The Everything DISNEYLAND Thread!

[toocherie]

Katy: that is terrible about the Toy Story lot. The one time I did use it I was not on a scooter (was renting at the park) so didn't have an issue getting loaded.

Were you aware that there are (supposedly) dedicated busses that take HA people from the Mickey and Friends area to the park? I have never used them but know of others who have. Just another thought to avoid the dreaded trams!

 

[KPeveler]

The Courtesy shuttles are a little hit or miss right now, as they are so new. As with all new things they try, it takes a little while to work the kinks out of the system.

Last night when I was there, a family had waited 20 minutes for the shuttle and it never showed up. They finally took the tram over (with me), and when we got to the park, we found out that the shuttle was not running - the person driving was on a half hour dinner break. The CMs at the parking garage told people to wait - there was just a gap in the communication

The way the trams are supposed to work:

Wheelchairs get preference in the wheelchair car. There is one row in each tram we can load on. If a wheelchair is loaded, there can be only one stroller loaded with it. If two wheelchairs are loaded, that is the limit. (wheelchair = scooter = powerchair = walker = cane). Then we get off loaded on the other end. People can either transfer or be tied down for the 2-3 minute trip.

This should be simple, but it often is made more difficult. People who do not want to fold their stroller (as per instructions) try to put their strollers in with the wheelchairs. In order to keep the peace, too many strollers are often loaded, making unloading on the other end a little difficult.

Most of the time, riding the tram is not difficult, though I have had issues. And I like the ease of getting to the Mickey and Friends structure through DTD if I do not want to ride the tram.

I have discovered with Disney parking employees are very good about listening to me - when I tell them I would prefer to only have one stroller in with me, they listen and it works out well.

The drivers of the buses from the Toy Story lot are contracted from OCTA, the local transit authority and are not Disney employees.

 

[starshine514]

The Jungle Cruise wheelchair boat will NOT be working when you are there - it is down for a 6 month overhaul.

You always seem to have all the info! Do you know when the Jungle Cruise WC boat will be back up? Thankfully, my mom is not confined to her wheelchair (she's not in good health and cannot do even 10 minutes of walking and has a LOT of trouble with stairs), so I guess the regular boat is a possibility. However, I'm guessing there are a least a couple of stairs to get on the regular boats...

 

[KPeveler]

You always seem to have all the info! Do you know when the Jungle Cruise WC boat will be back up? Thankfully, my mom is not confined to her wheelchair (she's not in good health and cannot do even 10 minutes of walking and has a LOT of trouble with stairs), so I guess the regular boat is a possibility. However, I'm guessing there are a least a couple of stairs to get on the regular boats...

I am hearing June at this point, but it is up in the air.

Yes there are a couple steps down into the boat. They have extra steps they can put in, so there are more steps, but they are much smaller steps. This may be helpful.

 

[Mama Who]

Aladdin is a different story. There are a bunch of wheelchair spots, and they fill up fast. I suggest getting there at least an hour early (spring break time!) unless you have a VIP ticket. VIP tickets are not fastpasses and I honestly have no idea how to get them. Aladdin is more than worth the wait, though!

I believe the VIP tickets for Aladdin are available as part of a package booked through AAA.

 

[melancholywings]

I would love to know which lines don't have shaded queus. DD was diagnoised with T1D a year and a half ago and while we've cruised scince then - this is the first time we've done Disney with it. She's pumping but the hot sun (and being a tween) makes her numbers insane.

Also confirmation if you can store your insulin in the First Aid station - and how safe is it there? Do you have to show some form of ID to get it back?

 

[KPeveler]

I would love to know which lines don't have shaded queus. DD was diagnoised with T1D a year and a half ago and while we've cruised scince then - this is the first time we've done Disney with it. She's pumping but the hot sun (and being a tween) makes her numbers insane.

Also confirmation if you can store your insulin in the First Aid station - and how safe is it there? Do you have to show some form of ID to get it back?

I am not sure about First Aid, as I have not used it for medication storage - maybe someone here has.

In WDW, many many things are at least partially covered, more because of rain than heat. In DL, if it is moderately crowded (say a typical summer day), then pretty much everything in Fantasyland, Buzz Lightyear, part of Pirates, part of Haunted Mansion, part of Pooh bear, lots of Spalsh mountain, all of Big Thunder, the Nemo subs, Innoventions, and sometimes part of Jungle Cruise are in the sun. Queues change, though, so you pretty much have to plan on being in the sun ALL the time - there is also pretty much no shade between rides and not too many places in the shade to watch parades.

In the other park, Aladdin, part of Monsters Inc, part of Soarin, part of Kali River rapids, part of Tower of Terror, all of Paradise Pier and Bugs land will be in the sun.

I suggest taking your time for seated meals, because most seating for counter service restaurants is outdoors as well, and often in direct sun.

You may want to find out about a cooling fan or cooling vest to help keep her cool. I know there are some other pumpers here who may have advice about keeping numbers even in hot weather.

