Stroller in ride queue not on ride?

[fakereadhed]

My DS is 3, has very low tone and my main concern is the lines on the way to the rides. Last year he was 2, but 40lb. and he couldn't get from the beginning of the queue to the ride without me carrying him because we had to leave the stroller at the exit. Now he is 45# and over my personal limit for carrying him(my back didn't appreciate it at 40# ) for all the rides. I know they have stroller as wheelchair but that is way more than he needs, as he can get into the seat with help when we get there and will take up space someone else could use. Do they ever allow the stroller to be used just to get there? I realize this would be a problem because you'd need your stroller back at the end of the ride and there wouldn't be anywhere to put it.

 

[SueM in MN]

I know they have stroller as wheelchair but that is way more than he needs, as he can get into the seat with help when we get there and will take up space someone else could use. Do they ever allow the stroller to be used just to get there? I realize this would be a problem because you'd need your stroller back at the end of the ride and there wouldn't be anywhere to put it.

The stroller as wheelchair allows you to bring the stroller into the line with you and go where wheelchairs go. The stroller would usually not go onto any wheelchair accessible ride cars, so don't worry that you are taking up a space.
Even if someone has a wheelchair, they will be asked if they can transfer for the rides that have a wheelchair accessible car. That leaves that spot for people who are using wheelchairs and are not able to transfer.

For the attractions where the usual exit and entrance are at different places, they have people with wheelchairs (or strollers as wheelchairs - assume I mean that when I say wheelchair) board at the exit (usually after waiting in line until close to the usual boarding area). That way, the wheelchair/stroller will be at the exit when you get off. There are a few attractions that have the boarding and exit at different places and are not able to have wheelchair users board at the exit. For those, the CMs bring the wheelchair to the exit after you have boarded.

 

[Barbday62]

One notable exception i noticed at WDW is the Pirate of the Carribean ride. My husband uses a power chair and they made him transfer to one of their rental type push chairs. I had to do the push. Then they gave us a different rental push type at the exit. It was not a very good system in my opinion since I had to push up hill a good portion of time. His Power chair was left where we transfered to a regular wheel chair. I can see this being a big problem if I was not there to push since he cant roll a wheel chair by himself.

I would assume the same would be done for a stoller used as a wheel chair? Put a child in a wheel chair and use theirs to exit?

 

[SueM in MN]

One notable exception i noticed at WDW is the Pirate of the Carribean ride. My husband uses a power chair and they made him transfer to one of their rental type push chairs. I had to do the push. Then they gave us a different rental push type at the exit. It was not a very good system in my opinion since I had to push up hill a good portion of time. His Power chair was left where we transfered to a regular wheel chair. I can see this being a big problem if I was not there to push since he cant roll a cheel chair by himself.

I would assume the same would be done for a stoller used as a wheel chair? Put a child in a wheel chair and use theirs to exit?

If the stroller can be folded and put onto the ride boat, they will do that.

The problem with POC is that the boarding and the exit are in different buildings and the exit is actually one floor down from the entrance. There is no way to get on at the exit and ride thru. There is also no easy way to get wheelchairs from boarding to exit unless it fits into the boat.
If it isn't busy, they will sometimes 'shuttle' a wheelchair from the entrance to the exit, but some people have found they got to the exit before their wheelchair arrived there. So, it is better to take the manual wheelchair they offer if you can ride in it.

 

[don8life]

I use stroller as wheel chair also. It works wonderfully. My daughter has never been on Pirates so I don't know the procedure there. Usually the CM's have the stroller waiting at the exit.

My daughter is 6 and getting to big for the stroller so I'm looking at the Bigger ones for special kids but they are sooooo expensive.

 

[Tissa]

Yes they are expensive but insurance covered ours so you might want to check into that if you can.

 

[fakereadhed]

With that option it will allow him to go on many more rides. I had visions of doing the carousel only once my back gave out. Thanks so much for the replies!

 

[alizesmom]

Does any wheelchair fit in POC? Alize is in a special child's chair that includes head support and body straps. He would fall out of a regular chair. His chair does not fold. Any suggestions since this is one ride I'm sure he'd enjoy. Karen

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

Alizesmom (Christamae from tracheostomy here), They will allow you to fold some manual chairs and put them in the ride BUT you cannot ride in them and must sit on the bench.

A possible solution is for you to hold Alize on your lap

 

[Selket]

I just wanted to note that the path to get to Soarin including the que was a very long way compared to most of the rides - it definitely helps to have the stroller on that one - don't leave it outside the building. BTMRR was another he could do at 3 but the que was too difficult for him (tried it once to my regret!). I think with Pirates we took the stroller in the boat and somehow took an alternative exit out.

I'm happy to say that William was born with low muscle tone and we did the "stroller as wheelchair" up until this year and he was able to do all the que lines without a problem (he is 5 now). I hope you will have the similar luck.

 

[fakereadhed]

I just wanted to note that the path to get to Soarin including the que was a very long way compared to most of the rides - it definitely helps to have the stroller on that one - don't leave it outside the building. BTMRR was another he could do at 3 but the que was too difficult for him (tried it once to my regret!). I think with Pirates we took the stroller in the boat and somehow took an alternative exit out.

I'm happy to say that William was born with low muscle tone and we did the "stroller as wheelchair" up until this year and he was able to do all the que lines without a problem (he is 5 now). I hope you will have the similar luck.

Thanks for this. We went to older DD's school orientation today and one trip up the steps and he was falling and couldn't keep up. Nice to hear that there is some hope.

