parties with a disability person

[monkeymers]

But the really important one is this...Does it allow people with a disability enjoy Disneyland in a similar way to those without a disability?

Yes and at the end of the day that IMHO is all that matters.

Well stated. My brother's daughter is autistic and I have seen the "meltdown" first hand. When the stimulation saturation is reached, all bets are off, and the day may as well be over.

Thank you, Disney, for offering the GAC. It's honestly the only way my brother's family will ever have Disney vacations.

 

[Malcon10t]

This is one of many reasons I no longer watch the Today Show. I cringed when this story was played over and over for about a week. It was clearly edited for maximum drama. Example: pointing to a line for Buzz to show a line that's usually bypassed. This is a HA compliant line, so it didn't fit in the story.

I'm surprised Disney didn't throw a fit after this was aired.

Right, Buzz you follow the regular line. And Star Tours, the "magic door", yes, WC or HA do enter there, AFTER they have waited in the regular line to the front door. Oh, adn on Tea Cups? They "bypassed" the line, that wasn't even a line??

 

[BlueBayou]

The last couple of years my family of 4 has taken my mom with us. We rent a scooter from an outside company for all of her to use to and from the hotel and in the parks.

At home my mom has moved from a cain to a walker inside her home and she can only shop in places with scooters. If she goes to Walmart or the grocery store she frequently has to wait 30 minutes to get a scooter.

If we are with her - we bring her wheelchair and push her. But she likes the freedom of a scooter better.

What the previous posters have said about some waits being shorter but others being longer at Disneyland is so true.

We have waited nearly 40 minutes for a 15 minute standby ride at POTC. The line from the exit went all the way back to the Royal Street Veranda. But it is mom's favorite ride and she had not been on it since 1979. I think the CMs realized the disabled line was getting too long - so when we got on, they filled the whole boat with people from the 'disability line.' It was a very funny experience. We had all kinda got to know each other having been stuck in line together for so long. There was a blind person and a person with a seizure dog and others with breathing/mobility issues like my mom. It took SO long to load our boat. My husband and I were having trouble getting my mom loaded into the boat. Other companions to people with mobility issues jumped up to help lower my mom down. Two men we didn't know and my DH got my mom in the boat - and when it was time to get off - they told us to wait until they got their loved one out they would help us.

The haunted mansion is extra long wait too.

It's not like we are riding any of the coasters or E-Tickets with mom. Believe me - when mom is back at the hotel - we can commando tour. This is about spending time in magical place with my mom for as long as she is healthy enough to travel.

If people scam the system - shame on them. But it's not my place to judge... you never know what is going on.

 

[dtnrhi]

Yes, usually the waits are longer. Space Mountain is a GREAT example. For every 12ish cars, there is one handicapped car. It goes through on cycle, skips one for load/unload, goes through a cycle, load/unload. That in itself makes the wait nearly 24 TIMES LONGER THAN THE NORMAL LINE. Add to that the people who get in a wheelchair because they think the wait will be shorter, and you get EXTREMELY long waits. My brother can no longer go on because his back and scoliosis has gotten so bad, so this is not one wait we miss.

And, there are are different passes. This is newish. We went in February, and then again in May. In May, the CMs at City Hall gave (specifically Seniors at gradnight) a certain pass if they could determine (but not say nor lead on about anything) that they were trying to abuse the pass. Us, along with several other "legitimate" users got different passes where we got to skip all of the seniors sitting in wheelchairs in lines at the exit. They can't lead on that they know, or ask for proof of anything, but if you can't get your story straight about what is wrong with you, they know.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, Peter Pan is a good example. We have always waited around the same amount of time in the accessible area as the estimated stand by time but it is not a dark, tight and crowded so DS deals with it. Of course, this means that in 3 trips, I have yet to see the really cool ambiance of the dark FL ride. I've heard that Snow White is a good one but I've missed it. RR is my husband's favourite line but as I said above, we have to skip that or risk a meltdown.

Maybe this will help you feel better... The line for PP is nothing but darkish to darker. Back and forth along very narrow fences, into the darkening area. Then you go through an old turnstile made when people wore fitted dresses and heels to the parks, up, and then you get on the ride.

I remember absolutely nothing interesting but switchbacks in the dark for Snow White. Nor Pinocchio.

RR is nothing but insane NOISE and explosions and color and more and more noise. It's seriously maddening, and I despise the line. Even if it's just me I'm plugging my ears (I have hearing loss BUT sharp noises hurt me). With DS, even though he's a typical kid, he gets overwhelmed. He does the FP line, but won't step foot in the standby line. When he was little we had to take him out of the line just at the seating area because he was crying and just so obliterated by the sounds and lights, etc.

