Waiting in a Wheelchair-DLR

[fronkfam]

We are visiting in August. We've never been to DLR in the summer crowds before and I worry about my son who is in a wheelchair. He loves to be in his chair, but if we're not moving, he gets very impatient and could 'melt-down'. For rides like TSMM does anyone know if the CMs would let one of us stand in line while the other person takes our son and other kids to do something else, then join the line later? Even if it is just walking around in the nearby area, he just can't be stationary for too long. Last year, a very kind CM let us go through the single rider line with the chair and we all rode together. I know she didn't have to do that, so I'm trying to prepare us for waiting this time!

 

[mechurchlady]

DLR does not have a separate line GAC that I know of. All you can do is talk to the CM greeter and explain the situation. Check with City Hall or other guest services to see what they can do. I took Lavendar Peach, her husband and little boy on some rides recently. We had to wait 5 to 15 minutes for each one. I used the handicapped line each time. For Casey Jr we had to wait for two trains to go by. We got on pretty fast for Alice.

There is almost no way to avoid at least a 5 minute wait. Talk to greeters and CMs as they hold the magic of Disney in their hearts and often can help you work around such matters.

Also try busy beads, toys, chew stuff, games, and music to keep his brain on something other than the line. I demolish straws while waiting for food in restaurants for example. For quick lunches you can look at menus then send dad ahead to get food. Plaza Inn has kids meals and full dinners plus hidey holes in the far corners and is outdoors. Coke Corner has hot dogs and chili bowls plus outdoor seating. Rancho Zocalo has great food and outdoor seating. Tomorrowland Terrace has outdoor seating but also has the Jedi show running that may cause overstimulation. Pizza Port has some outdoor seating also and areas outside to move about. Hungry Bear will reopen and has upstairs a deck but downstairs is semi prvate and nice to turn a kid loose.

PM me if you have questions about DLR as I am in a scooter and disabled but waddle pretty good if there is a cheeseburger near by.

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's most likely no way that a group of people could 'catch up' with one person holding a place in line, anyway.

What about moving slowly, but moving? Or zig-zagging in the line, or having your family stretch out a little so there's room for your son's wheelchair to move around a little, even if it's not exactly forward progress?

 

[mechurchlady]

kaytieeldr great idea about walking slowly.

Fantasyland rides at DLR are through the exit except for Mr. Toad and Small World that are though a line to the side of the main entrance and Bobsleds are mainstreamed and not sure about carousel.

Most of the time the lines are too short to slowly walk like Casey Jr. is on a ramp about the length of the train, not that long and Dumbo is about 5 feet long maybe.

Sending dad ahead in a line would work on Dumbo, Big Thunder. The rest you have to get in those lines. I wish we could help you but slow walking does help keep him moving, gaps as kaytieeldr said where you are moving back and forth would help also.

 

[fronkfam]

I really appreciate the help! The walking slow idea is perfect! I really appreciate the brainstorming ideas. If you think of more, let me know!!!

 

[toocherie]

I have observed at TSMM that they have special cards for people who can't wait in line. You wouldn't get "front of line" access, but if you have a GAC and explain the situation they give you a card to come back at whatever the current wait time is (say 35 minutes) and you go in a separate line to get on immediately at that point. There may be other rides that do this too, I just haven't noticed it.

 

[mechurchlady]

Somone had a son in a wheelchair who was going to DLR this month and I posted a long list of the attractions for DLR and how to access them. Check the Disneyland (California) board and search Splash Mountain or Big Thunder or one of the other rides and it will come up.

DLR varies depending on season and even day of the week. Weekdays they only have Screamin and Soarin as Fastpasses. Toy Story some times has single rider line which is to shallow steps and you can tell the CM to redirect the ride to disabled. The next time they do not have single rider. Space Mountain sometimes has a line across from the restrooms and sometimes you go past the photos and to your left at the exit and down a long hallway without waiting.

If you cannot afford the wheelchair rental then pm me as I have an adult sized wheelchair and a regular walker to loan for free if people need one.

hugs
Laurie

 

[kaytieeldr]

Space Mountain sometimes has a line across from the restrooms and sometimes you go past the photos and to your left at the exit and down a long hallway without waiting.

Even this can present problems. The one time I rode Space Mountain at DLR, I did use this 'entrance' as described.
SM at DisneyLand has the capacity to remove a vehicle from the main track, for easier boarding by Guests who need the extra time but without delaying the entire attraction (rockets are dispatched on a relatively tight schedule).
There was already a party of six waiting to board. The seven of us, once it was available, entered our rocket with no problem. Then we had to wait for the rest of their party, who'd all had to use the regular queue.
Then, when they finally made it to the loading area, we had to wait for something in the timing or spacing so our car could be put back online

So, even being in or aboard the attraction doesn't mean the Guests won't still have a wait - and the OP needs to be prepared for this as well.

 

[OrthoDad]

We have two boys with cerebral palsy, both in chairs when we go to Disney (one can walk short distances, but uses the chair at DL or WDW). When they were very young, we went to WDW, but since we live in the West now, we've been going to DL much, much more....so I think we know where you'll be coming from.

First of all, I think that DL is easier for us, because it is smaller, and because most of it was built before "accessible lines", you can enter the exits (for most rides in Fantasyland, anyway), and rarely have long waits. That being said, if you're there on a busy weekend, or during the afternoon, sometimes the alternate entrys have LONGER waits, because of the WC's, ECV's, etc.

Another poster mention Space Mt: they have a GREAT accessible loading system where you can take your time loading a car, and then it moves over on the tracks. But, this is one place where the line can get VERY long (longer than the regular wait line or FP line), so we go there early in the AM.
But, that's our strategy for most of Disney: go early, come back to the hotel for a afternoon rest, and then back to the park for evening.

You mentioned TSMM in particular. That line moves VERY quickly if you go first in the morning. I haven't seen, or used, the alternate passes that others spoke of. We usually go there first thing on our DCA day, and get on without much of a wait at all.

Hope this helps!

Wade

 

[fronkfam]

Thanks again for all of the info! I really appreciate the specific information about Space Mtn and TSMM!!

Teri