Soarin' Stampede and ECV?

[P&B's Mom]

I am going to be part of the Soarin' stampede in three weeks and have a question re: doing this with an ECV. I am sending DH ahead to secure FP for Soarin' and then all of will meet up with him to ride. My dad will be an ECV--how does this work exactly? I have read somewhere that there are stairs/elevator to access the ride.

My dad can walk, just slower than most people. He is diabetic and has had vascular surgery on both legs--should walk more at home but doesn't--doesn't use ECV at home, but WDW is a whole other story!

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[dclfun]

The only time you'll get on an elevator ( or for those who can, the escalator) would be to access the lower level of the Land pavilion. Once you're at the Soarin' attraction which is on the lower level, everything is ramped and accessible to ECV's and w/c's. There is no separate line so everyone should be able to remain together. It's a good idea to send someone ahead for the FP's though as sometimes there's a wait for the elevator. The elevator is located to your left down a ramp as you enter the pavilion, right next to the Garden Grill restaurant. A CM usually is at the entrance to the bldg. and will direct you if you ask.---Kathy

 

[Mrsjvb]

it was my experience that you don't even need to ask..they point you in the right direction as you enter! heheheh.

the elevator is SMALL< however, and if he is unused to maneuvering in the ECV can be a hassle getting in. I suggest backing in so that you are facing out and can drive straight on, rather than driving in and then trying to turn around, especially since not everyone is patient. While I personally had no issues with others waiting until DH could wheel me in, I did witness others being crowded out with strollers who were unwilling to give the ECV a chance to get in first and then fill in the space, thus holding up the elevator even LONGER.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Whenever I visit the Land Pavillion, I end up in a line of wheelchairs & ECVs waiting to use the elevator, so the elevator has to make several trips before I can get on.

When I get to the bottom, I often find four to six ECVs parked up right near the elevator at the lower level. So my plea is:

If you intend to get off your ECV and walk as soon as you get downstairs, leave your ECV upstairs and park up before you go down. That way, more people can fit in the elevator, and people who cannot get out of their wheelchairs don't have to wait so long to go down.

It also avoids the tangle caused by ECVs backing up & turning right outside the elevator doors.

Andrew

 

[poohbear7]

Strollers are suppose to be parked outside. The person at the door doesn't usually allow you to enter will a stroller. The wait can be long for the elevator as only two wheel chairs can fit at one time. We can get my scooter and a special needs stroller in the elevator and the rest of our party takes the escalator.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you do it right and don't use Disney ECVs, you can fit two ECVs and a wheelchair in the elevator.

One thing which causes the real backups are when an entire party of six or so people want to go in the elevator with the person in the chair. I have suggested to groups that they meet the person in the chair upstairs or downstairs to allow more space for chairs in the elevator.

 

[poohbear7]

That's what we do myself and my daughter with her son in the special needs stroller take the elevator and the rest of our party meets us by Sorin. It makes it a lot easier. I have my own scooter and it's a lot smaller than Disney's. We have gotten my scooter grandsons stroller and another wheel chair in.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have some pictures, but I'm not at home, so I can't post any pictures right now.
As the other explained, there is a small elevator that you need to use to get down to the bottom level where Soarin and Living with the Land are.
We usually have DH (who is pushing DD's wheelchair and DD) go down the elevator. The rest of us take the stairs or escalators.

I would add that the walk from where you enter the Soarin' queue until you actually get to the boarding area is quite a long walk. It is up a fairly steep ramp and then back down. And, there is an equally long walk to get from the unloading point to the exit again. So, if you would have problems walking for 400 yards or so, I would strongly suggest bringing the ECV in the line.
The Fastpass line and the regular queue are basically the same length - just a shorter wait in the Fastpass line.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The elevator is located to your left down a ramp as you enter the pavilion, right next to the Garden Grill restaurant. A CM usually is at the entrance to the bldg. and will direct you if you ask.---Kathy

it was my experience that you don't even need to ask..they point you in the right direction as you enter! heheheh.

It was MY experience (as one of the first Guests into the building, behind the CMs) to have been forced to head right, along with all the Guests heading for the stairs/escalator - despite pointing out to the CM that the elevator was only 1/4 of the way around to the left (vs. 3/4 of the way around if I went right). But he insisted.

So, I got to the elevator JUST behind a party of three - one ECV, one wheelchair, one on foot - who hadn't had the same experience... and so got to Soarin' several minutes ahead of me, despite my entering the building several minutes before them. Go figure.

 

[Momelie]

I didn't have to "head right" this weekend with the stampede. I went up the disabled ramp on the left, and went in the left door and down the left side to the elevator. We had sent one of our party to get fast passes, but by the time we got down there, the line was already out of the entrance and heading towards the dining area. We decided to bag it and just wait till fast pass time.

At that time, however, I must say that we had problems with tons of ECVs lined up directly in front of the elevator at the lower level. How on earth do they think anyone can exit the elevator if there's a huge Disney ECV parked right in front of the doors? We actually had to wait for 4 lined up ECVs to back up so myself and the other ECV could get out. I have a very small scooter, so it is easy for me to maneuver in and out and I had backed in, but the other ECV in the car with me (Disney) was having a much harder time.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Can an ECV go through the regular line at Soarin? When Dh and I went to ride, the CM sent us through the FP line. This was our firt time riding, so I didn't know, just did what the CM told me to do and was glad I did take the ECV, I could never walked that far.


Suzanne

 

[Momelie]

Yes, absolutely you can go through the regular line at Soarin'! We frequently get there first thing in the morning and get fastpasses for later in the day, then get in the regular line to ride. I love riding twice in a day!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yep. ECVs go through the line with everyone else, and can be ridden right into the theater! Park as directed by the Cast Member, then take a seat with everyone else. Depending where you park and where you sit, the ECV may be right where you left it - or a CM will steer it closer to your seat when the ride ends.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's what it says in the Disney official Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for Epcot:
"Obtain a Disney's FASTPASS ticket OR use Stand-By queue. If FASTPASS is not available, enter through standard queue."

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Yep. ECVs go through the line with everyone else, and can be ridden right into the theater! Park as directed by the Cast Member, then take a seat with everyone else. Depending where you park and where you sit, the ECV may be right where you left it - or a CM will steer it closer to your seat when the ride ends.

I knew that part, I just didn't know if I could go through the regular line, since the CM sent us through the FP line. It was nice parking right there near the seat. Next time, I am asking to be in the last row and see if I can handle the ride better. I got dizzy when we rode it, but would really like to ride with the kids when we go in December.

Thank you all for the info.

Suzanne