 

[sldmh5]

We have AP's and go pretty regularly to DL. My son is 11 now and has CP uses a wheelchair (manual) Here is what I have learned and what I want changed at DL. We love it but I wish they would get end users opinons on how to make things better from all guest.

We HATE the trams. If only the CM's would enforce the "All Strollers Must Be Folded" rule it would solve a lot of issues. I am so tired of having people smash my son's fingers/hands while they shove their strollers in the tram. Then they get mad when I shove it back and put my legs out straight to try to give him some space for his own safety. They need to put a big blue handicap sign on the front car and if you are not handicap or with someone that is then you can't enter that car. It would solve a lot of issues. The bus is running some days from Mickey and Friends but it lets you off so far from the gates it is not funny. It was a long walk for the older lady with a walker to make it to the park so she could rent her scooter.

Rides: the one ride I hate to go on is Autotopia. We have been stuck in the elevator twice in the last two years due to you can't control it from the inside-the CM gets talking or busy and walks away and you are stuck in the little glass elevator--it gets mighty hot when no air flows inside of a glass coffin. We were stuck the one day for 15 minutes in 90 degree heat. My son got very sick from that and I was yelling at the top of my lungs to get someone's attention to push the button so we could get either up or down at that point. A guest heard me and leaned over then started yelling for a CM.

I wish there was an additional place to change my son and to take him to the bathroom. Anytime he needs to go potty or has gone and needs to be changed it is a long hike back to the front of the park to teh first aide center. I which there was a handicap bathroom with chanaging table in each land.

The new Tangled meet and greet in Fantsyland is not w/c accessable line nor is there an alternative entrace so you have to go up to the cm and show the wheelchair then for us they had us sit near by and come back in 30 minutes and check back in with them so we could be let in.

DL--it is hard to get a GAC at the City Hall. The line goes up the steps into the building but w/c users have to go to the side of building and up the ramp then the people in line yell at you for "cutting" but there is no other choice. Then the CM's just look at you like you are doing something wrong by waiting there until you see what should be your turn so you try to go up and they tell you no you have to wait until the stair line is gone. (have more issues then just the w/c so hence the GAC)

Do something about the loading and unloading on the Indiana Jones ride. You go up the exit and then take an elevator up and then switch elevators to go back down to load with everyone else. The problem comes when you try to unload and cm's forget they have people with a wheelchair that needs to get off the entrace side and they fill the loading stall with people trying to shove you out the exit. You have to yell at a cm to bring the chair back to you and then they have to move all the people waiting to get on. It is a crazy system. Just load from the exit--so much easier and gives more room to transfere on and off the ride. Safer! Also CM's will move the ride vehicle before you even get seated. I get my son in his seat and hooked up and before I even sit down they are already moving the car forward and I broke my finger a year ago when they did this and I fell forward and tried to catch myself. They offered me a cup of water to put my finger in. They did not offer to get me ice or to help me get my son back off the ride so I could go to the first aide center.

DCA backlot---character meets are VERY had to do in a w/c. The characters up up on the sidewalk while the line is in the street so you have to lift the wheelchair up onto the sidewalk when it is your turn--not always the easiest thing to do.

Enforce the 6 only with the GAC--Saturday there was a family of 16--11 adults and 4 kids with one man in a wheelchair--using the GAC at Indiana Jones. That gives all of us a bad name with guest see these big groups going right on the ride.


Sorry so long. It was nice to get that all off my chest.

 

[kjscrafts]

I do not know if I am imagining it, but I swear back when my brother was first tall enough to ride Indiana Jones (~8 years ago) we loaded up on the exit side (no elevator stuff). The elevator is one of his favorite parts nowadays, but it certainly is annoying when you get off to have to tell people to move so you can unload and the CM tells you to exit the other way and you have to remind them you are part of a wheelchair group.

 

[KPeveler]

I do not know if I am imagining it, but I swear back when my brother was first tall enough to ride Indiana Jones (~8 years ago) we loaded up on the exit side (no elevator stuff). The elevator is one of his favorite parts nowadays, but it certainly is annoying when you get off to have to tell people to move so you can unload and the CM tells you to exit the other way and you have to remind them you are part of a wheelchair group.

When I do Indy, I tell them I cannot fit my wheelchair in the chutes on the exit side (and I can't, except for the first row, but they don't need to know that). They generally do not argue with me. Even in the first row, i cannot fit my hands on the wheels and I have to pull myself through using the rails of the chutes. I find telling them I do not fit has them letting me board from the exit side.

Also, on the trams, I push people's strollers back all the time. I also tell the CMs to only load one stroller with me. That is their official policy, so they will generally listen. I have checked this with supervisors/leads, so if someone refuses, then ask for the lead. The rule is 2 wheelchairs, one wheelchair and one stroller, one scooter, or however many strollers they can cram in.

I pretty much refuse to take the shuttle (it rarely works properly for me - they are still working out the kinks in the system), but I will do it when they cannot get the tram handled properly.

I refuse to ride Autopia because I got claustrophobic the one time I was in there.

