Wheelchairs/ECVs, lines, and chicken exits

[Barb D]

We'll be at WDW next week. I already know I won't be able to ride any thrill rides, and it's too soon to tell if I'll be stuck in the room while the kids go to the parks, or if I'll be in a wheelchair or ECV, or if I'll be feeling well enough to walk.

In any case, if I'm in the parks I'd like to be able to be with the kids even while they're in lines. If I'm in a wheelchair or ECV will I be able to stay in line with them and then move to a chicken exit while they ride the ride? If I'm in a wheelchair will a CM be able to move me to the chicken exit? (If I do the wheelchair one of my teens will be pushing me the rest of the time.)

 

[KPeveler]

i dunno about the chicken exits, but i do know that a CM is not allowed to push you for any reason. they also cannot help you in or out of a wheelchair. if you need to move without your family there, i would rent an ECV.

if you do decide to go the wheelchair route, be warned the disney wheelchairs stink, big time. they are the most darned uncomfortable things, and depending on your condition, may even make you feel worse (it does for me!) so i would look into renting something, be it wheelchair or scooter, off site.

 

[Barbday62]

My husband is in a wheel chair and in Disneyland if hes not riding I cant use the wheel chair entrance. Its a sort of bummer because we dont want a wheel chair entrance but we want to be together for the lines. Its a catch 22 I guess. I only ride the rides like Big Thunder, Indiana Jones and Space Mountain with a fast pass and short line so he does not have to wait long for me. I do miss out a lot of times because of lines and my rule about not making him wait long for me. I wish they would just make everything 100% accessible and the problem is over.

 

[Mrsjvb]

two things to consider: CM may NOT wheel/push/move you at all, period. and two: many rides require the ECV to be left behind while you stand in line. WC, OTOH are normally allowed all the way through.

The local WC are unwieldy, I certainly cannot push myself in one for more than a couple of feet. While I have no difficulty transferring 98% of the time, I don;t do roller coasters. so for those, I find a shady spot to chill(preferably with Dole Whip in hand) while DH gets in line.

 

[merryweather20]

I hope you're feeling well enough to go to the parks! If you can only schedule a day or to, maybe try to hit MGM (DHS) since there are more shows, and its newer you should be able to spend more time with your family.
Lots of pixie dust for your trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

most of the thrill rides at WDW have Mainstream Lines (which means that people using wheelchairs or ECVs wait in the same line as everyone else). Since you will be using the regular line, there will be no concern about the 'handicapped entrances'.
As others mentioned though, there would be a possible problem with getting you from the chicken exit out of the ride if you can't move by yourself.
In the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you can find a link to the text of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each park. From those, you can see which rides are Mainstream (they will say "Enter thru the Mainstream Line") and which you would need to switch from an ECV to a wheelchair if you do rent an ECV.