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06-27-2004, 09:20 AM
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#1 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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disABILITIES FAQs - temporary & permanent disabled, 1st trip, next trip, Wish trip
This thread is going to be a place to find information that would be useful to people touring WDW and the general Orlando area with disabilities. It is not meant to answer everything, just to be a place to collect/find helpful information.
To keep it from getting to 200 pages (and not being useful at all), it's going to be a locked thread that I add information. Each post will be a different subject. If you have any information, you'd like to see added, pm me. NOTE: I update/edit information in this thread as things change. Each post in the thread has a date in the top line of the post. This is a 'time/date stamp' that was generated when the post was first made. It is used by the computer the information is stored on and it never changes. Most of the dates are June 2004, when I started this thread, but all of the posts have been edited at various times since then. If you scroll all the way to the bottom of that post, you can see when that particular post was last edited. This is an index to what each post in this thread is about:
Keep asking questions and sharing experiences on the boards- that's how we get the most helpful information.
__________________
SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 08-18-2012 at 12:00 PM. Reason: updated list |
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06-27-2004, 09:47 AM
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#2 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Wheelchair/ECV/Equipment Rental
It's hard to understand how much walking is involved in a trip to WDW until you have been there. People who manage very well at home often find they can't walk the distances involved in a WDW trip. This information will help you plan.
Distances - DIS posters estimates of how far they walked each day at WDW. I've seen other threads where people estimated they walked between 3 and 6 miles. Some walk up to 12 or even more. On our Spring 2013 trip, we measured distance each day. We averaged about 6 miles per day, with some days as much as 9. ECVs
 Wheelchairsfor rent at WDW parks or possibly for loan at resorts:
General information about bringing in and using wheelchairs and ECVs at the parks WDW and DL have the same policies and the policies apply to all mobility devices (not only scooters), whether owned by the user or rented. This is from a pdf file about the policies that a CM shared with me: RELATED WOW & DLR POLICY MESSAGE POINTS:
### Disney recently started renting stand up ECVs. Here is a link to a thread about them, with pictures. I do not have the new language, but the main points are that Segways are still not allowed and any devices designed to be used in standing position must follow point one from above: "All wheeled mobility devices must have 3 or 4 wheels and maintain stability and balance when stopped, unpowered, or unoccupied." General information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs at the parks
Downtown Disney Disney has opened a small shop at the old DTD Guest Relations Office next to Restrooms and Toys for the following only: Rental of $15 - Single Strollers (plus $100 refundable deposit) $12 - Wheelchairs (plus $100 refundable deposit) $45 - EVCs (plus $100 refundable deposit) The $100 refundable deposit is because Downtown Disney is a relatively easy area to remove things from. They also sell a selection of baby/infant items as well as First Aid supplies to include Sunscreen and Suntan Lotion. It is a sales and rental location only, they do not provide Guest Services but it is right next to the companion restroom at the Marketplace.
The WDW resorts have a limited number of manual (push) wheelchairs available to loan to guests. They are first come, first served and can't be reserved ahead of time. Some DIS posters have had good experience with borrowing from the resorts. Others have found that what was available was either not in good condition or not what they needed (ie, extra wide when they needed regular or vice versa). People have posted that it took anywhere from several minutes to several days to get a more appropriate wheelchair. Here is what the WDW website's Guest Services page about wheelchair and ECV rental has to say about getting wheelchairs from the resorts: Wheelchairs are available in limited numbers for Walt Disney World® Resort Guests at each Resort. Contact Guest Services or the Front Desk for assistance. A $315 deposit will be held on the Guest room account charged only if the wheelchair is not returned. Guests wishing to guarantee the use of a wheelchair throughout their stay should contact local area rental companies to make arrangements. But, the written Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities for each park, dated January 08, says: Walt Disney World Resorts also offer wheelchair rentals to their Guests. Quantities may be limited. Please contact the Front Desk for assistance. Boardwalk: There is a company called Buena Vista Scooters, that started renting ECVs in Spring of 2007 at the Boardwalk in the same area where surrey bikes can be rented. Here is a detailed report about them. I have seen the ECVs for rent at Boardwalk and they appeared to be in very good shape (like new). Their phone number is (407)938-0349 or toll free (866)484-4797. Buena Vista Scooters is not a sponsor of these boards and has not paid any fees or favors for promotion on this board. We listed them because many posters were asking about an 'on-property option and they are the only on-site option. They are not recommended higher than any other companies.  Off site rental companies Many people prefer to rent from an off-site company for the length of their stay. This is a list of companies that DIS posters commonly report good experiences with. They are in alphabetical order, in categories. Walker Mobility is a wdwinfo.com sponsor; they are listed here as another option along with other companies. None of the other companies listed are sponsors and none have paid or given anything for promotion. The specific companies are listed because DIS posters have used and recommended them over the years. The companies with little feedback are listed along with that information. We will NOT list a company on the FAQs thread without a significant number of recommendations from established posters. Also, there are some companies that encourage/promote allowing children to ride as passengers on scooters. We will not knowingly post a link to any company that encourages that behavior because it is unsafe and companies that manufacture ECVs specifically warn against allowing passengers in their instruction manuals. Full Service Medical Companies can rent wheelchairs, ecvs and other medical equipment/supplies. Examples of other equipment would be things like lifts, reclining chairs, hospital beds, commode chairs, bath chairs, etc. The off-site rental places will usually not rent ECVs for use by someone under 18 yrs old (a few may occasionally make exceptions for older teens who are experienced ECV drivers - for example a teen with a chronic health problem who does use ECVs in stores, etc). Power wheelchairs (they are driven with a joystick) take more practice to drive. The joystick controls both the speed and the direction that the wheelchair goes at. Even though they look easy to drive, it takes a lot more practice to be able to drive one than to drive an ECV.Rental companies will usually ONLY rent a power wheelchair to someone who already has/uses a power wheelchair regularly. Some owners of power wheelchairs choose not to travel by plane with them (afraid of damage); those are the people who rent power wheelchairs. Power wheelchair renters are expected to be experienced power wheelchair drivers and will be asked for some settings from their current power wheelchair so that the rental chair can be set up to match. Link to a thread that compares driving an ECV to driving a Power wheelchair. Note that Buena Vista Scooters (see two links above) will also rent power chairs. They also will do repairs to personally owned ECVs, power chairs and regular wheelchairs. Their warehouse and shop is on Disney property. Wheelchair and ECV Rental Companies NOTE: Some of the companies have items that may not be on their website. So if you like a company and they do not show exactly what you are looking for, email or call them and ask. The website may show only the most popular or commonly rented. As of November 1, 2012, WDW Resorts have a new policy regarding ECV and wheelchair delivery to their resorts:
Strollers & Special Needs Strollers Care Medical rents these special needs strollers: Maclaren "Major Buggy" and Pogon. They also rent pediatric bath lifts. A Baby's Best Friend rents strollers and other equipment for babies and toddlers. Check the weight limit for strollers because some are only up to 40 pounds. Orlando Stroller Rentals rents a variety of Baby Jogger brand strollers, including a Special Needs version of the Baby Jogger that is made for people up to 100 pounds. The weight limit for a regular single stroller is 50 pounds, double stroller is 100 pounds, and sit and stand is 40 pounds for the front seat and 50 pounds for the rear seat or platform. There has been some VERY good feedback from people renting from this company for both regular and special needs strollers. Orlando Stroller Rental used to rent GPS locators, which can be placed on your child so that you can find him/her if they wander off. They no longer list them on their website. If you want to rent a larger stroller for use outside the parks, here are some other places that rent them: Medical Travel (There are 2 web sites that look the same - I don't know if it is really one company with 2 websites/names. All About Kids - they don't have any pictures, but their website does say they rent children's size wheelchairs. Florida Mobility Rentals I don't have reviews of any of these places and 3 of them appear to rent the same kind of strollers (MacClaren Major strollers). They are listed without reviews because they rent specialized equipment I could not find other sources for and few posters have reported using them. Accessible Vans We have little feedback about these companies. Check when making a reservation about how and where the van will be delivered to you and how it will get back to the rental place.
Accessible Taxi vans The company used most often by DIS posters is MEARS, which includes buses and taxi vans. Mears taxicabs operate under the Yellow Cab Company, Checker Cab Company and City Cab Company brand. You can use these accessible taxis to get to places within WDW and also to get to other nearby locations like Universal or Sea World. Taxicab Dispatch: (407) 422-2222
__________________
SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 05-05-2013 at 07:03 AM. Reason: Added information about standing ECVs. |
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06-27-2004, 10:07 AM
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#3 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Helpful links
Links to Official Disney website
WDW General Information (Un-official Links) Park and Ride Information
See POST 11 of this thread for a list of attractions that have moving walkways or stairs. Post 11 also includes information about Mobility Entrances and which attractions require a transfer. Accessibility
Meeko's Character Journal - COOL Website with many character pictures. May help prepare your child to see the characters Just for Fun - pictures of people with disABILITIES enjoying WDW Link to Toy Story Mania Thread: It was 2 threads that were merged together, so the first few pages might be a little confusing. It starts out from April of 2008 when the ride was first opening until Dec 2008. There are 12 pages and the first 4 pages contain a lot of guesses on how it will work (with some pictures from the sneak peek on page 4). Page 6 contains some very good pictures of the handicapped boarding area and the wheelchair accessible ride car, but many of the later pages also either have pictures or links to pictures. Link to a youtube video of TSM that shows the entire standby queue. The bypass for the stairs is just after the people in the video get their 3D glasses. The regular line continues up the stairs. The handicapped accessible line goes off the picture up a ramp to the right. DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney
Link to ADA Website Link to ADA Information for Businesses - gives some insight into what is considered reasonable accommodation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Specific Concerns or Conditions One hint: some of the 'specific' links may also be helpful to people who don't have that condition, for example:
ADD/ ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorders) Many good hints re: ADHD Allergies, other than food Latex allergies Scents Allearsnet latex allergy page Alzheimer's Short thread, but lots of good hints Aug 08 thread about doing WDW with someone with Alzheimer's (info on rides with moving walkways) July 08 thread about doing Alzheimer's (3 pages) June 08 thread about doing Disney with Alzheimer's (short, but good info) Anxiety Hints for dealing with anxiety in WDW Autism (ASD) Orlando Stroller Rentals rents a variety of strollers, including a Special Needs version of the Baby Jogger that is made for people up to 100 pounds. Orlando Stroller Rentals also rents the Big Leap GPS locator, which can be placed on your child so that you can find him/her if they wander off. KathyRN Family's Trip Report: Adventures in Autism Autism and pin trading Hints on Autism Autism and diet Hints for Autism and Air Travel Autism hints 1/08 More autism hints; some shirt designs several shirt design ideas - big jpgs big autism designs for shirts, more hints Thread about new picture book about MK by Kevin Yee. ALSO, See the link to a WDW video tour above under WDW General Information. Link to Scrapbookers thread with many pictures of rides, signs, and assorted WDW pictures. Useful for social stories or schedules. Disney for Families with Autism Website HINT: If you plan to travel by air, you may also want to look at post #15 of this thread, which includes links to Orlando airport and TSA websites with pictures. Blindness, visual impairment 3D movies for people with vision in one eye Hint from a poster named gismo1554: "For visually impaired individuals getting around World showcase in EPCOT can be a nightmare. There are patches of darkness around the park most notably in Japan and the African exhibit. They have tried to improve this over the last year but I would recommend taking a small torch to aid you. I carry one with me everytime I go because I know how hard it is at night around the park. It can also be useful in other parks but World Showcase is the worse place I've found to be able to get around." Ocular Albinism/Nystagmus Trip report of family with visually impaired 4 yr old. Planning thread for visually impaired 4 yr old Rides with dark entrances Disney recently rolled out a new "Audio Description" device to provide desciptions to guest with visual impairment.
