Prosthetic leg - Paris and Dublin airports

[ColoradoDisneyLover]

My 7 year old son has a prosthetic leg, and we will be traveling out of the US to go on a Disney Mediterranean cruise/Paris DLR trip this summer. I am concerned about what to expect at security at the Dublin (where we have a connecting flight to Barcelona) and Paris airports.

If you have been to the Dublin airport, can you tell me if passengers landing from the US will have to go through security again if we are transferring from one Aer Lingus flight to another?

As far as Paris is concerned - do the security officers in the airports generally speak English or should I bring a translated card explaining his prosthetic leg? Obviously, they will eventually figure out why he set off the alarm, but I try to give the US TSA folks a head's up before he enters the scanner, and would like to do so in Paris, as well. Are the security procedures similar to those in the US?

Even though he has a prosthetic leg, my son has lots of energy and will likely not need whatever DAC/GAC card they offer in Paris DLR. He didn't in California DLR or WDW, at least - we made do with rental strollers. On the off-chance that we do need a card for him, do we need a doctor's note, or will the fact that he has a prosthetic leg be enough proof? Thank you in advance!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You will clear immigration at Dublin. Aer Lingus has a good explanation on their website:

http://www.aerlingus.com/travelinformation/knowbeforeyoufly/dublinairport/

Looks like you arrive at Terminal 1 and must go to Terminal 2 for connecting flights. That means a trip through security.

Security at CDG is pretty much the same as the US. You'll have no trouble finding an English speaking security employee.

If you're going home through Dublin, you pre-clear customs and immigration there, not on arrival in the US.

Info for guests with disabilities at Disneyland Paris is here:

http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/pr...ial-needs/visitors-with-reduced-mobility.html

 

[lanejudy]

You might try posting on the DLP board as to what documentation might be needed for accommodations. I believe France has much different rules regarding disabilities than the U.S., and most queues are not accessible -- whether or not the special needs stroller will be recognized as a wheelchair without additional documentation is the question.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You might try posting on the DLP board as to what documentation might be needed for accommodations. I believe France has much different rules regarding disabilities than the U.S., and most queues are not accessible -- whether or not the special needs stroller will be recognized as a wheelchair without additional documentation is the question.

Enjoy your vacation!

The documents required are clearly explained in the link I supplied (page 4 of the brochure). Why not go to the source?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . can you tell me if passengers landing from the US will have to go through security again if we are transferring from one Aer Lingus flight to another?
. . yes
. . . I am not scheduled back to Dublin (DUB) until Sep-2104, so things might have changed since Dec-2013

As far as Paris is concerned - do the security officers in the airports generally speak English or should I bring a translated card explaining his prosthetic leg?
. . . the English language is common throughout European airports
. . . always bring the card
. . . France has FEW handicap access allowances

Are the security procedures similar to those in the US?
. . . similar, maybe, but vastly different
. . . I travel to Europe 4-5 per year, and security varies widely -airport-to-airport and individual-to-individual

On the off-chance that we do need a card for him, do we need a doctor's note, or will the fact that he has a prosthetic leg be enough proof?
. . . even a doctor not may not be enough
. . . but, bring one any way
. . . as mentioned, ADA-type access in Europe is vastly different than the USA

 

[ColoradoDisneyLover]

Thank you so much, everyone. I doubt I'll go to the trouble to get a GAC at DLR Paris. We'll just rent a stroller and take our chances. I'll request a wheel chair at Dublin, so we can hopefully get through security in time for our connection, and I will take a translation card to Paris. I would try to learn some phrases, but the last time we were in Paris, I would say "Bonjour" and the French person would immediately switch to English. I guess my accent isn't very good.

 

[Jacqui8374]

You need at minimum a doctors note regardless of the stroller. If you have a handicap tag for the car this is even better you don't then need a doctors note as well. Unlike the USA they do not recognise wheelchairs or scooters without it. It can be obtained form guest relations at city hall in either park but you wont get disabled access without it. If I can help further please email me on j.kasket@monkshood.fsbusness.co.uk
Jacqui

 

[ColoradoDisneyLover]

I am now planning to rent a regular stroller, and we will stand in the regular lines - no GAC, no tags, no special access. I hadn't checked it out on the website yet, but I assume that they do have regular strollers available for rent. If the regular Paris strollers are the same size as the ones in WDW and DLR, we should be fine.

Right now, my main concern is getting through security in Dublin in time for the connection. I emailed Aer Lingus, and asked about how much extra time we needed for security, and they responded by telling me I would go through passport control but did not address security. They also arranged a wheelchair to be at every ramp, which will be helpful, since it will feel like midnight when we arrive in Dublin, and my son will probably not feel like sprinting through the airport at that point.

Thanks!

 

[Jellifer]

In terms of getting the prosthetic through it would be easier for your son to have a letter, usual details are the doctor who prescribed the prosthetic, the material the prosthetic and the name of the manufacturer along with serial numbers if there are any. Hospital contact details are helpful too.

I have a pacemaker and was amazed at how lax airports in America are, id never get through an airport in the EU without ID for my pacemaker but in America no one ever looks at my pacemakers passport.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am now planning to rent a regular stroller, and we will stand in the regular lines - no GAC, no tags, no special access. I hadn't checked it out on the website yet, but I assume that they do have regular strollers available for rent. If the regular Paris strollers are the same size as the ones in WDW and DLR, we should be fine.

Right now, my main concern is getting through security in Dublin in time for the connection. I emailed Aer Lingus, and asked about how much extra time we needed for security, and they responded by telling me I would go through passport control but did not address security. They also arranged a wheelchair to be at every ramp, which will be helpful, since it will feel like midnight when we arrive in Dublin, and my son will probably not feel like sprinting through the airport at that point.

Thanks!

According to the link I previously posted from Aer Lingus, you will have to go through security again after passport control because you have to transfer to a different terminal. How long this will take is unknown. I would feel comfortable with a connection of 1 1/2 hours. If you are being met by a wheelchair, it's possible you will get through the process faster (sometimes these cut lines or go through different lines).

Do NOT worry about English speaking security at CDG. I have travelled to France many, many times and this is not a problem at CDG. Going through security at CDG is exactly like going through it in the US, except you do not have to remove your shoes.

 

[ColoradoDisneyLover]

Yes, thank you lost*in*cyberspace. From the link you sent me, I knew that we would have to go through security again. I still wasn't sure that we would make it through immigration and security in time, once the time for the extra security check was taken into account. I sent another email to Aer Lingus, and they were very helpful this time. Once we ask for assistance, they will send us to the front of the line. The customer service representative has spoken to security already, and they are confident that we will make it to our connecting flight in plenty of time. I am so pleased with the customer service at Aer Lingus. . So now I can focus on the fun parts of the trip planning! Thank you again, everyone, for all of your insight!