Question about Buzz Lightyear ride

[sabrecmc]

This past weekend, I took my daughter and aunt to the World. We had a blast, but I had a question about the Buzz ride and figured you all would be the experts. My aunt recently had double knee replacement surgery. While she can get around fine, she can't stand for long or walk long distances, so she rents an electric scooter. Everything was great between that and fastpass, except on Buzz, where we were doing stand-by. The CM said that the scooter had to stay parked outside, which meant my aunt had to stand in line. I asked about a handicapped entrance and was told no. Is that right? The CM did let my daughter and I wait in the outside portion of the line while my aunt sat on the scooter, but then when it was our turn to go in, my aunt had to wait in line. I honestly don't mind waiting in line one bit, but wasn't happy that my aunt had to stand for that long (though, it was only about 15 minutes, so not terrible). Was there something I missed? I know about the Guest Assistance Card, but other than Buzz, we really never had an issue. Was there something else that I could have done? We're going back in July and my aunt is coming as well, so I'd like to know in advance how I should have handled that or if that's just the way it is and we need to make sure we have FPs for Buzz.

Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Unfortunately you met a CM who was not properly trained.

The proper procedure with an ECV is to go through the queue just as anyone else. Just before the last turn, to the turnstiles, you are diverted through a doorway to the unload area. You would park the ECV at unload and board the ride cars there. Then youy would do the ride and when you come to unload the ECV is there for you.

 

[sabrecmc]

Thank you Cheshire Figment! It was Memorial Day weekend, so I'm sure a lot of CMs were working where needed and perhaps not fully trained on the particular ride. She was very nice about saying no, however, so I guess that's something! Now I know what we're supposed to do for next time. Much appreciated.

 

[Mary976]

I wonder if it also might have something to do with the configuration of the line? One time DD (she uses a manual chair) and I decided to do the regular line at Buzz. We normally do a touring plan or else all fastpass all the time because DD gets grumpy waiting in long lines (she feels like people crowd her). Anyway, this time it was late and the wait for the regular line was only 10 minutes or something. As we were getting in line, they told me to take her through the Fastpass because the line on the regular side is hard to maneuver or something. Don't know if that's what happened with you guys, but I hope that it works out better for you in the future!

Mary

 

[SueM in MN]

I wonder if it also might have something to do with the configuration of the line? One time DD (she uses a manual chair) and I decided to do the regular line at Buzz. We normally do a touring plan or else all fastpass all the time because DD gets grumpy waiting in long lines (she feels like people crowd her). Anyway, this time it was late and the wait for the regular line was only 10 minutes or something. As we were getting in line, they told me to take her through the Fastpass because the line on the regular side is hard to maneuver or something. Don't know if that's what happened with you guys, but I hope that it works out better for you in the future!

Mary

The Fastpass line has less turns than the regular line, so if the wait is 10 minutes or less, they do usually have guests with wheelchairs go thru the Fastpass Line. You really won't get on any faster, but it is easier to manouver the wheelchair thru the Fastpass Line because there are less turns. That also keeps the regular line moving since the guests in that line would back up behind the wheelchair as the guest in the wheelchair slowed to make the turns.

As far as ECVs, the park Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities does list Buzz Lightyear as an attraction where guests using ECVs must transfer to a wheelchair. That symbol usually means that the line will be tight or hard to navigate for someone using one of the large park rental ECVs. If that was the case, she should have been offered a wheelchair to use in line.
Guests with smaller personal or off-site rental ECVs should be able to go thru the regular line as Cheshire Figment described (it is wide enough, but some turns may be difficult).

The CM was correct that there is not a handicapped entrance for the attraction; it is listed as guests with wheelchairs should use the regular (Standby) queue or obtain Fastpasses to ride.

 

[Momelie]

As far as ECVs, the park Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities does list Buzz Lightyear as an attraction where guests using ECVs must transfer to a wheelchair. That symbol usually means that the line will be tight or hard to navigate for someone using one of the large park rental ECVs. If that was the case, she should have been offered a wheelchair to use in line.
Guests with smaller personal or off-site rental ECVs should be able to go thru the regular line as Cheshire Figment described (it is wide enough, but some turns may be difficult).

Y'know, I've seen this in the guidemap and always wondered about it. They have this in Pirates of the Caribbean as well, and it is easy to see, wheelchairs are abundant, clearly identified and cast members are there to assist.

At Buzz, in all the years its been open, I have never seen a park wheelchair (or a place where they are kept!) anywhere near the entrance for a transfer. Usually, if the cast member at the entrance sees somebody in a park ECV - or even when they see any larger ECV, wheelchair (or somebody that looks like navigational skills might be suspect - and yeah, that was me, a few years ago ), they hand them a fastpass that has the time of the regular line wait time hand written on it and have them come back then and go through the fastpass line, as it is easier to negotiate. When you get through that last part of the line, after merge, you go to the exit, park your chair/ECV and board the ride there. (HINT - Small ECV owners, there's an outlet there, should you need to top off the battery. Just across from the photo screens.)

Now, I could be wrong, and if I am and they do have the transfer wheelchairs, I apologize, but this is one of my all time favorite rides, and I'm usually on it at least 2-3 times every MK visit and I've just never seen any thing like those wheelchairs that you see at Pirates. Maybe I'm just more observant there, since somebody once nabbed my personal wheelchair as a tradeout for Gramma's ECV, but... I've never seen them. I was just there yesterday. Has anybody else?

