stroller/wheel chair question

[magic kingdom park]

We are planning a disney trip for Oct. I am taking my mother. Right now she is finishing up chemo for lymphomia cancer, all of her tumors are in remisson but she has another month of chemo to go, I hope that she should be back to normal by Oct., however I know this will be very exausting for her as she also has fibermalgia, she has a handicapped tag for her car , would she be consider to get a GAP . we are planning on renting a wheel chair so that she will not have to walk alot, would she be allowed to use handicapped sections for parades and firework shows? And also we rent a stroller for our 7 year old autistic son and are able to replace the strollers if we board the train at MK and get off in another part of the park we just pick up another stroller is this the same for people needing wheel chairs?

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.
First, for the wheelchair question, just having a wheelchair allows you to use the wheelchair seating for shows and parades. You won't need a GAC (Guest Assitance Card) to use these or to use the accessible entrances to rides. So, she probably would not need a GAC if she has a wheelchair or ecv (power scooter); GACs are basically used to tell CMs what sorts of assistance people with invisible disabilities need.
For your son, you may want to look into getting a GAC if he has problems with being close to people in lines. Ther is also a GAC that allows a stroller to be used as a wheelchair - which means it could be taken into lines and buildings where strollers are not usually allowed. A lot of people with children with autism find this to be helpful, as you can bring a safe, secluded spot into line with you. A lot of kids with autism also like the WDW strollers. They are hard plastic with sides that come up around you a little. People say they help cut down on visual stimuli a lot.
Wheelchairs and foldable strollers can be brought on the train. The first car will hold a wheelchair with the person sitting in it. I've also seen people fold up a wheelchair and bring that onto the train the same as people bring foldable strollers on. My DD's wheelchair doesn't fold (and she can't get out of it easily anyway), so the CMs just load her wheelchair onto the train and attach it down for the ride.

 

[magic kingdom park]

thanks for the info, it was really a big help.

 

[Selket]

I used a GAC for my son in his stroller, to allow the stroller in the lines, during our August trip and it worked very well for us during the times we needed it. You will still have to wait in lines of course but it certainly made a great difference in our trip and the CM's were completely wonderful. Have a great time!