BTMRR- I have never been on it myself, but have heard it is dark and bumpy. I was going to skip it with DS sensory issues, but he loves trains. Is it too loud or bumpy for a sensitive child?

 

[Schmeck]

The tunnel at the beginning of BTMRR is very, very loud, and the tracks are moderately bumpy.

 

[SueM in MN]

Does any wheelchair fit in POC? Alize is in a special child's chair that includes head support and body straps. He would fall out of a regular chair. His chair does not fold. Any suggestions since this is one ride I'm sure he'd enjoy. Karen

My DD's wheelchair doesn't fold and she can't sit in one of the loaner wheelchairs for the wait in the line.
If they have staff to bring the wheelchair from the boarding area to the exit, they will do that for you. We had that done once and her wheelchair was waiting for us at the exit. One person posted that they did not have such good luck and they had to wait for the wheelchair to be brought.
If the wheelchair is not too big and doesn't look too fragile, a CM might be willing to put it in the boat. They have done that with DD's wheelchair; we sat in the row ahead and they put it in the back row.

If he can sit with support of you sitting next to him and holding him against you, that would work or you might be able to sit him on your lap as eternaldisneyfan suggested.

I just wanted to note that the path to get to Soarin including the que was a very long way compared to most of the rides - it definitely helps to have the stroller on that one - don't leave it outside the building. BTMRR was another he could do at 3 but the que was too difficult for him (tried it once to my regret!). I think with Pirates we took the stroller in the boat and somehow took an alternative exit out.

You are right about Soarin'. That is a long way.
The usual exit for Pirates is up a steep moving ramp (like an escalator without steps). There is an elevator to the left of the ramp that should be used by people with wheelchairs or strollers. The elevator leaves you off in kind of a strange place - just follow the path along and you will end up near some restrooms.

The tunnel at the beginning of BTMRR is very, very loud, and the tracks are moderately bumpy.

You can watch quite a bit of the ride path from outside or check on yourtube for ride videos; that might help your decision.
It is pretty loud and you can hear the clack-clack of the tracks thru the whole ride. A lot of people scream on the ride, in case that would cause a problem for him.

 

[Selket]

William doesnt have sensory issues so BTMRR was fine for him - he just hated the dark at that age (3) and still doesn't so much like rides in the dark. There is a very short period of dark at the beginning of BTMRR. It is also loud and noisy with lots of "clackety" sounds.

Perhaps try Goofy's Barnstormer first if he isn't used to roller coasters - that is a good first coaster and it is fast (not really a baby ride!) but not so dark. BTMRR is just a bigger version of it.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Its been awhile but I remember us taking DS13 (100lbs) and lifting him into the boat and the w/c/stroller being there for us when we got off. It is not electric and folds but they never put it in the boat with us. I'll have to ask DH when he gets home. OH, wait a minute. I think we went a different way and he got on the exit side so the stroller stayed there? Maybe? Boy, getting old is hard. Brain dead..

 

[Schmeck]

Its been awhile but I remember us taking DS13 (100lbs) and lifting him into the boat and the w/c/stroller being there for us when we got off. It is not electric and folds but they never put it in the boat with us. I'll have to ask DH when he gets home. OH, wait a minute. I think we went a different way and he got on the exit side so the stroller stayed there? Maybe? Boy, getting old is hard. Brain dead..

Couldn't have been on PotC, I don't think - as you get off of the boat at the exit, it passes through a wall that has an opening just high enough for the boat, doesn't it?

 

[DannysMom]

BTMRR- I have never been on it myself, but have heard it is dark and bumpy. I was going to skip it with DS sensory issues, but he loves trains. Is it too loud or bumpy for a sensitive child?

Last spring when we went, my son was not quite 4. Big Thunder Mountain was his favorite ride. He would call out "Let's do Big Thunder Mountain!" (Already a coaster fan, just like Mom & Dad! ) It is a bit on the loud side, and folks scream a lot, it's moderately bumpy. Definitely check out the YouTube video. You knows his likes & dislikes best, you can probably tell if he'd enjoy this one or not.

If you don't think he's up to this one yet, just do the nice calm steam train that circles the park. My son really liked that one too.

 

[MousekeMommy]

Hi there!
We were just in DW in July--we had stroller as wheelchair for 4 year old with heart condition--he could transfer with no problem, and did on all the rides. The CMs always asked.
On Pirates, I know for a fact that we took the stroller through the regular line, then he transferred to the boat, and they had the stroller waiting for us when we got off the ride (and we had to take a strange alternate route to exit--it involved an elevator).
But please feel free to use stroller as wheelchair for the "long line issue" as well as the distance between attractions--our child definitely couldn't have walked through the long lines (but waiting while sitting is no problem), and this GAC option really made our trip much more enjoyable (not having to carry a 50 lb child!)
Magical wishes!

 

[SueM in MN]

Couldn't have been on PotC, I don't think - as you get off of the boat at the exit, it passes through a wall that has an opening just high enough for the boat, doesn't it?

You are correct.
The boarding is on the top level and the exit is actually in the 'basement' of the building. After the people get off the boat, it goes up a sort of ramp to get back up to the boarding area. You can't see it going up the ramp - you can see some kind of 'curtains' that block the top area above the level of the boat. A CM who worked there confirmed to me that there is not head space to ride the boat from the exit to the beginning of the ride. So, there is no way to board at the exit as there is in some other rides.

 

[Donnask8pro]

Then they must have brought his stroller to us. Is that possible? I wish I could remember. I dont remember ever folding it up and taking it on the boat.