Trip report from a woman who went to WDW with two (yes 2) broken arms! Communication Devices, PECS Thread about making Communication Boards Thread with links in post one to find pictures of communication pages for each park Link to Scrapbookers thread with many pictures of rides, signs, and assorted WDW pictures. Useful for communication, social stories or schedules. Link to report of park experience of Dynavox user Thread about PECs mousescrapper's special guidebook for her son Marie S's Going on an Airplane PEC book Marie S's WDW Visual Schedule and Choice PEC book DisMomAmy's Visual Help Cards Thread about new picture book about MK by Kevin Yee. HINT: If you plan to travel by air, you may also want to look at post #15 of this thread, which includes links to Orlando airport and TSA websites with pictures that would be useful for social stories. Crohn's Disease thread with good advice and some links The dietary information, further down in this post may also be helpful. Cruises (see also post #13 in this thread, which has more cruise information) cruises and insurance for pre-existing conditions Cystic Fibrosis Helpful hints for Touring with CF Diabetes Diabetes information page from allears.netVery good information Diabetics and GACs (started Jan 2006). Insulin pumps and WDW THread about counting carbs from June 2010, includes links to some past threads People with Diabetes and the meal plans Living with Diabetes Carbohydrate Counting Thread Diabetes and eating at WDW Diabetes Discussion 8/07 from Theme Park Board - good links Insulin pumps on rides 11/07 Insulin pump in water parks badshoe's page about diabetes on allearsnet WDW with child with diabetes - pretty long thread started early 2009 Dialysis Travel Tips from the Kidney Organization. Aug 2011 thread about dialysis with lots of good information Thread about dialysis with links to other threads about dialysis. Aug 2009 thread with some dialysis experiences. Diets for allergies and other special needs: WDW Information
Electromagnets on WDW attractions including info about electomagnets and insulin pumps Epilepsy Most people think of strobe lights when they think of seizures, but most people with seizures don't have any problems with strobe lights. WDW doesn't actually use any lights that are technically strobe lights (i.e, fast, regular flashes of light) and they do not have any warnings for seizures and/or strobe lights on any attractions. Where they do have flashing lights, they are always irregularly flashing, which is a different situation. Most true strobe lights flash many times per second, but slowing to 5 flashes per second or less means that the majority of even photosensitive epileptics are not going to have a problem. Only about 3-7% of people with epilepsy are photosensitive and have problems with lights; of those, only about 5% would have a problem with a light flashing 5 times per second or less. Good article from the Epilepsy Foundation about epilepsy and lights/photosensitivity. This is something to talk to your doctor with, but in for most people with epilepsy, the lights at WDW won't cause any problems. Some of the linked threads about epilepsy have information about lights in different attractions and other hints for avoiding seizures at WDW. If you do encounter flashing lights and are concerned, the Epilepsy Foundation recommends covering one eye and turning/looking away from the direct source of light. The reason for covering only one eye and looking away from the direct light is to prevent both eyes from sending exactly the same information to the brain. Things that are very important to be aware of are sleep deprivation, dehydration and getting off schedule with medication. All of those things can lower the seizure threshold (how easy it is for a seizure to occur). It's very easy to get off schedule or forget medication while on vacation. One things we have found that helps with this is to actually use an individual dose medication container and an alarm (on our phone or iPod) as a reminder for medication times. Guest Assistance Cards and Epilepsy Stobe Lights and Epilepsy Epilepsy at WDW - post #24 on page 2 has a list of attractions with flashes of light. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia - including hints for using mobility devices Hearing Impairment Thread with link to story about Sign Language Interpretation at WDW Thread about handheld assistive device that provides services for guests with hearing impairment such as captioning. Link to blog on allearsnet.com which talks more about the handheld assistive device. Heart Conditions Thread about G forces on roller coasters Thread about WDW with a Pacemaker Make a Wish and other Wish trips
Ostomy 2010 thread about travel with Ostomies There are Companion Restrooms in all the parks and at Downtown Disney. These are individual rooms with a sink, toilet and a locking door. Some of the Companion Restrooms also include a baby changing table which you could use as a surface for supplies if you need. There is more information in this post under SERVICES. AK is the newest park and most of the restrooms at AK include a handicapped stall that includes a sink in the same stall with the toilet. Thats kind of hit and miss in other places since restrooms were not built that way originally and it was added as bathrooms were remodeled or updated. Oxygen See post 30 on page 2 of this thread for more information. Portableoxygen.org - helpful website with much information and links Website about oxygen and air travel Thread about Portable Oxygen Concentrator Plantar Fasciitis Thread with a lot of good hints for avoiding foot pain 'Pooh Sized' Guests - hints for the parks "Everything Pooh sized" thread "Doing Disney Overweight" thread "Pooh Sized Persons at the Waterparks" thread Allearsnet.com WDW At Large page Service Animals Department of Justice FAQs for Businesses about Service Animals TSA FAQs about travel with Service Animals Air Carrier Access Act Service Animals Guidelines 2009 Service Dog Central website -difference between Emotional Support Dog and Service Dog (The website is somewhat like wikipedia - edited by readers). Service Animals: link to specific part of WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. Includes list of rides that SDs are not allowed on. Thread about Service Animals Another thread about Service Animals in the parks COOL thread with pictures of Service Dogs in the parks Wheelchairs (power and manual)
__________________
SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 05-10-2013 at 10:12 PM. Reason: Fixed link |
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07-10-2004, 05:22 PM
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#4 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Riding WDW Buses with a wheelchair or ECV
This information is from personal experience, things other DISers have posted and contact with bus drivers.
I have been informed by a WDW bus driver that new operational guidelines for buses go into effect on Oct. 1. Any ECVs must fit completely in a 30x48 space without turning the wheels to fit or they will not be transported on the WDW buses. This includes any bags, backpacks or baskets; if they intrude to the point of making the ECV longer than 48 inches or wider than 30 inches, they will need to be removed. This should not affect most ECVs - there is one particular one, the Dream, which is larger and will not fit without turning the wheels. A spokesperson for the company that rents the Dream says that they have been told that the Dream scooter can not be used on the buses with lifts, but will be allowed on the buses with ramps. Other ECVs should be OK. Even the park rental ones, which make most ECVs look tiny are only 26 inches wide and just a hair under 47 inches long. 30"X48" is the ADA standardhttp://www.access-board.gov/transit/html/Transfig1.html If your ECV does not fit those dimensions, the driver is to call for a transportation manager who will explain alternate arrangements. A wheelchair party is considered to be 5 people plus the person with a disability. If you party is larger, the rest should wait in the regular bus line. Q: What buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts? A: All WDW buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps. On occasion, a lift will malfunction, and cannot be quickly repaired. In these instances, Federal laws allow the bus to remain in operation for up to 48 hours, with the wheelchair logo removed. The logo is placed on the front of the bus, at the left hand edge of the marquee. Q: What types of lifts are used? A: There are currently four types of lifts on WDW buses. The first is the "factory installed" model, on the older buses. The second is the "retro fit" model, an after market unit added to some of the not-so-old buses. These two are simillar in function, although the retro fits are a bit easier to use, feature a larger loading platform, and are newer and generally more reliable. The third "lift" is the ramp on the low floor (new) buses. The fourth is a Fold Out type ramp, which can be manually deployed if the mechanics malfunction. These fold out lifts are the next generation, and are expected to be installed new buses as they are ordered. Q: What can be accomodated on the lifts? A: Wheelchairs and ECVs can be no larger than 30 inches wide and 48 inches long. The factory installed lifts can accomodate virtually all standard wheelchairs, and most electric wheelchairs. They can also accomodate most smaller ECV's. The retro fits, with the larger platforms, can accomodate virtually any wheelchair, and most ECV's. Larger, custom made ECV's, however, may not fit on the platform. The Low Floor buses, with wheelchair Ramps, can accomodate virtually any Wheelchair or ECV, as long as it is no larger than 30 by 48. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) (49 CFR Parts 27, 37, and 38) defines a "common wheelchair" as a mobility aid belonging to any class of three or four-wheeled devices, usable indoors, designed for and used by individuals with mobility impairments, whether operated manually or powered. A "common wheelchair" does not exceed 30 inches in width and 48 inches in length measured two inches above the ground, and does not weigh more than 600 pounds when occupied. Anything larger than 30 by 48 inches will not be loaded onto the bus (and that includes any pieces attached to or hanging from the wheelchair/ECV). Q: How many wheelchairs can be accomodated? A: Provided that you are able to transfer out of your chair to a standard seat, WDW buses can accomodate ANY number of wheelchairs that can be folded and safely stowed. For those who are unable to utilize the standard seats, each bus in the fleet has Two Tie Down Wheelchair stations. UPDATE July 09: Recently, it has been reported that a few buses have spots for 3 wheelchairs/ECVs. Link to a thread with more information and pictures. Q: What if there are more than two guests in my party who cannot transfer to a standard seat? A: Contact Guest Relations, or a Bus Supervisor, or ANY bus driver, and ask for one of the "Special Services Buses". There are two buses reserved for larger parties, with multiple wheelchairs. Each special service bus has FIVE wheelchair stations, and plenty of seating. These buses are especially helpful for groups visiting from schools for the disAbled. They can usually arrive within 20 minutes of being requested (although you are much better off making your request well in advance--a driver is not assigned to one of these buses until its needed), and will take you and your party wherever you need to go. There is no charge, and you may make arrangements, if needed, with your driver for future pickups. Q: What if I have a child in a stroller-type wheelchair? A: Strollers modified for medical use are considered wheelchairs, and may be strapped in to the wheelchair stations. These are often called "Special Needs Strollers". If the stroller is required by your child for medical reasons, and the child is unable to transfer to a standard seat, you may request a small tag from your Resort's Guest Relations--this tag may make it easier to let the driver identify the stoller as a wheelchair, but it IS NOT NECESSARY. Drivers are to "take your word for it" when you tell them the stroller is medically needed. Many special needs strollers "tie down" points built in by the manufacturer. These have been tested and are safe for use in motor vehicles during transport. If you are using a regular stroller as a mobility device, the bus driver may take your word for it and allow it to be fastened down. But, unless your stroller is designed for transport, your child should still get out of it on the bus