The Land at EPCOT

[cquick]

We absolultely LOVE

the Soarin' attraction at the Land in EPCOT. BUT!! Our son is in a wheelchair and there is only 1 elevator to the ground floor and no other way to get to the ride! It really burns me that you have to push the chair UP the hill to the entrance, then DOWN the slope when you get inside, and THEN wait for the single SMALL elevator inside.

I was amazed that they closed the attraction for so long, and then when it was opened again with the Soarin' attraction inside that they hadn't changed this problem for the disabled.

Does anyone know a WDW executive to whom I could write to complain?

Thanks so much!

 

[agnes!]

I don't know quite who you should write to, but just wanted to add my .02. I am able-bodied but have friends with various mobility issues and am APPALLED at how WDW handled the re-do of The Land including the never-ending _-uP^&DOwnn-_ queue for Soarin'.

agnes!

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree.
I was surprised that they didn't at least add another elevator or something during the renovation.

Also, since there is only one elevator, it would be nice if they would add some signage that suggests other members of the party use the stairs or escalators if possible. We have always had only DD in her wheelchair and one member of our party go down in the elevator. The rest of us use the stairs or escalator (even my MIL who has a fear of escalators). But, DH and DD had to wait in a long line when we went in March and one time he counted 34 people in the line ahead of him - 4 in wheelchairs and the rest part of the wheelchair parties. I realize that some people may have hidden disabilities and may need to use the elevator, but I can't believe that all of those 34 people needed to be in the elevator. If some had gone down another way, there would have been room for 2 wheelchairs each trip, but as it was, it meant each party went down by themselves and it took 4 trips for all to get down.

If someone doesn't know contact information off-hand, I'll try to find it for you.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

I also found it shocking that some improvement wasn't made for disabled access when the renovations of the Land were done and Soarin' opened. An alternative entrance for wheelchairs surely wouldn't have been impossible. The misuse of the elevator is evident, we have waited longer for this than the ride on some occasions.

 

[ducklite]

I also found it shocking that some improvement wasn't made for disabled access when the renovations of the Land were done and Soarin' opened. An alternative entrance for wheelchairs surely wouldn't have been impossible. The misuse of the elevator is evident, we have waited longer for this than the ride on some occasions.

It is not misuse if it's not labeled as for being for mobility impaired people only.

Anne

 

[SueM in MN]

It is not misuse if it's not labeled as for being for mobility impaired people only.

Anne

I believe it's not labeled in any way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You know, I've been on almost every possible attraction at least once in my life, many multiple times (exceptions: Tom Sawyer's Island, Mission: Space toned-down version, and Expedition Everest, but I digress), and I'm great at tracking down at least an Attraction Lead if not an Area Manager to present any issues I encounter.

I will be happy to find someone at The Land and discuss this problem. Sue, didn't you have a sensible alternate-entrance suggestion for this pavilion? Refresh me on that, and I'll take any other suggestions and issues as well. Now, let's please restrict it to The Land - after all, I do want to ride attractions and see shows while I'm there, and I already anticipate yet another confrontation with Cosmic Ray's' management - I don't want to spend my entire vacation discussing access

 

[LisaBi]

....and THEN wait for the single SMALL elevator inside.

You missed a step - You have FIND the stupid thing before you can wait for it!!

I agree - access in the Land is the worst anywhere in Disney.

LisaB

 

[SueM in MN]

You missed a step - You have FIND the stupid thing before you can wait for it!!

I agree - access in the Land is the worst anywhere in Disney.

LisaB

We have never needed that step.....
We've been stopped by the CM every single time we've come into The Land (despite the fact that we have been coming there since a few years after the park opened and know exactly where the elevator is).

 

[vonpluto]

We absolultely LOVE

the Soarin' attraction at the Land in EPCOT. BUT!! Our son is in a wheelchair and there is only 1 elevator to the ground floor and no other way to get to the ride! It really burns me that you have to push the chair UP the hill to the entrance, then DOWN the slope when you get inside, and THEN wait for the single SMALL elevator inside.

I was amazed that they closed the attraction for so long, and then when it was opened again with the Soarin' attraction inside that they hadn't changed this problem for the disabled.

Does anyone know a WDW executive to whom I could write to complain?

Thanks so much!

Ah yes, "THAT" hill at The Land! Twenty years ago I was pushing DD up that in her stroller, and now it's DW in her WC.

It was rumored during the Soarin' shut down that a flat entry to the lower level would be constructed. There is a bank of exit doors past the new restrooms to the left of Soarin. So I think that a WC entrance was at least considered.

If you look at the pix below, you can see how simple a WC entrance/exit would be to install. The X is the restrooms to the left of the Imagination entrance, The circle is the approximate location of the new exit near Soarin'. The blue line is my guesstimate for a new sidewalk.
(BTW, the aerial is old, it does not show soarin".)

As for who to write to? How about starting at the top?
Attention: Meg Crofton, the new Pesident of WDW.

"Hello Meg? We've got a problem!"