Shorten wheelchair line with party in regular queue?

[bethwc101]

On our next trip one member of our party will use a wheelchair due to a torn ACL. I know some of the lines with wheelchairs it can take longer waiting in that line as some only have 1 specialty area. (Space Moutnain)
She is likely needing to use the wheelchair to get from place to place, but would try and hobble through the queue so she can stay with the party. One ones where she can't do the queue because it is too long (Indy), how much longer do the wheelchair lines take? We will be a party of 10, so we will send her friend with her, but the rest of the party will likely go through the standard line since you can only do 8 people or so.
Will we be waiting for them long, or are they reasonably close to the same time.
Or if the wheelchair line is longer, can they just wait for the rest of the party to get to the front and then join us. Thinking on pirates where you have to scan and come back at a later time but the queue usually goes quickly, can wheelchair +1 go in the exit and when our party comes to the front can they just load into our boat?

 

[smartlabelprint]

Wheelchair plus 5 can wait in the exit.

 

[bethwc101]

Wheelchair plus 5 can wait in the exit.

But if the wheelchair line is longer, can they just join our party when we load? So we will be a party of 10. 8 of us go in the queue for pirates, 10 min standby. Wheelchair+1 goes in exit, but they say will be 20 min before they are loaded.
Can we tell them we are a party of 10 with 2 in wheelchair and they can just join our party when we get there instead of waiting in the wheelchair line since our party did the full standard queue?

 

[smartlabelprint]

I don’t think think so. Could you split up 4&4. I’d want an adult with them.

 

[bethwc101]

I don’t think think so. Could you split up 4&4. I’d want an adult with them.

They're 17 so would be fine on their own and she will have a full leg brace thingy on, so they won't get questioned. It would just be nice to do some attractions together.

 

[Niltiac]

You might have to ask on a case-by-case basis. Some rides can't accommodate a party of 10 in one ride vehicle anyway, so for those it would make sense to just split into two groups and meet up after the ride. But take your Pirates scenario for example - when I rode with a wheelchair they didn't have us wait a specific amount of time, they had us wait until there were enough people in the handicap area to fill one boat, and then they loaded us all at once. I've seen other people report being given a return time, so I don't think it's always predictable. The CMs probably vary the procedure depending on how crowded it is. If I were you, on rides where the ride vehicle can accommodate a party of 10, I would walk with the whole party to the exit and ask the CM what you should do so you can all ride together. Maybe they'll let you all wait in the handicap area, or maybe they'll let you split up and rejoin at the end of the line like you suggested, just see what they say.

 

[gottalovepluto]

But if the wheelchair line is longer, can they just join our party when we load? So we will be a party of 10. 8 of us go in the queue for pirates, 10 min standby. Wheelchair+1 goes in exit, but they say will be 20 min before they are loaded.
Can we tell them we are a party of 10 with 2 in wheelchair and they can just join our party when we get there instead of waiting in the wheelchair line since our party did the full standard queue?

No.

The wheelchair lines can get longer (esp at POTC) simply due to wc capacity issues. Disney can’t process them as fast as the normal line. And they don’t meet the standard line until boarding occurs.

There won’t ever be jumping of either line to join the rest of the party (or hanging back waiting for the other party) it’s just logistically impossible so plan to be split on all rides with a wc entrance. Sometimes wc lines will be shorter, sometimes longer.

ETA: agree on asking CM at the wc return time locations if it’s possible for you all to ride together, you never know you might get a yes

 

[Malcon10t]

But if the wheelchair line is longer, can they just join our party when we load? So we will be a party of 10. 8 of us go in the queue for pirates, 10 min standby. Wheelchair+1 goes in exit, but they say will be 20 min before they are loaded.
Can we tell them we are a party of 10 with 2 in wheelchair and they can just join our party when we get there instead of waiting in the wheelchair line since our party did the full standard queue?

No. For evacuation purposes, there is a limit on the number of handicap groups on the ride. If your person can walk a couple hundred feet, what we do is my girls get in the pirates line and go to the right. I wait up by the Gumbo restaurant and when they get to the top, then I join them and can walk the distance to load.

When we are a larger party, we simply ask at the queue, and are generally granted. This does NOT work well at Racers, since the cars hold 6, so we split with the 6 going to HA< and the rest in the regular line, or of we are 7, we spilt 3 and 4. Also, Toy STory doesn't work well, as the HA cars can be 6 or 8. And you don't know if it is 6 or 8. So we plan 4 to go HA, and the rest in the regular queue. Buzz lightyear, 2 to HA, the rest in the regular queue.

 

[bethwc101]

No. For evacuation purposes, there is a limit on the number of handicap groups on the ride. If your person can walk a couple hundred feet, what we do is my girls get in the pirates line and go to the right. I wait up by the Gumbo restaurant and when they get to the top, then I join them and can walk the distance to load.

When we are a larger party, we simply ask at the queue, and are generally granted. This does NOT work well at Racers, since the cars hold 6, so we split with the 6 going to HA< and the rest in the regular line, or of we are 7, we spilt 3 and 4. Also, Toy STory doesn't work well, as the HA cars can be 6 or 8. And you don't know if it is 6 or 8. So we plan 4 to go HA, and the rest in the regular queue. Buzz lightyear, 2 to HA, the rest in the regular queue.

So they can still go up the handicap line, just not join the handicap queue? I think that's what I was hoping to happen. That way she doesn't have to walk far, but can still join our party.

 

[smartlabelprint]

So they can still go up the handicap line, just not join the handicap queue? I think that's what I was hoping to happen. That way she doesn't have to walk far, but can still join our party.

No. That’s not the handicap line. The handicap line is on the other side of the dock from the regular line. She would enter the exit near Blue Bayou.

I think malcon10t was saying that person didn’t have to walk all the way through the long, winding queue. They met up in the regular line.

 

[bethwc101]

No. That’s not the handicap line. The handicap line is on the other side of the dock from the regular line. She would enter the exit near Blue Bayou.

I think malcon10t was saying that person didn’t have to walk all the way through the long, winding queue. They met up in the regular line.

I see what you're saying

 

[Malcon10t]

Yes, I wait at the top by the chains, and when they get there, I join them. Then I only have to walk the interior part of the line, then the exit back to my scooter. It depends on my day.

 

[PatMcDuck]

Space Mountain can be longer as well. And is another long line queue, even with a FP.

Have fun! Splitting up is probably your best option.