Wheelchairs and GAC's and Lines, oh my!

[Becky_Boop]

My mother has MS and she will be renting a wheelchair in Disney World. Do they automatically give you a guest assistance card with the wheelchair, do you need to get it yourself, or do you even need one? Plus, do you wait in the normal line, do you go to the front of the line, or are you sent to the back entrance? Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

It really depends upon the individual needs of the person on the chair. My mom uses a chair at WDW because of 3 hip surgeries. It is just way to much walking for her. But she has no problem waiting in queues or transferring when needed. In her case, we've never asked for a GAC and truly never felt the need to do so as long as they allow her a few extra seconds to transfer or slow/temporarily stop the rides to board.

If your Mom can't wait in the heat or can't wait in the regular queues for some reason, then you should consider getting a GAC. There are different types of GACs based on individual neeeds.

 

[ugadog99]

Chuck, does your mom have any trouble on the moving sidewalk rides (Peter Pan, etc)? My dad broke his hip several years ago and does well except for stairs, and sitting or standing too long. He obviously moves slower due to the hip and almost being 70. I am most concerned about the conveyor type entrances and exits. I have thought about the GAC for him so that the particluar ride belts could be slowed.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The purpose of the GAC is to advise CMs of the needs of people with "invisible" disabilities. Generally with a wheelchair (or ECV) you do not need a GAC unless there is something else, such as having to stay out of the sun when waiting, or having a vision problem and needing to sit in the front of a theater when the disabled seating is at the rear.

At WDW almost all the lines are "mainstreamed", where there is sufficient maneuvering room and no stairs so a person in a wheelchair or ECV will just wait in line with everyone else. When, for various reasons, a line is not mainstreamed there will be indications, by sign and usually from a CM, where to go. Under certain circumstances use of the alternate entrance will actually result in a longer wait than the normal line.

If you have to transfer from a wheelchair or ECV to a ride vehicle the loading CM can make adjustments to or stop any attraction except Peter Pan (which cannot be stopped except for emergencies).

Note also that a CM can assist in holding or pushing a wheelchair on a slope, but is not permitted to assist the guest in getting out of the chair or the ride vehicle. In other words the CM is not allowed to touch a guest, even if requested, except to prevent an injury in an emergency situation.

 

[SueM in MN]

Chuck, does your mom have any trouble on the moving sidewalk rides (Peter Pan, etc)? My dad broke his hip several years ago and does well except for stairs, and sitting or standing too long. He obviously moves slower due to the hip and almost being 70. I am most concerned about the conveyor type entrances and exits. I have thought about the GAC for him so that the particluar ride belts could be slowed.

If he is using a wheelchair or ECV, he should not need a GAC.
For those attractions with moving walkways, wheelchair and ECV users board at the exit (usually after waiting in the regular line) so that the moving walkway can be slowed or stopped for them if necessary and so their wheelchair/ECV will be waiting for them at the exit when they finish.

My mother has MS and she will be renting a wheelchair in Disney World. Do they automatically give you a guest assistance card with the wheelchair,

No, they don't because for most people, just having the wheelchair and being able to use wheelchair accessible lines is all that is needed.

do you need to get it yourself, or do you even need one?

If there are more needs than the ones that a wheelchair/ecv can help with, then you would get a GAC. The person with a disability needs to go to Guest Services in any of the parks and explain their needs to the CM there.

Besides what Cheshire Figment wrote, there is some information about GACs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board. It also includes some links to helpful thread, including one about boarding attractions with moving walkways.

Plus, do you wait in the normal line, do you go to the front of the line, or are you sent to the back entrance? Thanks!

As Cheshire Figment mentioned, most attractions are Mainstream Access, which means that people with wheelchairs/ECVs wait in the same line with everyone else. If they need to board at a different place than people not using wheelchairs/ECV, there is usually a "pull off" point close to the usual boarding area (at that point wheelchair/ECV users are "pulled off" of the regular line and sent to the wheelchair baording area.

There are a few (very few) attractions where the only way for wheelchair/ECV users to board is the exit. Those attractions have a CM at the entrance to the line to direct you.