 

[mcissel03]

We just got back from Disney and rode on the Buzz Lightyear ride at least 6 times. We used a jogging stroller as a wheelchair for my son who is 10 and has cerebral palsy along with other medical conditions. We never had a problem with them allowing us to take it in. They did say to park it and I said no, it is a wheelchair. They had us enter through the fast pass lane. Upon entering the ride part, they send you past that down a hallway to the exit area. They then had us park it off at the side and only walk a short distance to enter. Not far at all and they did not have us get him out until we were about ready to enter. They did have people in scooters also in that line.

I am sorry you experienced that. Sounds like someone wasn't properly trained.

 

[dan-tot]

I get on Buzz everytime I come to MK and they used to have it where when you went into the que area that a cm would un hitch the chain at the head of each que so you would go straight through to the entrance of the ride.
This might have changed since Disney is not helping people with disabilities because so many people realized that they could get in front of a line by being in a wheel chair. They also have the older mother in the chair and they have a family of 13 which they used to let go through. Today it is one person with the person in the wheelchair. I think it is stupid to have your family split but Disney is cowtowlling? to the people who complain and not trying to improve the situation.

Dan-tot

 

[dan-tot]

I have never seen a transfer wheel chair. My sister used a wheel chair
and what we did I took her throught the que and when we got to the boat she got into the boat with my help and the CM put her wheelchair in the back seat or area of the boat. At the end of the ride it was the reverse, except you road the elevator up instead of trying to have the chair go up the belt. Hope this helps.

Dan-tot

 

[SueM in MN]

I get on Buzz everytime I come to MK and they used to have it where when you went into the que area that a cm would un hitch the chain at the head of each que so you would go straight through to the entrance of the ride.
This might have changed since Disney is not helping people with disabilities because so many people realized that they could get in front of a line by being in a wheel chair. They also have the older mother in the chair and they have a family of 13 which they used to let go through. Today it is one person with the person in the wheelchair. I think it is stupid to have your family split but Disney is cowtowlling? to the people who complain and not trying to improve the situation.

Dan-tot

Many people assume that Disney changed the way they did things (i.e. offering immediate access to people with wheelchairs) because people were taking advantage of that.
But, in fact, the biggest reason for changing is that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) says that businesses are required to make things accessible as much as possible in the same way for guests with disabilities as they are for other guests. The ADA was actually something that many people with disabilities fought for because they did not want special treatment, but wanted to be treated the same as everyone else - just make things accessible.
That is why most attractions at WDW now have mainstream (accessible) lines.

For shows, the ADA requires one companion seat for each wheelchair/ECV spot, seated next to the wheelchair/ECV spot.
WDW used to have more seats, but that meant some shows could only hold a few wheelchairs per show. To make space for more wheelchair spots, they removed some of the seats that were not required. For the shows with only one seat next to the wheelchair/ECV spot, there is space in the row right in front where the rest of the party can sit.
If there is a wheelchair entrance or different boarding area, WDW's published policy has always been that up to 5 guests can accompany the person with a disability. There are a few situations where that is not possible because of space, but in general, a total of 6 is allowed.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have never seen a transfer wheel chair. My sister used a wheel chair
and what we did I took her throught the que and when we got to the boat she got into the boat with my help and the CM put her wheelchair in the back seat or area of the boat. At the end of the ride it was the reverse, except you road the elevator up instead of trying to have the chair go up the belt. Hope this helps.

Dan-tot

Pirates has a line of wheelchairs in front of the attraction and they do prefer that guests take those attraction wheelchairs into the Pirates queue as much as possible instead of bringing a personal wheelchair.

In the past, they did lift (sort of throw) foldable wheelchairs into the back seat of the boat. They no longer do that since the attraction opened again after a remodel a few years ago. There are 2 reasons I have heard they no longer put wheelchairs into boats:
1) The wheelchairs were heavy and there was concern over CMs getting back or shoulder injuries from handling the wheelchairs in and out of the boats.
2) There was concern about a wheelchair shifting during the ride, especially the drop in the dark.

If someone brings their own personal wheelchair into the queue, the CMs have to transport that wheelchair from the loading area to the unloading area, which is actually in another building, before the guest arrives in the unload area.
If the guest uses an attraction wheelchair, they can just get any of the other attraction wheelchairs that are sitting at the unload area. When the guest takes one of those wheelchairs back up the elevator to get their own personal wheelchair or ECV, that brings an attraction wheelchair back to the entrance where another guest can use it in line.
It's much more effecient that way.

 

[sabrecmc]

Thank you all for the great information! I'll know to look for the wheelchair next time to transfer or ask about it. That makes sense, given the way the Buzz line is set up. I totally don't mind waiting in line, just don't want her to have to stand for long. We're new at this and trying to figure out what she can and can't do. Maybe July will be even better and it won't be an issue!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you all for the great information! I'll know to look for the wheelchair next time to transfer or ask about it. That makes sense, given the way the Buzz line is set up. I totally don't mind waiting in line, just don't want her to have to stand for long. We're new at this and trying to figure out what she can and can't do. Maybe July will be even better and it won't be an issue!

One thing to keep in mind - assumptions are made when someone is using an ECV, especially a park rental or obviously off-site rental ECV. The assumption is that the guest can walk, maybe just not distances.
If that is not the case for you, do ask about a wheelchair or some other modification.
Also, the line is tight at Buzz Lightyear, so some of the heavy duty off-site rentals or the park rental ECVs may have more trouble going thru the regular line. That's another reason guests are sometimes asked to leave the ECV outside the line and walk in.

Finally, sometimes, even well meaning CMs can get busy and look, but not see. We have occassionally be asked if DD can walk in line, even though it's obvious that she is sitting in a specialty wheelchair with her feet strapped to the footrests. We just chalk it up to a CM who was busy and didn't notice - most are very nice once we say she needs to stay in the chair.