who had their grandmother in a boot. They were shocked to see me in the wheelchair and asked how I managed to bring it in line. The CM had told them they could not bring her chair through the line! By the time she loaded, she was miserable. Her sons were helping to hold her up because it was so painful for her to put any weight on her leg. Just be prepared to stand firm if you need to bring your manual chair through the line.

About Haunted Mansion... We had a truly magical experience here. It was an EMH evening and the MK was not crowded at all. We were directed to the hearse and I asked about the stretch room knowing the answer. One CM said no and I explained I knew they probably couldn't take me in, but it never hurts to ask. Then, the second CM said, "Come On, we can work it out for you to see the Stretch Room.". I was thrilled, giggling even. They escorted our party of 6 to our very own stretch room! It was fantastic! Thanks to those special CMs who made this possible. I know the line was nothing which probably helped with this decision. Magical all the same!

Thanks to everyone here for your help! Hope some of my experience can help someone else.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Wow, I am really surprised to hear that about Pirates. We went in Nov. and there were 2 of us in ECV's. They keep manual chairs at the ride because the ECV's can't go in the line. They just had us transfer to the manuals and offerered to help us in the line, but we had more than enough in our group to manage. There were no problems, discussions, or issues. My biggest concern was the incline moving walkway thing at the end because there was no way I would be able to stand on that. I really don't remember how we got out! I am guessing there must have been an elevator? But I don't think there was a wheelchair waiting for us at the the end? I remember limping back to the entrance with a friend to get my ECV and she got the other one to take back to the gift shop for the other person.

We didn't do HM. Bummer, I didn't know I couldn't do the Stretching Room in a wheelchair. I guess I will have to suck it up and use that as my limited on my feet time our next visit.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

During our last trip, the CM at Pirates had me attempt to walk the entire queue line and I had a few days of terrible pain.

We got to Pirates and I was prepared this year! The CM was so nice and explained that they no longer placed chairs in the boats, but had CMs who would take the chair to the exit to wait for me.

Now, a warning about Pirates. We returned to ride a few days later, a different CM at the entrance. He tried to talk me out of using my wheelchair. He actually started to "debate" with me whether or not I needed it

I just got back a few days and the CM at Pirates were VERY insistent at leaving chairs behind. (My sister really can't walk due to cancer)
I was witness to a husband and wife duo in front of us who were allowed to wheel down to the ride but at the end they had taken their chair and put it back at the ENTRANCE of the ride, not at the gift shop or exit. To preface this, the wife seemed to need the wheelchair as much as the husband and they were literally falling over inside the giftshop. My sister actually got the people their chair, (picture it if you can, my poor sister hobbling to get someone else their chair) while I told a CM what was going on. The CM response??? "I'm getting out of here" becaue he thought he was going to get in trouble. We told a a supervisor after having a similiar bad experience at the Peter Pan ride. My sister was told to "Park" her chair and come through the regular que. Really! (She even has a GAC) Anyway, we got special seating for the next parade and a very heartfelt sorry from the supervisor.

 

[dj2]

"Come On, we can work it out for you to see the Stretch Room."

aahhh....disney


i am so glad you got to see it! and shame on that cm at pirates who bullied people needing wc's to walk!

 

[alizesmom]

Must depend on the CM. On Pirates we kept Alize in his chair till entering the boat and it was waiting for him at the ride's end. We then took an elevator which put us somewhere behind/beside? the gift shop. On Haunted Mansion we were able to see the stretching room but held Alize for that.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I think the standard line on Pirates is to try and encourage anyone in a manual chair to transfer to one of their manuals. I tried this once, but their footplates are so high that my ankles were in agony by the time I got to the front of the queue (even though the line was tiny) and barely noticed the ride go by. After that, I just said that I wanted to stay in my chair through the queue. Sometimes I had to be a little insistant (yes, we rode quite a few times last trip ), but mostly they were fine about it. Once I didn't get asked at all, as the CM up front was busy trying to persuade some other Guests out of their chairs, and the CM at the gate thought I'd already been talked to!

The reason they do this is because the entrance and the exit are not at the same place. This means that they have to get a CM to wheel the chairs from the loading area to the unloading area while you ride. It's a lot easier for them if they can just have a supply of their own chairs outside the line and at the unloading dock, so that there isn't the pressure to get a specific chair to the unloading area before a specific guest gets there. I guess I understand the logic, but it does make it harder for those of us who cant, or who'd really rather not have to, transfer.

Oh, and yes there is a lift (elevator). It's through a door to the left of the moving walkway. It's in a small, unthemed corridor and comes out right next to the restrooms, lovely.

 

[SueM in MN]

My biggest concern was the incline moving walkway thing at the end because there was no way I would be able to stand on that. I really don't remember how we got out! I am guessing there must have been an elevator?

As other posters mentioned, there is an elevator. As you get off and walk toward the moving inclined walkway, the elevator is down a small hallway to your left.

Must depend on the CM. On Pirates we kept Alize in his chair till entering the boat and it was waiting for him at the ride's end. We then took an elevator which put us somewhere behind/beside? the gift shop. On Haunted Mansion we were able to see the stretching room but held Alize for that.

The moving walkway takes you into the gift shop.
The elevator (as you said) sort of takes you past the gift shop to the bathrooms that are on the end of the gift shop towards Splash Mountain.

The reason they do this is because the entrance and the exit are not at the same place. This means that they have to get a CM to wheel the chairs from the loading area to the unloading area while you ride. It's a lot easier for them if they can just have a supply of their own chairs outside the line and at the unloading dock, so that there isn't the pressure to get a specific chair to the unloading area before a specific guest gets there. I guess I understand the logic, but it does make it harder for those of us who cant, or who'd really rather not have to, transfer.

I agree that those are the reasons.
There have been times when we have been told DD can't ride because it is not possible for her to switch to one of their wheelchairs. It does put more pressure on the CMs to have to get a specific wheelchair to the exit before you get off. I think there are times when there are not enough CMs to be able to guarantee the chair will be there.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

I think the standard line on Pirates is to try and encourage anyone in a manual chair to transfer to one of their manuals.The reason they do this is because the entrance and the exit are not at the same place. This means that they have to get a CM to wheel the chairs from the loading area to the unloading area while you ride. It's a lot easier for them if they can just have a supply of their own chairs outside the line and at the unloading dock

Oh, and yes there is a lift (elevator). It's through a door to the left of the moving walkway. It's in a small, unthemed corridor and comes out right next to the restrooms, lovely.

The problem I had is that they had no wheelchairs waiting (yours or theirs) and they did not direct anyone to the elevator (I did not even know they had one). The husband and wife I mentioned in front of me, the wife could not stand up straight at all (literally) and the husband could not either and he wore a brace on the outside of his clothes... very plain to see as if the fact that they were holding on the walls, etc just to stand up did not clue you in. This was very plainly a cm making some mistakes or not paying attention.

The reason I wanted to comment at all on this thread is I really want everyone to know your rights and what is offered at Disney World. They (cm)do not always automatically do what is right or proper. I love Disney. I do. It is the reason I always go back. Unfortunately though problems occur. If you educate yourself, here on the Dis, you can be prepared ahead of time.