Wheelchairs and the new lines

[Julia H.]

Hello! My DH and I, DS (19), and twin DD's (14--both motorized wheelchair users) are going to WDW for 5 days next month--1st time in 3 years, so we have never experienced the mainstream lines and FastPass.

Because it is very time-consuming to get both girls dressed, fed, medicated, etc. in the morning, we're planning to take it easy and not go to parks until mid- to late-afternoon and then stay into the slightly cooler evening. I read on another forum that with FastPass you need to get passes in the morning or they're gone for the day. I'm concerned that if we arrive in late afternoon we'll only be able to access the long standby lines because of this.

I'm not so sure the girls qualify for the special passes either; they both have quad. cp, one is recovering from spine surgery, the other has chronic pain, and both tire and get overheated easier than average, but it sounds like, from what I've read, Disney still wants/requires them to use regular lines.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether going late in the day can work with the way the mainstream and fastpass lines are set up at the parks these days.

Thanks.

 

[lisapooh]

You could ask for a Guest Assistance Card indicating the need for a waiting area out of the direct sun to prevent over heating. I think that would be appropriate. Also in getting to the rides late often the castmembers will give you a fastpass that is for the amount of time it would take for you to go through the standby line. Can they transfer from their wheelchairs with your assistance. If not some rides will not be possible as the powerchairs cannot be accommodated on the ride vehicle or in the line.
Pirates of the Carribbean requires the transfer to a manual wheelchair.
Any questions feel free to ask. I am sure one or more of us can answer more specific questions as to rides that will accommodate the powerchairs. I use a Jazzy 1103, btw.

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome. My DD is 16, has spastic CP and uses a manual chair. We haven't brought her power chair to WDW yet, so I don't know how that will work. We're sort of in the same boat as you are; by the time we get DD all ready, we can't get to the parks before 11. We also have to watch out that she doesn't overheat or she will have seizures and she also sort of just "wilts" in heat and humidity. All of this makes waiting in the mainstream lines without a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) difficult for us. The mainstream lines for wheelchairs are basically for people who have a mobility problem that requires use of a wheelchair or ecv, but don't have any other problems that make waiting in line difficult.
As lisapooh mentioned, there are GACs with different messages, depending on what type of assistance is needed. Your trip would be a lot easier with GACs for your DDs. When you get to the park, take your DDs to Guest Services and explain what types of assistance would make your trip easier. You don't need a doctor's note or anything; just your explanation of what would help you.

 

[LindaDVC]

My husbands ride comes at 6am so we get up early!
At WDW we slept in to 7 and we were able to be at the parks by 9 (depending on buses ) !

The morning can be the coolest and least crowded time so we really try to get there as early as possible. However no longer rush-- we get up and have a leisurly coffee on the deck then head to the parks!

Linda

 

[Wheelsie]

WELCOME!!! We need to bring Michie in on this one LOL She has to daughters (altho in manual chairs) that she takes to WDW and can probably lend ya some friendly thoughts!

I just wanted to pop in and say WELCOME!

 

[Michigan]

Ok Wheelsie here I come!

Both my girls use manual chairs and are ages 3 and 11 so getting them ready is not that bad since the 11 year old when she wants to can get herself ready by herself but the operative word is when she wants to.

We don't use the bus service at the hotels anymore since more people are renting ECV's and since the old bus would only take 2 chairs(don't know what the new ones will take) I just drive to the parks. However, I do wish the parking attendants would tell people that don't have a wheelchair with them that if they park in the "regular" lot they could park close to the tram and have less walking then they do from the wheelchair lot leaving room for those of us with lifts that need to go down or for people with chairs that can't fold to go on the tram.

I got a GAC for my oldest DD since she can't sweat and overheats easy.

Our next trip is the first week in Oct this time for only 4 days 5 nights the shortest time we have ever gone. I'm not sure how this is going to work since we travel at wheelchair speed and I usually build in extra time since oldest DD could have a seizure and wipe out an entire day.

