Question

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Okay, my mom is not visibly handicap. Basically, the doc has told her to try to keep off her ankles because of osteopenia. She can still walk and does. We are going to Disney together but she isn't going to rent a wheelchair. (yeah, uhh not the best at listening to the doctors advice but whatever). Anyways, she has the handicap parking pass and we always park in handicap but how do you get the pass to go through the handicap line when you aren't in a wheelchair and your handicap hanger thingy has to be in the car so you can park without getting a ticket?

Thanks

 

[merryweather20]

The answer would you don't need to go through the handicap line (where there is one, many of the lines are mainstreamed) its not shorter and there isn't anywhere to sit. Might she have other needs though? Would she need to avoid stairs for example? In this case you would go to guest relations and request a GAC that will allow her to avoid stairs, there is no need to take your parking placard with you just make sure your mother goes with you to GR.

If she decides to get a wheel-chair she won't need a GAC the wheel-chair itself works like a GAC that says "needs a wheel-chair accessible entrance". The Mods keep good up to date info in the sticky's you might want to read.

Have fun and keep working on your Mom!

 

[Piper]

There is no "handicap line"--people in wc go through the regular line. Sometimes they are pulled out near the front of the line to go wait in another line for an accessible vehicle.

Actually, you usually wait at least as long as everyone else----sometimes it is quite a bit longer (because there is a limit to the number of appropriate vehicles or the number of people needing assistance in case the ride breaks down.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I would definitely recommend she rent a WC or ECV because you do ALOT of walking at WDW and it can be rough on the joints. I have a problem with one of my knees and plantar fasciitis and can't walk around WDW, I have to rent an ECV from an off-site company.

if you have any questions about how to access a ride, there is usually a CM at the entrance to the ride and they will tell you where to enter, as there are some rides in the MK that use a seperate entrance for WC and ECV, but the wait is usually the same or longer depending on the availability of the ride cars.

She really needs to listen to her doctors, so she doesn't do permenant damage to her ankles.

WDW is the best place for someone with a disability to visit, IMHO, and my moms as she has more needs than I do and she loves WDW. They are very acommodating.

Suzanne

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Thanks for all of the info. I'm guessing she will rent an ECV now. She (and I) were under the impression that there was a handicap waiting line with a bench or something? I don't know.. My crazy aunt went and said something about that LOLOL.. Shouldn't trust her anyways.

If you rent an ECV and then go back to the hotel, when you come back later in the day do you have to pay again for an ECV or would you just show a receipt? I mean, do you have to pay for it per use or per day?

Thanks

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

I have two suggestions for discussions with your mother.

One is pick a point about a mile from where she lives. (This is something I did with my mother when she was only 91.) Ask her if she could walk there. If her response is something as "I could if I had to", then ask her about walking there and back four times. Eight miles is a typical day walking at WDW (once around the World Showcase Lagoon is 1¼ miles).

Then, ask her the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

Also, the Guest Assistance Card (described in Post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQ) states specifically on it that it is not intended to shorten the wait for attractions. All of the attractions at AK and DHS are mainstreamed, as well as almost all the Epcot attractions and many of the MK ones. There are a few where as you get close to the load area you will be pulled off to a separate line to avoid stairs.

However, a key to everything is that disabled access tends to take longer than the regular line.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you rent an ECV and then go back to the hotel, when you come back later in the day do you have to pay again for an ECV or would you just show a receipt? I mean, do you have to pay for it per use or per day?

If you change parks, or leave one park and then return, as long as you have your receipt there is no charge (other than a new refundable key deposit) to get another ECV. However, Disney will not rent out any that are not fully charged, and so depending on crowds and when you arrive you may not be able to get one.

We do recommend that you rent from off-site (See Post #2 of the FAQ) and that way she will have a better ECV at a lower cost and also be able to use it at the Resort.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for all of the info. I'm guessing she will rent an ECV now. She (and I) were under the impression that there was a handicap waiting line with a bench or something?

That is not correct information.
As the other posters mentioned, in most cases, there is not a 'handicapped' waiting area/line. Most of the attractions have lines that are wheelchair accessible, so people with wheelchairs or ECVs wait in the same line with everyone else. They do get pulled out of line if the boarding arera is not accessible, but in most cases, that is very close to the regular boarding area.
Some of the theater type shows have some seating in the waiting area, but the seats are not reserved for people with disabilities. Many of them are benches without backs, which may not be comfortable (even if they are not full when she arrives).
There is information about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, in post #6. As others pointed out, a GAC will not shorten the distance she would have to walk.