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

[hightown]

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?

 

[pugdog]

if the CM's see your mother having trouble getting off they will stop the ride and help her. i don't think you need to worry about that. have fun.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Some of the "omnimover" type rides (such as Haunted Mansion and Spaceship Earth) the CMs will stop the entire ride and the loading area if there is a person with difficulties.

HOWEVER, before you enter the loading area let the person controlling the line know there is a (potential) problem so they will monitor your mother and be ready to stop the attraction. Also, they will not where you got on (car number) in case it is necessary to stop to off-load.

Don't think they will be ready to act properly unless they have been warned; it only takes a little bit of inattentiveness to get things messed up.

 

[SueM in MN]

Is she going to be using a wheelchair or scooter (also called ecv) in line?
If so, she will be waiting in line with everyone else for many rides, but she (and up to 5 other members of your party) will be pulled off before boarding to board at the exit for many rides. This allows extra time for boarding because no one else is boarding there and the CM can slow or stop the moving walkway so she can board safely. On many rides, you can even pull a wheelchair up to the ride car to get in. After getting in, the CM will move the wheelchair out of the way. The CM will usually ask people with wheelchairs what assistance they need. Don't be shy; even if they don't ask, tell them you would like the walkway stopped. The CMs at the ride entrance can answer questions for you, but make sure the CM boarding your party knows what help she needs.

This is a link to the official Disney page about touring WDW with mobility disabilities. It includes a list of rides where someone using a wheelchair can stay in the wheelchair for the whole attraction.
The guidebooks (one for each park) that you can load from the first link are not all that helpful, but are all the WDW provides.
I think Peter Pan and the escalator that goes up and down to the Tommorrowland Transit Authority are the only things that can't be stopped. I would not recommend riding either of those if you are unsure about her getting in. My DH almost fell with my DD last time we rode Peter Pan because they ran out of space when getting off.

If she won't be using a wheelchair or scooter, you can stop at Guest Services in any of the parks to ask about getting a Guest Assistance Card. You can ask for one that would allow her to board at the exit without having a wheelchair.

 

[hightown]

Thanks for all your helpful comments.

Mom won't be in a wheelchair or scooter. She just doesn't get up and down a quickly as she did. She can't pull herself up or support herself going down due to her rotator cuff problems. Age is really the pits.

I think Cheshire Figment suggestion is best. I really need to get the attention of the attendant before boarding. It's those moving rides--haunted mansion, buzz, spaceship earth that have me worried.

We'll give that a try and if I notice problems, will talk to the folks there about a GAC

Thanks Again!

 

[SueM in MN]

I didn't see when you are going. If you are going when it won't be busy, you may not not have much problem because the boarding CMs will be less stressed.
If you are going when it is busy, I'd strongly recommend you request a GAC for her. Since you indicated in your original post that you were worried about both of you falling and were even thinking of totally avoiding these rides, it makes me think of more than just possible taking a little extra time to board.
For those rides that board with the moving walkways, the exit is the best place for someone with (what I think from your posting are) her problems to board. A GAC allowing use of the wheelchair boarding area is the best way to make sure you have extra time and space to board. You would only have to use the GAC at the rides that have continous loading. The rides like Splash Mountain and Space Mountain where the car comes to a complete stop for boarding won't be a problem since the ride dispatcher doesn't send a car out until everyone is safely seated.

The regular boarding areas are kind of "rush-rush, get people on" places and sometimes the first CM you see after getting in line is the one who is actually boarding people. IMHO, it's too busy and noisy to be trying to tell that CM that your mom may have some trouble boarding for the continous loading rides. The CMs at the exit have a lot more control over things and (I think anyway) it is a safer place for someone who is really concerned they might fall.

 

[Safari Steve]

If you don't have one already, get a wheelchair or a GAC to use wheelchair entrances. At continuously moving rides, ask the first CM you see at the entrance about boarding while the ride is stopped. This is a pretty standard thing, as far as I'm concerned, and while we are not allowed to stop the ride indiscriminantly for everyone (and usually only on a certain car), we will stop the ride if it is absolutely necessary for a guest to board.

One thing you should NOT do is wait until the loading area to tell someone that you might have a problem. At Haunted Mansion, we are only supposed to stop the ride system at the unload point. Many times I have seen people buzz through the load area and tell the CM "My mother can't step onto this, you have to help her!" (We don't have to... we're not allowed to, and anyhow, if she needs help, why aren't you helping her?) This poor old lady ends up all by herself because the family who was so concerned is already on..... The ride can be slowed in the loading area (at the CM's discretion) or stopped if someone falls, but that's it.

Short Answer:
The Greeter will help you get to where you need to be to board in the manner that most suits you. You just have to let them know what your situation is. The "continuously loading" rides do stop for boarding, but only in specific situations. Have your w/c or GAC and you should not have a problem.

 

[hightown]

I really appreciate your reply, Steve! We'll see how her shoulder does in the next month and check with Guest Assistance if needed.

Advise from the Haunted Mansion itself is great! WHOoOoO

 

[SueM in MN]

bumping this one up.

 

[SueM in MN]

bumping up again.

