The Disney FATPass

[mrzrich]

Ok, the word of the OP was terrible, but I did notice something that I thought was unfair on my last visit. We arrived about 45 minutes early to get a good shady spot for the Stars and motorcars parade. We got a spot next to the ice cream cart near the bathrooms across from Star Tours. Anyway we are waiting with our antsy DS's 3 and 6 (Autistic) and the CM tells us we can stay there, but just be warned that if somebody comes up in a wheelchair, we could be asked to move at any time up until the parade starts. So, somebody in a WC can wait until the last minute and take the spot I'd staked out for almost an hour? How is that fair? We can't they wait for the parade like everybody else including my handicapped son who by the way has a haard time waiting

 

[BamaFan121s]

Ok, the word of the OP was terrible, but I did notice something that I thought was unfair on my last visit. We arrived about 45 minutes early to get a good shady spot for the Stars and motorcars parade. We got a spot next to the ice cream cart near the bathrooms across from Star Tours. Anyway we are waiting with our antsy DS's 3 and 6 (Autistic) and the CM tells us we can stay there, but just be warned that if somebody comes up in a wheelchair, we could be asked to move at any time up until the parade starts. So, somebody in a WC can wait until the last minute and take the spot I'd staked out for almost an hour? How is that fair? We can't they wait for the parade like everybody else including my handicapped son who by the way has a haard time waiting

OK...that I don't get...why would you have to move at all?

 

[BillSears]

ETA: I read the rest of the thread and saw the request for specific exmaples, and, actually-- I could remember just two from last year-- Small World and Peter Pan. It was only really an issue with Small World because, and I do remember this pretty specifically, we got to the boarding area and waited an extra 10 minutes while several ECV groups that "walked up" got boarded. At the time I thought that the CM should have alternated it or something. We'd be ready to board: nope, wait. Ready again, nope... But that could have been a CM problem...

I can't really say much about Peter Pan because it's not a ride I'm "allowed" to ride. The ride cannot be stopped or slowed down and the limited space for boarding isn't enough for me to make the transfer onto the ride.

It's a Small World has the problem that most rides in Fantasyland have. It was designed long before wheelchair access was thought of. So the line leading down on the entrance isn't wide enough to accomodate wheelchairs/ECVs. Currently wheelchairs/ECVs wait in line until the line starts downhill and then they are diverted to the exit. I believe this is also done because the wheelchair/ECV needs to be at the exit, imagine trying to get a wheelchair/ECV across the boat to the other side. I know that my wait for It's a Small World are usually as long and often longer then the people who go down the normal line. I have to wiat for the wheelcahir accessible boat to cycle around and sometimes there is a waiting line for that boat. As for those walking on with "no wait" that sounds lie a CM problem and they should have staggered those loadings.

Jungle crusie was the most notable example...perhaps because I waited there longer than most places...and I saw group after group after group of people, show up, go to the front of the line and then get seated, do the ride and get off while I winded my way thru those turns in the lines. And I saw it happen many, many places - this was just one.

Jungle Cruise is an odd one. I've always gotten Fastpasses for it and then when it was time to board I go to the wheelchair line. I do know the standby and fastpass lines are not designed to allow a wheelchair to travel through the lines so they send the wheelchair/ECV users to a different line. Again on this other line I wait for the one boat that has the wheelchair lift. Sometimes there are a couple people in front of me also waiting and I wait through as many cycles as necessary to baord. I've also been turned away from the ride because the lift boat was out of service.

One thing I'd like to comment on is the number of people accompaninga wheelchair/ECV. Officially it should be no more then 6 total in the party, the wheelchair user and 5 others. If there are more then that the CM should have split up the party.

E.T.A I think you guys have picked 3 of the 7 1/2 rides in all of WDW where the wheelchair user may bypass the line. Obviously that doesn't come close to "get prefered access to everything" or "giving preferred access to all rides and most events".

 

[suffolkprincess]

Thanks for your response to my post, BillSears! I like having the "scoop."

 

[EdB]

Certain rides have wheelchair "carriers" if thats what its called...and for those rides it only make sense to load them when that type of car comes around...I've got no problem with that.

But 99% of the time that I witnessed, it wasn't a wheelchair issue...the ECV rider got out of their vehicle and walked onto the regular cars - ahead of everyone else, and often with a large party of able bodied adults that ARE capable of waiting in line, even if the occupant of the ECV wasn't.

