Question about child using power chair in park queues??

[Lillypug]

Hi. My son is 6 and has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He uses a power chair 100% of the time and drives himself very well. I was reading the Passporter for Special Needs and they state that on some rides a person has to transfer to a manual (regular) wheelchair in some ride queues. My son is unable to sit in any type of chair whitout lateral supports , etc, so a generic style manual chair is out of the question for him. He can sit next to us once we are seated on the ride with us supporting him, but I was wondering what would we do in the meantime? Does anyone have any experience in this type of situation?

 

[JenJen]

I would go to guest relations and explain the situation and they should be able to help you. They may be able to give you a GAC so that you just wait the legnth of the line outside the que so that he does not have to transfer. I hope you have a great trip.
JenJen

 

[Absimilliard]

Unfortunately, for some rides, in order to ride at all, transferring to a standard wheelchair (provided at the attraction) is required. Guest Relations will not be able to help you in those cases...

 

[loadsapixiedust]

They seem to be very strict about the rides where you are required to transfer.
Our DS (13) is in exactly the same situation being a power chair user who needs postural support seating. We had no option but to bring his manual wheelchair with the seating system to WDW.
Originally we were sad that he was losing his independant mobility, but actually it turned out for the best. He was able to take in much more of what was going on around him in the parks as he wasn't having to concentrate on driving his chair in crowds. I'm sure he would have missed out much more if he had been driving, and of course we had no problem about having to transfer for rides.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

(according to Passporter) ...on some rides a person has to transfer to a manual (regular) wheelchair in some ride queues.

Based on my past experience, Passporter is probably correct, but my personal opinion, is that Disney is not always correct in banning powerchairs. Not that that helps, management rules are management rules and no CM is going to waive them.

An example:

When Tower of Terror first opened there was no ban on powerchairs in the queues, and I was able to ride all the way through right up to the elevator doors where I took the chicken exit to wait for my wife. Now I can see that I would have had to transferred to a manual, because my powerchair wouldn't have fitted through the elevator door, and I wouldn't have been able to get close enough to the ride seat to make a transfer.

Now skip forward to my next visit. They now have a ban on powerchirs and ECVs in the queue. But I want to ride the queue to look at all the detailing in the gardens. The CM at the entrance says no, and tells me this is because the queue route is narrow and twisting and I won't be able to get around the corners. I point out that my powerchair is not an ECV and I can rotate in my own length and that turns are no problem. He won't budge and sends me to guest relations, who won't budge either.

My suspicion is that Disney doesn't know the difference between a powerchair and an ECV and has a policy of 'one rule fits all' and no-one has the authority to waive the rule for powerchairs.

The CM at T of T offered to push me through the queue in a manual, but I cannot easily transfer (and not at all without removing the armrests on both chairs & sliding across) so I declined. He offered to escort me to the exit to skip the queue, but I couldn't in any case transfer to the ride.

I believe that that Disney will find a way of getting your son onto most rides without going through the queues, so provided you don't, like me, want to enjoy the theming of the queue areas, you should be OK. Sounds like a GAC is essential in your circumstances.

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

My suspicion is that Disney doesn't know the difference between a powerchair and an ECV and has a policy of 'one rule fits all' and no-one has the authority to waive the rule for powerchairs.

I suspect that is true for some CMs. I k now it WAS true at one time for the buses. Because ECVs have a very different center of gravity, they can tip over backwards - rather than understanding that, the buses just required the same loading procedure for ECVs as for wheelchairs, even though it was not appropriate for power wheelchairs. (That has since been fixed).

We have not brought DD's power wheelchair to WDW, but have run into similar problems with some attractions because she has a non-folding manual wheelchair.
There are some attractions where the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities or the park map says you have to transfer to an "Available wheelchair" where there doesn't seem to be any reason (like the TOT). But, it is written in the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities (there is a link to this in the disABILITIES FAQs thread or you can pick one up at Guest Services), so a CM or a CM manager is probably not able to "bend" on that.
There are also some where it says, users of ECVs need to transfer (but doesn't say anything about power wheelchairs) and there are some where the Guidebook doesn't say anything at all, but the CM says no. In some of those cases, having a copy of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities helps a lot.

There are some where the line is not accessible -like Pirates of the Caribbean, it's not the line that is a problem, it's that the boarding area and the exit are actually in 2 different buildings and there is no way (other than a CM physically moving the chair from the entrance to the exit) for them to get a non-folding wheelchair to the exit. If the chair folds or is light enough to lift on board the boat, it can be put on the boat with you after transferring.