 

[SueM in MN]

Bumping again

 

[vhoffman]

This question is for Steve, or anyone else who feels they can help. I, too, have a bad hip and walk with a cane. The continuous loaders worry me. I can tell the attendant to slow/stop the ride so I can get on (which I've done), but what about getting off? How do I let someone know I need the ride stopped so I can get off? I worry that they won't keep track of what car I'm in. (The times I've managed to get them to slow the rides so could get on I just managed to catch their eye to stop the line for me to unload-no one was keeping track. Had I been in a wheelchair, the carts which are designed for wheelchairs are monitered and stopped, but no one just knows to stop a regular cart with a disabled person on board).Also, we have two 6-year olds. If the car will hold four, fine, but if it holds only two we want to make sure our children are safely secured in before letting them go. Then my husband needs to assist me. I understand the CM can't assist me due to liability problems.

Because of the confusion as to how to "load" me, I declined most of the rides and sat them out while my husband took the kids. this arrangement is really ok with me, there's so much else to see and do at WDW that the rides are just one part of the total experience. I try not to get people to feel sorry for me and ruin their good time--after all, these trips are really for our kids. However, I would like experience some of the rides. Also, my kids feel its so unfair mommy can't go on the rides.

Well, anyone with any suggestions, other than I use a wheelchair? That isn't necessary and would limit me further.

Thanks!

 

[vhoffman]

Well, just had a thougth after readomg my post . Some people use wheelchairs but get out of them for the rides. They leave their wheelcahirs with the CM for their return. How do they know to stop their carts for exit? They are just regular carts, not designated for wheelchairs.

 

[Safari Steve]

All ride vehicles are numbered. The CMs have to log in every ride stop or slow and what car(s) were stopped. We have intercoms.
7-day a week operations for more than 3 decades have resulted in a situation where at least 90% of all questions, concerns, worries, fears, etc are repeated. (The hand-stamps at the exit won't wash off. No, not even if you go swimming. No, not even if you wash your hands. No, not even if you take a hot shower.)

In any event, if you need the ride stopped to get on, you should get a GAC to allow you to use the entrance for guests with wheelchairs. CMs in the Load area at Haunted Mansion, for instance, are not allowed to stop the ride system except for an emergency. "I don't think I can step on that" is not considered an emergency. All ride-stops for loading/unloading are made at the unload/exit area.
Get the GAC, use it, don't worry.

 

[vhoffman]

Steve,

Thanks so much for the info! So now what I need to do is get a Guest Assistance Pass, show it to the attendant, go through the wheelchair entrance (even though I don't use a wheelchair), they'll stop or slow down the ride to get on, and then they'll know what car to stop to get off. Great!

How do I get a Guest Assistance Pass? Where do I go? Do I need some sort of Dr's letter? Can I order it in advance? Also, is there a list of rides which can't be stopped so I'll know which ones to avoid?

Thanks again so much--you've made my day!

 

[Talking Hands]

Only ride I have encountered that cannot be stopped is Peter Pan.
You get the GAC from Guest Relations at City Hall. You just have to tell them what the problem is and how they can best help you. No doctor's note needed.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Originally posted by Safari Steve
All ride-stops for loading/unloading are made at the unload/exit area..

I an nervous about attempting a transfer into a ride car. I have seen the 'practice cars' at RnRoller Coaster & Test Track.

Is there anything similar at Haunted Mansion?

Would I be allowed into the wheelchair load area to watch others transfer & see for myself what is involved before trying it? (I use a wheelchair and could make a sliding transfer with ease, but it would be more difficult if I had to stand up as part of the transfer)

Andrew

 

[Safari Steve]

There are no "practice" doom buggies.

 

[Talking Hands]

Andrew last year I was able to make a slide transfer easily to the Doom Buggy. This was while I was stuck on no weight bearing and not even allowed crutches. I have seen others use a board to transfer.

 

[BillSears]

Andrew, I'm a paraplegic who transfers on and off of the doombuggies. I'd say the transfer that I did 5 years ago is slightly harder then from the chair to the front seat of a car, maybe about the same as the transfer to the back seat of a car. I'm think but am not 100% sure that the doombuggy with the side section cut away to allow easier transfers was not in use when I went 5 years ago. From the description of it it looks like the transfers should be now as easy as a front door car transfer.

I know in the far past I've made the transfer on the HM without them stopping the ride. But the last few times I've gone they've pretty much insisted that they would stop it for me. I guess they'd rather not take any chances.

As for stopping Peter Pan...well it was stopped when I boarded it. I had arrived at the ride and we were discussing the transfer on. The CM insisted that I would have no trouble doing the transfer in that short(much shorter then the HM) boarding area. I was pretty sure it would be a close thing and felt it would be safer to stop it but they said try it without stopping. Just as I was getting ready to board an non disabled guest forgot to get off the ride till the end of the walkway, she stepped out right into the railing at the end. She was fine but the CMs manning the ride hit the emergency switch for her and I took the opportunity to board. Exiting was pretty easy since it was a transfer down into the chair but I'd still rather have more time with the transfer.