for safety and the stroller should be folded and not be tied down with the wheelchair tiedown straps. Some Special Needs strollers are designed for transport and have their frames strengthened for that purpose. Using the tiedown straps on a stroller that has not been designed for transport might cause the stroller frame to bend or break. It is not safe or legal for a child to sit in a regular stroller on a moving bus. Q: I have a child (or children) who have certain, special needs, and must utilize a wheelchair. Can I contact the Bus Department to make sure that everything goes smoothly for my family? A: Absolutely. Contact Guest Relations, and let them know that you'll be relying on the Bus Department for transportation. They will pass it along to Bus Operations, who will then add your family's name to the daily briefing sheets for the duration of your visit. Drivers will then know to look for you at your resort, and make sure that your use of the Bus System is as flawless as possible. Q: The driver wants me to wear a seatbelt. May I refuse? A: Yes, you may refuse. But be aware that your refusal may result in the driver advising you that you are far safer with a seatbelt on, and practically insisting that you wear it. Disney company policy is not to force a guest to wear the seatbelt. Q: I can transfer to a standard seat, but I feel that that takes up even more seats from other passengers. May I remain on my ECV during the bus trip? A: Yes, you may, however no one ever need feel ashamed about taking up "too much room". Drivers should be happy to assist you in whatever way possible. If you elect to remain on your ECV while on the bus, please keep in mind that this is NOT a very safe option. If you do ride on the ECV, remember that there are seatbelts available, and there are drivers who will, despite company policy, refuse to drive the bus with a passenger on an ECV who is not wearing a seatbelt. They will not be disciplined by the company for such a refusal, as Federal Laws override company policy. In this case, Federal Law requires the driver to refuse to even move the bus if he/she feels there is a safety hazard on board. Bottom line: ECV's are notoriously top heavy, and any extra protection you can afford yourself while on the bus should be taken full advantage of. There are signs on many of the buses that tell people using ECVs to take a seat rather than remaining on the ECV. Q: I have certain disAbilities that affect my mobility--although I am do NOT require the use of a wheelchair. May I use the lift if all I require are crutches, or a cane? May I use the wheelchair lift if I have conditions such as arthritis, or if I'm recovering from surgery, etc? A: Anyone who needs it may request the use of the lift to assist them in boarding. What can I do to help make use of the bus go smoothly? Tiedowns:If you are using your own wheelchair or ecv, make sure you know where some safe tiedown points are on the front and the back. Tiedown points should be sturdy parts of the wheelchair/ecv frame (not parts like swing away footrests or armrests). If you don't know, you can ask your equipment supplier. A good idea is to use some brightly colored tape to mark safe points. It's very easy to tell the driver, just look for the hot pink tape instead of trying to explain (when you are sitting in the chair) that the black horizontal tube above the other tube in the back of the chair is a safe point. Practice:If you are not experienced in backing up, practice a bit before your first bus ride. That will make you more confident and the loading will go more smoothly. How do I attract the attention of the bus driver? You need to be where the driver can see you so that he/she knows you want to board the bus. Some bus stops have a wheelchair/handicapped symbol that you can wait by. For "unmarked" bus stops, have your group out in the open (but off the roadway) near where the back door of the bus will be when it stops. At stops with buses going to multiple destinations from the same stop (like at the resorts), let the driver know whether you want the bus or not by nodding or shaking your head. Can my whole party board with me? If the bus has a lift, only the person with a wheelchair and one other member of your party may go on the lift. As for the other members of your party, please be considerate of other guests who are waiting for the bus. In general, WDW considers a party of 6 (5 plus the person with a wheelchair/ECV) to be party. If there are few people waiting for the bus when you arrive with a party of that size or smaller, the bus driver may invite you to board at the back door after the wheelchair/ECV is loaded. If your party is larger or you can see a long line of people waiting for the bus when you pull up, it's considerate have the other members wait in line for the bus or to wait for the next bus. It will be much easier and less stress for everyone if you can avoid taking the buses at the busiest times (like right at park closing). Taking a leisurely stroll out of the park will usually help you avoid a long line at the bus stop. If you get to the bus stop and see a long line, here are some considerate ways my family (SueM in MN) have used to handle it: If you have a small party; keep track of the last person in line when you arrive in the area. Wait off to the side until you can see that party would get onto the next bus (you don't have to wait until they get to the door of the bus), then go to the wheelchair boarding area with your party . If your party is larger, have the other members of your party get into line. When you can see that they would be able to get onto the next bus, then go to the wheelchair boarding area. I've heard people sometimes have problems with drivers not letting them on. If that happen, what do I do? Posters have reported problems recently (link to thread from May 08) with a few bus drivers saying their bus is full when it's not and refusing to load them on the bus. Hopefully, you won't need to use this information, but here's what we have done (with some additional suggestions from other DIS posters). If you have a cell phone, program in:
Carry something to make notes on (paper and pen, a PDA, etc.) if you do have a problem with bus, boat or monorail:
Taking pictures of the situation was one great suggestion. That would give you a record of:
When you call, you want talk to the Transportation Supervisor for that shift (not someone at your resort or at the park, who would have to relay the message); you want to get as close as possible to the person who's job it actually is to take care of problem. When you talk to the Supervisor have these things ready:
If you don't have a cell phone, you can call from your resort after you get back. There is a button on the room phone labeled "Front Desk". (Some resorts may also have one labeled "Transportation"). You can use that number and follow the other suggestions listed above. You can also report a problem to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Civil Rights on their toll-free Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Assistance Line at 1-888-446-4511 [Voice] or by e-mail at FTA.ADAAssistance@dot.gov. LINKS: Link to Federal Transit Administration page about travel with wheelchairs thread about bus regulations. thread about boarding buses with a wheelchair thread including bus pictures thread about buses that includes some links to regulations about bus access
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 09-24-2011 at 10:39 PM. Reason: changed number |
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07-10-2004, 05:49 PM
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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ECVs and cars
A lot of people wonder how to get the ecv they are renting into their car. A DIS poster named Cheshire Figment provided this excellent information:
NOTE: Most ECVS can be broken down into pieces for travel/placing into cars or trunks. Usually the largest piece will be less than 50 pounds. If you are renting an ECV and plan to transport it by car, be sure to mention that when making your rental arrangements. In rental cars (from National) a Buick Century's trunk will accept a broken-down ECV but fairly tightly. A LeSabre will have no problems at all, and a Park Avenue will allow a lot of additional items. The author's car is a 97 Ford Taurus four-door sedan. To get it all in the trunk can be a fight (but can be done), so I find it easiest to set the seat on the back of the car. Make sure the car is a four-door and not a two. You will see why as I explain below. Some of these instructions will not make sense until you see the actual equipment. First is the seat; this comes off by pulling straight up. Some wiggling might be necessary. The back of the seat does fold forward, but there is a post of about 8" length at the bottom. This can go in the back seat easily, but you want to do that only if there is need. Then come the two battery packs. The have "quick-connect" plugs which just pop off. the packs are about 9" cubes, with straps around them. The straps can be used as handles. I would suggest putting them on the floor in the back. One of them should be in a corner up against the seat back. The other should be directly behind the first toward the back of the car. There is a power/control cable connecting the rear wheel/motor assembly to the rest of the ECV. Turn the knurled knob (toward the back of the ECV when looking down) where it goes into the rear wheel/motor assembly and it comes off. there is a "T"-Handle which you pull up which separates the rear wheel/motor assembly from the main body. The rear wheel/motor assembly has a rod type of handle across the top; Use this to put he assembly in the car. Put this to the front of the trunk, next to the battery packs. There is a single lever below the left tiller handle which pulls up. This allows you to lower the tiller all the way to the floor (have it turned slightly off-center when lowering so it does not stop on the support post for the seat. I would suggest one hand at the very front of the floor and the other on the post support so you have no change of pinching you fingers when you put this in the car. The front of the ECV should be directly against one of the side panels of the trunk. Note that sometimes there is a better fit depending on which side of the car the ECV points at. There should now be room to put the seat in the trunk. If a small trunk and the seat won't fit, put it in the back seat of the car. Several notes for when putting it back together. Again, these will not make sense until you see the ECV in pieces. There is a wide "slot" on the front of the rear wheel/motor assembly. Let the assembly sort of tilt backwards and place the rear of the main body into this slot. You will then lift the "T"-Handle, allowing the rear wheel/motor assembly to rock forward, and then release the handle to lock the two pieces into place. Lift up on the tiller and locking lever until the tiller is vertical at the angle you want. Take the plug from the body which goes to the rear wheel/motor assembly. There should be a (yellow) paint spot on it, that spot goes to the very top. Push the plug in and then turn the knurled knob (to the front when looking down) until it clicks into place. Put the two battery packs into the wells on the floor. Note that the connectors will be facing to the rear and next to the post. There will probably be some advertising on the side of the case; that goes to the outside. Then put the seat post into the tube and you are ready to go. Note when putting it in turn it from side to side a bit until it locks into place. As last note; there are two controls on the rear wheel/motor assembly; they will be toward you on the right when you are behind the ECV. One is an electric automatic brake release and the other allow freewheeling. To operate the ECV the toggle switch must be forward and the knob all the way down. To manually push the ECV the toggle switch muust be to the back and the knob must be pulled up about 2 inches. Note when you turn the key on, if the meter on the control panel does not move (and neither does the ECV) check the switch positions, and that both battery packs are pluged in as well as the cable. Once in a great while something needs jiggling. Note the charging unit can live in your room and be plugged into the wall all the time.
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 05-15-2005 at 09:40 AM. |
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10-12-2005, 09:47 PM
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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GAC (Guest Assistance Card)
What is a GAC?
