Ride Entrance

[Danislee]

I've been working on being more healthy and what not, in part for our upcoming September Disney trip. I want to attempt more without my chair, but I don't know how entrances for some things work without it. I'm trying to see if I will need the chair for certain things or not.

If it helps, I have CP, and for the most part it doesn't affect me too much. In addition to more general things like fatigue, very poor vision, tightness, spasticity, and stairs, sometimes Disney helps bring out things that don't affect me as much in my everyday. Like in lines I'm okay, but in crowds I always use the chair because I fall more easily with all the jostling and such.

Mainly I just want to know what makes these rides inaccessible and to see if what I remember is accurate.

Toy Story Mania: I've never been in the entire ride line. I've gone through the room with Mr. Potato Head and then at some point there's a ramp and I always split off. I know there are stairs, are there a lot?

Spaceship Earth: I've never been on this ride without being taken to the other entrance. What is it exactly that makes it inaccessible? Also, is the wheelchair entrance kind of dark? I thought I remembered that, but I could be wrong.

Pirates: I only started riding this a little bit ago. Again, I remember dark and also wet.

Kilaminjaro Safari: I know I've gotten in the line and then at some point I turn off.

Test Track: This one I know has a lot of ramps, my husband always reminds me how much fun it is to push through them. After that things are a little foggy.

Buzz: I think I remember that this one is just too narrow for the chair, after a certain point, but maybe I'm wrong. I think they can also stop the moving platform, but I could be wrong about that too.

Sorry about having so many questions, and thanks in advance.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'll answer the ones I know.

Toy Story Mania: I've never been in the entire ride line. I've gone through the room with Mr. Potato Head and then at some point there's a ramp and I always split off. I know there are stairs, are there a lot?

There's a staircase with I believe it's at least a dozen steps going up and then at the end of the queue there's another staircase that's a bit longer going down.

Spaceship Earth: I've never been on this ride without being taken to the other entrance. What is it exactly that makes it inaccessible? Also, is the wheelchair entrance kind of dark? I thought I remembered that, but I could be wrong.

We've always gone through the accessible line for this one so I can't speak to the regular queue. The accessible queue never seemed dark to me. The ramp is a bit steep if that's a problem for you.

Pirates: I only started riding this a little bit ago. Again, I remember dark and also wet.

The queue is very long. One big problem with this ride is that you have to be able to step down into the boat and then step back up out of it. CMs are not allowed to help.

Just remember that you likely only have a certain amount of stamina for the day. I understand how much you want to be independent of your chair but don't forget that you may be using up some of your stamina early by trying to navigate some long queues. At certain rides I can understand that waiting for an accessible vehicle can mean some really long waits, but you really do want to balance that with not wearing yourself out and potentially even ending up not being able to really function the next day (or even next several days) as well because you over did things. Just keep that in mind.

 

[Danislee]

Thanks so much for the help! In all likelihood, I'll have the chair most days just to be safe, and because it does really help with the buses at night, not getting on sooner, just being safe while on they really cram people in there. And well, you never know, I may be walking and fine, and then trip and throw something off. Again, thanks so much.

 

[SueM in MN]

Toy Story Mania: I've never been in the entire ride line. I've gone through the room with Mr. Potato Head and then at some point there's a ramp and I always split off. I know there are stairs, are there a lot?

Yes, there is a pretty big set of stairs going up, then you take another set of stairs the same distance down. The wheelchair pull off ramp is right before the stairs, just after getting the 3D glasses and where the Fastpass and regular line merge.
This video shows the entire queue, including the stairs (they start at about time 3:03 on the video). The video shows an overview of the wheelchair boarding area at about time 4:06 on the video.

Spaceship Earth: I've never been on this ride without being taken to the other entrance. What is it exactly that makes it inaccessible? Also, is the wheelchair entrance kind of dark? I thought I remembered that, but I could be wrong.

It is not possible to take a wheelchair on the ‘regular’ entrance and boarding area because there is no connection between them where a wheelchair could be transported between the boarding and exit area. The boarding and exit area are both circular moving walkways where the ride cars travel at the same speed on the outside rim of the moving walkway. It is possible for the CMs to slow or stop the moving walkway on the ‘exit’ side (which is where guests with wheelchairs board).
This picture montage shows the wheelchair boarding area.

Pirates: I only started riding this a little bit ago. Again, I remember dark and also wet.

The queue and the whole ride are pretty dim. The boarding area is in one building and the exit is actually in another building. SInce it takes a while for the CMs to move wheelchairs from the boarding area to the unload area, they prefer people to leave their own wheelchair at the entrance and use one of the attraction wheelchairs in the line. That way, the guest can use one of the attraction wheelchairs at the exit and the CMs don’t need to make sure that guest’s own wheelchair is at the exit on time.
As was pointed out, the ride boat is a long step down. Here’s a picture.

Kilaminjaro Safari: I know I've gotten in the line and then at some point I turn off.

Just after the stroller drop off point, there is a wheelchair pull off to the right. The rest of the line continues to the regular boarding area - they board there, but are dropped off at a different ‘station’, so a wheelchair could not be left at the regular boarding area.
The accessible boarding area has room for one wheelchair in the first row of the ride tram and a ramp to get the wheelchair onto the ramp. There is space at the accessible area to park and leave wheelchairs, ECVs, walkers, strollers. The tram that leaves from that area will also unload there so that people can get their equipment after unloading.

Test Track: This one I know has a lot of ramps, my husband always reminds me how much fun it is to push through them. After that things are a little foggy.

The Test Track queue has a lot of ramps, but is considered accessible. When you get to the top of all the ramps, there is a CM at a podium who directs guests where to go for the preshow.
They usually pull out parties with wheelchairs at that point and have us stay to the side until the preshow room closest to the podium is ready for a new group. You do the preshow, then they take guests into the boarding area. People who can step down into the ride car are taken to the regular boarding area (the wheelchair or ECV is moved to the unload side by the CM). Guest who can’t do that can ask to board at the “seat belt check” area (also called the wheelchair boarding area). There is a very small elevator to get up there. The rest of your party will walk up a flight of stairs.
The wheelchair can be parked next to the car and a transfer will be similar to transferring over the side of a bathtub.
This picture shows the ride car sitting in the wheelchair boarding area:

If you board there, your ride car will go thru the regular boarding area to get back and the wheelchair will be waiting in the same place you left it.

Buzz: I think I remember that this one is just too narrow for the chair, after a certain point, but maybe I'm wrong. I think they can also stop the moving platform, but I could be wrong about that too.

The wheelchair pull off point is just before the line turns a corner to start boarding.
The reason wheelchairs are pulled off is that there is no place to put wheelchairs at the regular boarding area and no space to get them from there to the exit.
So, guests using wheelchairs or ECVs at the pull off point go down a small hallway which leads to the exit area. There is a wheelchair accessible ride car with a fold out ramp that a wheelchair can be placed right on.
If the guest plans to get out of the wheelchair, it can be brought as close as you want to the ride car and the moving walkway can be slowed or stopped.
The area is a bit dark, but this picture shows a CM folding the ramp out on the wheelchair accessible ride car.

 

[Earstou]

I wouldn't suggest trying Test Track without your chair because they load a large number of people into the preshow area. Once the preshow is over and they open the doors to the boarding line, it can get pretty scary with people trying to push their way to the front. My son and I were almost knocked over by a man last time. I have balance problems and won't do that room on foot again!