Wheelchair Viewing Areas for Illuminations and Main Street Electrical Parade

[Disneylvr]

Where are they and is there seating available for their companion(s)?

 

[brown1442]

There's a map available at Guest Services in each park that shows where the accessible parade viewing areas are... and also what rides involve transfers and what not. Its very handy... definitely recommend picking it up!

Here's an example from the MK... http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...yWorld/en_us/PDF/mk-disability-guide-2010.pdf

If there's room in the viewing area they allow family/friends to stand behind those in wheelchairs but when its packed I've seen them ask those capable to move outside of the area to make room for others in wheelchairs.

 

[Disneylvr]

I wonder if we should just pick a non-wheelchair location. It is my daughter and she can't be left there alone. She is 8 and in a special needs stroller that we use as her wheelchair at the parks. We would like to try Illuminations and MSEP for the first time with her this trip but are concerned about her getting overcrowded and upset. She has autism. I thought maybe the wheelchair area might be a little less cramped for her then other areas.

 

[peemagg]

My experience is that it is just as crowded if not more crowded, since they put everyone as close together as possible to allow as many in the area as possible. You might be better off scouting out an area outside of the handicapped areas and just give her a bit of a buffer zone. I would be getting a place at least 30-45 minutes before the event if not a full hour.

 

[SueM in MN]

Wow! I can't believe your DD is 8 already. It seems like you were just posting pictures of her as a 3 yr old!

For parades and Illuminations, they park the wheelchairs, stollers and ECVs quite close together, nearly touching, across the front of the viewing area. One or two companions can stand behind. They will allow up to 6 (5 plus the person with a disability) in the handicapped viewing area. Most of the viewing areas have no seating, but if there is any, it will be along the back of the viewing area.

The viewing areas are shown on the special maps for guests with disabilities, but are also marked on all the park maps.

For Illuminations, all of the spots are along the fence, facing the water. The viewing areas at Epcot are:

• On both sides of the entrance to World Showcase. Those spots get very busy and it is not uncommon to have 2 rows of wheelchairs, on behind the other, in those areas.
• Between Canada and the UK. That area is fairly small.
• In front of Germany. That area is also small and fills up quickly. It does have benches along the back of the area. When we were at Epcot in April 2011, that area was already filled by 8:15.

For Illuminations, I would probably just find a spot. Because the show takes place on the water, you can line up with the fence in front of you and no one will be able to get in front of you. If you arrange the rest of your party behind the stroller, your daughter will be protected and separated from others with a fence in front of her.

For MK, the viewing spots are:

• At the hub, in front of the train station - on the side across from City Hall. The disadvantage of that spot is that the area becomes very busy after the parade is over because of people leaving.
• At the hub in front of the castle - on the side facing Tomorrowland. That area is also very crowded because people want to be in the hub area for the fireworks. We have been there when there were 2 rows of wheelchairs.
• In the Liberty Square area, kind of across from the entrance to Hall of Presidents. That area is very small, and there are some places where the space is only one person deep. So you could arrange your family there so no one is behind or next to your DD.

We have also used some areas for MK where we could arrange ourselves so there was no one next to her - places like next to a trash can or a fence. There are some places where you will be a little bit farther away, but can be up against a fence. Look at the maps and the parade route and then you can scout out some possible places earlier in the day.
MK also has a fireworks dessert party in a covered porch area in Tomorrowland Terrace. You will not be right down by the parade, but will be able to see quite well.

 

[KPeveler]

Just adding my voice that I have noticed the wheelchair viewing areas to be even more crowded than the other areas. Even if you can stay with her (they cannot make an 8 yr old sit by herself!), there will be almost no room to move around - you are pretty much locked in place like an hour early.

 

[brown1442]

They'd never make you leave an 8 year old in there by herself. What I saw was them asking that only 1 person stay in there with the individual in the wheelchair and that others go elsewhere. I didn't like the idea of splitting families up. They didn't force anyone to leave... just asked if anyone was willing because they were running out of room. Thankfully they didn't ask us to split up... technically both of my children qualify for a GAC anyway (even though only my younger one is in a wheelchair).

I actually sat down on the curb next to my son in his chair and no one ever asked me to move. I had to do this. There's no way he could handle being crammed in wheelchair to wheelchair... he too has autism (and a mitochondrial disorder). He'd clobber someone! I would have moved had someone asked me... but no one ever did... probably could tell by his behavior that I needed to be where I was.