We use GAC as an abbreviation for Guest Assistance Card. It's really exactly what it sounds like - a Card that tells the Cast Members (CMs) what kind of Assistance a disabled Guest needs. The disability can be temporary or permanent. This is a reply someone got recently when they wrote WDW requesting information about GACs: Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort. We are pleased that you and your family will be vacationing with us and we appreciate your desire to make your visit as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. The Guest Assistance Card is a tool provided at all four WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort Theme Parks to enhance the service we provide to our Guests with disabilities. It was designed to alert our Cast about those Guests who may need additional assistance. The intent of these cards is to keep Guests from having to explain their service needs each time they visit an attraction. The Guest Assistance Card is available to our Guests with non-apparent, special assistance needs. However, the intention of this card has never been to bypass attraction wait times, or to be used by Guests with a noticeable service need. Guests with an apparent mobility concern, such as Guests using wheelchairs, canes, crutches, etc., or Guests with service animals, do NOT need a Guest Assistance Card. These Guests should be directed to follow the attraction entrance procedures for guests using wheelchairs, as outlined in the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. A Guest with a specific need for assistance can request a Guest Assistance Card at any Theme Park Guest Relations location. To accommodate the individual needs of our Guests, we ask that all Guests discuss their assistance requests with a Guest Relations cast member prior to the card being issued. The Guest Relations Cast Member will discuss the available service options with the Guest and provide written instructions for our cast on the Guest Assistance Card. The Guest will be directed to present the Guest Assistance Card to the Greeter or first available Cast Member at the attraction and await further directions for their experience. Disney doesn't publish anything official in written format or on the internet about Guest Assistance Cards. The information that follows is not 'official', but is as complete, up to date and accurate as possible. It was written with assistance/information from personal experience, experience of other guests and information from Guest Relations CMs. Where do I get a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities? Post #3 of this thread has links to the online version of the Guidebook. Once you are in the parks, you can find the Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities with the other maps at the park entrance, at Guest Relations or at the ECV/wheelchair/stroller rental area. The Guidemap looks like the 'regular' park maps, but has additional information for guests with disabilities. It's best to pick one up on each visit (or every few months, if you visit often) because things may change. Can I write ahead of time and get a GAC? Where do I request one? No, you can't write or call ahead to get one. To request one, go to Guest Relations at a Theme Park and talk to the CM there about your problems and needs. If you are requesting the GAC for someone else (like your child, for example), that person does need to be with you when a GAC is requested, even if they can't talk. The GAC is actually issued in the name of the person with a disability. That person does need to be present when the GAC is requested and when it is used. Most people go to Guest Relations in the parks to request a GAC, but you can also go to the Guest Relations area located at the park, but outside of the gates. GACs are not available at Downtown Disney, at water parks or at your resort; you need to be at a place with park Guest Relations CMs (the people at Downtown Disney and the resorts are not park Guest Relations CMs). Where can I find Guest Relations at WDW? Each park has a Guest Relations location inside and outside of the park that will be open during park hours. You do need to go thru the security bag checkpoint to get to the outside of the park Guest Relations, but you don't need to go thru the turnstiles to actually enter the park. Even though they may not sound easy to find, once you are actually in the park area, they are pretty obvious if you are looking for them. They are in the 'wall' of the buildings that make up the outside wall of the park. At MK, the outside of the park Guest Relations is to the right when you face the front of the park after you go thru the bag check point. The inside of the park Guest Relations is on the left in City Hall after you pass under the train station. At Epcot, look for the exit from the monorail. It's pretty much straight across from that on the right side of the park entrance. The bag check is closer to the left side of the park entrance, so after you go thru the bag check, go right past the ticket booths and you will find it. The inside the park Guest Relations is to the left, after you pass Spaceship Earth. At DHS and AK, the outside of the park Guest Relations is to the left as you face the park entrance. This is after going thru the bag check, but before going thru the turnstiles. At both parks, the inside the park Guest Relations is also to the left, soon after you pass thru the turnstiles. Do certain diagnoses qualify for a GAC? No. Having any specific diagnosis doesn't qualify or not qualify someone for a GAC; there is no list of "appropriate" diagnoses for a GAC. Also, the CMs do not have medical training, so a specific diagnosis does not really mean much to them. The GAC is based on needs that the person has related to a disability, not what their diagnosis is. The diagnosis is not really that important because people with the same diagnosis can have very different needs. The GAC is given based on needs and the accommodations that meet those needs. This is not a Disney rule, this is the way that the ADA is written. According to the ADA, accommodations are not given based on the diagnosis or specific disability; they are given based on needs that are related to a disability. For example, my youngest DD has cerebral palsy as her main diagnosis. Some people with cerebral palsy don't really need anything special; some might walk with a cane/crutches or use a wheelchair, but don't need anything besides an accessible line. Those people would not need a GAC. Some people, like my DD, have additional needs that are not met just by having her wheelchair in line. I go to Guest Services and explain my DD's needs to the CMs there to get a GAC issued to her to help meet her needs. Do I need a letter from the doctor? No. You don't need a doctor's letter and the CM is likely to not want to look at it, partly because the letters are often not very helpful to the CM. Some people DO feel more confident asking for a GAC if they have a letter, but a letter is not required. According to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) you can not be required to provide proof of a disability. You can choose to show proof, but can't be required. If you do have a letter, it should reflect your needs/problems related to your disability, not your diagnosis. (For example, a letter that says "My patient has xxxxxx and can't wait in lines. Please extend every possible consideration." is not helpful.) A doctors prescription has no legal standing and will not be honored, since WDW is not a medical facility. If you choose to get a letter from your doctor: - make sure it talks about the needs you have that you might require assistance with in the parks. - realize that Disney CMs (Cast Members) can't help with transfers or personal care. - be aware that some doctors might charge for an office visit to gather information for the letter or may charge to write the letter. Writing a letter does take some of the doctor's time. While many doctors may chose to do it as a service to their patients, some DIS posters have reported being charged for a letter. If this would be a problem for you, you will want to check it out ahead of time. - be prepared that even if you bring a letter, CMs may not want to look at it at all. I have a wheelchair, rollator, walker or ECV. Do I also need a GAC? Not unless you have other needs. The CM can see the wheelchair, ECV or other mobility device and will know you need an accessible entrance/line/boarding area. Some people need other things besides the mobility device; those people might benefit from a GAC. If you don't have other needs and ask for a GAC, the CM usually give one that allows use of the wheelchair accessible entrances. Since you are using a mobility device, you already have access to those entrances without a GAC. When CMs see a mobility device user present a GAC that says "may use wheelchair entrances", some start to expect everyone who is traveling with a mobility device to present a card. This is not how the system is supposed to work. If you have any problems with access to the accessible entrances, first check the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities to make sure that you are in the correct place. If you still have problems, ask to speak with a supervisor. I heard most attractions have special 'wheelchair' or 'disabled' entrances. Do they? No. Most attractions have Mainstream Lines, which means that the regular line is wheelchair accessible. Animal Kingdom and the Studio were built with mostly Mainstream Lines and guests with special needs wait in the 'regular' line most of the time in those parks. Magic Kingdom and Epcot were not built with Mainstream Lines, but they were added, as much as possible as attractions were added or renovated. A few attractions at MK and Epcot have special entrances because their 'regular' entrance is not accessible. The Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities will tell you which attractions have a separate entrance and how to access it. There are also some attractions in each park where part of the line is not accessible (sometimes because of stairs) or the boarding area for guests with disabilities is different. This is usually because of moving walkways or the 'regular' entrance being on one side of the ride track and the exit on the other. For these types of situations, you will usually find a marked handicapped access point or a CM to direct you close to the 'obstruction' or boarding area. You will usually wait in the regular line until that point. Moving walkways are usually slowed, not stopped; if you need it to be slower or even stopped, tell the CM. Just showing a GAC won't tell the CM specifically what you need. I don't want to use a wheelchair or ECV, can't I just get a GAC that allows me to use the wheelchair accessible entrances? It depends on your needs. If you can walk distances and up ramps fine, but can't climb steps, then a GAC might help you. Using the wheelchair accessible entrance will allow you to avoid stairs. For those attractions with moving walkways, you will also board at a place that allows the CM to slow or stop the moving walkway. If you have a problem with walking distances, it's important to know that using the wheelchair accessible entrances will usually not be a shorter distance to walk; there just won't be stairs. Many queues are very long and some have ramps going up and/or down. For example, the queue for Soarin' in Epcot is over 1/4 mile from the entrance to the boarding area and an equal distance to get out again! Many people don't realize how far guests walk in a day at WDW, here's a thread from the Theme Parks Board where posters estimated how far they walked. The distances are why WDW recommends an ECV or wheelchair for people who are concerned about stamina or endurance. My family actually measured the distances we walked each day on a trip in April 2013 - we averaged over 6 miles per day and some days were closer to 9! How do I figure out what the needs are? Think about what sorts of things happen in a day at the park and how they would affect the person with a disability. Those are the types of things you want to be able to discuss with the Cast Member at Guest Relations. Some things to consider:
My child doesn't have a wheelchair, but needs to stay in the stroller. Is this allowed? Strollers are not usually allowed inside buildings or in most queues, but can be if needed for a disability. Some children require a stroller because they can't walk or just need to 'security of the stroller to help calm or help contain them in line. Some children have a special needs stroller that looks a lot like a regular stroller and could easily be mistaken for a regular stroller. To use a stroller in lines, you will need a sticker tag and/or a GAC from Guest Relations that allows the stroller to be used as a wheelchair. A tag or GAC may be necessary even with large special needs strollers - in the past, most people who needed these owned them. An Orlando company started renting them out in 2008 and people have been renting them for their older children without disabilities who don't want to walk. Because of this, they may no longer be recognized as "Special Needs Strollers" without the sticker and/or GAC. With a 'stroller as a wheelchair', you will be able to:
I have problems with standing in line or with walking. Why did WDW suggest a wheelchair of ECV (motorized scooter)? Disney calls these "Stamina or Endurance Concerns" and the official response is to suggest a wheelchair or ECV. If the person has problems with standing in line or with walking, a wheelchair/ECV would be a better solution than a GAC. A trip to WDW includes a lot more walking than just what you do in line. Even using a GAC, there will most of the time be no place to sit while in line. The distance walked is not usually less with a GAC than without one, so someone who is concerned about walking or standing would do better with a mobility device and/or planning their day to hit the most popular attractions at the least busy times. Most of the lines where you will actually standing still for long periods are the lines for shows and movies. Because those 'load' large numbers of people at a time, people have to stand waiting for the next show to 'load'. Having a Fastpass or a GAC won't change that - if each show is 14 minutes, you are going to be somewhere for 14 minutes. In many shows, much of the time in that place will be a preshow area. If you don't have a mobility device, you will generally be standing during that time. Post 22 on page 2 of this thread has a list of attractions like that where guests will need to stand. With an ecv or wheelchair, you will always have a place to sit and can conserve energy for fun, instead of just getting around. There is information about ecvs/wheelchairs farther up in this disABILITIES FAQs. All atttractions are wheelchair accessible and most lines are also ECV accessible in the regular line. NOTE: The person renting or using a WDW park rental ECV must be over 18 yrs old and no passengers are allowed. WDW policy says that even with non-park owned ECVs, only one person is allowed on the wheelchair/ECV (no passengers). We have 6 in our party; can we all use the GAC? The GAC is for the use of the person whose name is on the GAC, for attractions that person is going on. So that person needs to be with when you use it. The GAC is usually given for up to 6 people (5 plus the person with a disability). There may be some situations where you are asked to split into smaller groups. When that happens, it's usually because the waiting area or seating area for people with disabilities is too small/crowded for a large party. Sometimes a ride car only holds 6. In certain situations, a GAC may be given for more than 6 people - for example, if a family is 2 adults and 5 children, they would make an exception and give the GAC for a total of 7. Anything over 6 people is an exception to the rule. Do I need to get one for each park? You can request a GAC at any of the theme parks. You DO NOT need a GAC for each park and the GAC is usually issued to be valid for your whole vacation. The GAC issued at one park is valid at all parks, but the theme park GACs are not used at the water parks. If I had a GAC on my last trip, can I just bring it back and use it again? Or can I show the old GAC as proof that I need one again? No The GAC has an expiration date and is not valid after that date. You can bring your old GAC back on another trip to show to CMs in Guest Relations, but they may not want to look at it and you will still need to explain your needs in order to get a new GAC. If i have a GAC does that mean I go to the front of all the lines? No. In general, the only people who go to the front of lines are children with serious, life-threatening conditions who are on WISH trips. The GAC is not meant to be a pass that gives immediate access. In fact, in around 2000, they renamed it to Card because when it was called a Pass, people thought it mean front of the line access. It says right on the card that it will not provide immediate access (won't shorten or eliminate waits in line). In some cases, you may wait a shorter time, sometimes longer and often the same amount of time, but in a place better suited to your needs. In general, it tends to even out over the day so that the total time waited is generally going to be fairly similar to other guests. Are there different levels of GACs? There are not different levels of GACs, just different stamps that Guest Services can add to the GAC to tell the CMs at attractions what assistance the guest needs. Because what is stamped on the GAC is based on needs, not all GACs say the same thing and not all are handled the same way. Here are examples of some of the things that might be stamped on the GAC:
