Strange wheelchair rule?

[PatMcDuck]

A weird wheelchair issue we have had, is when we approached a line, with my son in his wheelchair and we wanted to do the standby line. This was at Rock n Roller, and turned into a big big argument. They said we HAD to get a Fast pass to ride Rock n Roller. Now, we usually DO, but this was the last day and the FPs being issued were for too late. The standby was 45 minutes, and we were more than willing to wait, we were NOT looking to cut the line. They said no, wheelchairs had to use FP. I said, NO, we should have a choice to wait like everyone else. It was just so odd. We could not convince this CM to help us, and finally we just GOT on the standby line, there is plenty of room to push the wheelchair thru the line, whcih we did. We only approached the CM outside, because that is what they tell guests to do with a wheelchair in their party. In this case, all he had to say was that we should use the regular line. (We approach the CM each time in case there is something different, maybe they did something to the line where we would no longer fit around a tight turn or whatever.)

I assume that this was a CM that was mistaken, but I dont know. This happened 2 years ago. Last year, I think we did use FP, so it did not come up.

 

[BillSears]

I've used both the standby and fastpass lines in the past year and never had a problem. Both seem very wheelchair accessible. On the other hand I've never approached the CM about it. Except for the odd ride at the MK I assume both entrances are fine for wheelchair users and if not they'll stop me before I get into the line.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

That's really strange. I am in the same boat as Bill. Never had a problem.

 

[dclfun]

Pat- I'm sorry your family had to deal with that situation. I've never had that issue either as I've gone through that stand-by line at R & R coaster so I can visit with my kids while they're waiting. Even if I weren't disabled I'd be too chicken to ride! I'm with Bill- I don't often approach anyone at the entrances to attractions anymore and figure they'll pull me out of the line if I won't fit, although usually I expect that the queue lines, esp. on the newer rides, will be accessible. I've never heard of that rule though and next time around I'd just go into whichever line you want depending on whether you have time to get FP's or not. ---Kathy

 

[Chuck S]

At some attractions, people in wheelchairs used to be issued a manually written fastpass, with the return time being the same as the estimated wait time for the standby line, even if the fastpasses were all issued for the day, or were issing a later timestamp. I'm thinking the standby queues may have been unable, at the time, to accomodate wheelchairs.

 

[pugdog]

A couple of years ago some people in line told us we were supposed to use FP. BUt that did not come from a CM and the standby line is more then wheelchiar friendly.

 

[SueM in MN]

A couple of years ago some people in line told us we were supposed to use FP. BUt that did not come from a CM and the standby line is more then wheelchiar friendly.

I can see that happening because a lot of people (guests) assume that everyone using a wheelchair gets to use all the Fastpass lines.

I have never been on Rock N Roller, but we have had handwritten Fastpasses issued when the attraction could not accomodate any more wheelchairs right then. That can happen when the boarding area is at the exit for wheelchairs.
I have no idea what happened in the OP's situation, but it is strange.

For knowing which rides have accessible queues, there are signs outside the queues that give the title of the ride, a short (really short) description and an icon to tell the accessibility. I often miss them because they kind of blend in with the other stuff around the rides, but it would possibly help in the OP's situation so there would be a handy reference that said the regular line was accessiblee.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have gone on Living With The Land and been in my ECV. Beacause of the way the queue is set up I could not get into the regular line. At the head of the line I was given a written FP for my party with a return time that was effectively the same as the expected wait at that time in the standby line (about 25 minutes). At that time we came back and used the FP line which is ECV accessible.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have gone on Living With The Land and been in my ECV. Beacause of the way the queue is set up I could not get into the regular line. At the head of the line I was given a written FP for my party with a return time that was effectively the same as the expected wait at that time in the standby line (about 25 minutes). At that time we came back and used the FP line which is ECV accessible.

We've had that happen when we have gone there with DD's wheelchair too.

 

[kimbac3]

We got fast passes for most of the rides and alot of times they didn't even take them We came home with a bunch for my scrapbook. It was weird the first couple of times but by the end of the week we were used to it.

Kimba

 

[PatMcDuck]

It was just odd, and I won't even worry about it for the next trip. But believe me, we did not misuderstand this CM, he was very sure of his position.

We also had the return pass given to us at the Land, with a twist. They said they could only give out a certain # of handiapped return FP per hour, or per 1/2 hour. Another family already had one before us, so our return was another 1/2 hour beyond standby time. Again, this made little sense, but we did not even really care if we rode the Land or not. I do not think we even made it back to ride it. It was not to wait for a special boat, because my son transfers out of his chair. I think what happened, also happened once on Space Mountain. They only want a certain # of handicapped people on some rides at one time, in case of an emergency and they needed to assist them to evacuate? Something like that. It DOES make some sense. My son can walk, but I might need help getting him off a ride from CMs if I needed him to get out in the middle somewhere.

I am not griping, we LOVE WDW and always have a wonderful time.

