Spaceship Earth FP+, will it shorten the w/c wait?

[IncredibleboysMom]

In the past, before FP+, we have entered the side door of Spaceship Earth and waited at the exit in an often crowded, slow-moving line of other wheelchair users to board. Will having FP+ for this ride cut down on the wait or is it a total waste of a FP+?

Thanks!

 

[Mrsjvb]

you may still end up being given return time of approximately the length of the current SB time to be sent through the alternative exit, esp if it is a crowded day.

Can you wait until thursday? that's when my FP+ for Spaceship earth is and I am in a chair. I can report my experience back at that time.

 

[SueM in MN]

For other attractions with separate wheelchair entrances, when we had Fastpass Plus, we were still given a return time ticket, but the start time on it was right away and we could get right into the accessible line.

Here is how Spaceship Earth worked before with a monility device -
If you approached the CM at the entrance to the regular line with a mobility device, that CM explained how to get to the accessible entrance and you were sent there.
The accessible entrance is at the end of the exit ramp from the attraction. One side has parking for mobility devices and the other side has a queue with some benches along the wall.
A CM at the area had a clipboard and wrote people's names and party size on it as they arrived. You were given an approximate waiting time. Most people just joined the queue at that point, but people sometimes left and came back.

We had a FASTPASS Plus scheduled for Spaceship Earth on our last trip in April 2014 during Spring Break and didn't use it. We had also been to WDW in October 2013, after DAS began.
The times we went, only a few people were in the area waiting and the process seemed like they were doing the same as previously.
It's possible that if it had been busier, more people were waiting, or someone wanted to wait somewhere else, they would have used return time passes.

 

[lizard1]

We tried a FP for it this summer, because we weren't sure how it would work. When we got to the handicap entrance, they told us they didn't take FP there and we should go ahead and reschedule it for something else.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

We've usually joined the 'disabled' entrance using DD's GAC pass. This year I had an ECV and had to go that way.

Maywe we've just been lucky, but we've never had to wait more than 20 minutes to get on - and that was because there were quite a few small parties in front of us. They're only allowed to load so many at a time, so if you time it badly you can find yourself with a good wait. This year we only waited a few minutes as we were second party in the queue and they can take 2 or 3 at a time (especially when I was able to walk on with my stick).

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

Thank you all! It sounds as though a FP wouldn't make much sense here. Mrsjvb, please report back with your experience.

 

[bopper]

Also with Spaceship Earth, timing is everything. Many people go to it when they enter the park because it is right there. So if you are there first thing, perhaps go then. If you get there a little later then maybe wait until the crowds are gone.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I scanned my magic band and was sent around the back to the exit. there was no other party waiting but we sat there maybe ten minutes before being walked up the exit ramp to load. when we were done, there were probably 5 parties in the waiting area.

I will say this, no one actually SAW us scan our MBs for the FP but we were sent to the exit as soon as he turned around and saw us.

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

Sounds as though the process and the wait will be exactly the same with or without FP+. Agree?

Think I will change it to something else. It would be great if Disney could clarify these things. We are going Thanksgiving week, and I really don't want to waste a FP.

Thanks for the update!

 

[fairy8i8]

I had FP+ for this last May since I didn't know about alternate entrances on some rides (I thought everything was pretty much mainstream). I scanned our band before going to the exit. This just messed up the FP+ because in a wheelchair, you can't scan at the second checkpoint, so it freezes your FP+ for that ride so you can't change it to a different ride at that point.

FP+ won't get you ahead of the accessible line. They only allow 1 accessible party on at a time, so you have to wait your turn. We didn't have anyone waiting when we got there, but there was someone on the ride, so we had to wait for them to get off before we could load. This is why the accessible line can get backed up and they start giving out return times. FP+ does not allow you to cut the return times they give other people as there would be no way for them to notify the other parties, and it would affect everyone behind you in the line, hence no FP+ for the accessible line. Unfortunately, sometimes having a wheelchair or ECV means longer waits, not shorter ones. It all evens out.

 

[The Hunchback]

We are at WDW now. Never had to wait more than 10 minutes at the handicapped entrance. Crowds have been a bit heavy due to the food and wine festival. I would "spend" your fast pass on something else and take your chances later in the day on Space Sheet Earth. They will slow the ride if you need them to. I had trouble loading once day and they actually stopped it for me. I was impressed.