Do the CMs at each attraction have to provide what it says on the GAC? No. Even if you have a GAC, not all accomodations are available at each attraction. Some attractions may not have a place to sit, a quieter waiting place or have exactly what you need. Sometimes the accommodation is available, but is not available at the time. This can happen because of things that are not visible to guests. They can include things like staffing at the attraction, how busy the park and that attraction are, time of day, time of year, how many other guests with special needs are already waiting and if the area is being used for other reasons (for example, a medical emergency). What happens when I use the GAC? How do I use it? if the line is short or you don't think you need assistance at that attraction, you don't need to use the GAC. Just get into the line with everyone else. Many people handle the GAC like an insurance card, not necessarily needed or used all the time, but there for when it's necessary. To use the GAC, show the GAC card to the first CM you see at the attraction. That CM will direct you. Even with showing the GAC, you may still have to explain a bit about your particular needs because the CM needs more information to figure out exactly what you need. Is it treated exactly the same each time and/or at each attraction? No. Even on the same attraction, the GAC is not always handled the same each time. Exactly what happens depends on how busy it is, how many other people with special needs are there at the time and staffing. Some times you may be sent thru the regular standby line, ocassionally another access; Occasionally the person with the GAC and a member of their party will be given an alternate place to wait while the rest of the party goes thru the standby line - and then meet up with them when they get to the front. Sometimes you might be given a slip and told you can come back at the time written on the slip (usually equal to the standby time); ocassionally, you might be taken right in. It depends on what they call "attraction considerations" (which is basically the things I listed in the second sentence). What happens will also depend on the stamps on your GAC. For example, if the GAC is for a place to out of the sun, you will be routed to the regular line if the sun is not a problem when you arrive at the attraction. If you come back later, you may be handled differently. Even on the same attraction on the same day. People sometimes think that means one of the CMs did something 'wrong'. What it usually means is that conditions were not the same both times. Can I use the GAC at restaurants to let them know my needs? No. GACs are used for attractions and are not used for restaurants. The information on the GAC would usually not be useful to the CMs in restaurants. If you have food allergies, there are some links to information in post 3 of this thread. If you have specific needs for location or type of table in table service restaurants, tell the CM when you check in for seating. What about Character Greetings? Can I use the GAC for those? In general, GACs are not used for character greetings that are outdoors. For those outdoor greetings, if you have specific needs, there is always a CM 'handling' the characters. That CM might be able to make some accommodations for your needs, but they have very few things available. The best that can be done might be for some members of your party to wait in line while the person with a disability waits outside of the line. One example of these types of greetings would be the characters outside in Epcot in World Showcase. Depending on what accommodations you need and what is available, you may be able to use your GAC at Character Greetings that are in permanent indoor locations. These are considered attractions and are listed on the park maps as attractions. Examples of this are the Theater on Main Street in MK, Camp Mickey Minnie at AK and the Epcot Character Spot in Future World in Epcot. If Fastpass is available, you will most likely be told to use Fastpass. Check with CM at the entrance to explain your needs and find out what assistance may be available. Be aware though that many locations do not have any accommodations available. GACs are specifically NOT allowed to be used for celebrity meet and greets, special limited appearances by characters and special events, such as Star Wars and Soap Opera week. What can I do to avoid or shorten our wait for attractions? Fastpass is a good way to avoid waits in line. You don't have to be present to get a fastpass, you can send one member of your party ahead with all the park passes to get fastpasses. When you report back to the ride at your fastpass return time, your wait will generally be 15 minutes or less. Link to DIS site page about Fastpass and how to use them Many people find that having a plan is very helpful for the person with a disability because they know more about what to expect when. Also, even using a GAC or Fastpasses, if you know where NOT to be can be VERY helpful; maybe even more helpful than the GAC because it helps avoid crowds all over, not just in attractions. Getting into attractions with accommodations is only part of the solution. If you are at a busy park, it is busy everywhere, which means longer waits for things like eating and using the bathrooms. The more people there are, the more difficult it becomes just to get around and to avoid all the general 'busy-ness' of the parks. That 'busy-ness' can be just as difficult for many people to deal with. Many people have reported good luck with www.easywdw.com, ww.touringplans.com, TourGuide Mike, or Ridemax, using their advice to avoid waiting for more than a few minute. Those sites have hints on tour planning to avoid busy areas. There are also Smartphone apps (like for iPhone or Android phones) that include things like current waiting times for attractions in the park. One good one is put out by a company called Undercover Tourist. Disney also has one called My Disney Experience. I've heard Disney is discontinuing or changing GACs when Fastpass Plus comes. Is this true? No. There are threads about every 6 months with rumors about changes to GACs; especially since Fastpass Plus was announced. No one knows how Fastpass Plus will work for guests without disabilities, much less for guests who have special needs. There are requirements in the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) that guests with disabilities be handled in the 'main stream', without special treatment as much as possible. The idea is to put things into place so that people's needs related to their disabilities are handled in the mainstream as much as possible. Disney has made quite a few accommodations into their attractions and many people with disabilities do not need anything more than that. Some of the changes that might be coming with Fastpass Plus might be helpful for guests with disabilites. For example, some Disboards posters feel that the ability to arrange times for attractions ahead of time would be helpful to the them because they can make a predictable schedule to follow. Others are concerned with arranging times ahead of time may not work for them because their condition is unpredictable. Since no one knows exactly how Fastpass Plus will function, it is hard to tell how it will affect those with disabilities. However it works in the 'mainstream', there are people who still need more than is provided in the mainstream. That is where GACs fit in and will probably continue to fit in. If I see a GAC for sale on ebay, how can I report it? GACs are issued to an individual person, whose name is on the card. They are not transferrable and not for sale. Using Disney's name and trademarks to sell something that Disney gives out for free is piracy and selling it is fraudulent (or selling something else and giving the GAC as a "free gift") It is best NOT to contact the seller. Anything you write to them is not going to change their mind. The seller could report you to ebay for harrassment. Since the seller has a way to contact you, they could harrase you by email or could even get access to your address and phone number. To report to ebay: Copy the auction number, then go to eBay's Report a Listing. Choose report it as a Fraudulent Listing, with the category of fraudulent and did not bid. Click on the next screen How do I report a fraudulent listing? and then on the next screen, click on Contact us near the bottom. The following screen asks for the number and also gives a large block for a narrative description of the problem. To report to Disney: email address (tips@disneyantipiracy.com) or Antipiracy voice mail hotline, 818-560-3300 Antipiracy Group, Corporate Legal The Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, California 91521-0527
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 05-18-2013 at 06:02 PM. Reason: clarification |
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12-17-2005, 08:39 AM
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#7 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Information about WDW Resorts and Phone numbers for contact:
**NOTE** A new provision of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) involving resort and hotel reservations will be effective beginning March 15, 2012. It will require hotels/resorts to:
All Walt Disney World Resorts offer rooms that accommodate Guests with disabilities. Features vary depending upon your selected Resort. For information specific to individual resorts, please call: Special Reservations Line: (407) 939-7807 This is the number for making all types of special needs reservations - rooms and tours. (NOTE: WDW no longer lists this number on their website Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities, although it is in printed guidebooks we picked up at the parks in October 2009). TTY Line: (407) 939-7670 When you call any of the other resorts, you don't actually end up talking to someone at the resort; you talk to someone at a call center, who is not at the resort. Note for people using travel agents: If your reservation was made thru a travel agent, the agent will need to make any special requests for you or contact Special Reservations for you. If you call Special Reservations yourself, the CMs may tell you that you must go thru the Travel Agent. Some very accomidating CMs might take your requests, but the usual is to refer you back to your travel agent. That is because the Travel Agent actually owns your reservation until a few days before you arrive. Accommodations for Guests with disabilities may include the following: BATHROOMS Wider bathroom doors Roll-in showers Shower benches Hand-held shower heads Accessible vanities Portable commodes Bathroom rails BED ACCESSORIES Bed rails Lower beds and rubber bed pads Open frame beds ROOM COMMUNICATION KITS Door knock and phone alerts Bed shaker alarm Text Typewriter (TTY) Strobe light fire alarm Phone amplifier OTHER FEATURES Buses with wheelchair lifts Double peep holes in doors Refrigerators (may include an extra charge) Closed Captioned television Braille on signage and elevators ACCESSIBLE PARKING Designated parking areas for Guests with disabilities are available throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. A valid disability parking permit is required. VALET PARKING At locations offering valet parking, vehicles displaying a valid disability parking permit will receive complimentary service (instead of the fee). This information is copied from the official WDW Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities webpage. Other helpful information, including links to other pages or threads on this site. WDW Accessible Room Location thread. Polynesian Resort with Disabilities Thread (thank you Tikiman for including info on your great website). Autism Spectrum: Choosing a room One question that comes up frequently is: I'm renting an ECV or wheelchair, do I need a handicapped room? If you are able to walk around your room, usually, the answer is no. Handicapped accessible rooms are no bigger than other rooms. People think of roll in showers and fully wheelchair accessible when they think of handicapped accessible. NOT all handicapped rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. Some are and have the roll in shower, but some have raised seat toilets and bathtubs with grab bars. The ADA requires hotels/resorts to have a certain number of handicapped accessible rooms/units (based on the total number of rooms in the hotel), but only about 1 out of every 5 handicapped rooms is required to be fully wheelchair accessible. There are 2 types of handicapped accessible rooms. In general, they are the same overall size and have the same size doors to come into the room from the hallway as the non-handicapped accessible room. Door rooms are at least 32 inches wide and an average ECV or wheelchair is much narrower than that - more on the order of 24 inches. If you are concerned about the size, call the equipment company you are renting from. Type one handicapped accessible room is exactly like a non-accessible room except that it has grab bars by the combination tub/shower and the toilet. The toilet has a raised seat and there will be some type of built in seat for the tub. Someone who can't step over the side of the tub can sit on the seat and then swing their legs over into the tub. You can also get a freestanding shower/bath bench from Housekeeping or a rental place (see post 2 of this thread)and do the same thing. Example of handicapped accessible bathroom. Grab bars on back and side. This one is from Coronado Springs  Built in seat at end of tub (Coronado Springs)  The bathroom door may not be wide enough to get a wheelchair or ECV into the bathroom. There may also not be room to turn around in the room. For most people renting an ECV, that is not that much of a problem because most can walk around the room. Most people move the table and chairs near the entrance of the room to make a space to park the ECV in the room and charge it. Bringing a power strip is helpful so you don't need to park as close to the outlet. Type two handicapped accessible rooms are fully wheelchair accessible. They have a roll in shower with grab bars, a seat you can pull down to sit for showering and a handheld shower head. Roll in shower room example - OKW studio  Other side of the OKW studio roll in shower bathroom  They also have a raised seat toilet with grab bars and a place to park a wheelchair near it, a sink you can use while in a wheelchair. The bed is also lower, to make it easier to transfer to/from a wheelchair. The room itself is usually the same size as a non-accessible room. The space is just arranged differently to make the bathroom large enough for a roll in shower. The space for that is 'taken' from the bedroom area, so the bedroom area is smaller and the bathroom is larger. Many of the 'fully accessible' rooms have a single King size bed so that they have enough room to get around with a wheelchair. The bathrooms in Disney Vacation Club 1 and 2 bedroom villas are large enough to have a roll in shower without changing the size of any rooms. The master bedrooms of DVC villas also have a whirlpool tub. So, unless, you need some of the 'features' I mentioned, you probably don't want to request a handicapped accessible room. There are less of them, which means less choice of location. If you do need a wheelchair accessible room, you need to arrange it thru Special Reservations. The CM making the reservation will actually call Special Reservations, make sure there is a room available and block a specific room for you. Link to Department of Justice web page with quick list of requirements for ADA accessible resort rooms.