The Not-SO-Scary Halloween parade was another example...we line up 1 hour in advance to get so-so position near the castle, and still I had to stand with my two smallest ones in my arms so they could enjoy the show...literally 1 minute before the parade starts, a ECV with an entourage of 10 shows up and get scooted to the best seats in a reserved area...just plain not fair.

 

[IluvDonald!]

Hmmm.....I may be rather fat/large/overweight - etc. But I'm not ignorant like you.

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

It's a Small World has the problem that most rides in Fantasyland have. It was designed long before wheelchair access was thought of. So the line leading down on the entrance isn't wide enough to accomodate wheelchairs/ECVs.

Exactly. The reason these few rides (and it is by far the minority of rides) where there is a separate handicap line have these separate lines is because the queue was not designed with handicap access in mind. Most of the rides, by far, especially those at Epcot, MGM, and AK have just one queue for both handicap and non-handicap. Spaceship Earth is one with a separate area for the handicap. There is a little waiting area that my friends and I must go to. However, if there is a line for the ride, we are made to wait in the waiting area for just as long as we'd have to wait in the normal line, many times even longer. It's not uncommon to be made to wait at least 30 minutes. So these "unfair" experiences are only found on a minority of attractions, and have been established so that everyone can enjoy the attraction. Believe me, my friend who is very overweight and has many accompanying health problems would much rather wait an hour in the 'normal' queues than use the handicap areas and be put at the front...but at some attractions she really has no choice.

 

[Buckimion]

Jungle crusie was the most notable example...perhaps because I waited there longer than most places...and I saw group after group after group of people, show up, go to the front of the line and then get seated, do the ride and get off while I winded my way thru those turns in the lines. And I saw it happen many, many places - this was just one.

I beleive it comes and goes with the CMs. On our trip in '04 at Jungle Cruise I was given a handwritten fastpass for an hour later (The time actually showing on the fastpass machines.) even though the regular line was only about 20 minutes long. (I can transfer out of my chair but can't stand long periods due to partial amputation.) Rather than sit around in the sun for an entire hour I tried to get the CM to just let me sit off to the side for the average wait time but he didn't want me waiting around. (BTW - Notice that the dock is at the bottom of a hill? Thats a #%$% trying to push yourself up and down twice in a manual chair.) I thought it was strange later that at the time I first rolled up there were no other HC patrons waiting but at the time they gave for the return there was myself and 3 others in chairs. (And I was able to transfer mysef out of the chair to board.)

At the Haunted Mansion I was pulled backstage for a 20 minute wait. I was out of the sun but I still waited my turn.

At pirates I went through the regular que. No shortcuts.

Small World took nearly 3 times longer than what those who could walk up were taking due to the VERY limited # of wheelchair boats. (I offered to transfer but the CMs wanted me to stay with my chair.)

 

[blondeheroine]

I can't really say much about Peter Pan because it's not a ride I'm "allowed" to ride. The ride cannot be stopped or slowed down and the limited space for boarding isn't enough for me to make the transfer onto the ride.

It's a Small World has the problem that most rides in Fantasyland have. It was designed long before wheelchair access was thought of. So the line leading down on the entrance isn't wide enough to accomodate wheelchairs/ECVs. Currently wheelchairs/ECVs wait in line until the line starts downhill and then they are diverted to the exit. I believe this is also done because the wheelchair/ECV needs to be at the exit, imagine trying to get a wheelchair/ECV across the boat to the other side. I know that my wait for It's a Small World are usually as long and often longer then the people who go down the normal line. I have to wiat for the wheelcahir accessible boat to cycle around and sometimes there is a waiting line for that boat. As for those walking on with "no wait" that sounds lie a CM problem and they should have staggered those loadings.




Jungle Cruise is an odd one. I've always gotten Fastpasses for it and then when it was time to board I go to the wheelchair line. I do know the standby and fastpass lines are not designed to allow a wheelchair to travel through the lines so they send the wheelchair/ECV users to a different line. Again on this other line I wait for the one boat that has the wheelchair lift. Sometimes there are a couple people in front of me also waiting and I wait through as many cycles as necessary to baord. I've also been turned away from the ride because the lift boat was out of service.

One thing I'd like to comment on is the number of people accompaninga wheelchair/ECV. Officially it should be no more then 6 total in the party, the wheelchair user and 5 others. If there are more then that the CM should have split up the party.

E.T.A I think you guys have picked 3 of the 7 1/2 rides in all of WDW where the wheelchair user may bypass the line. Obviously that doesn't come close to "get prefered access to everything" or "giving preferred access to all rides and most events".

Thanks, Bill. I didn't know some of that, so it's good to know this information for in the future.

