What to do with someone in a wheelchair?

[cursivesailor]

We will be going to Disney towards the end of June. This is going to be a 4 generation vacation for my fiance's family. His grandmother is 82. She's an extremely young 82 but she's 82 nonetheless. A friend of our family is going to be lending us one of his motorized scooters for her. Its just too much walking and standing for her.

Now I know we have all seen people in wheelchairs go to the front of the line. But is there something special we need to do ahead of time to ensure she can stay on her scooter right until boarding the ride? Is there a pass to get for people with medical conditions? Should we get a doctors note ahead of time?

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Gepettotrevor]

Hello! I can tell you exactly what you can do with his grandmother...entirely everything. Everything at Disney is handicap friendly.

There are really two options at the attractions. The first is to park the scooter in the stroller parking. If she would prefer to stay in the scooter, just notify the Cast Member at the front of any attraction. They will let you know what the boarding policies are...and will happily take care of your family. She will actually be able to take it through the lines of most places.

Some attractions have ride vehicals that will allow her to park her scooter in the car- literally drive it into the car. Some will require her to transfer. Even if she must transfer, she can drive it right up to the car most places.

There is a pass for guests with diabilities called the Guest Assistance Card. If you call/e-mail Disney Guest Relations, they will be able to provide you with more information with that!

Disney is great with taking good care of guests with disabilities! Have a nice trip!

 

[Disney05]

Our last trip was with a family member in a wheel chair. My advice, have patience. If you're using Disney's bus transportation, be prepared. The bus drivers are great. But it does take a few minutes to get the wheel chair on the bus and strapped down. Some bus drivers are quicker at others in doing this. And don't be surprised if you get some nasty looks from guests. You know, it's a big inconvenience for them to have to wait for you. :shrug: And we were not allowed to just go to the head of the line at attractions. We traveled with a wheel chair many years ago and that was true then, but not on this last trip.

 

[mickey&me]

You will not need a note from your dr, even to get a Guest Assistance Card. With a scooter, you may find one of those cards helpful.

Just tell her to watch out for people who are walking along just fine and all of sudden stop right in the middle of the street to talk on the phone or to each other, or to look at their maps, or just to stand and stare.

Have a great trip!

 

[Bluewaves]

Over the past 5- 10 years Disney has widened most of the lines so people in a Wheelchair/ ECV can go right with the regular line, ask at guest relations if you have questions, have patience and have fun and you'll be fine.

 

[Dwarful]

I'd get the scooter as early as possible so grandma has some practice time. You can always tell who is a first timer on those scooters...not pretty. I don't know how many are in your group, but for parade viewing some of you can stay with her in the handicap area, or you can all stay together in the non-handicap area just get a spot early. We went a few years ago with one member in a wheelchair due to recent surgery. Our group was 13 people. I believe the parade viewing allowed for up to 6 people including the wheelchair.

 

[pcarathers]

My dad uses a wheelchair and yes, you get the occasional IDIOT who sees you and still steps out in front of you or STOPS! We have NEVER gotten the guest assistance card, nor have we been asked to show one, so that one is pretty much up to you if you want it. Most of the lines you will stay in up to a point and then they will direct you to another way that is more "accessible" and they usually got to us pretty fast. My dad can walk and stand, but after 25 years of fire fighting, climbing ladders, falling thru roofs, his hips are shot! He can barely walk the grocery store, so we insist he rides in a wheelchair. Yes, you will get the looks from people who are standing in line waiting for the buses...what we normally do though, because we really don't mind, is the group will get in line, while the person who stays with my dad will "hold back" from getting in the handicapped line until we are up in the front and for sure to get on the same bus. Of course, if you do hear the occasionl remark, just shrug it off unless you're like me and just shoot them a look....lol...YOU AT WALT DISNEY WORLD...... and the world if full of IDIOTS who don't realize they too may be there one day in a scooter or w/c!!!

 

[cursivesailor]

Thanks yall! I appreciate the feedback. I just want to be prepared that way we aren't holding up lines trying to figure out the right place to go and the appropriate way of going about things in Disney with a disabled person.

 

[loveofamouse]

Go directly to guest services and you can get a red accessibility card. It will have her name and length of stay and # in party for alt. entrance. And I would recommend it cause, although many lines have been widened, the turns are really tight and hard to get around and we use a manual WC. Could imagine it only to be harder in a scooter.

Alt. entrance tends to be more straight

 

[Truviking]

I have been to WDW 7 times with my family which includes my older brother who has cerebral palsey. He can't walk more than a few feet unassisted and he can't stand without help. We've received plenty of nasty looks for holding up the buses or lines, but we've also not been allowed on buses because they won't make a few people give up their seat due to his wheelchair. Please don't get frustrated when they give you dirty looks, they don't understand.

One thing I would suggest however is if you have a large group to not all use the separate handicap entrance when there is a separate one. I understand not wanting to split up your group but on the rides like Spaceship Earth and The Haunted Mansion you don't see the rest of your group during the ride anyway and the older rides don't have a very big waiting area for wheelchairs. Additionally the older rides can only be stopped once every ride cycle to let on those who can't walk so the more people you have the worse the wait is. Lastly to clear up a common misconception most of the time the handicap line takes longer than the regular line so if the wait isn't longer than the wheelchair person can stand that is a better option for everyone including those who have to use the handicap line no matter what.

 

[disneynut4u]

We've never had to stand in a line very long with my dad (as my sister stated earlier). Only once have we ever been split up (party of 7) and that was on Peter Pan. We also only go in "off season", especially when it's cooler as dad can't handle the heat/stress. (ironic for a former fireman). Anyway, we've never been during high peak times, so the assistance card may come in handy. We like the special attention people in wheelchairs get - other ride entrances, seating in shows for unobstructed viewing, etc). It really makes a difference with someone needing special assistance. We've been to other parks closer to home, and they are NO WHERE CLOSE to being wheelchair friendly.

 

[cursivesailor]

I think I am going to call Guest Relations tomorrow and look into the Assistance Card. Also, she has a doctors appointment made for next week, so I think she's planning on mentioning the vacation to the doctor and maybe having him write up a little note. It can't hurt.

Thanks again for all the helpful advice.

 

[Rob562]

Here are a few places to look for more info:

AllEars has a great section on Guests with different needs, whether they be mobility, vision, hearing, dietary, allergy, etc etc.
http://allears.net/pl/special.htm

The DISboards have a subsection (called something like The disABILITY Forum), don't have a link for that one, though.

There's also a guidebook out that you should be able to find in your local Borders or Barnes & Noble called "Open Mouse" by the PassPorter guidebook people. It covers a broad range of disabilities, but a lot of what is covered in the book is covered on AllEars.


My sister just chaperoned my niece's high school band trip, and has trouble with her knee. While she didn't need a wheelchair or scooter, she couldn't do stairs (well, she could, they'd just take her a while). She got a GAC that allowed her to use the "Alternate Entrance" at attractions. The alternate entrance is different for each attraction, so you want to make sure to ask the "Greeter" CM at each attraction for the specific instructions for their attraction.

-Rob

 

[mp2bill]

You will not need a note from your dr, even to get a Guest Assistance Card. With a scooter, you may find one of those cards helpful.

Just tell her to watch out for people who are walking along just fine and all of sudden stop right in the middle of the street to talk on the phone or to each other, or to look at their maps, or just to stand and stare.

Have a great trip!

Lol. I never thought of that! :ROFLOL: