Ride policy when w/c transfer required

[lizzyb5280]

Just a random question for you all today.

At some of the other parks I've been to since my paralysis, when the ride required transferring out of my chair they would allow us to go around twice, since the transfers are often difficult and time/energy consuming (esp. for Dh's back if he has to lift me). I was just curious, will the CM's at WDW extend this courtesy as well? Or is it just a standard once and off. We don't do it every ride, but there are some faves it would be nice to get another go-around on.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

It depends on the ride and how busy WDW is and who the castmembers are working that ride at that moment. I've had it happen to me once (on RnR), but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[SueM in MN]

It depends on the ride and how busy WDW is and who the castmembers are working that ride at that moment. I've had it happen to me once (on RnR), but I wouldn't count on it.

I agree.
We have had it happen to us on Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin, Triceraptop Spin and Test Track.
Besides the things already mentioned, it also depends on whether other guests with disabilities are already waiting or are waiting when you get to the unload area (which may be different than how busy in general the ride is).
For an attraction with a dedicated wheelchair ride car, like Buzz Lightyear, that car can't be used by guests without a wheelchair, so they may let you ride a 2nd time if no one in a wheelchair is waiting.
For Aladdin and Triceraptop Spin, they remove the seat from a particular ride car to make a wheelchair spot. Because the ride is very short and it takes time to convert the ride car, they may allow you to ride more than once if it's not busy.
Pirates is one where it is not possible to ride twice (at least at WDW) because after guests exit the boats, the boat path continues through an area just high enough fir the boats to go through.
It also depends on how the ride loading is set up - an attraction with a preshow/gathering area like Soarin' or Star Tours or Mission Space, where they actually set guests in order for specific seats or ride areas and then load one show all together is not likely to let you ride twice because they already have guests waiting for those seats.

 

[KPeveler]

You can ask, but if there are others waiting, especially others with disabilities, you will likely only be able to ride once... especially if you are using a dedicated ride car.

They can only allow a few numbers of people with disabilities on a ride at a time, largely for safety reasons for when a ride has to evacuate, so if others are waiting at the ride is at "capacity" for people with disabilities, you may be asked to only ride once...

 

[tinkerbell198530]

a little off topic. is it posible for my DFi and I to ride sepretaly becuse the way thy took us to the ride enterance is the back way so I missed some of the theming, and I kinda want to see it this year it gets me in the sprit of the ride

 

[KPeveler]

a little off topic. is it posible for my DFi and I to ride sepretaly becuse the way thy took us to the ride enterance is the back way so I missed some of the theming, and I kinda want to see it this year it gets me in the sprit of the ride

What ride are you talking about? I always go through the regular line with my wheelchair, so unless it is a wish trip or something, you should always end up in the regular line.

If he IS using a different entrance, you can go through the regular line alone, but you would likely ride alone, as it would be too difficult to time you and your DF riding at the same time if he went in a different entrance...

 

[tinkerbell198530]

What ride are you talking about? I always go through the regular line with my wheelchair, so unless it is a wish trip or something, you should always end up in the regular line.

If he IS using a different entrance, you can go through the regular line alone, but you would likely ride alone, as it would be too difficult to time you and your DF riding at the same time if he went in a different entrance...

Big thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
HM

 

[KPeveler]

Big thunder Mountain
Splash Mountain
HM

Can your DF transfer on his own? Or you can ride with him, then ride alone.

Sure, you can go on a ride by yourself, but do not plan on being able to meet him once you get through the line. They will not want a person with a wheelchair to be sitting at the exits for that long, especially since the loading areas are very tight for all these rides...

 

[tinkerbell198530]

Can your DF transfer on his own? Or you can ride with him, then ride alone.

Sure, you can go on a ride by yourself, but do not plan on being able to meet him once you get through the line. They will not want a person with a wheelchair to be sitting at the exits for that long, especially since the loading areas are very tight for all these rides...

He just has a walker and I think we will go along with that he can sit on his walker and read a book while I go though the long ride the secend time around

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Just a random question for you all today.

At some of the other parks I've been to since my paralysis, when the ride required transferring out of my chair they would allow us to go around twice, since the transfers are often difficult and time/energy consuming (esp. for Dh's back if he has to lift me). I was just curious, will the CM's at WDW extend this courtesy as well? Or is it just a standard once and off. We don't do it every ride, but there are some faves it would be nice to get another go-around on.

As others have said, don't count on it, but if things are quiet they may let you ride a second time. I've been allowed to ride again on Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blasters; the Buzz Lightyear bumper car game in DQ; Test Track* and BTRR**, though not every time I've ridden them. If the line isn't long, you can always ask if it's possible to ride twice, but don't be surprised if they say no. It's best to ask as they're loading you, so they can plan things properly. The times they've let me go more than once, I was either in the adapted car with nobody else waiting for it; or the line was so short that people weren't coming up quickly enough to fill the cars up.


*Completely unrelated point, but I just thought I'd say that it is possible to load / unload at the seatbelt check point, instead of the standard loading place. This is a much easier transfer, as it's a sort of up-and-over, rather than the step down in at the regular loading point. They don't always ask if you want to do this, but if you just tell them you'd like to load at the check-point, they'll sort you out.

**When they are running an odd number of cars on this one, you will come back to a different loading point than the one you left from. I think they can get your wheelchair over to the other one, and get you out, but it's often easier for them to let you ride twice.