Wheelchair question re lines

[Mazzy]

I will have to use a wheelchair this trip due to a foot problem - I can walk but not long distances as I have to rest the sesamoid bone.

The idea is to use the chair from ride to ride and leave it in the 'parking area' next to the attraction and stand in the lines.

However, if my foot is particularly bad, and I need to sit in the chair in the line, would I be able to get out of the chair when I reach the front of the line and get on the ride without it? Could I leave the chair with the CM and pick it up when I get off the ride?

I don't know if this is possible, as usually you don't exit a ride where you board. I think I would prefer to ride without the wheelchair - I guess it's just what I'm used to - would this be possible?

I'm sure someone out there can tell me the answer to this, as you have been a great help so far!

 

[Talking Hands]

Yes, you can leave the wheelchair and ride. Not a problem. They will have the wheelchair at the exit for you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A lot depends on the attraction. For example, where there is a boat (such as It's A Small World) you (and your party) go in through the exit and then leave the wheelchair on the exit side and board from that side. Other attractions (such as Journey Into Imagination) they will move the empty chair to a "holding area" near where you exit and then you pick it up.

If you have enough time, you might call Guest Services and ask them to send you copies of each park's Guide For People With Disabilites. If there is not much time before your trip, you should be able to get them at either the Resort or Park Guest Services. (Note these are normally NOT out on counters, you have to ask.)

 

[SueM in MN]

It won't be a problem. A lot of people choose to have the wheelchair with them until they board. You would go thru the same way whether you choose to stay in the wheelchair for the ride or not. For those rides where you could stay in the wheelchair, usually the CMs will ask whether you want to get out or stay in the wheelchair.
If you do get out, one of the CMs responsibilities is to move the wheelchair to the exit (for those rides where you don't board at the exit). We often take DD out of her wheelchair for rides and we have nver had a problem with the wheelchair not being at the exit waiting for us.
There is a list on www.wdwinfo.com (DIS main pages) that has the rides where you can choose to saty in the wheelchair.
I have not found the Guidebook for Guests with Disabiliites to be all that useful, because it is very general. It doesn't give specific boarding information - just usually says "Wait in the regular queque, " except for the few MK rides that don't have accessible queques. If you want a copy before you leave, you can go to the official Disney website (wwww.disney.com) and get one. I don't have the link on this computer, but let me know if you want it because I do have a link at home. The easiest way I have found to the information without a link is to go to the disney site and do a search for "wheelchair".

 

[cupcake]

Hello to my fellow traveller with special feet! (I have disengaged accessory bones in both feet). I guess my impression of your idea is... why? But this is from the perspective of someone who has trouble standing for more than a short bit. I agree that you should look over the guests with disabilities guides. You can download them from the official WDW site. You will see that many of the rides are mainstream access, so whether you sit or stand, it's the same difference. Several attractions are standing or have standing portions (eg Canada, Lion King). And some attractions have lines that never seem to end--just as you round the corner, you see... even more lines! Definitely ask a CM what the expected wait is if there's no sign, bc the lines are set up to look less scary than they sometimes are.

So if you want to stretch you could do it here and there, but my feeling is that there's the potential for quite a bit of standing, so you may want to save your standing for obviously short/fast-moving lines and otherwise stay in the wheelchair, and plan your trip with that premise in mind. Being in the wheelchair also alerts the CM that you may need special assistance (eg on a moving platform, my feet can get wobbly bc of the extra bones, so even if there's no line, I pull up in the wheelchair).

Finally -- and this would be my biggest concern, but then again, I am a worrywart , I have never left my wheelchair out with the strollers. If you take it in, it's highly unlikely that someone might walk off with it bc it's not out in the open. I'd imagine that if you rent from outside (sorry, I don't recall your plan) that wouldn't be a concern bc hopefully the kind of jerk who would take someone's wheelchair would lack the nerve to take a non-Disney one. But if you rent at the parks, I personally would not leave my wheelchair out with the strollers. There's got to be a reason for the wheelchair replacement areas in the parks. Just my 2 cents, though! Have an awesome time, I love WDW bc it is a pleasure to get around in a wheelchair, all things considered.

Cupcake

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess I misread and thought you wanted to keep your wheelchair in line with you and just get in all the ride cars.
Since re-reading it, I see that's not what you had in mind. I agree with cupcake that it's not the best idea unless you know for sure before you join a line how long the walk/wait will be and what obstacles, like stairs there might be. If you want to walk in the lines, you will need a GAC that lets you use the wheelchair entrances. That would allow you to avoid stairs and board at the exit, which allows a little extra time and possible support from someone if you are wobbly for boarding. A GAC also alerts the CMs that you might need extra assistance. That doesn't help with the problem of your wheelchair being at the entrance area when you get off. usually the entrance/exit are not that far apart, but it is something to check with the CMs before you get in line. It's not usually a problem for rides, but shows often exit in a place that is pretty far from the entrance.

A lot of the shows have preshows where you stand (Alien Encounter, Test Track are 2 that come to mind). The 360 movies in Canada and China are all standing. (The Lion King show that had a standing portion doesn't exist any more).

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks SO much everyone for your replies, they have really helped!

After reading them I think my idea of leaving the wheelchair in the stroller bay is not very sensible, as Cupcake pointed out, there is no way of knowing just how long a line is going to be until you are actually in it!

So... I've decided to stay in the chair until we actually reach the boarding spot, it sounds as that it is quite straightforward and the CM will have the chair waiting at the exit. That was something I wasn't sure about - how would I get the chair back, but I see it wouldn't be a problem.

I think the most sensible thing to do would be to save my 'walking and standing' time for the shops, which I imagine could be quite difficult to get round in a chair, especially during the busy period of Christmas and New Years. DH isn't into shopping so I'm sure he won't mind 'babysitting' the chair outside!

Thanks again everyone - you're a great bunch!