 

[blondeheroine]

But your missing the point...legitamitely handicapped or not...if you are capable of visiting the park, and driving an ECV around for 8 hours, you are capable of waiting in line *while seated* like everyone else...I'd be just as upset if they automatically scooted any class of people in front of others for no other reason than they had some common characteristic...How about all beautiful people get on first? would that bother anyone?

If there was a legitamite reason why the rest of the party couldn't queue up, and all get on together, that would be different, but watching groups of 10 people, with one person in ECV jump to the front of the lines while I am standing in line carrying around an extra 70-80lbs (two children who can't be in the stroller any longer because it stays outside plus a camera bag) just plain isn't fair. All people should get EQUAL access...not better access.

And I don't think you're seeing the entire point, either. Yes - if people are scamming the system, that's wrong and it's sad that people who are really handicapped have to pay the price of judgment of others for it.

But, I took the time to study the handicapped "rules" for various rides and saw that, on many rides, the person HAS to make the trek from the chair to the ride. Plus, as many others have mentioned, wheelchairs and the like can't be maneuvered through the lines. There would be no way to turn it through those snaking lines.

Yes, I know that there are people who scam the system - as I said above. But then you have people like my best friend in high school whose mother was in advanced stages of Lupus. She could walk - for a bit at a time, but the disease is degenerative and she had to do things such as this:

Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system. Apart from the kidneys, SLE can also damage the skin, joints, nervous system and virtually any organ or system in the body.

Most people who have this disease aren't recognizable by looking at them. I realize that some people might have looked at her and said, "Hey, she's riding that scooter cuz she's fat!" never knowing that the woman was suffering from an advanced disease.

I believe in karma. If someone is scamming the system, it'll come back to them. Likewise, someone making fun of someone who is suffering because that person doesn't fit their idea of "handicapped" will most likely also reap a bucket load of karma as well.

As far as getting better treatment, I noticed that on the bus loading system - usually only one or two handicapped persons were able to be loaded. This mean that if there were more than five, those people had to wait through three buses - even if they had been there longer than the able bodied people. I would think, that for those people that ARE scamming the system, they probably get a dose of their own medicine when the realize they have to sit in the sun for forty to fifty minutes behind other handicapped guests.

What REALLY irks me is the thought that if someone is scamming the system, they are causing those that really are handicapped to wait longer and be placed behind them. I don't see how they could do that with a clear conscience.

 

[Eeyore2003]

If any one of you think it's such a big advantage, try it once!!!

Last April we met my Aunts and Uncles at Epcot. They had rented a wheelchair as several have problems and they were going to share it as needed.

I waited longer in the handicapped line with them at ALL the rides than if I'd have gotten in the regular line. It was a pain in the fatpASS to me....Living with the Land, Figment, Spaceship Earth, etc. I am overweight and my legs hurt, but I stand in the lines like everyone else and let me tell you, the handicapped line hurt more than the regular!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did you know that there are certain cars that are "handicapped" cars and so you have to wait until one of those comes around. I never did. I'll take the regular line any day!!!

When we went to Honey I Shrunk the Audience we were told that all the spots were taken for the handicapped line for the next two hours, so we needed to get a "ticket" for the show TWO hours from then. It would have been MUCH more convenient to go into the show then and there in the regular line.

SO, TRY it sometime. Besides the waiting, then there were the looks from all the people in line, and heck, the wheel chair was being used by 70+ year old PEOPLE on a HOT DAY!!! Like I said, a big pain in the fatpASS to me and after that experience I realized how inconvenient those things really are.

Never ever critizise someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes. Then come back and let me know what you think.

 

[northie]

But your missing the point...legitamitely handicapped or not...if you are capable of visiting the park, and driving an ECV around for 8 hours, you are capable of waiting in line *while seated* like everyone else...

Some queue lines ARE wide enough to handle wheelchairs/ECVs, and you do wait in the regular line. I am more than happy to wait in the regular queue when it will allow the ECV through, and I assume other ECV/wheelchair users would also be happy to do so, and NOT be treated like a pariah and judged by people who don't know anything about us or our situation. Yes, there are those that abuse it, but I would bet that is a very small minority of the people that use the ECVs or wheelchairs.

Rght now getting the ECV into the regular queue is not possible with all of the attractions. Disney does seem to be revamping queues when possible and I expect someday ECVs and wheelchairs will be able to wait in the queues with everyone else. But until they do, have a little compassion! You have no idea how sad I feel to be stuck on that machine instead of skipping across the park like I want to. An old knee injury makes that impossible for me to do so. I park the ECV and stand in line whenever possible, but sometimes the pain is too much to do that, and when I do park it and walk into a shop, restaurant, or attraction, then I get "the look" from people that think I am faking it to get to ride the ECV. You just cannot win! Believe me, being on one of those things is not the picnic everyone seems to think it is.