MGM will be the park that you will find the most wheelchair friendly when going with 2 chairs because both of you kids can stay in their chairs and do things together.

They have tried to make improvements to the pool areas for wheelchair access they now have transfer steps at most WDW pools that a chair can pull up to and if you kids can or you can slide over on the platform then you just slide your way down the steps. For my kids they are great since the oldest one no longer has to try and crawl on the concrete without cutting her legs.

If you do get a GAC each park does things different where they are concerned. MK lets you go through the fast pass line without a fast pass but AK where you will wait forever for a safarie won't let you use the line without the fast pass.

I always go knowing there is no way we will do everything just because of all that is involved with 2 chairs but we always have fun doing whatever it is we get to do on our trip so go relax and have fun.

 

[Julia H.]

Thanks for all your replies! Sue, I know exactly what you mean about "wilting"...my "youngest" twin loses muscle tone and looks like a sickly rag doll in the heat. Is there a list somewhere of what the different reasons for a GAC are so I know what to ask for at Guest Services?

Lisapooh, even though the girls are a lot bigger than on our last trip, I think we will still be able to transfer them onto some rides--I remember that some are easier than others (I'll NEVER try Pirates again!) Can you give me an idea of what it's like to transfer onto the newer rides, like Aladdin's Carpet, Kali River Rapids, and Goofy's Barnstormer? Also, what's it like to put a wheelchair onto Buzz Lightyear? The girls' chairs are small for power chairs, but of course harder to maneuver than a similar-sized manual.

Michigan, thanks for all the great practical information. Traveling with two kids in chairs is a trip, eh? My girls couldn't use the steps at the pools, but we are staying at the Poly with the new pool with the gradual entrance, which I'm really looking forward to. I understand they have one "water wheel" chair to push right into the pool. I haven't figured out how to use one chair for two girls, though. Does anyone know what the water chair is like or how we would go about getting it?

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome! I'm so excited about going to WDW after two summers of the girls having major surgeries. It's time for some fun!

 

[Michigan]

I hope that Aladdin's Carpet is accessible but I haven't heard. We haven't done Kali River Rapids since we go during the winter, and Goofy's Barnstormer is pretty rough riding and since your one daughter had spine surgery, the other daughter has chronic pain I think you'll want to skip it. Buzz Lightyear has a special car that takes one wheelchair and one other person. The car has a ramp attached to it so the chair rolls on then turns right and pulls up to the front once the chair is in the CM closes the back of the car where the wheelchair is so it can't roll out.

 

[SueM in MN]

We also have not done Kali River Rapids. Someone else posted that at the regular baording area, the boats are not secured for getting on and may move. They were pleased to find that their wheelchair party was diverted to a differnt boarding area where the boats were kept very still for boarding. We have not tried it because I am not sure how we would keep DD still in her seat. it looks like a rough ride and when she gets excited, arms and legs fly all over (it seems like she must have about 4 of each) and her body extends so it's hard to keep her sitting.
For the Barnstormer, as Michigan mentioned, it's a roller coaster, so it is a rough ride. It is about 90 seconds long and it says it is not recommended for pregnant women and you should be free of any health problems, neck, back problems that may be aggrevated by the ride.

I'm not sure what they do with power wheelchairs; they may have you come up the exit. We had to go thru the regular line with DD's manual chair and once she was on, a CM pushed her wheelchair across the track to the exit side. It was not easy to get her in. The space is fairly tight. You enter thru the side of the car and can't slide directly into the seat because there is only a small door to get in.There is room for 2 people on each seat. DH sat with her and said it was somewhat difficult to keep her in place. We did ride with her twice in a row, but DH said he wasn't up to doing it more than that.
The only problem with Buzz Lightyear is the wait for the accessible car. You wait to board at the exit. We saw people who had been just ahead of us in line, finishing their ride and getting off while we were still waiting. I think there is only one accessible car; Michigan would know for sure, since she has 2 DDs who need it. The car seems to have plenty of room. My DD's has a narrow adult length manual chair and had no problems with space.
I haven't heard anything yet about the Aladdin ride, but since it was just built, they will need some type of wheelchair access to meet ADA requirements. It is not listed yet on the official Disney site and it wasn't open yet when we were at WDW in March.

