What if need extra time to board and get off rides?

[kimsuenew]

Making our yearly trip--myself, daughter and mother (69). Mom's done great in past years. She's been the only grey head we'd see on Space Mountain, Splash and even road Jurassic Park River Adventure over at UIOA. This year though has had some medical problems--surgery for kidney stones, rotator cuff repair, tendonitis in hand and upper legs. Really hasn't been her year.
But she is determined to go to the World.

My main concern is the time she needs getting up and down. The rides that don't stop all the way have me concerned. I can help her but still worry about one of both of us falling.

Any recommendations? Avoid those rides? Get attendant to stop the ride?

Any similar experiences?

I have severe mobility issues but can walk short distances with a cane. I am very slow, and I have to be very careful, when entering/exiting rides. All CM's were helpful. On rides that had moving floors (moving where you enter or exit) they were all turned down, or sometimes off, mostly without my asking. I often had a helping hand given by a CM. Disney does truly train their staff to be helpful. I have never seen customer service quite like Disney! Having said that, I know there were several rides that I could not go on, as they were not easily entered/exited by me. I chose not to even attempt the ones that appeared to be an issue for myself. She will do fine! Let her enjoy all the rides and attractions (that she would like to try)!

 

[SueM in MN]

Update to thread with list of attractions that have moving walkways:

• MKHaunted Mansion - I posted an explanation about how boarding works on this thread.
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority - there is a steep ramped moving walkway to get to the second floor station. There is also a moving walkway to board and exit and a moving ramp to get down. I would not recommend this attraction for your situation.
• Buzz Lightyear
• Pirates of Caribbean - steep moving walkway to get back from the underground exit to ground level. There is an elevator to the left of the moving walkway, down a short hall. It brings you out into a sort of deserted looking semi-backstage area near the restrooms.
• Space Mountain - steep moving walkway at the exit. There should be a way to avoid this with a wheelchair, but I have not ridden it with DD and her wheelchair, so I don't know for sure how.
  
• The above can be slowed down or stopped if needed
  
• Peter Pan (which cannot be stopped)
  
• Epcot
• Spaceship Earth - you enter at the exit; there is a waiting area for people with wheelchairs, ECVs and special needs. The wait is sometimes long and they tend to load people with special needs in 'batches', so keep your group together while you wait.
• Where's Nemo - does have a moving walkway. It can be slowed way down; not sure if it can be stopped completely.
• The Land Building - the building is on a hill and you enter on ground level on the top of the hill. There is a long steep ramp down to get to the level where you will find escalators or stairs to get down to ground level where the rides are. There is also an elevator on the far left side of the building. Look for the Garden Grill restaurant and head left, around a corner. This thread explains access for the rides in The Land (page 2).
• American Adventure - does not have any moving walkways, but the access to the building is on ground level and the access to the theater is on 2nd floor. If he is not using a wheelchair, there are stairs or an escalator to get upstairs. With a wheelchair or a GAC, you can use the elevator to the right of the building entrance. (see the thread I linked in The Land).
  
• Disney's Hollywood Studio has no attractions with moving walkways.
  
• AK
• Kali River Rapids - has a circular moving walkway for entry and exit. There is a separate loading area for guests with wheelchairs/ECVs/special needs. In this area, they can 'trap' a boat for boarding; the boat stays in place and you don't use the moving walkway.

 

[eelderm1]

Just wanted to tell of my experience. I am 35 yo old female. I walk with a cane. I limp and have a some what slow and unsteady gait due to weakness in my right leg because of reacurring tumors on my right tibia. I have had the tumor removed (twice) and now have had a knee replacement and a radical resection of my tibia. My disabilities are not easy for other people to see. Last summer we went to WDW and I did have a Doc note. I went to Guest Services and explained my worries about the moving walkways. I was walking with crutches at the time. GS did not offer me a GAC. He said that the moving walkways cannot be stopped for me on any rides. He said they may be able to slow them down on some rides. At Peter pan they said they could not even slow it for me. I almost got stuck in Small World due to the low seats. I did go through the handicap line in HM but again noone would slow the walkway. So now I guess I will just avoid Small World, Peter Pan, HM, POC, and Buzz. I dont know of any other way to get a GAC. Let me know if you have any ideas of how I can get one. I was thinking of maybe bringing my xrays to show my bionic leg. LOL. Anyway this year and from now on I will be using a scooter and a cane. Maybe the scooter will get cast members to help me . Thanks for reading and thanks for any tips . Sorry for the long post.

 

[livndisney]

This is an old thread, but I think I can explain. A GAC does not slow down the moving sidewalks. Disney's answer to mobility needs is to rent a wheelchair or ecv. Slowing down or stopping a walkway is not usually an option. (Stopping the walkway can shut down the entire ride and have to evacuate people. It may also mean time to reset the ride.) It is not a case of the CM's not wanting to help you, they don't have the ability. (PeterPan is one of the non-stop rides-if you are there first ride in the morning or last ride at night it has been reported it "may" be able to be stopped. But you need to speak with the Cm's.)

An ECV may help with It's a Small World as you can wait for a wheelchair boat and not have to transfer.

Just wanted to tell of my experience. I am 35 yo old female. I walk with a cane. I limp and have a some what slow and unsteady gait due to weakness in my right leg because of reacurring tumors on my right tibia. I have had the tumor removed (twice) and now have had a knee replacement and a radical resection of my tibia. My disabilities are not easy for other people to see. Last summer we went to WDW and I did have a Doc note. I went to Guest Services and explained my worries about the moving walkways. I was walking with crutches at the time. GS did not offer me a GAC. He said that the moving walkways cannot be stopped for me on any rides. He said they may be able to slow them down on some rides. At Peter pan they said they could not even slow it for me. I almost got stuck in Small World due to the low seats. I did go through the handicap line in HM but again noone would slow the walkway. So now I guess I will just avoid Small World, Peter Pan, HM, POC, and Buzz. I dont know of any other way to get a GAC. Let me know if you have any ideas of how I can get one. I was thinking of maybe bringing my xrays to show my bionic leg. LOL. Anyway this year and from now on I will be using a scooter and a cane. Maybe the scooter will get cast members to help me . Thanks for reading and thanks for any tips . Sorry for the long post.

 

[eelderm1]

Oh ok, I guess I misunderstood some of the previous posts. I thought that some of the cast members did slow down some of the walkways for other guests, And I thought I read that HM was actually stopped for another guest. No biggie maybe it is something they use to do since this is an old thread. Just seemed like nobody cared that day at MK. At AK and DHS the cast members were very helpful and caring. Glad to hear about Small World! Maybe I can ride it this summer. That SW seat was just too low for me. I will also miss TTA. But I am thankful for all the WDW trips that I have had before the health issues. Thanks for your response.

 

[SueM in MN]

Since this thread was originally started in 2002, I am going to close it and make a new updated thread.

Some of the information is still correct and pertinent, but I will cull out the stuff that is still correct.