I get my GAC in DCA - shorter lines and no stairs. When I get it in City Hall, I ignore the stupid people in line. I usually get told to wait to the side until someone in my party gets to the front of the line. Then I get to explain I am there by myself. Then the CMs are surprised, and then they tell me to wait for two or three people to get helped. I find it much faster just to go to DCA, even if I am only going to DL that day.

I totally agree about the companion restroom thing - The only companion restrooms in the park are in first aid, the mexican restaurant, and (wait for it) Tom Sawyer Island!! And you need a raft ride and two lifts to reach it.

 

[Mama Who]

I totally agree about the companion restroom thing - The only companion restrooms in the park are in first aid, the mexican restaurant, and (wait for it) Tom Sawyer Island!! And you need a raft ride and two lifts to reach it.

Well, I can see why they'd put one on the island- I mean, imagine trying to enjoy the island knowing you'd need a raft ride and two lifts to get BACK to a bathroom! Ugh. I am surprised that there are only two others though. Given the number of families with small kids I would think that even if Disney isn't being aware of disabled patrons, there would be more companion restrooms because they're so popular with families.

Which of course leads to the problem of handicapped and family/baby facilities overlapping. Who gets priority on that stall- the lady in the wheelchair or the one with the screaming poopy toddler? I find it frustrating that in order to change a baby I have to tie up the only accessible stall most places we go.

 

[KPeveler]

Well, I can see why they'd put one on the island- I mean, imagine trying to enjoy the island knowing you'd need a raft ride and two lifts to get BACK to a bathroom! Ugh. I am surprised that there are only two others though. Given the number of families with small kids I would think that even if Disney isn't being aware of disabled patrons, there would be more companion restrooms because they're so popular with families.

Which of course leads to the problem of handicapped and family/baby facilities overlapping. Who gets priority on that stall- the lady in the wheelchair or the one with the screaming poopy toddler? I find it frustrating that in order to change a baby I have to tie up the only accessible stall most places we go.

The First aid companion restroom is in the first aid center, which is near but not part of the baby center. This mean there is not the same dilemma for that restroom at least.

And in Disney, the companion restrooms are not listed on the main maps, only the guides for guests with disabilities, so there is less "competition" for them with families than there might otherwise be.

 

[jon03015]

My son is currently on dialysis. He cannot be out in the sun, or in extreme temperatures for too long because of electrolyte imbalances that he is sensitive to. My question is what is available at DL? We have a handicapped placard (that we rarely use). Can he get a pass that can help him by pass some of the lines? We are debating about taking him or not.

 

[KPeveler]

My son is currently on dialysis. He cannot be out in the sun, or in extreme temperatures for too long because of electrolyte imbalances that he is sensitive to. My question is what is available at DL? We have a handicapped placard (that we rarely use). Can he get a pass that can help him by pass some of the lines? We are debating about taking him or not.

They do have Guest Assistance Cards, but there is no real way to bypass a line. Even when I wait in an alternate entrance area, it is still a wait and almost always in direct sunlight. For example, the alternate wait areas or wheelchair entrances for absolutely everything in Fantasyland are in direct sun. There are a few with a bit of shade, but even the attractions are often in full sunlight (or at least partly). For example, the wait and load/unload area for Small World is in the sun - and if they get backed up unloading (which is common), then you will end up stuck in the boat in full sun for several minutes.

There is a LOT less shade in DL than WDW. I usually go in the mornings when it is not as hot and then after dark. But since all waiting areas are usually in direct or at least part sunshine (and alternate waiting areas usually have NO shade), a GAC is not going to help much with sunlight or heat.

In fact, there IS no GAC stamp in Disneyland which indicates a need to avoid sun - Disney World has something to help a bit I think, but not DL.

Traveling in the winter keeps it from getting bad, or using morning and after dark hours as well. Lots of sunscreen and SPF protective clothing as well. This is pretty much how I deal with it...

 

[Presley]

Do DL/CA rent power wheel chairs? If they do, can they go from park to park?

 

[KPeveler]

Do DL/CA rent power wheel chairs? If they do, can they go from park to park?

Disneyland rents manual wheelchairs and ECVs (scooters). They do not rent power wheelchairs (ECVs have tillers, power wheelchairs have joysticks).

The manual wheelchairs and ECVs (and strollers for that matter) can go from park to park, but they CANNOT go into DTD or any of the hotels, including Disney owned hotels.

The rental location is to the right of the Disneyland entrance.

 

[Presley]

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[OrthoDad]

It has happened to us more than once, too, always at New Orleans Square.

 

[itradehilton]

When going to Disneyland we go to city hall and they will print out the list of restaurants that have GF food.

For world of color we ate at the Tattoria (sp?) and they had some GF options but no GF bread.

 

[TeddiBarra]

Kathy-

I too realized just this past week on our trip (where it was just me there with my three children) that the handicap access to CityHall is stupid! Seriously, I had the same exact issue- you're coming thru the exit with no way to get IN line w/out cutting or not having any place IN line. Why not make that side HA???

Have you raised the issue in your feeback about that? I mean that is a pretty obvious one, it's where many disabled/handicapped/mobility aided people are coming all day long! Sheesh!