WDW vs DL Paris - disabilities

MJ6987 · Jul 5, 2015

Just got back from Disneyland Paris and, as a father of a disabled child (autism) I noticed some differences between the resorts in terms of disabilities...

1. They ask for proof of disability in Paris - a letter from a doctor dated within the last 3 months. Whilst this is a bit of a pain, I actually think it helps to avoid the abuses that leads to WDW having to "adjust" their policies.

2. You can use their equivalent of the DAS pass for character meet and greets - I don't think this is possible in WDW? I wonder why this can't be done in WDW as these are perhaps the most stressful type of attraction for people with cognitive difficulties.

3. In a week, I only saw ONE scooter - in WDW there seem to be loads of them - no idea why such a difference in this regard.

Overall I found them very accommodating in terms of disabilities although a couple of CM did seem a bit confused as to where our wheelchair was!

Gracie09 · Jul 5, 2015

MJ6987 said:
Just got back from Disneyland Paris and, as a father of a disabled child (autism) I noticed some differences between the resorts in terms of disabilities...

1. They ask for proof of disability in Paris - a letter from a doctor dated within the last 3 months. Whilst this is a bit of a pain, I actually think it helps to avoid the abuses that leads to WDW having to "adjust" their policies.

2. You can use their equivalent of the DAS pass for character meet and greets - I don't think this is possible in WDW? I wonder why this can't be done in WDW as these are perhaps the most stressful type of attraction for people with cognitive difficulties.

3. In a week, I only saw ONE scooter - in WDW there seem to be loads of them - no idea why such a difference in this regard.

Overall I found them very accommodating in terms of disabilities although a couple of CM did seem a bit confused as to where our wheelchair was!

THe laws are very different in France and the U.S. The Ada does not permit companies to ask for proof of a disability (with some very limited exceptions focused around a disabled person obtaining a benefit not available to the general public). The das can be used for meet and greets where there is a fp line. The ones that don't have a fp line generally have lines where there can be a place holder standing in line and the disabled person can come when the placeholder is near the front. It isn't perfect for every group but works for most. The size of dlp and wdw cannot really be compared. A person may visit dlp for one or two days but wdw for a week. So they may need an ecv in wdw but not dlp. Also I believe the differences in the laws also plays a roll here.

gap2368 · Jul 5, 2015

MJ6987 said:
2. You can use their equivalent of the DAS pass for character meet and greets - I don't think this is possible in WDW? I wonder why this can't be done in WDW as these are perhaps the most stressful type of attraction for people with cognitive difficulties.

you can use it for meet and greets at disney world that have a fast pass line I find lines for rides so much more harder with my disability with all the things noise sounds extra get to me more then the lines for meet and greets

MJ6987 · Jul 5, 2015

gap2368 said:
you can use it for meet and greets at disney world that have a fast pass line I find lines for rides so much more harder with my disability with all the things noise sounds extra get to me more then the lines for meet and greets

OK thanks for the feedback. Another thing I just remembered - not sure if this is the same at WDW - there was one time when I was off riding something on my own and my wife and two daughters (the one aged 13 with DAS) went to ride Small World - when they went to the CM at the exit (Disabled entrance) the CM asked how old my elder daughter was - my wife told her she was 16 and the CM said "oh sorry, there will be a 20 minute wait then - it would have been quicker if she was 18". Not sure what the reason for that was.

gap2368 · Jul 5, 2015

Wow they do the wait based on the age that dose not seem right

WDWJonasGirl · Jul 5, 2015

Hi!! I went to DLP in '13 and if I remember correctly, only one (that's right, 1 :scared1) could go with you so we ended up getting one for my sister also.

SamIAm8 · Jul 7, 2015

I think the scooter thing may be because of a few reasons. 1. It is very hard getting around anywhere in Europe with a wheelchair or scooter. At least from what I have seen in my travels (I use both an electric and a manual and prefer my manual there) 2. I was told by a tour guide in France that disabled persons belonged in "homes" (she got fired) 3. The sheer size of the parks.

minnie mum · Jul 7, 2015

SamIAm8 said:
I think the scooter thing may be because of a few reasons. 1. It is very hard getting around anywhere in Europe with a wheelchair or scooter. At least from what I have seen in my travels (I use both an electric and a manual and prefer my manual there)

I agree with this. There are whole swaths of Europe that are not Handicapped Accessible. Or at least not how we in North America think of it. It can be quite difficult to get from place to place, or into buildings that can be hundreds of years old without help. ECVs just aren't practical for a lot of people in Eorope. So its not surprising that you don't see a lot of them at DLP.

anonymousegirl · Jul 7, 2015

Imagine riding an ECV on those cobblestones in towns and cities in Europe! Now THAT would be an E-ticket ride.

merina888 · Jul 18, 2015

*lol* My mother-in-law bought her own and took it on her European river cruise.

KPeveler · Jul 18, 2015

anonymousegirl said:
Imagine riding an ECV on those cobblestones in towns and cities in Europe! Now THAT would be an E-ticket ride.

I would not even take my powerchair on the cobblestones in Fantasyland (DL)! And that has better shocks than a ECV ever will. Definitely only using my manual if I ever go to Europe.

DisFrenchy · Sep 10, 2015

Hello there! I think I have an explanation about the reason why your family had to wait to the exit of Small World. Normally only one people with a "green" DAS card who need an accompanying adult with them can ride for each "cycle" of attraction. They do an exception for people with cognitive or psychic, in fact if the owner of the card is with 2 adults they don't have to wait that the other people with a card in the ride take off.

Excuse my english I'm french... :wave2:

WDW vs DL Paris - disabilities

MJ6987

DIS Veteran

Gracie09

DIS Veteran

gap2368

DIS Veteran

MJ6987

DIS Veteran

gap2368

DIS Veteran

WDWJonasGirl

Mouseketeer/Directioner

SamIAm8

Earning My Ears

minnie mum

Unapologetic Disney Fan(atic)

anonymousegirl

DIS Veteran

merina888

Mouseketeer

KPeveler

DIS Veteran

DisFrenchy

Just A French Guy

Share this page

DIS NEWS & UPDATES

New DISboards Threads

Latest posts