Wheelchair Question

[Emimatt]

We are heading down next week with my sister who suffered a brain hemorrhage last spring and will be using her personal wheelchair due to the long distances and balance problems. She will have no problem transferring from her chair to the ride vehicles but was relieved when I told her I read on this board that many ride lines now would allow her to stay in her chair through the line. My question is, what happens when she exits her chair to get on the ride? Do the CM's just move it to the exit area so it will be waiting for her? Seems like a silly question but my brother-in-law is very worried about something happening to her chair (like someone taking it), it was pricey. I am thinking that this process might make him feel better than leaving it in a parking area as well as relieve her mind about standing for so long and maintaining her balance in the close crush of all the people.

While I am asking questions, is there any need for her to get a GAC pass? I think I understood from what I have read here that the presence of her wheelchair will make it obvious what sort of assistance she will need and therefore a GAC is not necessary. But a friend of mine just returned and used a wheelchair with a member of her party and suggested that we DO get one.
Thanks for any advice you might have for us.

 

[SueM in MN]

My question is, what happens when she exits her chair to get on the ride? Do the CM's just move it to the exit area so it will be waiting for her? Seems like a silly question but my brother-in-law is very worried about something happening to her chair (like someone taking it), it was pricey. I am thinking that this process might make him feel better than leaving it in a parking area as well as relieve her mind about standing for so long and maintaining her balance in the close crush of all the people.

All shows and movies have wheelchair accessible areas where guests can stay in their wheelchair/ECV to watch the show.

Wheelchairs can be taken all the way to the boarding area in all attractions.
Some people choose to park their wheelchairs with the strollers for some attractions, but that is their choice.
In many cases, guests using wheelchairs board and exit at the same place, so there is no need to move the wheelchair. It will be in the same place as you left it.
For a few attractions, the boarding area is at a different area than the exit and there is not a way for guests using wheelchairs to board there. In those attractions, you will be able to bring the wheelchair all the way to boarding and the CM will move the wheelchair to the exit, where it will be waiting for you.
There are also some attractions which have a wheelchair accessible ride car and she can choose to stay in the wheelchair for those if she prefers.

I had an interesting experience a few years ago when we rode Haunted Mansion. At that attraction, guests with wheelchairs board at the exit if they are not able to walk. We had brought our daughter's wheelchair up to the ride car, and my husband got into the car with her. I got into the car behind them and the CM took daughter's wheelchair off the boarding area after we got on.
When we got to the end of the ride, I got out, but my husband and daughter did not get off, by mistake. The CM told me that they would need to go through the ride again, but I could just wait in the exit area for them to come back. So, I stood there while a couple of hundred people walked by me to get off. I could just as well have been invisible. NO ONE noticed me and everyone walked by the wheelchairs that were parked at the exit without seeing them.

While I am asking questions, is there any need for her to get a GAC pass? I think I understood from what I have read here that the presence of her wheelchair will make it obvious what sort of assistance she will need and therefore a GAC is not necessary. But a friend of mine just returned and used a wheelchair with a member of her party and suggested that we DO get one.
Thanks for any advice you might have for us.

She will not need a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) unless she has needs that are not met by having the wheelchair in line/up to boarding.

You do NOT need a GAC to use the accessible entrances or boarding areas because the CMs will see the wheelchair and route you to the accessible area. Most attractions actually have lines that are wheelchair accessible.
If you want more information about GACs, follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post #6 of that thread is about GACs.

 

[jmartinez1895]

We have never had a problem getting our stroller/ wheel chair after a ride. At almost all of the rides the stroller was where we left it at the boarding are, but at the few that exit at a different spot the CMs had it waiting on us. The only ride that we had a little trouble with was Pirates. They take the chairs at boarding and park them outside so you will need to tell them if you can not walk back to the parking area ( they will work it out)

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I understand his concern. My DS wheelchair cost a much a many cars, but we had no problems. We were there for 9 days and rode most of the rides. My son can not transfer on his own, and if was great that they were able to stop many of the rides that require a transfer.

 

[clkelley]

Unless her chair is very specialized and supports her torso/head in a certain way, the easiest way to do Pirates is to park her chair in the wheechair parking location and borrow one of the wheelchairs that are there for that specific purpose. Then she will board the ride, and then another chair will be waiting at the exit. Then she can get back into her chair after exiting.