Traveling with another family...

[*TheWigs*]

We will be traveling with our friends (Mom, Dad, DD12, and DD8) next week to WDW. Our friend's DD12 has CP and will be using a GAC card. She is pretty mobile but will be using her stroller/wheelchair because of all of the walking involved. My husband and I also have 2 small children (DD 9 and DD5) that are THRILLED to be spending Thanksgiving vacation with their buddies! My question is are we allowed to que up to rides with our friends using her GAC card or is that frowned upon? Basically she just needs the OK to use her stroller/wheelchair in the lines...she has no problem WAITING in lines if sitting so there is no need for any "rush" thru a normal line-we are all happy to wait as any other WDW guest would. My DH and I are rule followers and in no way want to take advantage of a GAC card, but we also want to spend the vacation together with our friends and not separated throughout the parks (that is if they are moved up to W/C entrance and we are left behind. What is the RIGHT way to handle this? We have been to Disney several times, but never traveled with friends or had this particular issue come up. I actually have a clubbed foot on top of a traumatic neurovascular injury to the same foot 5 years ago, but since I CAN walk, stand, wait (I'm a nightshift ER nurse who works 12+ hours!) I would never think of getting a GAC card for myself. Thanks in advance for your helpful advice!!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Most lines are mainstreamed so her "stroller as wheelchair" tag won't have her doing anything different from anyone else, other than allowing her to stay in her stroller through the lines. If she has a pediatric wheelchair rather than a stroller she shouldn't need a GAC to use it in lines.

For rides with an alternate entrance, you may need to split up. Officially the GAC can be used for the person who needs it plus 5 other members of their party (so 6 people total). There are stories about occasionally this being bent, but especially during Thanksgiving week, I would plan on needing to split up for those attractions. You will likely also have to split up for shows as most shows only have space for a wheelchair user and one other person in the accessible seating area.

 

[HowdyHeidi]

We just took my son in a pediatric wheelchair to WDW and had an extended group of family with us.

First of all, I tried to do the parks without a GAC because he has a wheelchair, and should be able to use the wheelchair lines. Well, the first day I had so many CM's questioning whether the chair was a stroller or not that I got frustrated and just went to Guest Services and got the GAC. They stamped it with Stroller=Wheelchair and it was good for 6 people max.

So I definitely think your friends should just get the GAC upon first entering the parks just to avoid that hassle.

So, we went during a very low crowd time. We did have most CM's bend the 6 max rule to add the baby who would be sitting on laps (so a total of 7, but the 7th wouldn't have taken any more room than 6).

In Magic Kingdom, there are a lot of alternate entrances to the older rides that wouldn't accommodate a wheelchair in the regular line. You might need to break up at those rides and just plan to meet at the next ride in your Touring Plan. We did that a couple times and it worked fine. For the other parks, I don't think you will have a problem staying together because there are so few wheelchair lines.

Be sure to utilize the rider switch and fast passes too.

I hope you have a great trip!

 

[HowdyHeidi]

Also, there is really no way to tell if you have to break up into the wheelchair line and the regular line, which line will move faster. People assume the wheelchair line moves faster, but in reality, that often isn't the case...especially when you factor in getting out of and getting back into a wheelchair, or having them bring the wheelchair ride cart around.... It sounds simple, and Disney does do a great job, but there are delays...

 

[*TheWigs*]

Thank you all so much for your replies!

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have much time, so am going to point you toward the disABILITIES FAQs thread (with a few other comments). You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

The first suggestion I have is to get a special park map for guests with disabilities. There is more information about those in post 11 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
Those maps list the 'Mobility Entrances' for each attraction. As was already posted, most attractions do have mainstream lines, which means guests with wheelchairs wait in the same line with everyone else. MK is the oldest park and some attractions were not able to be made accessible, so they do have special entrances. The special Guidemaps do tell where to go for those.

WDW's policy is that guests with a visible mobility need - such as a wheelchair, are able to use those 'Mobility Entrances' without having a Guest Assistance Card. That has been our experience over many years. In the very few situations where someone questioned us, showing the map or asking for a manager took care of it. They would actually be out compliance with the ADA if they required a GAC to use the accessible entrance/route.
If the wheelchair looks like a typical wheelchair, with big back wheels, you will hae no problem and won't need a GAC unless there are other invisible needs.
Many peditatric wheelchairs and special needs strollers resemble regular strollers. You will need a GAC or 'stroller as wheelchair' sticker to use those in lines. There is more information about GACs and using a stroller as a wheelchair in post 6 of the FAQs thread.