Then again, maybe you should just appreciate not having to associate with people on ECVs in line...if they're not in your line, you can't say they ran over you.

Go read Disney's terms for using for ECV...they are able to realize that people with low stamina or who cannot stand or walk for long periods of time also deserve to enjoy their vacation at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Sara

 

[whogirl'smom]

Just remember, what goes around comes around. Your attitude may come back to bite you one day...

 

[disneyfav4ever]

The Not-SO-Scary Halloween parade was another example...we line up 1 hour in advance to get so-so position near the castle, and still I had to stand with my two smallest ones in my arms so they could enjoy the show...literally 1 minute before the parade starts, a ECV with an entourage of 10 shows up and get scooted to the best seats in a reserved area...just plain not fair.

Maybe Disney should only reserve the hadicap sections until fifteen minutes or so before show time, (like they do for the dinner packages,) and then let the general public have them.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Ok, the word of the OP was terrible, but I did notice something that I thought was unfair on my last visit. We arrived about 45 minutes early to get a good shady spot for the Stars and motorcars parade. We got a spot next to the ice cream cart near the bathrooms across from Star Tours. Anyway we are waiting with our antsy DS's 3 and 6 (Autistic) and the CM tells us we can stay there, but just be warned that if somebody comes up in a wheelchair, we could be asked to move at any time up until the parade starts. So, somebody in a WC can wait until the last minute and take the spot I'd staked out for almost an hour? How is that fair? We can't they wait for the parade like everybody else including my handicapped son who by the way has a haard time waiting

Certain areas are reserved for wheelchair seating at parades. I believe that is one of them. Another location is in front of the Liberty Tree in Liberty Square at MK. They allow other guests to use those areas, unless they are needed for a wheelchair party.

NED

 

[stenickar]

If there was a legitamite reason why the rest of the party couldn't queue up, and all get on together, that would be different, but watching groups of 10 people, with one person in ECV jump to the front of the lines while I am standing in line carrying around an extra 70-80lbs (two children who can't be in the stroller any longer because it stays outside plus a camera bag) just plain isn't fair. All people should get EQUAL access...not better access.[/QUOTE]

There should not be 10 people with a guest with a w/c or ecv. When you get a guest assistance card I believe that only 5(maybe 6) people can go with the person with a gac. I have used the gac and have never been brought to the front of the line. I have had to wait for a turn just like everyone else. If you look at the children with me, you would not always be able to tell that they have autism and can not wait in the usual waiting line. If you really had a concern you could have spoken to a cm and registered your concern. The cm may not have been able to give you any information but they could have let you know the policy on w/c and ecv boarding the rides.

 

[dgaston]

I have diabetes and take at least 2 medications that add weight. I follow my diet, and as my endocrinologist says, I probably eat less than many people. I have a medical condition called metabolic syndrome. Please become more informed and do not assume that all heavy people have no will power.

 

[blondeheroine]

There should not be 10 people with a guest with a w/c or ecv. When you get a guest assistance card I believe that only 5(maybe 6) people can go with the person with a gac. I have used the gac and have never been brought to the front of the line. I have had to wait for a turn just like everyone else. If you look at the children with me, you would not always be able to tell that they have autism and can not wait in the usual waiting line. If you really had a concern you could have spoken to a cm and registered your concern. The cm may not have been able to give you any information but they could have let you know the policy on w/c and ecv boarding the rides.

Are the GAC the red ones that the CM scans? I've been wondering what those were.

 

[metsfan11]

OP, way to be an insensitive, mean spirited JURK! I know people that are overweight, and it is not because they "don't put down the fork". My DGF is overweight, but he has diabetes and he doesn't eat much at all! Your post was just rude and uncalled for, and I agree with everyone else that you should be banned and your thread removed.

 

[stenickar]

Are the GAC the red ones that the CM scans? I've been wondering what those were.

Yes, I believe that the GAC's are red. I don't recall having them scanned, but maybe they have started doing that. Usually you just show it to the cm and they find our why you have the gac. There are several different reasons for getting the gac. When I have gotten them it was because my son becomes overstimulated with all of the noise in the waiting lines, he also can not tolerate crying children or babies in close proximity. He also needs his personal space. Our gac allows us to wait in a quiet area until our turn to ride.