Wheelchairs and going through the line

[alisigns]

Hi all! We are heading to DL and DCA on September 1st. Just covering all of my bases and I want to get thoughts on this question. We have one person in our family who is just healing from a broken big toe. She is fine to walk, no boot as of this weekend, but I am concerned that a lot of walking may be too much. If it ends up being too much and she needs a wheelchair, are the queue lines big enough to get through with the chair? We WILL wait in the lines, because the last thing we want is anyone thinking that we're using a wheelchair trying to skip lines. It may not be an issue at all, but I want to have a plan just in case.

TIA!!

 

[Aladora]

Hi all! We are heading to DL and DCA on September 1st. Just covering all of my bases and I want to get thoughts on this question. We have one person in our family who is just healing from a broken big toe. She is fine to walk, no boot as of this weekend, but I am concerned that a lot of walking may be too much. If it ends up being too much and she needs a wheelchair, are the queue lines big enough to get through with the chair? We WILL wait in the lines, because the last thing we want is anyone thinking that we're using a wheelchair trying to skip lines. It may not be an issue at all, but I want to have a plan just in case.

TIA!!

I'm pretty sure all of the lines in DCA are wc accessible but not all at DL are. Afaik, the ones that are not accessible you can get a wc return time.

One thing to consider for the lines that are not accessible is that she can use a wc throughout the park then park it and walk through the lines if she feels up to it. Luckily it is not an either/or, she can use it when she needs it and walk when she does not.

Good luck!

 

[hanna-nana]

Off the top of my head, a wheelchair will not work in many lines in DL. Fantasyland rides come to mind. Peter Pan, Alice, Pinocchio, are pretty narrow. They'll direct you to the exit, usually to get a return time. You can get to the turnstile in buzz, but I made the mistake of trying to turn that corner in a scooter and stopped the whole ride LOL Whoops!

 

[Nevada Jen]

My son was at the exact healing point from a broken big toe last time we went. Just get the wheelchair. Trust me. And rent off site. Cheaper, easier to push and a better fit. You also have to go out of the park to rent a chair from Disney and then back in line and through the turnstilE again if you decide you need to rent from the park mid day. The explanations are pretty accurate of when it goes in the regular line and when you use a different entrance.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Here is a link to the official Disneyland ADA guide (aka mobility and other similar issues).

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/

If you scroll down just a bit, you will find pdf files for each park, in where they describe each attraction and the issues.

Since Disneyland is a much older park, there are issues like stairs, narrow walkways and other issues. The attractions that have been remodeled/upgrade or recently added in the park usually have good access.

At California Adventure, there are very few issues, as the park was built after the US ADA laws were passed, and you have many rides designed for even special loading systems to be able allow those in wheelchairs to even ride with the wheelchair, though some still require what is known as "transfer" where you would be able to get out of the wheelchair and deal with a few steps and being able to sit in another seat.

But Disney has been very good in trying to match a person's needs and how they deal with the access to each attractions.

One issue that some don't like, but is the law, the ADA rules are "Equal Access" not front of the line access, and why for most alternative entrances you will need to get a return time to come back. Cast Members are posted and have a small smartphone like device that will use your ticket and scan the barcode and let you know when to return, the same basic time as the current wait.

But for some attractions, such as the Haunted Mansion, Disney is limited to how many ADA guests can be boarded at a time, in case the ride breaks down and that guests will have to evacuate the vehicles mid-ride, so the wait can be longer than the main queue.

So read the guides, here are the direct link to both the Disneyland and DCA guides.

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...eyland-park-disabilities-guide-2016-06-17.pdf

https://wdpromedia.disney.go.com/me...a-adventure-disabilities-guide-2016-06-17.pdf

Have a great visit.

 

[Darkbeer1]

One more interesting story, when Disney decided to take the Submarine Voyage to Finding Nemo, there was no way to convert the subs, so as the law allows, offered a similar experience, which is a small room that seats maybe 20 next to the attraction, and presents a video of the attraction including a few special effects. (The law says that old attractions don't have to change if cost prohibited and that other options as mentioned are offered.)

 

[5forMickey]

Just a side note, as Nevada Jen mentioned, remember that the wheelchairs you rent at Disneyland can't leave the park, even to go to downtown Disney. There can be a lot of walking involved just getting to the parks. Also, if your not used to pushing a wheel chair it can be quite exhausting. I recommend renting an ecv from an offsite vendor like Deckerts also. Their prices are very resonable and they allow you to go anywhere you need to. For our upcoming trip we paid $139.00 (return customer discount) for 7 days, I thought that was a great rate. You can't get around the parks as easily/quick with someone in a wheelchair/ecv so just be prepared for a little slower pace.

The CMs have been great helping us know where to go and quiet often they may let your wounded family member wait for you at the loading part of the ride while the rest of your group walks through the que. just ask what you need to do and they will guide you.