Wheelchair assistant admitted free?

[I❤MICKEY]

I am in a wheelchair due to a recent knee surgery. When we arrived at the San Diego Zoo today I went to the ticket booth to purchase our tickets. The attendant asked me if I had an assistant or if I needed one. I was confused. She asked if there was someone pushing my wheelchair or to help me. I told her my husband. She then told me that he would enter the zoo for free. Anyone disabled is able to have an aide enter the zoo at no charge. If I was alone an employee would push me. She said the same is true for Sea World. We are planning on Disneyland tomorrow. Does anyone know if an aide enters for free with someone in a wheelchair?

 

[Malcon10t]

No. I can just picture the abuse at Disneyland!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

No. I can just picture the abuse at Disneyland!

O M G right?

 

[Huff]

My wife got into Sea World free when I was in a wheelchair. Had no idea they did this until they told us she would be free.

Yes, the abuse at DLR would be huge but why is this not a problem at Sea World?

 

[disneegrl4eva]

My wife got into Sea World free when I was in a wheelchair. Had no idea they did this until they told us she would be free.

Yes, the abuse at DLR would be huge but why is this not a problem at Sea World?

probably because way more people attend DL on average than sea world?

 

[ArchOwl]

My wife got into Sea World free when I was in a wheelchair. Had no idea they did this until they told us she would be free.

Yes, the abuse at DLR would be huge but why is this not a problem at Sea World?

If I remember correctly, DLR (so DL and DCA combined) had an annual attendance of over 22 million a year. Sea World had almost 4 million. I think it is a matter of numbers.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

The employee at the zoo made it sound like it is state regulation not a zoo policy.

 

[starry_solo]

No state regulation that I know of. I think it's just their policy. They have to reasonably accommodate your disability, but that's it. There's a whole thread about it in disABILITIES (not specific about wheelchairs but if you read the posts, there is one person writing about wheelchairs).

See:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2921770

 

[skiingfast]

The employee at the zoo made it sound like it is state regulation not a zoo policy.

At DLR you can rent an ECV.

 

[Malcon10t]

The employee at the zoo made it sound like it is state regulation not a zoo policy.

No, it isn't a state regulation. Or a Federal one either. The DOJ is in charge of the ADA. The closest the law comes to this is if for safety reasons, a disabled person cannot access the location with their service dog, the location does need to provide an assistant. It does not say you can provide your own at the cost to the location. The SD Zoo does provide kennels for service dogs, as the dogs are considered a safety issue around the animals, and because of this, they will provide someone to assist if needed.

 

[xXtowerOFterrorXx]

Sorry no. That's not the case at Disneyland. My gf had also had recent knee surgery when we went and I had to push her around on our trip and I still had to pay to enter. The only benefit to being in a wheel chair in DL is some rides offer wheel chair entrances that put you at the front of the line.

 

[Huff]

If I remember correctly, DLR (so DL and DCA combined) had an annual attendance of over 22 million a year. Sea World had almost 4 million. I think it is a matter of numbers.

While thats true its still a matter of percentages of crowd totals that would abuse in either case. I think its more a matter of $'s. Disney is far tighter on policies regarding prices, discounts, freebies etc. than other parks.

 

[nannyz]

There is already abuse of the wheelchairs. The last time I was at DL, I saw teenagers using the rented wheelchairs, pretending to be disabled, so they could get in the front of the line.

 

[reenyc]

To get to the front of the line you have to show a "guest assistence card" which I believe you get from the city hall inside Disneyland after you show them a need to have a shorter wait in a queue , ( unable to climb stairs , ext. ) and that also allows a carer or 2 in with you .
Though I did see several families try and get up to 8 people to the front of the line on the one card ( no one needs that much assistence ), one didn't even have the guest who's card it was with them ( need less to say that group was sent back to wait in the regular line).
I dont think it is a case of get a wheelchair get to the front of the line automaticaly

 

[nannyz]

When we went to DL in 2010, we got a wheelchair for my daughter who was in a high-risk pregnancy. We just got the chair and went on in (no kind of card was given to us). We only used the privilege of going to the front of the line on the rides that she was able to ride.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

There is already abuse of the wheelchairs. The last time I was at DL, I saw teenagers using the rented wheelchairs, pretending to be disabled, so they could get in the front of the line.

sheesh thats been happening forever!

To get to the front of the line you have to show a "guest assistence card" which I believe you get from the city hall inside Disneyland after you show them a need to have a shorter wait in a queue , ( unable to climb stairs , ext. ) and that also allows a carer or 2 in with you .
Though I did see several families try and get up to 8 people to the front of the line on the one card ( no one needs that much assistence ), one didn't even have the guest who's card it was with them ( need less to say that group was sent back to wait in the regular line).
I dont think it is a case of get a wheelchair get to the front of the line automaticaly

the max amount of people you can take in with you is 6, including yourself...IDK about them requiring a GAC for wheelchairs but that would be nice if thats the case now...would crack down on alot of abuse

When we went to DL in 2010, we got a wheelchair for my daughter who was in a high-risk pregnancy. We just got the chair and went on in (no kind of card was given to us). We only used the privilege of going to the front of the line on the rides that she was able to ride.

alot of teenagers try and pull this trick so more than likely them seeing adults pushing the chair they took it as legit...

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Maybe it is just a policy at the zoo and sea world. We had planned on paying and had no issue paying for admittance but it was a pleasant surprise that will save us about $135 on our vacation. Thought it was worth asking to see if Disneyland did something similar.

They offer ECV and wheelchair rentals at the zoo and sea world too. I have a wheelchair that was assigned at the hospital. I can't use an ECV because my leg must remain straight. Not planning on riding any rides this visit but my boys will still be able too.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's just the policy at those places. ADA stuff basically requires places to help make things equal. Allowing a free companion is *extra*.

It's good they'll provide someone to help push the wheelchair if the person is alone though...SD Zoo has some enormous and exhaustion hills!

There is already abuse of the wheelchairs. The last time I was at DL, I saw teenagers using the rented wheelchairs, pretending to be disabled, so they could get in the front of the line.

Since getting to the front of the line isn't the normal thing to happen for people in wheelchairs, they were probably pretty disappointed! I read your subsequent post, and just know that you got service far beyond what you should expect if you have future trips with someone in a wheelchair.

(GAC isn't needed with a wheelchair/ECV...)

 

[disneychrista]

Having a GAC or being in a wheelchair does not get you "front of the line access." In fact a couple of times it pushed us back in line (Indiana Jones - took longer to use the elevator than up & down the stars, Space Mountain - took a good 4 - 6 cars before our was loaded and off). Thunder Mountain was the only line that seemed to be faster using the accessible enterance vs regular line.

 

[Malcon10t]

Since getting to the front of the line isn't the normal thing to happen for people in wheelchairs, they were probably pretty disappointed! I read your subsequent post, and just know that you got service far beyond what you should expect if you have future trips with someone in a wheelchair.

(GAC isn't needed with a wheelchair/ECV...)

Having a GAC or being in a wheelchair does not get you "front of the line access." In fact a couple of times it pushed us back in line (Indiana Jones - took longer to use the elevator than up & down the stars, Space Mountain - took a good 4 - 6 cars before our was loaded and off). Thunder Mountain was the only line that seemed to be faster using the accessible enterance vs regular line.

Space Mountain, POTC, IASW are always much longer if you need to use the HA entrance. Haunted Mansion is almost always longer. But the myth will persist that using a wheelchair or ecv will get you to the front.