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 01-04-2013 at 08:35 AM. Reason: verified number |
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02-05-2007, 08:55 AM
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#8 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Parking, WDW Boats, Monorails, Specialty Cruises & Taxis
The handicapped parking areas and some of the bus areas have courtesy shuttle wheelchairs that can be used to get from that area to the wheelchair/ECV rental area in the park. There is no guarantee any will be available.
 Handicapped Parking for the WDW parks/resorts
Monorails The monorails are wheelchair and ECV accessible. When you get to the monorail station, look for CMs or signs with wheelchair symbols to direct you. There are specific wheelchair loading areas for the monorail - the CM will put up a small ramp so you can roll right in. They are supposed to radio ahead to the next station to let them know you need the ramp put out. Monorail loading area for wheelchairs at TTC (note the ramp stored upright on the left side of the picture)  CM putting ramp in place  Monorail car at station with wheelchair ramp in place  Monorail stations are about 2 floors above the ground. From the MK resorts, you will enter on the same level of the building as the station. At MK and the TTC, you will need to go up a long steep ramp (and down a long steep ramp to get off). There are no elevators at MK or the TTC. Steep ramp at MK; you start at the level of the railing and go down a steep straight ramp to ground level  The monorail station at Epcot does have a longer, but less steep ramp and also has elevators. When getting on at Epcot, look for the wheelchair symbol on your right before entering the ramp. When getting off, ask a CM if you don't see the wheelchair symbol. Boats These boats are wheelchair/ECV accessible:
This is a picture of the Disney Park ECVs; note the bumpers Driving a wheelchair onto a Friendship Boat  Friendship boat inside wheelchair area (you can also park outside). Sorry the picture is so dark 
 Ramp at boat from OKW to Downtown Disney  Wheelchair space on OKW boat  Boat dock at OKW These boats are not wheelchair/ECV accessible:
Specialty Cruises:Fireworks Cruises at MK and Illuminations Cruises at Epcot There are pontoon boats at MK and pontoon boats and a special cruiser at Epcot. ECVs can be parked and left at the dock or may be able to fit on the pontoon boat. The pontoon boat door is wide enough for a standard width wheelchair. The chair can be placed on the boat in the front center between the seated party. The maximum number of guests is 10 including adults, children and the wheelchair. Policy is that all children 12 and under must wear a life vest. The special cruiser is called the Breathless and is a reproduction of a 1930s classic run about boat. It is not wheelchair or ECV accessible. It is similar to a speedboat, rides low in the water and requires a step down into the boat. Here's a link to a page with information about the Specialty Cruises. Here links to further information about transportation: DIS site page about boats DIS site page about Monorail DIS site page about parking Allearnet.com transportation page Accessible Taxi vans The company used most often by DIS posters is MEARS, which includes buses and taxi vans. Mears taxicabs operate under the Yellow Cab Company, Checker Cab Company and City Cab Company brand. You can use these accessible taxis to get to places within WDW and also to get to other nearby locations like Universal or Sea World. Taxicab Dispatch: (407) 422-2222
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 01-08-2011 at 09:16 PM. Reason: reformatted and added links |
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06-05-2007, 09:47 PM
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#9 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Universal
This thread will be added to as time goes on. For now, it has only a few links: Link to the Universal Orlando website. Link to Universal website Accessibility Information Link to Universal Rider's Guide. This is the Universal version of the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. It includes quite a bit of specific information about the attractions, including what abilities riders need to have to ride. Information originally from Phantom: Universal has GAP (Guest Assistance Passes). You do not need a doctor's note. Just be able to tell them what assistance you need at Guest Services. Both parks are ADA compliant and, as such, are wheelchair accessible. There is seldom a need for a separate line for wheelchairs as the wheelchair just goes through the regular line. There are several types of GAP offered: Stroller as a wheelchair (you can take your stroller right through the line without transferring to a wheelchair) Show GAP (Special seating at shows--usually right up front for visually or hearing impaired) Stairs GAP (for those rides that have stairs in the queue, you can use the elevator) Familyroom GAP (where you wait in an airconditioned room with a few other family members while the rest of your family goes through the queue--then you join them at the front of the line) Express GAP (which is essentially like a fast pass at Disney all day with a 6 people maximum) - NOTE: As of Spring 2011, posters have been reporting this is not being given out. Universal does have an Express Card that guests can purchase or you can get by staying at a Universal hotel. VIP Gap (back door access--mostly for Make a Wish Kids or Give Kids the World) Bill Sears did a very comprehensive report about Universal Studio/Island of Adventure in May 2008. The report includes many ride car pictures and descriptions of transfers. Harry Potter area at Universal
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 07-28-2011 at 08:06 PM. Reason: Add link |
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08-25-2007, 03:09 PM
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#10 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Sea World, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens in Tampa
This thread will be added to over time.
Link to DIS Board thread about Seaworld. SeaWorld Accessibility Guide (click here for link), includes locations of family bathrooms at the park, services like Assistive Listening, and pretty complete information about access to their attractions. NOTE: The link goes to the pdf file of their guidebook. When you open it, it looks blank. Scroll down a ways until you see the text start. The link apparently starts on the inside cover or something, which has no text. Discovery Cove doesn't have an online accessibility guide; here is what their website says about disabled guests: "Discovery Cove can accommodate guests with disabilities who are able to maneuver themselves with limited assistance (or with the aid of a personal assistant) during their dolphin experience and in the various wading locations. Discovery Cove also offers specially-designed outdoor wheelchairs with oversized tires for easy maneuvering on the beach. Wheelchairs can be reserved by calling 1-877-4-DISCOVERY." Link to Discovery Cove website. This is a link to the Busch Gardens in Tampa general page about touring with disabilities. It includes a list of attractions with warnings and at the bottom of the page, includes links to further information for guests with wheelchairs, hearing impairments and casts/braces. They use a Virtual Pass System for people with disabilities, which sounds like it functions much like WDW's Fastpass system - if you can't wait in the line or need to board somewhere other than the usual, you are given a Virtual Pass that allows you to wait somewhere else.
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 11-15-2009 at 01:05 AM. Reason: fix link |
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09-26-2007, 10:06 PM
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#11 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Basic Accessibility and Mobility Entrances
This is a link to an interactive video tour of WDW someone posted on youtube. It shows each park and the interactive part is that when you are viewing the outside of an attraction, you can choose to go inside and ride (through magic of an interactive link to another video).
