What happens if a ride vehicle has to be evacuated and you can't walk?

[Annam26]

On the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum there's a thread titled
"WORST place you've gotten stuck on a ride!" Many were stuck on a ride only for a while before it was fixed, but others had to be evacuated out of the ride.

Has anybody here who uses a wheelchair been in this situation? What's Disney's policy for when that happens?

 

[Michigan]

Many people think the ride is stuck but it has actually been stopped for a person in a wheelchair to load or unload.

 

[SueOKW]

i don't even want to think about it!! yikes!! going up splash mountain or something... whew! we could probably carry our guy down, but it would take some doing....

i hope i haven't jinxed myself - we have never been stuck.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Many people think the ride is stuck but it has actually been stopped for a person in a wheelchair to load or unload.

Read the thread over there. Getting stuck on the climb hill on Splash Mountain for 30 minutes - or even in IASW (like I did) for a half hour is significantly different than stopping to load a wheelchair.

 

[videogal1]

On the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies forum there's a thread titled
"WORST place you've gotten stuck on a ride!" Many were stuck on a ride only for a while before it was fixed, but others had to be evacuated out of the ride.

Has anybody here who uses a wheelchair been in this situation? What's Disney's policy for when that happens?

I've seen that sign on Space Mountain...and wondered that very thing. But, as I obviously, to me, anyway, cannot manage to climb out of the uppermost reaches of the rides, I prefer to calm my fears with the thought that while the chance of that happening exists, there is an equal chance that a lanky Aragorn-type rescuer will carry me down in a fireman's hold while whispering sweet nothings in my ear......sigh, perfect denial, it works every time. I have not checked the mathematical truth to this thought but it makes me happy. I prefer to think that a breakdown is not going to happen on my watch...

 

[Talking Hands]

Had the experience on the Figment ride. They called Reedy Creek Rescue and they dealt with the situation. They were able in my case to turn the car and let me dismbark and then escort me and my wheelchair out. Also got stuck on IASW and we just waited for them to fix it. About 45 minutes. Another friend was stuck on TTA and Reedy Creek had to rescue her as she cannot climb down stairs.

 

[Joanna71985]

I know her. She told me that people kept coming up to her asking "did you hear about the TTA situation?"!

 

[Michigan]

Read the thread over there. Getting stuck on the climb hill on Splash Mountain for 30 minutes - or even in IASW (like I did) for a half hour is significantly different than stopping to load a wheelchair.

Not really, it depends how many wheelchair users they are loading or unloading and what their ability is.

Sure if the person can stand up and walk to get on the ride it is just down for a very short time but if you can't stand or walk it takes longer. Some of you remember Wheelsie that was on this board after spending 25 minutes trying to get in the car on spaceship earth she told the CM she couldn't try anymore.

When we ride Buzz it is stopped for what probably seems like a long time to people because they have to unload my oldest DD from the wheelchair car and then I have to get out and pick up my youngest DD and carry her to her wheelchair.

 

[pugdog]

I used to work security/first aid at the amusment park here in MN and twice a season we would have a drill with the local fire department on getting people out of various rides that could not walk.
I'm sure WDW does the same thing with Reddy Creek FD which only covers WDW.

 

[MommytoMJM]

I had to be carried off of the TTA once by reedy creek... SSE has an elevator, so does the B side of Space (The FP Queue) which is why WC Users can't ride the A track.

ETA: Hi Lisbet and Joanna!!! ROFLMMEO, people still tease me about that day!

 

[amburger]

I used to work security/first aid at the amusment park here in MN and twice a season we would have a drill with the local fire department on getting people out of various rides that could not walk.
I'm sure WDW does the same thing with Reddy Creek FD which only covers WDW.

Would that be Valleyfair? I didn't know they did that. I worked at Valleyfair for the summer of 2004.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm hoping to never have to find out.
The Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities do list the attractions where you would need to wait to be evacuated.

 

[Annam26]

Thanks for your replies!

Videogal, you have a nice way of calming your fears I'll try that!

Well, I guess the choice is between taking a chance of having to be rescued, or never risk it by not riding

I think I'll take the chance, but I also hope I never find out by personal experience.

 

[JenJen]

I was a ride operator for several attractions at Disneyland for several years and the answer to your question has about as many answers as there are rides. Each ride has a different procedure and evacuation plan for there specific ride. But there is always a way to get someone off the ride. If there is not you will here a spiel from the cast member before you board the attraction. One of these attractions is Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland. They will ask if you can walk up and down stairs and/or narrow walk ways if the attraction breaks down. If you say no they ask if there is someone in your Party that can carry you if there is a emergency evacuation. If you say no to both then it gets a little more complicated. They can say that cast members can not be responsible to carry you or evacuate you if the ride breaks down and we highly recommend you do not ride this attraction but tech. It is your choice. There are very few rides that have this problem but if they do they will let you know.
Jen

 

[BillSears]

I've always been told that if a ride breaks down I may have to wait for the Fire Department to evacuate me. I've also been told that that is why they limit the number of non ambulatory people on the rides to one per cycle. There are many times when the ride was a walk on but I had to wait a cycle or even 2-3 cycles for the other non walking people to ride first.

It's all part of that wheelchair users bypass the line myth. Sometimes we end up waiting even on walk on rides.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've always been told that if a ride breaks down I may have to wait for the Fire Department to evacuate me. I've also been told that that is why they limit the number of non ambulatory people on the rides to one per cycle. There are many times when the ride was a walk on but I had to wait a cycle or even 2-3 cycles for the other non walking people to ride first.

It's all part of that wheelchair users bypass the line myth. Sometimes we end up waiting even on walk on rides.

We've been told that about the Fire Department evacuation too (for DD).

And we have also waited sometimes very long for rides that were just walk on for people who could do that. Our longest extra wait was 40 minutes for the Safari, at a time when they were actually sending the cars from the regular line out partly filled because people were not coming fast enough to fill them. We've also waited a long time for Spaceship Earth (at a time when they were also not even filling all the cars). The CM at SE told us they have to wait until the first car with someone who will need to be assisted with evacuation gets to the point of not needing a Fire Department evacuation before they can board the next group.
Exactly how many people with special needs they can have on an attraction at one time depends on how much assistance they would need for evacuation and how the ride needs to be evacuated.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I've always been told that if a ride breaks down I may have to wait for the Fire Department to evacuate me. I've also been told that that is why they limit the number of non ambulatory people on the rides to one per cycle. There are many times when the ride was a walk on but I had to wait a cycle or even 2-3 cycles for the other non walking people to ride first.

It's all part of that wheelchair users bypass the line myth. Sometimes we end up waiting even on walk on rides.

That's what I've heard to. I've been asked this question and my response is "I'm probably SOL!!" LOL

 

[Talking Hands]

I've always been told that if a ride breaks down I may have to wait for the Fire Department to evacuate me. I've also been told that that is why they limit the number of non ambulatory people on the rides to one per cycle. There are many times when the ride was a walk on but I had to wait a cycle or even 2-3 cycles for the other non walking people to ride first.

It's all part of that wheelchair users bypass the line myth. Sometimes we end up waiting even on walk on rides.

Exactly. You wait for Reedy Creek Fire Department and they evacuate you. Even if it is a situation where they just need to turn the ride vehicle and let you disembark they will call the FD as they don't let the CMs do it themselves.

 

[pugdog]

Would that be Valleyfair? I didn't know they did that. I worked at Valleyfair for the summer of 2004.

That would be the place. Worked ther in the late 80's so maybe they have changed some of what they do.