 

[ugadog99]

My father refuses the use of an ECV. I have tried to no avail to convince him to get one. He will not be easy to convince, either. So, I think in our situation, we will need the GAC. Thanks for all the info!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

My father refuses the use of an ECV. I have tried to no avail to convince him to get one. He will not be easy to convince, either. So, I think in our situation, we will need the GAC. Thanks for all the info!

The GAC is based on needs. The normal response for stamina and/or mobility problems tends to be use a wheelchair or ECV. I can't think of the uses for a GAC if he has mobility/stamina problems.

Please ask him the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

If you can get him to think that it will improve the experience for the family (which it will) that might work.

 

[SueM in MN]

The GAC is based on needs. The normal response for stamina and/or mobility problems tends to be use a wheelchair or ECV. I can't think of the uses for a GAC if he has mobility/stamina problems.

The official Disney website page on disabilities has this to say about endurance concerns:

Some Guests may be concerned that they do not have the stamina to wait in our queues. We strongly suggest these Guests consider using a wheelchair, personal scooter or Electric Convenience Vehicle (ECV), as the distance between our attractions is much greater than the length of our queues.

That is the likely answer that you will get if you ask about things having to do with endurance.
If he is only concerned about stairs and the rides with moving walkways, he may be able to get a GAC that allows him to avoid those. There is more information on that in this thread about boarding rides.

Also, a thread that might be useful in convincing him to use an ECV is this thread about a new (and initially reluctant) ECV user's experience.

 

[Chuck S]

Chuck, does your mom have any trouble on the moving sidewalk rides (Peter Pan, etc)? My dad broke his hip several years ago and does well except for stairs, and sitting or standing too long. He obviously moves slower due to the hip and almost being 70. I am most concerned about the conveyor type entrances and exits. I have thought about the GAC for him so that the particluar ride belts could be slowed.

As Sue already mentioned, they will slow or stop the belt and cars to allow him to board if necessary. For Mom, usually the "slow" mod is fine. He may have a little trouble on the Peoplemover/Tomorrowland Transit Authority. I don't know if they can slow that one down or not. The loading platform is not wheelchair accessible, it is an older ride accessed by speedramp then a load belt. It depends on how Mom is feeling right at that moment as to whether we ride it (an Excedrin tablet can work wonders for her at times) Depending on your Dad's needs, they can load you at the exit to Haunted Mansion (bypassing the stretching room), or you can park your chair and enter through a "secret door" into the stretching room, but then you must load as normal after the "stretch". Mom broke her hip the day before she turned 65 and has had two revision surgeries (finally got a good doctor) and is doing well at 81, except the parks are just too, too much walking.

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks. We will continue to try and convince him to go with an ECV. I am seriously doubting it will work because he is totally against it. As much as I love him, he is the grumpiest and most stubborn person on the planet. So, our biggest issue is the moving sidewalk. We will need them to be slowed so I think the GAC is going to be our best choice.

 

[JenJen]

unfortunatly they don't have a GAC that states you need the walkways to be slowed down you just need to inform the cast member when you get to the ride that the walkway is moving to fast and they will be happy to help you. If he has a problem with stairs there is a GAC that you can advoid stairs but you still have to wait in the line so it does not shorten your wait at all.
From the information you gave us there is no GAC that would benifit him unless he has more issues that need to be addressed on the GAC that we do not know of. The cards help if you need to wait out of the sun or need to use a stroller for a wheel chair or need to sit closer to the front of a show. There is no pass for endurance issues or standing in lines. They will reccomend a wheelchair. I understand what your father is going through with my condition I DO NOT want to be in a wheelchair it is embarassing to me because I am 30 years old, What I have to do is sit and rest a lot and take a lot of water breaks. I just want you to be aware of what you are going to face when you get there and what they are going to say to you. I hope you all have a wonderful trip!
(((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))
Jen

 

[SueM in MN]

unfortunatly they don't have a GAC that states you need the walkways to be slowed down you just need to inform the cast member when you get to the ride that the walkway is moving to fast and they will be happy to help you.