Most of the attraction videos show the boarding process, including what the ride car looks like. BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY: In post #3 of this thread, there are links to the official WDW Guidebook for Disabilities for each park. In those, you will find a list of attractions with an icon for each one that tells what the access is (must transfer or can stay in the wheelchair). Link to WDW Parks Main Page about Guests with Disabilities That page contains links to information for guests with mobility, hearing and vision disabilities. It also contains links to the following park maps (updated November 2012): Link to Magic Kingdom Map for Guests with Disabilities Link to Epcot Map for Guests with Disabilities Link to Disney Hollywood Studio Map for Guests with Disabilities Link to Animal Kingdom Map for Guests with Disabilities List of which attractions you can stay in a wheelchair for and which require a transfer: Magic Kingdom® Park Can stay in a wheelchair or ECV: Castle Forecourt Stage Show Country Bear Jamboree Fairytale Garden Frontierland® Shooting Arcade Galaxy Palace Theater (seasonal) Jungle Cruise Liberty Square Riverboat Mickey's PhilharMagic Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Shrunken Ned's Jungle Boats "The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management" The Hall of Presidents Tomorrowland Arcade Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (seasonal) Guests in motorized vehicles, ECVs, must transfer into an available wheelchair at these attractions (if you are already in a wheelchair, you can use it in the attraction and won't need to transfer: Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin "it's a small world" Stitch's Great Escape!" The Magic Carpets of Aladdin The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Tom Sawyer Island Rafts Walt Disney World Railroad Attractions requiring Guests to transfer from their wheelchair to board the attraction include: Astro Orbiter Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Prince Charming Regal Carousel Dumbo the Flying Elephant Mad Tea Party Main Street Vehicles Peter Pan's Flight Pirates of the Caribbean Space Mountain® Swiss Family Treehouse - Guest must be ambulatory The Haunted Mansion Tomorrowland® Indy Speedway Epcot® Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV: Mexico: Art of Mexico Gallery Japan: Bijutsu-kan Gallery China: Gallery China: "Reflections of China" Imagination: "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" Imagination: Journey Into Your Imagination with Figment France: "Impressions de France" Innoventions East & West Canada: O Canada! Norway: Stave Church Gallery The American Adventure: The America Gardens Theatre The American Adventure: The American Adventure The Land: The Circle of Life The Seas with Nemo & Friends: All Attractions Morocco: "Treasure of Morocco" Guests in motorized vehicles, ECVs, must transfer into an available wheelchair at these attractions (people using a wheelchair may stay in the wheelchair): Universe of Energy: "Ellen's Energy Adventure" Mexico: Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros The Land: Living with the Land Attractions requiring Guests to transfer from their wheelchair or ECV to board the attraction include: Norway: Maelstrom Mission: SPACE Spaceship Earth Test Track The Land: Soarin'" Disney's Hollywood Studios" Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV: ABC Sound Studio American Idol "Beauty and the Beast" at the Theater of the Stars Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour Fantasmic! "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Muppet*Vision 3D Lights, Motors, Action!" Extreme Stunt Show Playhouse Disney - Live On Stage! The American Film Institute Showcase Voyage of the Little Mermaid Walt Disney: One Man's Dream Guests in motorized vehicles, ECVs, must transfer into an available wheelchair at these attractions: Tower of Terror Star Tours Toy Story Midway Mania Rock N Roller Coaster Attractions requiring Guests to transfer from their wheelchair to board the attraction include: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster® starring Aerosmith Star Tours "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror"" Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park Guests may enter and enjoy these attractions in a wheelchair or ECV: Caravan Stage: "Flights of Wonder" Cretaceous Trail Conservation Station Discovery Island Trails Finding Nemo - The Musical Fossil Fun Games It's Tough To Be A Bug Lion King Theater: "Festival of the Lion King" Maharajah Jungle Trek Pangani Forest Exploration Trail The Boneyard TriceraTop Spin Wildlife Express Guests in motorized vehicles, ECVs, must transfer into an available wheelchair at this attraction: Affection section in Rafiki's Planet Watch Kilimanjaro Safaris TriceraTop Spin Attractions requiring Guests to transfer from their wheelchair to board the attraction include: DINOSAUR Expedition Everest" Primeval Whirl Kali River Rapids Mobility Access: Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible thru the regular line (called Mainstream Lines). The information in italics is the information about Mainstream Lines from the WDW page about Mobility Disabilities: Walt Disney World Resort strives to provide mainstream access whenever possible; that is, all Guests utilize the main entrance to the attraction. However, accessibility varies from attraction to attraction within Disney Parks. The Guide for Guests with Disabilities and Park Guidemaps use symbols to indicate boarding procedures for each attraction. In addition, Guests should contact a Disney Cast Member at each attraction before entering. Mainstream queues can be found at these attractions at Walt Disney World Theme Parks. (it then goes on to list the Mainstream attractions). Most attractions for all parks are listed as "Enter through standard queue" for attractions without Fastpass or "Obtain a FASTPASS OR use Standby Queue" on the new Guide for Guest with Disabilities maps for each park I picked up in March 2011. There is also a large red box on the maps which says "Guests with any mobility or queue related assistance needs are encouraged to use the Disney's FASTPASS option where ever possible." There is the same explanation about how to use Fastpass as on the regular park maps. These are the attractions in each park with a different method of access other than the regular line, as listed on the map: MK WDW Railroad:Enter using ramp on the RIGHT on Main Street WDW Railroad:Enter using wheelchair ramp on RIGHT at Frontierland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Obtain Fastpass or see Host for options. If FASTPASS is not available, enter thru access on RIGHT Country Bear Jamboree:Enter thru door on LEFT Hall of Presidents:Enter through door on RIGHT Liberty Square Riverboat:Enter through exit on RIGHT or LEFT it's a small world:Follow directional signs to designated load area Peter Pan's Flight:Obtain FASTPASS or see host for options. If Fastpass is not available, see a host for options. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel:Enter through exit on RIGHT Dumbo:Enter using ramp on RIGHT Tea Party:Enter through exit on RIGHT Space Mountain:Obtain a FASTPASS or see a host for options. If FASTPASS not available, enter through queue on RIGHT Epcot Spaceship Earth:Enter through the exit on the RIGHT or LEFT Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the 3 Caballeros:Enter through the Standard Queue. Follow directional signs to designated load area. American Adventure:See a host or hostess for access to second floor Impressions de France:Enter through LEFT side of entrance hallway Studio Great Movie Ride:Enter through the Standard queue. A host will provide directions in the pre-show area Studio Backlot Tour:Enter through the standard queue and stay to the RIGHT Fantasmic:Enter through the standard queue and stay to the RIGHT Animal Kingdom Wildlife Express Train:Proceed through standard queue. A host will direct boarding The Boneyard:Enter through the designated access gate Everything other than these attractions I have listed say to enter through the mainstream or standby queue. The maps are very easy to read (although the type is small) and I recommend if they go, that they get one for each park. The access information is listed right on the map with all the other information. There are icons that show which attractions you can stay right in the wheelchair or ECV for the whole attraction and which you need to transfer to a ride car. Information about attractions with moving walkways and stairs has been moved to post 28 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 02-18-2013 at 07:21 PM. Reason: Deleted old |
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11-03-2007, 12:22 PM
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#12 | |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Kennedy Space Center
We don't have much information about Kennedy Space Center, but here is a link to the information for people with disabilities at the Space Center website.
Because we did not have much, Random Ninja did a really nice review of Kennedy Space Center to add to the disaABILITIES FAQS thread. Quote:
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 08-18-2012 at 11:57 AM. |
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12-25-2007, 07:40 PM
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#13 |
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Poinciana, FL (20 miles to WDW)
Posts: 36,622
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Disney Cruise Line
Based on a recent cruise, I have started three threads related to DCL. They are:
Accessible Staterooms on DCL which discusses staterooms. Accessibility Onboard the Disney Ships which has to do with the rest of the ship. Third section, Accessibility in Ports, is still under construction. Link to report on "Handicapped Friendly" excursion that was not. Service Animals on Cruise is fairly self-explanatory. Link to another Service Animals on Cruise thread. There may be additional links in the future. Here is a link to photos of one accessible stateroom (6154) Link to Dreams Unlimited diagram of the Disney Dream (click on the picture to make it bigger - it doesn't get that much bigger, but you can see the little wheelchair icon). Link to wdwinfo.com (DIS Boards 'parent' site) about DCL, including pictures. Lots of photos of ECV on a Disney cruise. Includes pictures of ramps, DME bus lift, offship trip. (NOTE: the ECV in the pictures is one of the largest ECVs made; most ECVs are not this large). Link to trip report of child with diabetes and mobility challenges
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41 WDW Stays Totalling 321 nights between 1987 and mid-2003.
Animal Kingdom Lodge; All Stars(2); Beach Club; Boardwalk Inn; Caribbean Beach (9); Contemporary Tower (13); Courtyard (2); Disney Institute; Dixie Landings; Grand Floridian; Grosvenor; Hilton; Old Key West; Polynesian; Port Orleans; Royal Plaza; Shades of Green; Wilderness Lodge; Marriott World Center (3); Other Off-Property (Other Than just 1st or last Night) (8). Now Working Part Time at Walt Disney World! (Guest Services/Ticket Sales/Turnstile Greeter) A few very helpful links which are on DisBoards: Everything About WDW Tickets and this one disABILITIES FAQs  Last edited by SueM in MN; 03-22-2010 at 08:57 PM. Reason: Add link |
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01-19-2008, 05:41 PM
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#14 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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DisneyLAND
Questions come up often enough about DisneyLAND, that I thought it was worth a section of the disABILITIES FAQs thread about DisneyLAND.
