Stop Doom Buggies for Disabled?

shrinkydinky

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i have read in other threads that they do stop the doom buggies on the Haunted Mansion ride for those who need it. i just wanted to hear from people who have had this done for them. We are going to WDW in 20 days and i'm getting very nervous. My sister and i, our health has declined. We will be renting scooters, but i have also developed a balance problem. i know i can't get into a moving vehicle, and if i fall it would be very bad news with thin skin and being on blood thinners.

So, my question is, is there a separate line they form for those who need help? Is it separate from the regular line? And then when you need to get off, will they stop it again? i really want to enjoy this ride, just afraid of getting hurt. Any personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.
 
I keep hearing that they don't, but clearly they do because of the number of times the ride has come to a halt for a few minutes when we've been riding it.

I understand that they don't stop or slow the moving walkway, but wheelchairs go in a slightly different loading area (between where people get off and where the new ones get on), and maybe this one doesn't have the moving walkway.
 
If you have a mobility device (things like wheelchair, ECV, walker or rollator) you will wait in the same line as other guests. As you get close to the front door of the mansion and as you enter each room, the CM will direct you to stay toward a certain side.
As the group leaves the stretching room, you will be directed to a door and hallway that leads to the exit for boarding.
You will wait at the end of that hallway, which opens to the path guests exit after riding, until a CM comes to get you. Guests are asked there whether they can walk - they may say a short distance or may actually say how far. Whether they say or not, plan 200 feet.
Guests who can walk are directed to park their mobility device outside and then walk back up the usual exit hallway to board.
If you can't walk that far, tell the CM how far you can walk, so that they are not planning for something you can't do.
If you are returning to board after parking a mobility device, don't actually enter the room with the moving walkway until the CM tells you to.

In general, they try to slow moving walkways as much as possible , not come to a full stop. This is because most guests don't actually need it stopped, just slowed. And, stopping becomes a danger for other guests - people panic or try to get out of the ride car inside the attraction when the ride stops.
guests trying to get off has happened multiple times on different attractions, so they try to minimize coming to an actual stop as much as possible.

Because the moving walkway is moving at the same speed as the cars, it is usually much less of an issue than many people think it will be. The biggest trip points are as you are stepping on and off the moving walkway. I have seen people trip in those places when it was stopped though - probably more because it is a change in the floor surface than anything else.

We do need it stopped because we have to lift our daughter out of her wheelchair and into the ride car. There is a ADA ride car with a wider door opening, which makes it easier to get in.
We have been told by CMs that is the only ride car where they can plan to stop the moving walkway, so if you need that doom buggy or need the walkway stopped, you will need to wait for that one to come around. If they stopped it when you got on, they should stop it when you get off.
There is a CM stationed at the exit, walking the moving walkway to watch for issues. That CM should have a remote control that will slow or stop the walkway if needed. That exit area is also in view of the ride operator, stationed in a room above, so that person can also slow or stop it.

Tell each CM along the way inside the mansion if you will need the buggy stopped. Because of only stopping it on that certain car, telling the CM as you are stepping onto the walkway is too late.
But, as I mentioned, they can slow it to a crawl and can do an emergency stop if they see it is needed.

If you have a visible mobility need or have a cane, tell the CM before entering the mansion and also you enter each new area. As the guests are leaving the stretching room, don't be one of the first out - wait for the room to empty so you can be directed to the correct area.
If you follow the other guests into the usual boarding area, the walkway can be stopped in emergency, but not at request.
 
I would recommend bringing a cane as well. With balance issues, sometimes just getting up from the scooters too fast can cause you to fall. Having a cane can give you an extra place to lean when standing, and can work as a fail safe if you are jostled or bumped. Plus, it has the added bonus of giving the cast members a visible sign that not all your needs are met by the scooter, and you may need additional assistance. Cast members are instructed not to touch guests, including helping the on and off rides, so it may be an added benefit. Just bring something to ensure it doesn't fall off the scooter when driving, and it can be an asset.

Also, I hate to say it, but we know people aren't the nicest, and can sometimes be rude to those needing assistance, not cast members but mainly other guests, judging without knowing your situation... If this is something that bothers you, having the cane in addition to the rented scooter is a visible indicator to them they should shut up.

Have a great trip!!
 