 

[Disneylvr]

Yes Sue, Madelyn is now 8 years old! My baby is growing up. We haven't seen any of the evening parades/shows since she was 3 years old. We tried Spectro then and she cried and screamed the whole time. Not sure if she was just scared or it was autism related. We were watching it from the porch at Tony's on Main Street and DH just took her farther away. We have seen Wishes since then, but from a distance at either the Polynesian or the Contemporary. Now that she is older we are hoping we can try parades and Illkuminations again. Fantasmic won't be operating while we are there in January. Just trying to find a good viewing spot that might not be so packed because she will try to touch other people. Where can I read more about the dessert party? That might be a good option. Thanks everyone!

 

[mycropht]

Yes Sue, Madelyn is now 8 years old! My baby is growing up. We haven't seen any of the evening parades/shows since she was 3 years old. We tried Spectro then and she cried and screamed the whole time. Not sure if she was just scared or it was autism related. We were watching it from the porch at Tony's on Main Street and DH just took her farther away. We have seen Wishes since then, but from a distance at either the Polynesian or the Contemporary. Now that she is older we are hoping we can try parades and Illkuminations again. Fantasmic won't be operating while we are there in January. Just trying to find a good viewing spot that might not be so packed because she will try to touch other people. Where can I read more about the dessert party? That might be a good option. Thanks everyone!

My past experience is that no place is packed in January. The good thing I've found about the Wheelchair viewing area is that pretty much everyone "gets" the nature of disabilities and will be not so freaked out if your daughter were to try to touch them.

For my 2/c I prefer the wheelchair viewing area under the Liberty Tree Tavern for MK parades. Since the parades start in Frontierland, you get to see it first and when the parade does break up, you can go against the flow over to Splash mountain and get in a ghost-town of a line.

I truly hope your DD (as well as the rest of you) enjoy the shows.

 

[Disneylvr]

My past experience is that no place is packed in January. The good thing I've found about the Wheelchair viewing area is that pretty much everyone "gets" the nature of disabilities and will be not so freaked out if your daughter were to try to touch them.

For my 2/c I prefer the wheelchair viewing area under the Liberty Tree Tavern for MK parades. Since the parades start in Frontierland, you get to see it first and when the parade does break up, you can go against the flow over to Splash mountain and get in a ghost-town of a line.

I truly hope your DD (as well as the rest of you) enjoy the shows.

Thank you! The only problem is, we are going over MLK weekend which will be busier. However, I think on Thursday night (before the weekend, on Jan 12th) they will be having MSEP. Maybe that would be the best night to go. Any suggestions for Illuminations?

 

[peemagg]

The last time that I went to Illuminations, it was in January and the handicapped area by Norway was not packed at all and was a large area too. That might be a place to try.

 

[Talking Hands]

In the WC area across from Hall of the Presidents there is a lamppost that you can park her stroller next to and have an adult next to her on the other side. She needs an adult companion in case of meltdown and this has been done by other parents of autistic children. Keeps her from getting overwhelmed by being to closed in.

 

[SueM in MN]

The last time that I went to Illuminations, it was in January and the handicapped area by Norway was not packed at all and was a large area too. That might be a place to try.

I think the area you are thinking of is the one almost directly in front of Germany.

It has been decreased in size over the years, but does still have room for at least 10 wheelchairs across the front. You may be fine there on a non-busy night, but that is the area we found was full when we tried to get in at 8:15 last April. We actually stood outside of the area - there is a flowerbed surrounded by a fence between that seating area and the World Showcase walkway. We parked DD's wheelchair along the fence between the end of a bench and something else. I was on one side of her and my mom was on her other side.
It's hard to tell how busy the handicapped seating will be - sometimes the least busy times for people in general are more busy for guests with disabilities.

Another possibility for Illuminations that is not quite son close, but will still give a pretty good view and will not be busy Is the area in front of the Odyssey Center, by First Aid and the Baby Center. It is higher than the countries, is usually not very full at all and you can stand along the rail. If things get too much during the show, you can retreat closer to the building or into the restrooms. It is usually very uncrowded when leaving because most guests don't choose that way to leave since the bridges lead to the Test Track area, not directly out.

 

[Disneylvr]

Sue what a great idea for Illumintions! That is exactly what I am going to do. Thank you everyone for all of your great ideas. I know just where to go for both MSEP and Illuminations now. Just counting down the days till our next trip

 

[SueM in MN]

For Illuminations, you can also scout out places ahead of time. By early to mid afternoon, the fireworks barges are in their places in the middle of the World Showcase Lagoon. Those barges will be the center of the show, so if you find a place where you can see those barges pretty well, you will see the show.

Watch the wind direction because if it is blowing toward you, the smoke from the fireworks will hit you.