 

[SueM in MN]

It was just odd, and I won't even worry about it for the next trip. But believe me, we did not misuderstand this CM, he was very sure of his position.

I don't think anyone thought you misunderstood.

We also had the return pass given to us at the Land, with a twist. They said they could only give out a certain # of handiapped return FP per hour, or per 1/2 hour. Another family already had one before us, so our return was another 1/2 hour beyond standby time. Again, this made little sense, but we did not even really care if we rode the Land or not. I do not think we even made it back to ride it. It was not to wait for a special boat, because my son transfers out of his chair. I think what happened, also happened once on Space Mountain. They only want a certain # of handicapped people on some rides at one time, in case of an emergency and they needed to assist them to evacuate? Something like that. It DOES make some sense. My son can walk, but I might need help getting him off a ride from CMs if I needed him to get out in the middle somewhere.

I am not griping, we LOVE WDW and always have a wonderful time.

You are right that there are some attractions where they do only allow a certain number of people with special needs allowed on at a time. We have had to wait some times for just that reason.
I could see the situation on The Land if there were already people waiting for the wheelchair car and you needed that, but like you said, it didn't make much sense.

 

[BillSears]

I don't mean to encourage rude behavior but sometimes I think it's time to get stubborn and I've got a stubborn streak a mile wide.

When told no I can't go through the standby line and even though the standby line is a 30 minute wait I have to come back in an hour or more...I'll head to the standby line. I'll explain to the CM that the wait for those who walk is 30 minutes and to make me wait longer then that isn't reasonable. I'll then explain that if the standby line is not wheelchair accessible then he better make it accessible really quick because I'm going in it now. At that point I usually get a pass to use the fastpass line in 30 minutes.

I understand the limits for the rides and that there are sometimes only one wheelchair accessible car. But I should have the option of waiting in line for that car and not be told to come back an hour later when the standby line is 30 minutes.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't mean to encourage rude behavior but sometimes I think it's time to get stubborn and I've got a stubborn streak a mile wide.

When told no I can't go through the standby line and even though the standby line is a 30 minute wait I have to come back in an hour or more...I'll head to the standby line. I'll explain to the CM that the wait for those who walk is 30 minutes and to make me wait longer then that isn't reasonable. I'll then explain that if the standby line is not wheelchair accessible then he better make it accessible really quick because I'm going in it now. At that point I usually get a pass to use the fastpass line in 30 minutes.

I understand the limits for the rides and that there are sometimes only one wheelchair accessible car. But I should have the option of waiting in line for that car and not be told to come back an hour later when the standby line is 30 minutes.

we had Fastpasses once for Little Mermaid and when we came back for our time, they said all the wheelchair spots were filled for that time. That kind of thing isn't fair.

 

[EmptyCinema]

I understand the limits for the rides and that there are sometimes only one wheelchair accessible car. But I should have the option of waiting in line for that car and not be told to come back an hour later when the standby line is 30 minutes.

Maybe the CMs realize that there is already another party waiting for the accessible ride vehicle, and thus you'd have to wait one (or more) ride cycles before you could board and were attempting to save you the wait. I'm not saying it ISN'T a silly policy, but perhaps the CMs were trying to save you the waiting.

 

[TamTab]

We were there in March and were told that there were stairs to enter in the stand-by line. They told us that we needed to enter the ride by going in the store and enter where the exit was. Sure enough there was a wheelchair entrance there. I think they had us enter the ride here because if you remember you load the ride in one section and exit the ride somewhere else. I guess this way if you load the ride where you exit your chair will be there waiting for you.

 

[Shorty82]

We were there in March and were told that there were stairs to enter in the stand-by line. They told us that we needed to enter the ride by going in the store and enter where the exit was. Sure enough there was a wheelchair entrance there. I think they had us enter the ride here because if you remember you load the ride in one section and exit the ride somewhere else. I guess this way if you load the ride where you exit your chair will be there waiting for you.

The exit was just the accessable entrance for that ride (which ride, BTW?). Most rides wheelchairs enter through the main queue and the CMs will move the chair to the exit.

 

[TamTab]

The exit was just the accessable entrance for that ride (which ride, BTW?).

Rock n' Roller Coaster. They told us we could only enter in the exit for this ride.

 

[BillSears]

Rock n' Roller Coaster. They told us we could only enter in the exit for this ride.

They were mistaken. I've never entered through the eixt. I use a wheelchair and have entered through the fastpass and the standby lines. However just before you board the ride I was diverted to the unloading platform so I could transfer onto the ride.

 

[TamTab]

They were mistaken. I've never entered through the eixt. I use a wheelchair and have entered through the fastpass and the standby lines. However just before you board the ride I was diverted to the unloading platform so I could transfer onto the ride.

Well we went on the ride about 5 times and each time they told us to enter in the exit. And they were different CM's each time so I can't imagine that all the CM's were mistaken that day. Also there was always a CM at the exit waiting there to let the wheelchairs in. (we weren't the only ones) So maybe this was something new they were trying out when we were there.