Ride Help for one with Disabilities

[Flora Fan]

I know that I can count on the DIS fans to help me.

I'm traveling with my DDad to WDW in April. Dad is confined to an ECV while in the parks. I have park maps of MK, AK, and EPCOT and these maps list the rides that allow one to remain in the ECV, but I was wondering if there are rides that are more difficult with an ECV than others.

If you have any experience or have seen someone having problems with a ride, please post. I would like to be able to give DDad "fair warning" if he will have difficulty.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[TinksMagic54]

My DH had to use an ECV a couple years ago due to a bad back. If your dad can transfer from his ECV to the ride, they will assist him and slow down the boarding to do so. There is usually a separate line for those utilzing this mode of transportation - which we didn't know about when we first got to the parks. We were able to access some of the rides much faster which allowed us to pass on our FastPasses to other families - our way of sharing the Magic.

Just look for CM's around the rides and they can help or direct you. Disney is VERY accommodating for those who are not entirely mobile. Good luck and have a great Trip!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

You can get all sorts of helpful information if you post this on the disabilities forum. Here is the link for it.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

 

[SueM in MN]

There is usually a separate line for those utilzing this mode of transportation - which we didn't know about when we first got to the parks. We were able to access some of the rides much faster which allowed us to pass on our FastPasses to other families - our way of sharing the Magic.

Don't count on shorter waits, though.

All of the Fastpass lines and many of the other lines are wheelchair/ECV accessible, so wheelchair/ECV users wait in line with everyone else in the same lines for those attractions (that is called Mainstream Access). All of the attractions at AK and MGM were built with Mainstream Access. Because MK and Epcot were built much longer ago, before wheelchair access was thought of, some of the attractions there have regular entrances that are not accessible and DO have wheelchair entrances. As they renovated attractions, they added Mainstream Access if possible and wheelchair entrances are now the exception, rather than the rule.

Many people have posted that their experience was that for around 50% of attractions, their wait was the same as it would have been had they not been using an ECV/wheelchair. For about 20-25% of attractions, it was faster, but usually not that much faster. And for about 25-30% of the attractions, the wait was longer; sometimes much longer since some attractions have limited numbers of wheelchair 'spots' and there are also fire regulations regarding how many people with special needs may be in the building at one time.
Traveling for many years with one person using a wheelchair and another using an ECV, I that has pretty much been our experience too.

The disABILITIES FAQs thread has a lot of helpful information, including links to some past threads (the one about boarding in the third post of that thread may be helpful to you).
In general, if he can get out of the ECV and walk (even as little as 10 feet), he will be able to do a lot of things. What he might have trouble with depends on things like whether he can step down into a boat for boarding and back up again to get out (Pirates). The moving walkways on most rides can be slowed down or even stopped (exceptions are Peter Pan and the moving ramp that goes up to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority).

If he has not used an ECV before, I'd suggest a bit of practice before going out into traffic. He should feel comfortable turning in both directions, backing up and parallel parking. I would also suggest Epcot as a good first park to go to; it has a lot of open space and is not usually that congested. MK is about the worst; many of the walkways are fairly narrow and even during slow times, it's pretty congested. AK is also a hard park because most of the 'lands' have traffic going in both directions thru fairly narrow areas.

 

[Flora Fan]

Thanks for your help and advice. I discovered the disABILITIES board shortly after posting here. I tried to post this on that board as well, but it didn't take. I assumed that an item can only be posted in one place.

Dad is confined to the ECV and cannot get in and out of the chair. Once or twice a day (in and out) is about all he can take. Mainly I was concerned about the rides that are ECV accessible. He has quite a bit of experience in the ECV's. If the ride is accessible but difficult, I'm fairly certain that he would prefer to just skip it.

 

[Wendy1953]

Allearsnet.com has a disabilites section also...try there! Good Luck...hope Dad can get on all the rides he wants to!

 

[Flora Fan]

Sue M in MN...thank you a million times over for letting me know about the disABILITIES FAQ page. This is a huge help. I'm still sorting through all the information...but I wanted to stop and thank you for the tip.

Thanks Wendy...I'd forgotten to check out allears.net. They do have alot of information as well.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for your help and advice. I discovered the disABILITIES board shortly after posting here. I tried to post this on that board as well, but it didn't take. I assumed that an item can only be posted in one place.

I'm not sure why you couldn't find your post on the disABILITIES Board, but if you click here, you will find it.
We've got people on the disABILITIES Board with a lot of practice traveling with wheelchairs and ECVs, so you will find a lot of info on that board. Glad to hear you found it helpful.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

You can also call DW guest services and they will send you in advance Handicapped accessible booklets for each park. It gives you all the information about all the rides, shows etc. I have found them very helpful in the past.

There are really only a few rides that are totally ecv compatible, many DO require transfer. But there is certainly plenty of other things to do and see. and if he has any other special needs like waiting out of the heat for others etc. Go to guest services at any of the parks and get a GAC Guest accomodation card tell them what his needs are and they will issue one for them, that way the CM can see it and assist you accordingly.

 

[SueM in MN]

You can find a link to the text from the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each park in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board. There is also information in that thread about Guest Assistance Cards (GACs) on that thread. Many people using ECVs or wheelchairs don't need a GAC; if the needs are met by having the wheelchair or ECV, then a GAC is not needed.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My DH had to use an ECV a couple years ago due to a bad back. If your dad can transfer from his ECV to the ride, they will assist him and slow down the boarding to do so.

Just for clarification (to avoid disappointment by the OP and others in the same position), Cast Members are NOT permitted to physically assist. Yes, they can slow down or even stop most attractions where extra boarding time is needed, but the Guest - alone or with the help of members of their own party - is required to make transfers on her/his own.

Also, many attractions that cannot accommodate ECVs, either in the line or on the attraction, could well permit Guests in wheelchairs (e.g. no ECVs in the Tower of Terror, Rock 'N Roller Coaster, or Pirates queues, BUT wheelchairs are permitted/can fit; no ECVs in the Universe of Energy building BUT Guests can transfer to a wheelchair and remain IN it through the entire ride).