Uh oh...who heard Sherri Shepherd on the View today?

[livndisney]

Respectfully, everything you discovered sounds like it took a lot more than five minutes. Truly. Observing how wheelchair GUESTS - not wheelchairs, but the PEOPLE IN THEM - were directed through or around the lines and how those Guests were boarded and unloaded from the attractions would have been, frankly, very difficult unless the parks were very slow. If business were light enough that it was possible to observe the SAME Guest from entry into the line to being unloaded from that attraction, in most cases, well, they and their party DIDN'T AFFECT the wait of the others in line.

Yes, I realize FantasyLand and certain other attractions would be exception. MOST of Walt Disney World, however, would not.

I think this thread is further proof there are just some people out there that just KNOW they are right. It doesn't matter what others with real life experience have to say, what a mod has to say(who clearly LIVES it) or even what the actual card says. It is not possible to change their minds, they just know they are right.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Well, they took a poll!

 

[princessmom29]

Disney DOES clarify their policy. As with any policy, it's necessary for there to be exceptions. Walt Disney World (ditto for Disneyland) isn't going to advertise an attraction by attraction list*. It's NOT front of the line access. It's convenience access for Walt Disney World/Disneyland.

Disney treats all Guests as equally as possible. When a Guest is directed to an alternate entrance (not 'pulled from the line') it's because they can't fit or maneuver through the mainstream queue due to ITS design. Period.

A great example is Living with the Land. When there's a long line for that, a Cast Member will hand out written Fast Passes to Guests in ecvs, to come back at a time about equal to what the wait would be. When they return, they're directed through the former FastPass lane - a pretty straight shot (two ninety degree turns) to the loading platform. Why? Well, it's too hard (dangerous for some) to snake around all the turns in the mainstream queue. So this may LOOK like FOTL access - but no. It's somebody waiting 45 minutes like everyone else, just somewhere else.

Ah, so it's not enough to be disabled and need to be in, or at least need to tour theme parks in, a wheelchair or ECV; but disabled Guests also need to deal with nastiness from other Guests over what those Guests percieve as preferred access - and that's fair HOW? While I, and probably others, still disagree over this so-called 'preferred' treatment - don't you think the one MORE than balances the other?

*They do publish such a list, by the way - it's the Guide for Guests with Disabilities, and it indicates, for the most part, how such Guests board each attraction. There are even exceptions to these, which some of us have tried explaining several times, based on personal experience.

I DON'T think it is fair or right that they should have to deal with the nastiness, and that is just my point. I just wish that they policy were clearer to the general public so that no one would feel the need to be nasty over what they percieve as preferrential treatment. I think that the nastiness is uncalled for and largely stems from ignorance.

 

[princessmom29]

I think this thread is further proof there are just some people out there that just KNOW they are right. It doesn't matter what others with real life experience have to say, what a mod has to say(who clearly LIVES it) or even what the actual card says. It is not possible to change their minds, they just know they are right.

how rude.

No, I don't NEED to be right, but I feel that i have as mcuch right to share my observations as anyone else. I find it very telling that my observations and comments are dismissed as biased or incorrect solely because I am NOT disabaled, and it seems that it is ok. Everyone keeps quoting waht the card says as what is actually happening every time , and that is NOT the case. No one seems willing to accept that Disney is not following their own policy in some cases. Then the argument becomes that I cannot actually see what I claim to see because I am not actually disabled. I must be stupid, or have an inhernt "need to be right" because I am not disabled and could not have possibly seem what I claim. Talk about inherent bias. I am somehow stupider because I am not disabled???? I'm not going to make any further attempt here, because apparently no one who is not disabled is allowed to have an opinion or make any kind of observation that would be cosidered valid. It is amazing to me how some members of a group that has been subjected to discrimination over and over are so quick to do it to someone else, and someone who is NOT trying to belittle or disarm their cause in any way, but is concerned that OTHERS are being nasty because they do ont understand what is giong on. Agian, all i am saying is that Disney should be clearer in spelling out to mainstream guests what the policy is for disabled access, and that they should follow it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

No, I don't NEED to be right, but I feel that i have as mcuch right to share my observations as anyone else. I find it very telling that my observations and comments are dismissed as biased or incorrect solely because I am NOT disabaled, and it seems that it is ok. Everyone keeps quoting waht the card says as what is actually happening every time ,

Nope. I'm not quoting what the card says. I - most wheelchair/ecv users - am not even using 'the card'. I'm telling you MY experience, on every trip. 'The card' says it's not intended to provide front of the line access. I believe that's pretty much the exact wording - Sue? Anyone? Not that it does, not that it doesn't. It's not intended to, it's purpose isn't to... if someone who has a GAC is given front of the line access because of the attraction or line design, the wording covers that. When most people AREN'T given that same access, the wording covers that. When Guests in wheelchairs/ecvs are taken from the line at some point, or directed to a different entry (Jungle Cruise is a good example, as even the wheelchairs have trouble navigating the narrow lines and tight turns), the wording covers that - not that the wording on a GAC applies, since generally we don't have them... and can somebody PLEASE tell me why I keep putting a "k" in 'wording'??????????????????

because apparently no one who is not disabled is allowed to have an opinion or make any kind of observation that would be cosidered valid

Respectfully, your observation/interviews, and even your decision to not continue in this thread, are based on samples too small to be valid.

