Tell me about the waiting areas

[ArielRae]

I read that they offer alternate waiting areas instead of waiting in the lines for those that can't wait in lines and have a GAC. Can anyone give me examples of some of the rides that offer this and what your experience was? Wonder where they had you wait and when did you know you could go on the ride. Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

The few attractions where alternate waiting areas are available are all different - but this information is all in the very well-written FAQ 'sticky' near the top of this board .

 

[ArielRae]

Can you tell me where in the FAQ I can find this info?

 

[SueM in MN]

As was mentioned, the waiting areas are all different and are not available at all attractions.
Most are a roped off area of the regular waiting area, as shown in this picture montage.

Here is another - this is Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

Still waiting area is to the right picture. By the time that the show begins and doors open, the area to the left picture will be filled with people.

For this type of waiting area, you will know when to go in because the doors will open. Most of these are for shows and the main purpose of it is to separate off guests who will need to go to certain area (such as wheelchair accessible places in the show), guests who need a few extra seconds to get settled or need to wait in an area where they will not be packed in with other guests close on all sides.
Most are like these pictures, fairly narrow and with a wall on one side.

For these types, the doors will open or a Cast Member will come to get you.

For others - primarily rides, you will be waiting in a line and a cast member will come in time to go in or board. Some of them are a parallel line to the regular attraction line. Some are in a separate area. For most of those, guests with mobility devices have no choice but to wait in line, because the regular line is not accessible.
Guests will all wait in line or in the waiting area and be taken one party at a time to board.
In these situations, if you don't need the accessible line, your wait might be shorter going into the regular line. In the accessible line, you will need to wait for other people ahead of you with mobility devices. Depending on the number waiting, your wait may be significantly longer than if you had gone to the regular life.
So, if you don't need the accessibility features, look at the regular standby line before entering and see if that would be a better option for you.

 

[ArielRae]

Thank you that explains it better.

 

[Disneylvr]

Posted on wrong thread, sorry

 

[gummie22]

A good example of an alternate waiting area is at Spaceship Earth in Epcot. My ds uses a GAC and has anxiety in noisy, crowded areas, so we were directed to use the wheelchair accessible entrance at Spaceship Earth (though he doesn't use a wheelchair). We waited in a special seating area, close to the unloading area at the end of the ride. It was inside the room that has the large map with guests' photographs. After about 15-20 minutes, we were led inside to the unloading area. The ride vehicles were stopped to allow for the loading of people in wheelchairs and their guests, and we entered our ride vehicle at this point as well. While the room we waited in was not very quiet, we were sitting down on comfortable chairs and this small area was not crowded. It worked for us! Now that our ds is a little older, at this and most attractions, he is able to use the FP line instead. (And we usually go to WDW at the end of August when the parks are not crowded at all!) Hope this helps!

 

[lanejudy]

A good example of an alternate waiting area is at Spaceship Earth in Epcot. My ds uses a GAC and has anxiety in noisy, crowded areas, so we were directed to use the wheelchair accessible entrance at Spaceship Earth (though he doesn't use a wheelchair). We waited in a special seating area, close to the unloading area at the end of the ride. It was inside the room that has the large map with guests' photographs. After about 15-20 minutes, we were led inside to the unloading area. The ride vehicles were stopped to allow for the loading of people in wheelchairs and their guests, and we entered our ride vehicle at this point as well. While the room we waited in was not very quiet, we were sitting down on comfortable chairs and this small area was not crowded. It worked for us! Now that our ds is a little older, at this and most attractions, he is able to use the FP line instead. (And we usually go to WDW at the end of August when the parks are not crowded at all!) Hope this helps!

I would say this is NOT a good example of the typical alternate waiting area. The majority of alternate entrances do not have seats, and depending on several other variables they can be crowded and a longer wait than stand-by. That said, if you need that alternate area Disney does make one available, however don't expect it to be comfy, quiet, less crowded or a short wait.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would say this is NOT a good example of the typical alternate waiting area. The majority of alternate entrances do not have seats, and depending on several other variables they can be crowded and a longer wait than stand-by. That said, if you need that alternate area Disney does make one available, however don't expect it to be comfy, quiet, less crowded or a short wait.

I would agree that is an unusual one. Most do not have seating and most are more similar to the ones I already posted pictures of.

There are few that are separate rooms - Turtle Talk is one ith a separate room, but it is just a very plain,mnot very big room with nothing to look at and no seats.