 

[LindaDVC]

My husband has a narrow adult chair that he typically reclines slightly. However in the Buzz ride he had to to have his chair in the upright postion which decreased his balance.Getting off on the ramp it was a little too steep while in that postion and he fell over and cut his head! He refused to ride it agian this last trip!!
So word to the wise becareful getting off on that ramp!!

The position of his joystick caused some problems too and the ride stopped several times due to the interference!! Son loved the ride and Dad hated it due to the various problems!!

Linda

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry to hear what happened to your DH, Linda.
I guess we all have to remember there are potential hazards all around.

 

[LindaDVC]

He learned not to rush to keep the ride moving!
He now takes the extra seconds to adjust his postion!!
When he fell and cut his head the ride stopped for quite awhile !
The cms looked for towels to stop the bleeding, called the paramedics, etc!


Linda

 

[SueM in MN]

Ouch.
I think one of the hardest things is to NOT rush. Especially if you know the ride is stopping or slowing so you can get on. You feel a lot of pressure to get going. This is a good reminder that a few seconds more to get settled won't hurt anyone. A few seconds less might.

 

[Julia H.]

Thanks for the info on the rides. Sounds like we will skip Goofy's Barnstormer, but Kali River Rapids might be doable.

 

[LvsTnk]

Just rode it this past weekend, and we were able to get DS's Maclaren Stroller all the way up next to the ride and transfer. The entrance was one complete ramp. looking at the Guide Map, it just says must transfer from ECV to manual wheelchair. Don't know if this helps any .

 

[mummajea]

Hi,
We just returned from WDW this week and rode Alladin many times. There is a carpet on it that is handicap accessible. It sits a little higher then the others and looks as if it folds down or open so a wheelchair could fit on it. I only saw people transfering from a wheelchair to it, but noticed also once that the CM's were locking something down on it after a wheelchair rider got off. I assumed that they were able to put the wheelchair on the ride, but I may be wrong. Aladdin is great fun. I hope you get to ride it!!! The best time to do so is during the parades. We walked right on three times in a row!!! I would think this would be a good time for you also, since it might take a bit of time to transfer the girls. Have fun.

 

[SueM in MN]

DH and I just got back today from an adult only trip to WDW. We did see the wheelchair accessible magic carpet, but never did see anyone use it with a wheelchair, so I don't know how it works. It seems to work quite well for ambulatory people sitting in it, so maybe WDW will come up with more of these dual purpose ride cars.
DH and I went on the Kali River Rapids and talked to a CM afterwards to figure out how handi-friendly it is. DD #2 would love it and would probably not have much trouble during the ride, but getting on would be a challenge. There is not a special wheelchair boat. They put one of the regular boats in a stable area for boarding (the regular boarding area is a round moving dock). The boats have a fairly narrow door (maybe 28 to 30 inches) and there are 3 steps to go down into the boat. The seats are arranged in groups of 2 and there is a set just on each side of the door. Each set of 2 seats shares one seat belt that goes across both people. The CM said it worked OK with people of varying sizes, but I am not sure it would hold DD in really well if she was sitting with her dad. In front of the seats, there was a round covered storage area for purses, etc. A footrail and handrail ran around it.

The ride itself, was not as rough as we expected. There were drops, but they were not jarring or really bumpy. The boat rotated around however the water carried it, so sometimes we went forward, sometimes backward. We had on ponchos, but still got our faces wet. In several parts, water came over the side of the boat and there were a few inches of water in the floor of the boat by the time the ride ended. I think it would be hard to get DD into the ride when she is excited and it might be hard to get her out of the wet boat. DD would love the ride if we can get her on and off.