My personal opinion is that a GAC won't help in this situation because the CM is following what their policy says for that attraction (GAC = Guest Assistance Card - there is more info in the disABILITIES FAQs thread).
What we have found to be helpful is knowing which attractions are officially "manual wheelchairs only" and having a copy of the official book to show the CMs if they say one that is not on the list is.
We have had mostly good luck with talking to the CMs and explaining that DD can't transfer to a standard folding wheelchair. Sometimes they do say that is the only way, sometimes they will figure out a different entrance or way to bring the chair with us. Sometimes they will have us come back later when their staffing is better and they can have a CM to shuttle the wheelchair for us. When she was little, sometimes I would sit in the "available wheelchair" and hold her.

What attractions are you interested in that say they require a transfer? Between all the people on the board, we should be able to give you some ideas of what to do to get around it. (there is a list at the end of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities).

 

[BCV23]

Our daughter now uses a "portable" power chair at WDW and is lucky enough to not need lateral supports.

Of the rides she is interested in, Pirates is the only one I can think of offhand that requires a transfer to a manual chair. But she has no desire to do the mountains as ahe isn't stable enough to enjoy them (tried Big Thunder once years ago). Same with Tower of Terror, etc.. Would your son enjoy them? There is a warning about not riding them if you have back or neck problems, wear a brace, etc.

But as Sue said, let us know which attractions you are concerned about and perhaps we can help more.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Now skip forward to my next visit. They now have a ban on powerchirs and ECVs in the queue. But I want to ride the queue to look at all the detailing in the gardens. The CM at the entrance says no, and tells me this is because the queue route is narrow and twisting and I won't be able to get around the corners. I point out that my powerchair is not an ECV and I can rotate in my own length and that turns are no problem. He won't budge and sends me to guest relations, who won't budge either.

My suspicion is that Disney doesn't know the difference between a powerchair and an ECV and has a policy of 'one rule fits all' and no-one has the authority to waive the rule for powerchairs.

Andrew - they're wrong. It may depend on the time of year, or how much attention the Greeter is paying to the situation, but unless directed otherwise, I proceed through the mainstream queue whenever possible (of course, I did get the ECV literally stuck once at Test Track by following the rest of the Guests, but that's another story ). I was able to ride Tower of Terror twice last January (granted, during an extremely cold EMH) by going through the regular line; the second time, I know the Greeter knew I was going that way, since we chatted first. Three days later, I was escorted in through the exit by another CM - who told me ECVs aren't allowed in the regular line. Go figure...

 

[Talking Hands]

Andrew, I use a power wheelchair and have been through many of the queues that supposedly you are not allolwed to. It really depends on the CM who is greeting. I explain that I can tranfer to the ride but cannot push a manual wheelchair and tend to freak when others are pushing. (NO TRUST). My chair like yours can turn in the radius of the chair and has no problems with corners. I have had a CM walk through with me and realize that I know what I am doing. Also I make sure that they know it is NOT an ECV. Only one I can't do is Pirates of the Caribbean and I only do that is my husband is available to push me. Him I trust but am still nervous because of having to stop short due to people cutting us off.

 

[pugdog]

Like others have said alot of the CM's don't know the difference. WE have never been told that we could not go through any queue at any ride. Are we the exception? maybe. ug:

 

[joanchris]

There are some where the line is not accessible -like Pirates of the Caribbean, it's not the line that is a problem, it's that the boarding area and the exit are actually in 2 different buildings and there is no way (other than a CM physically moving the chair from the entrance to the exit) for them to get a non-folding wheelchair to the exit. If the chair folds or is light enough to lift on board the boat, it can be put on the boat with you after transferring.

I'm trying to remember how we did it, but in Oct we took DD10 on Pirates of the Carribean. She uses a non-folding chair.....I think they took us in the exit, where we boarded the boat at the exit, then the boat proceeded to pick up extra passengers at the regular boarding area.

 

[Zone15int]

I'm trying to remember how we did it, but in Oct we took DD10 on Pirates of the Carribean. She uses a non-folding chair.....I think they took us in the exit, where we boarded the boat at the exit, then the boat proceeded to pick up extra passengers at the regular boarding area.

Hi there. At WDW's Pirates, you cannot board at the exit. What I am thinking is that they boarded you at the 2nd load area. When it isn't busy there, they only use the right line. If you have an alternate enterance GAC, they have some one load the group through the left side.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm trying to remember how we did it, but in Oct we took DD10 on Pirates of the Carribean. She uses a non-folding chair.....I think they took us in the exit, where we boarded the boat at the exit, then the boat proceeded to pick up extra passengers at the regular boarding area.

Hi there. At WDW's Pirates, you cannot board at the exit. What I am thinking is that they boarded you at the 2nd load area. When it isn't busy there, they only use the right line. If you have an alternate enterance GAC, they have some one load the group through the left side.