 

[bumbershoot]

I just wish that they policy were clearer to the general public so that no one would feel the need to be nasty over what they percieve as preferrential treatment. I think that the nastiness is uncalled for and largely stems from ignorance.

People won't even read the park maps, or the signs, to figure out how Fast Pass works. How could they possibly make this policy's info available to people who are already assuming negative things?

No one seems willing to accept that Disney is not following their own policy in some cases.

I don't think that's true. I think that many people have said that extra-special things can happen. Someone could be the only one in an accessible entrance, and the ride vehicle that can accomodate them could come right at that moment, and then they could certainly have MORE than just the appearance of FOTL. But that's not really happening to every person on every ride every day of every trip.

And I think it would be a rare CM who encounters such a situation who would simply make that person wait until the proper time, based on how long the people who entered the line at the same time were taking. And I doubt that anyone would really really really want them to.

OK I don't know if WDW does this, but DLR does. Sometimes there will be room for one person more on a ride vehicle. So they'll call for singles to come forward. I'm not talking about rides with SR lines, but on other rides. Now, should they NOT do that? Should they let that seat go empty, just to make sure no one goes on before they "should"? Well I certainly don't think so. (though there were such issues with the SR line at TSMM at DCA that it was stopped, UGH, so plenty of seats remain empty and solo riders don't have fun companions to giggle with)

So if they'll keep on calling people forward, if they have an empty seat that won't fit the people next in line...why would they purposely make someone wait all that time, if the stars have aligned so perfectly that the scenario a few paragraphs up happened? It just doesn't really make sense. I think it's a good use of bending the policy.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Front of GAC Card:

This card will alert our Cast Members to provide the assistance you have requested where applicable. It is not intended to provide immediate access.

Please present this card to the greeter or first host or hostess you come in contact with at each attraction.

Back of GAC Card:

This card is valid for use at attraction locations in the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park only.

Additional waits may be incurred at certain attractions due to the need for special vehicle or other operational concerns.

Some attractions have alternative entrances for Guests with disabilities. These are intended to offer Guests using wheelchairs or with service animals a more convenient entrance to the attraction. Alternate entrances are not intended to provide immediate access. Guests with disabilities and up to five members of their party may enter through these entrances. For operational considerations, additional party members are required to use the standard queue.

At attractions offering Disney's FASTPASS service, Guests should obtain a Disney's FASTPASS return ticket.

Should you have any questions, please contact Guest Relations at any Theme Park.

 

[Leajess99]

Ugh, I see more and more people claiming that people with disabilities get to go to the front of the line. I was reading an ADHD support board and one poster actually posted this "At Disney if you're in a chair, on crutches, walk with canes, or even "just" have a spectrum disorder or AD/HD you get taken to the front of the line. They know those kids can't take the long waits, and if you've ever been in a theme park in a wheelchair, you know your perspective changes -- you see everyone's belts -- or lower." This was in her complaint of the long wait at the HP thing when it first opened. I hate seeing this type of wrong info put out. Heck even at Holiday World you don't get "front of the line" priviledges. At Holiday World you get a return time on your disability card for most of the major rides so you don't have to wait in the long line if you are unable. I know there were people mad because we "cut" them on Wildebeest but I did hear the ride operator there tell the one group that we had to also wait but just not in the line. I had to wait the same length and possibly longer than some in the line but we were able to wait elsewhere due to my disability. As another guest and I were talking about, we'd trade them our disabilities for their ability to stand in the long lines.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I DON'T think it is fair or right that they should have to deal with the nastiness, and that is just my point. I just wish that they policy were clearer to the general public so that no one would feel the need to be nasty over what they percieve as preferrential treatment. I think that the nastiness is uncalled for and largely stems from ignorance.

The policies are clear; where the actual practice deviates, it's due to attraction access limitations. No, nobody - Cast Member or Guest - should need to deal with nastiness from persons who refuse to understand this. As a concerned Guest, instead of recommending Walt Disney World clarify its policy (which would, frankly, be MORE confusing), you might want to direct 'nasty' Guests to City Hall or Guest Services where appropriate.