Thank you so much for the information. i guess if they slow it down, and the walkway is at the same speed, it will be easier.

i can stand for a short period of time, and can walk a short distance, 200 feet is probably doable. i wouldn't be able to stand in a long line for a long time without falling over.

i do have several canes, one folding one. Thinking i should get a quad cane for more assistance with balance. i'm trying to picture myself and wondering if it would be easier or harder for me to maneuver getting onto a ride with a cane in one hand. i'll be with my sisters and their families. Perhaps if they slow the ride, and i have a sure-footed family member with me for balance, it might work.

Thanks again. :)
 
i have read in other threads that they do stop the doom buggies on the Haunted Mansion ride for those who need it. i just wanted to hear from people who have had this done for them. We are going to WDW in 20 days and i'm getting very nervous. My sister and i, our health has declined. We will be renting scooters, but i have also developed a balance problem. i know i can't get into a moving vehicle, and if i fall it would be very bad news with thin skin and being on blood thinners.

So, my question is, is there a separate line they form for those who need help? Is it separate from the regular line? And then when you need to get off, will they stop it again? i really want to enjoy this ride, just afraid of getting hurt. Any personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

no it is not separate all the way. you are sent to a hallway that opens up along the exit route and are directed to park your ECV/wheelchair at the crypts( which are NOT covered so if it looks like rain, plan accordingly) and then you will walk back to load. today when I rode another group behind me asked that it be slowed ( in fact he went ahead and slowed it for me) I walked from the crypts, this party the person in the chair rode said chair all the way to the loading zone.. if it is during a very busy time they may decline to stop it completely. the walkway is decently long and you are directed to the vehicle before you actually get on the walkway so can pace yourself.
 
Thank you! i really appreciate reading the personal experiences. i also ordered myself one of those hurrycanes online last night. i think that will give me more stability.
 
They have always stopped the walkway and doom buggy for us to load our daughter who is a full time wheelchair user. We park the chair and "walk" her to the buggy. Once she is in, they restart the ride.
 
We've had it stopped for us, but as others have mentioned, you have to tell each and every cast member you meet along the way from the front gate to the load area, and be prepared to be very, very polite but firm with them, because in my experience most of the HM CM's tend to feel like they are on a super-special holy crusade to keep anyone with a disability from receiving any hint of accommodation or even common courtesy. And yes, a cane or walker is a great idea for keeping balance, especially in the extremely dark corridors and load area.
 
If you have a wheelchair, ECV or wallker/rollator, it's not necessary to tell CMS anything until you get to the hallway that leads to the exit/handicapped boarding area. The CMs will direct you where to go
The last few years, we have actually been asked if we need it stopped. Be prepared to tell them if they don't ask though.
 
We've had it stopped for us, but as others have mentioned, you have to tell each and every cast member you meet along the way from the front gate to the load area, and be prepared to be very, very polite but firm with them, because in my experience most of the HM CM's tend to feel like they are on a super-special holy crusade to keep anyone with a disability from receiving any hint of accommodation or even common courtesy. And yes, a cane or walker is a great idea for keeping balance, especially in the extremely dark corridors and load area.

umm no. I never felt anything but the utmost concern from the CMs at Haunted mansion.. in fact the one gentleman was very emphatic about saying he was more than happy to slow it down for me if I needed (this was the first day I rode it when I was the only person in a mobile device in the line)

the second time( the scenario I mentioned in an earlier post) this was the same CM and he went WAY out of the way to help insure the elderly gentleman get into his doom buggy safely

The guys at Jungle cruise are a hoot to deal with( I stay in my chair on that ride as it, like IASW are too much for me to handle; I cannot get out of the boat)

'rudest' ( and I cannot even say that he was in fact that, just very firm and no nonsense) was at Spaceship earth. no smile, no cheerful 'I need to send you off this way' just a "no, your chair cannot go any further. go around the corner to exit and wait for someone to take you up."
 
umm no. I never felt anything but the utmost concern from the CMs at Haunted mansion..

I'm glad your experiences have all been positive, but I assure you that I'm not being dishonest about mine. I've heard other people share stories similar to yours, and many other people share stories similar to mine.

I only say it to spare anyone any of the surprises I first had when visiting the attraction as a person with disabilities; they really threw me for a loop, and I find that it's much easier for me to advocate for my needs when I'm not caught off guard.
 



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