This is a link to the official Disneyland general page about touring with disabilities. On the left side of the page, you will see links to a page about Mobility, Hearing and Visual Disabilities. Link to the official DisneyLAND page about touring the park with mobility disabilities. Disneyland park Map for guests with disabilities: http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/med...ties_Guide.pdf DCA park map for guests with disabilities: http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/med...ties_Guide.pdf You can get a copy at the parks, but it's nice to have ahead of time for planning. They do list attractions with a wheelchair accessible ride car. This is a link to a Disneyland official printable page about mobility access at for guests with wheelchairs/ECVs or other mobility concerns. It includes information about which rides/attractions are wheelchair accessible and what to do for access. Disneyland is older and less accessible, although they have added accessibility as areas/attractions in the park were renovated. Disney's California Adventure was built more recently and all attractions have Mainstream (accessible) queues. Link to the Disneyland official guide for guests with visual disabilities (including information about the handheld assistive device). Link to Disneyland Guide to lighting effects (which may be of interest to guests with seizures if they are sensitive to strobe lights. It is not very helpful though, since it just says some attractions may have lights - but not which kinds of lights or which attractions). The information about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards) in post #6 of this thread applies to DisneyLand as well as to WDW. Some of the access is a little different at DL than at WDW since DL is an older park. ECV and Wheelchair Rental at Disneyland: Several people, here and on other boards, have recommended: Deckert Surgical Supply in Santa Ana at (714) 542-5607 (I have never found a website). Orange County Medical Supply at (714) 956-4690 Both will deliver to your resort. Links Link to Disney website page about handheld device for hearing and visual disabilities. allearsnet.com page with links to attraction seating photos DL trip report from ReAnSt with a temporary disability - many pictures. Pictures of a few DL ride cars from BillSears Thread in this forum with lots of information. Thread from DL forum - page 2 has a good list of attractions. Thread about Gluten Free dining at DL
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 02-18-2013 at 08:33 PM. Reason: Added link to Disneyland park maps or disabilities |
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03-16-2008, 07:46 AM
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#15 |
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It's like combining the teacups with a roller coaster
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Twin Cities area,Minnesota,USA
Posts: 28,583
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Air Travel
Discussion about TSA screening policies
This is a direct link to the official TSA (Transportation Security Administration) blog area with posts about passengers with disabilities. It includes 2 stories about why they screen wheelchairs/passengers with wheelchair. It also indicates that the TSA works with a coalition of over 70 disability related groups who have assisted TSA in writing their policies for passengers with disabilities to help make sure people are thoroughly screened, but also treated with dignity and respect (their words). I don't know whether or not the new patdown rules were brought to this coalition group or not, but if they did it in the past, there is good chance they will work on it in the future. This is a link to the TSA official blog with general information: The blog also includes a recommendation for passengers with disabilities to contact one of their Customer Service Managers prior to travel to coordinate their screening before travel so their needs can be met. And, if you want to complain or make a compliment, there is a feedback form on the page. So, it does sound like they are taking feedback seriously. Link to thread/discussion about air travel screening started November 2010. If possible, take a non-stop flight. A direct flight may sound like it will get there without stopping, but direct flights may stop in other cities to pick up passengers before continuing to your final destination. A direct flight is just one where the flight number does not change. Links to information about Orlando Airport Orlando airport website Orlando - specific page about access for people with disabilities Orlando - locations of Companion Restrooms (there is also a link in the specific page about disabilities. Orlando - specific page about arrivals Orlando - specific page about departures Orlando - terminal maps and layouts You can find DME (Disney Magical Express) Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. (more info about DME on post 16). The way to DME is well marked with signs. You will pass the car rental counters and keep going to the end of the terminal building. Links about air travel in general Link to Air Carrier Access Act information page (ACAA covers air travel, not ADA) Link to Department of Transportation: Text of Air Carrier Access Act in effect May 13, 2009 Link to new Air Carrier Access Act in effect in May 13, 2009. Page contains many links to parts of the act and may be easier than the previous link to find some things. Thread about Transportation Disability Hotline: Information about rights Thread about travel with wheelchair TSA has instituted new lane arrangements to help streamline the security check process.Here's a link to the TSA page about the new lines and how they work. And a picture of the lines at Orlando airport. The wheelchair line is to the far right.  Link to larger picture. Link to TSA page about new AIT screening machines Air Travel with Disabilities and Special Needs there is a requirement that liquids (mouthwash, shampoo, etc.) be in bottles of 3 ounces or less and each passenger may not have more of these items than will fit in a 1 quart ziplock bag (available for free at the screening station at many airports). The 3 ounces requirement does not apply to medications. You need to separate the medication and declare it, but that's not a problem. Link to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Page titled Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions. That is an index page with links to other information. Air Travel American Diabetes Association has a good page about travel with diabetes - check out the links TSA Page: Before You Go: hints for people with disabilities TSA Page: Tips for the Screening Process - Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions TSA page about travel with medication and medical devices. TSA page about travel with CPAP machine. TSA page: Military Severly Injured Program TSA page about travel with children with disabilities TSA page about travel with children - includes hints and video links. The one titled Traveling with Kids shows the entire screening process from taking off shoes and putting things into the bin to what happens if you need additional screening. The one titled Kids-to-Kids is children explaining the same information for other children. Marie S's Going on an Airplane PEC book What about Medical Equipment? Does it count as baggage? As long as it is medical equipment and nothing else is packed with it - it will be counted as medical equipment without charge. With the new charges being added for bags, airlines are giving bags more scrutiny than before. I have heard of people putting a few pieces of their medical equipment into 3 or 4 bags filled with other items and then trying to claim all 3-4 bags as medical. Because of situations like that, airlines are more suspicious of bags claimed as medical. If you have only medical equipment in the bags, you should not have a problem. Make a list of things you will need and then think about all of the things on your list. Will you need them all during the flight? How much/many of each will you need? What if the flight is delayed? What will you need soon after arriving? What if the item gets delayed in arriving to you or gets damaged or lost? How long could you do without it? How difficult would it be to replace? I would look at each item on your list with those questions. Carry on anything you can't do without for the duration of the flight and at least 8 hours after (longer if you think it would be difficult to replace or if you are arriving late in the day, when getting a hold of someone would be difficult). Always carry on medication, things that are vital to you and anything that could not be replaced. What if the airline loses something major?  Airlines don't really lose that many pieces of baggage when you consider how much they transport each day. But, you don't want to take any chance on anything that is vital. For some items, you can carry what you will need for the first 8-12 hours and then have additional supplies shipped to your resort. You should be able to work with your current suppliers to have the items shipped and that way they will be billed the 'normal' way. If your supplier does not have a branch in the Orlando area, they will probably have already dealt with getting stuff to Orlando and should be able to help you. Can I take an oxygen tank on the plane? No. You are not allowed to carry an oxygen tank on the plane. Each airline has a little different rules about how they do things, but the oxygen on a plane must be provided by the airline. Some airlines will not provide oxygen, but all do allow personal oxygen concentrators. All airlines are now required to allow the use of portable oxygen concentrators that have been approved by FAA (subject to various requirements, such as that adequate batteries are brought). See 14 C.F.R. 382.133. (thanks to jsilvers for the clarification). You will need to work with your current oxygen supplier to set up the oxygen in Orlando. Your current supplier should be able to help with all the respiratory supplies. Here's a link to a page that will help with information about travel with oxygen, including information about airlines and links/phone numbers to the airline websites. The links don't take you directly to the website's oxygen information and many don't have an easy way to find it. They all have some information, you just may have to search for it. Has anyone had their child have a melt-down in flight? You can't really tell how the child will react until you go. Keep in mind that no matter what happens, you will probably not be the first person that has had a child melt down. And, you may not even be the only one on your flight. Also keep in mind the things that normally cause meltdowns for your child. Think about how the child reacts to new things and how you usually prepare them. With planning, you may be able to avoid the triggers for the most part. And, many of the things that work on the ground will work in the air too. Sometimes it is recommended to try some medication to calm the child for the flight. If you plan to do this, try it out before your flight. Some people will have a reaction or the medication will have the opposite expected effect on them - you don't want to find that out in flight. Marie S's Going on an Airplane PEC book may give you some helpful ideas. What about preboarding? Some people like to preboard because it gives them an opportunity to get settled before other passengers get on. Others prefer to get on late in the boarding process so they don't have to sit on the plane so long. Depending on your flight/size of plane, you may be on board for close to an hour before take off if you preboard. Ask the gate agent about preboarding as soon as you get to the gate. What is gate checking and can I gate check a wheelchair? Wheelchairs can be gate checked. Ask about this as you check in for your flight. They may give you a gate check tag right away or tell you to check in with the gate agent for gate checking. When you get to the gate, tell the agent there that you want to preboard and ask about gate checking before they start loading. They used to automatically preboard anyone with a wheelchair, but don't always preboard any more unless you ask (some people with disabilities did not want to preboard and felt it discriminated against them to make them preboard). You will be able to keep your wheelchair until the door of the plane, but wheelchairs are too wide to fit down the aisle. They do have smaller aisle wheelchairs available if you need one (scroll a little farther down for information about aisle chairs). After getting out of the wheelchair, if there are things that stick out (like cupholders, etc that may be attached) or things that are not screwed or bolted on, it is best to remove and carry them on if you can. My DD's wheelchair seat and back have gel in them, to avoid any problems with them getting too cold or getting pierced during the flight, I remove them and carry them on. Her armrests just lift off, so I lift those off and carry them on too. I actually carry a large nylon laundry bag to put the wheelchair pieces in after I remove them. The bag folds up very small into a pocket on one of our suitcases and putting things in it helps ensure I have not left anything at the gate. Some people take a picture of the wheelchair with their cell phone or digital camera to prove what condition it was when they left is at the gate. Contrary to popular belief, wheelchairs are not loaded in a separate baggage area; they are packed with other baggage, so damage is possible, although in at least once a year travel for over 20 years, the only damage DD's wheelchair has had was a bent antitip bar. I've heard that airplanes are required to have space to store one wheelchair on board the plane. How does this work? All 100 seat or more planes delivered to US airlines since 1992 are supposed to have a closet or alternate FAA approved place to store one folded wheelchair (first come, first serve). IF the plane has a closet (some airplanes still flying were delivered before that time), IF your wheelchair can be folded to fit into the area (some are too big) and IF there is room in the closet when you board, you may put it in the closet/storage area. Passenger's assistive devices/folded wheelchairs have priority over other over other passengers’ items brought on board at the same airport. If you do not preboard and the space is filled when you get on the plane, then you are out of luck. Even if you preboard, the space may be filled with items brought on by travelers at an earlier stop. The new Air Carrier Access Act (May 2009) also added this information: If the wheelchair is too big for the space while fully assembled, but will fit if wheels or other parts can be removed without the use of tools, the carrier must remove the applicable components and stow the wheelchair in the designated space. The other parts must be stowed in the areas for stowage of carry-on luggage. The closets/stowage areas are usually better suited for 'basic' foldable wheelchairs that will fold and fit into a fairly narrow space. The new guidelines add a size requirement that was not in previously - providing "a space of 13 inches by 36 inches by 42 inches without having to remove the wheels or otherwise disassemble it." This may be too small for some manual wheelchairs, even if wheels can be popped off. I have taken DD's wheelchair apart and put it in the on-board storage space, but it really needs to pretty much be totally dis-assembled to fit. So, if you want to try for on-board storage, ask as soon as you check in, pre-board and be prepared to gate check the wheelchair if it doesn't fit. Using an Aisle Chair My DD has CP and can't walk. She also can't sit well in any wheelchair except her own. She stays in her wheelchair until we board (the one she travels with is a manual wheelchair, but it would work generally the same if we took her power chair). The wheelchair is taken to the gate right to the door of the plane, where she is transferred into an aisle chair (shown in the pictures below). The chairs from different airlines may look a little different, but the basic design is the same. An aisle chair is basically a very narrow wheelchair that can fit down the aisle of the airplane.  Link to larger picture. The wheelchair and aisle chair are parked tight next to each other, brakes locked and belts unfastened.  Link to larger picture. The airline staff do a 2 person lift, with one person taking the top half and the other person the legs. They lift DD the short distance from her wheelchair (at the front of the picture) to the aisle chair in the background. Straps are fastened to keep the arms and legs in place and the aisle chair is rolled into the plane.  Link to larger picture. The process is repeated in reverse to leave the plane. My DD gets her wheelchair delivered to the arrival gate when we leave the plane - it is brought right to the door of the plane. Wheelchairs are put in the plane last and unloaded first, but you may still have to wait until the plane is almost empty before your wheelchair is delivered to the gate. Ask the Flight Attendant to let you know when the wheelchair arrives. At that point, I usually get off so I can put the wheelchair back together before DH brings DD off the plane. If you need an aisle chair, they will usually make you wait to get off until all the other passengers have gotten off. Some people who can ride in an airport wheelchair may choose to get their wheelchair delivered to the baggage claim area. Just make sure the baggage claim tag for your wheelchair is marked for the correct place before you board the plane.
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SueM in MN
Moderator of disABILITIES Link to disABILITIES FAQs thread Spaceship Earth: We are all passengers together. Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans......John Lennon Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud. Dr. Maya Angelou trip report link in Memory of eternaldisneyfan, who lived these words: Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses. Alphonse Karr Last edited by SueM in MN; 03-17-2013 at 09:28 AM. Reason: new TSA link |
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