But, in order to slow or stop it, you need to board at the exit (according to what attractions CMs have said/written) over the years. The only way to do that is to either have a GAC which allows for use of the accessible entrances (which they used to hae, not sure if they still do) or use a wheelchair or ECV.

 

[JenJen]

Oh I am sorry sue at Disneyland it is differant you just tell them and they slow it down for you. I am happy that you corrected me so they didn't get the wrong information.
(((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Jen

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh I am sorry sue at Disneyland it is differant you just tell them and they slow it down for you. I am happy that you corrected me so they didn't get the wrong information.
(((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Jen

I was thinkinh that was the difference. I know some WDW attraction CMs who worked riddes with moving walkways have said all they could do at the usual boarding point was an emeregency stop (and you don't want to get to that point). They said the CM at the exit for those types of rides has much more control. Besides, it gives a bit more space and you can board with less people around.
It may be that because WDW is newer than DL.

 

[ugadog99]

I was thinkinh that was the difference. I know some WDW attraction CMs who worked riddes with moving walkways have said all they could do at the usual boarding point was an emeregency stop (and you don't want to get to that point). They said the CM at the exit for those types of rides has much more control. Besides, it gives a bit more space and you can board with less people around.
It may be that because WDW is newer than DL.

Thanks, that's what I thought I understood. We aren't wanting to shorten our wait times or avoid the lines. I know there are stairs at Splash Mountain that we need to avoid and then the moving sidewalks need to be slowed. So, we will stop and get a GAC so that I will have it for the two issues. We would probably fine without ever slowing anything down. I just don't want a horrible accident to occur that could have been prevented if we had followed the correct procedures. I'll still continue to suggest the ECV, but it's pretty much not going to happen.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks. We will continue to try and convince him to go with an ECV. I am seriously doubting it will work because he is totally against it. As much as I love him, he is the grumpiest and most stubborn person on the planet. So, our biggest issue is the moving sidewalk. We will need them to be slowed so I think the GAC is going to be our best choice.

Is there anyone else in your party who could conceivably 'need' to use an ECV? I mean, I don't advocate deception - but if one of you could pretend to need it, and then be willing to switch off with your dad if/when he realizes what a good idea it is (and sees the dozens of other Guests of various ages and with various needs using them), maybe he'll relent?

 

[ugadog99]

Nope, just him. He was over here last night and again made it abundantly clear there would be no ECV. The only option I have is to go ahead and reserve one from offsite and have it delivered. However, I have a feeling it would just sit there unused and that is too expensive not to use.

 

[SueM in MN]

Nope, just him. He was over here last night and again made it abundantly clear there would be no ECV. The only option I have is to go ahead and reserve one from offsite and have it delivered. However, I have a feeling it would just sit there unused and that is too expensive not to use.

I know of someone who did that and it can easily backfire.
My DH wanted to do it for his dad, but unless the person with a need agrees to it, it is probably not going to work. All you will end up with is an unused ECV and someone who is probably not very happy with the rest of your party.

 

[ugadog99]

Exactly, SueM. He is such a grump that reserving an ECV without his knowledge would just ruin what is supposed to be a wonderful trip. He will only be going into a park for a few hours a day: either morning or night but not both in a day. So, we will just slow down for him, use the GAC when needed, and just enjoy being with the person who started our love of Disney in the first place.

 

[Schmeck]

ugadog99, you'll be able to get a GAC to avoid stairs, (and hopefully to let the CMs know you need the moving walkways slowed/stopped) but they don't have one for avoiding long standing periods, I don't think. They'll give you the "endurance issues, get a wheelchair" spiel.

My mother wouldn't get an ECV for our last trip either, but it was because the sitting would have made it impossible for her to get up to get on rides. Her knees stiffen up so much when she sits that we have to haul her up most of the time. She walked the entire time, but was very sore at night. The hot tubs really helped! I even asked her if she wanted to get a GAC to avoid stairs, and she refused. Then, when we got to the train station beside Splash Mountain, and I told her having a GAC would have let her use the exit ramp, she actually agreed that a GAC would have been helpful... Parents, it's hard for them when the kids become the caregivers, even in small ways!