I get that you're curious, but the lines for the Fantasyland rides are really nothing special or interesting at all, IMO.

 

[Escape2Disney]

This is about spending time in magical place with my mom for as long as she is healthy enough to travel.

This is the bottom line. Without the accommodations, I would have to stop making Disney memories with my family. Your story was wonderful! It's awesome that you go out of your way to make Disney possible for your mom.

 

[Castillo Mom]

I have severe ankle arthritis and while the OP's feet may have been achy by the end of a long day at the parks mine is painful every day all the time, some days worse than others. I would gladly trade my crappy ankle for a healthy one so I can wait in the regular line like everyone else knowing my achy feet is a temporary situation. Sheesh.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[mindy327]

I'm not one to answer wheelchair questions either, but this one ill chime in. my DH has a permanent ileostomy bag and has had multiple MAJOR surgeries (entire colon removed, all but three feet of small intestine) to save his life, and permanently disabled. getting a wheelchair is a hard thing to do for him for he want to be as "normal"as possible, but he gets one anyhow because of the amount of pain he is in. he also gets a GAC card incase he can walk the line easier. Now, he LOOKS normal and because of that we get stares with our children going through the lines or in his chair like we abuse the system. One guy and I quote" MUST BE NICE!" I stopped. Took my DHs GAC card and said "here, He'll trade you this card for your colon and a pain free life to stand in line with in your place." Let's just say his face was priceless. please don't judge others by the way they look or who is with them. we may LOOK like we abuse the "system" but clearly it is not the case. disabilities are not always what they are stereotyped to be.Because what you don't see are the 91 days this past year spent in a hospital, three specialist appointments a week, midnight leaks, astronomic stomach pain,and our kids constantly worried their daddy is going to die, etc but we go to the parks to spend time with our family. I worry with the abuse the GAC system will be changed dramatically but I hope it's for the better to stop the abuse and stereotyping from occurring.

 

[Puget Peach]

I suspect the OP has abandoned this thread, most likely immediately after posting. What a shame. I spent 4 years of annual passes to Walt Disney World with a companion in his own motorized wheel chair. He was in fantastic physical condition, strong, and healthy except for very complex cognitive, seizure, and mood disorders coupled with balance issues due to a traumatic brain injury. We frequently got dirty looks when he rode his chair to the rear of MY PT Cruiser in the disabled parking spot, jumped out, disassembled it, and helped me load it into the back. He loved Disney World because the CM were so respectful and helpful. If only the ignorant, arrogant, and stupid guests (of which there are thankfully VERY few) could suddenly grow a generous and compassionate spirit. He used to smile sweetly at people so inconsiderate as to make comments intentionally within ear shot and say"I hope you guys have a really nice day. Sounds like you could use one." And the best part is, he meant it!

 

[sandysue]

You don't think this post was deliberately meant to antagonize? I appreciate hearing about people's experiences, but I find it hard to believe the OP was for real.

 

[vbmom40]

I chaperone trips with organizations for the disabled and the last time we were at Disneyland there was a Gentleman with a broken leg and 12 people with him waiting up in the exit to board the boats on the pirates. We had 7 people with multiple disabilities with us. Everyone in his group boarded the boats and he waited for them and did not even ride. I was really pissed off at this point be cause we were legitimately there. I definitely see how people take advantage of the use of a wheel chair for that purpose. Ruins it for the rest of the ones whom actually need it.

 

[lalasmama]

You don't think this post was deliberately meant to antagonize? I appreciate hearing about people's experiences, but I find it hard to believe the OP was for real.

The OP had 95 posts, so it's hard to say "troll". However, I just went to look at his (her) statistics, and the last time s/he logged in was 8/30/13, which was 2 days after this thread was started. Interestingly, s/he had a post earlier that same day about how s/he thought it was okay to send family to wait in line, get FPs, and then join family in line. Other than that, previous posts appeared appropriate, sincere questions and discussion.

While I hate to lose a member of the DIS, I always have always liked the general friendliness and acceptance we have here, so if it's losing a member versus dealing with antagonizing posts, well, we know what one most DIS'ers would pick

 

[LilPiratesMommy]

I have a 5 year old from appearance looks healthy and robust. It's the invisible disabilities that I have learned from him to never judge what I perceive to be a healthy person using special parking or access. You never know what a person struggles with. My 5 year old suffers from seizures that are not triggered by anything and also his legs tend to go limp and he collapses and gets head injuries. I try to hardly ever use the GAC but I always carry it incase we do need it. I've been lucky to keep him in a large stroller until now while at amusement parks but at times he does get up and run. He has ended up in the hospital here and ill never risk it again. Ill take anyone's dirty looks and their attitude as long as my child is safe! Don't let others get to you.... Just laugh at them it will really piss them off.