Pirates is one where it is not possible to board at the exit - after the passengers exit the boat, it goes thru an area with only enough clearance for the boat. No room for passengers to fit.

If it isn't busy, they may be able to board you at one board area and then a CM takes the wheelchair to the exit. When we first started coming to WDW, 19 years ago, they were better staffed and often had an extra person to run the wheelchair to the unload area while we were on the ride. Now, that is seldom the case.
The last time we rode, the greeter called another CM and checked if it was OK to send us with DD's wheelchair. The CM at the boarding area asked us how heavy DD's wheelchair was and actually placed it onto the back 2 seats of the boat with us. (He decided it was not too heavy to lift and would save him a trip to the exit).

 

[joanchris]

If it isn't busy, they may be able to board you at one board area and then a CM takes the wheelchair to the exit. When we first started coming to WDW, 19 years ago, they were better staffed and often had an extra person to run the wheelchair to the unload area while we were on the ride. Now, that is seldom the case.
The last time we rode, the greeter called another CM and checked if it was OK to send us with DD's wheelchair. The CM at the boarding area asked us how heavy DD's wheelchair was and actually placed it onto the back 2 seats of the boat with us. (He decided it was not too heavy to lift and would save him a trip to the exit).

This must be what they did for us then, thanks for clearing that up!

 

[Zone15int]

The last time we rode, the greeter called another CM and checked if it was OK to send us with DD's wheelchair. The CM at the boarding area asked us how heavy DD's wheelchair was and actually placed it onto the back 2 seats of the boat with us. (He decided it was not too heavy to lift and would save him a trip to the exit).

putting a folded wheelchair in row 6? of a boat was pretty common when i worked there. it was at least two years ago. as long as its not too heavy, we wouldnt want the boats end to be caught on the downramp.

 

[Lillypug]

Thank you all for all of your responses. I really appreciate it.

I spoke to our wheelchiar vendor today and we are going to buy a growth kit for Noah's manual chair (that he has outgrown) and put his seating system from his power chair onto the manual chair and bring that one for the week. I wish I would have thought of that sooner, LOL. Duh!
I am sure I will be back to ask more questions as we plan our trip. Thanks again.

 

[SueM in MN]

putting a folded wheelchair in row 6? of a boat was pretty common when i worked there. it was at least two years ago. as long as its not too heavy, we wouldnt want the boats end to be caught on the downramp.

No, it wasn't a folded wheelchair. It was a wheelchair that was not foldable.
That was the concern. If we could have folded it, it would have been no problem. But, in order to fold it, you have to take it apart (not something that could be done quickly). I've seen the CMs put folded wheelchairs in the back row many times, but that was the first time I had seen them put one that could not be folded.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you all for all of your responses. I really appreciate it.

I spoke to our wheelchiar vendor today and we are going to buy a growth kit for Noah's manual chair (that he has outgrown) and put his seating system from his power chair onto the manual chair and bring that one for the week. I wish I would have thought of that sooner, LOL. Duh!
I am sure I will be back to ask more questions as we plan our trip. Thanks again.

One of the things we are thinking of doing on this trip is bringing both D's manual and power wheelchairs. They have the same seating system, so we could just bring both wheelchair frames and use the same seats for both.
That way, she could have the manual wheelchair for those times when we plan on going on things that would be difficult with the power one, but she would have some opportunity for more independence on some days using the power one.

Our biggest concerns right now are that we won't have a non-stop flight and besides Cerebral palsy, DD also has ADD and obsessive compulsive tendencies (plus seizures). She's a very good wheelchair driver and drove in the hallways at school during the regular passing time in a large high school. i'm concerned that a whole week of WDW driving may be too much for her though.

 

[GroovyWheeler]

I've never seen this done, but if you have a umbrellla-style Convaid stroller/wheelchair or something similar, you can hang it somehow (such as putting it in a huge bag with carry handles, then hanging the bag from the back of his power chair, and use it for the rides (like Pirates of the Carribean) that require the use of transferring to a manual wheelchair.

If I get the chance to take a folding power chair next year that I can rent from my DME dealer at home, to Disney World, I'll probably be doing something similar with my walker, with regards to attaching it to the back of the rental power chair, for the "transfer to manual wheelchair" rides, although I'm not sure if the Cast Members will accept my walker as a "manual wheelchair". My guess is, they probably will. I've heard how much fun it is, to take a power chair to Disney World, and since I can't take my own power chair (due to it being rigid, HUGE and VERY HEAVY), renting a folding one, would be the way to go, for me.

Samantha

 

[terri01p]

just wanted to add, I hate taking my dd in a wheelchair though the queues, last time we went though the queue on Winnie the pooh, she almost passed out, people lean on the bars, sit on them, and will not give breathing space, she is down low, no air circulating, will not try that again. We were trapped.