[Question] Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

[charity]

I have a boot cast on my foot - I've been told that I don't need to go to Guest Services - that I can use a wheelchair entrance when they are available and that the cast member will see the bootcast. I've seen other threads that say absolutely not - you may not use those entrances. I'm confused.
Steps are hard - I've seen threads that said some of the parks are more mainstreamed than others and it's easy access to move thru the regular lines, but not all - like Toy Story - there are steps. I've been there before after a knee surgery and I know where the ramp is. And at Hollywood Studios they have a lights motor action show that had steps to get up into the stadium seating. I can't walk those steps, I'd fall right back down.
Sorry for the long post - I know I can always go into Guest Services and just ask - but trying to prepare myself. I don't want anything "easy" - I just want to avoid steps when possible. Thanks!!

[DancinBelle]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

That's a very good question, don't feel bad for asking. The wheelchair policy varies from attraction to attraction. Your best bet is to go to Guest Services and explain the situation. If you have the pass, you won't spend your vacation time worrying about stairs. My sister-in-law got a pass because she was in between heart surgeries and needed to avoid stairs and such. Guest Relations was super nice about, and we never had to feel stressed about which attractions would be difficult to access.

With your boot cast, will you be using crutches? The parks can be exhausting, and you may want to consider a wheelchair. It might not be fun, but if it keeps you from feeling tired faster and lets you enjoy the parks more, it may be worth it.

Enjoy your trip!

[Koutesu]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

We were at Disneyland a few weeks ago. We went to the Haunted Mansion. The Disneyland queue has you going into a graveyard to the left of the house where there are switchbacks before coming along the front porch where the portico is seen. The cast member there saw my dad with his cane and stopped him and told him save the walk and use the ADA ramp to the right of the portico. That was nice of her. We also went on the Little Mermaid at DCA. The queue passes the front door and goes to the left side of the building before returning to the front door. The CMs there would let him wait at the door instead of walking down to the end and back. Last year we rode Midway Mania and we asked the CMs if it was possible to let him avoid the stairs at the end, so they loaded us so that he could avoid the stairs.

[charity]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

Well this makes me feel a little bit better. I didn't know if I saw a ramp and used it - if a cast member would question me as to why I dont' have a pass and tell me to turn around.
I just don't know which rides will have steps is the main problem. To stand in line that long and see steps. I do have crutches and in fact I was at Disney once on crutches - that was the time I did not ask for a pass I was just wondering what to do and a cast member gave me a pass to enter via the fast pass lane or Handicap lane. They said they wanted me to have a magical time - as it turned out that cast member had recently had the exact same surgery I did on the same knee. Right now my foot is driving me insane and almost dread the trip. I'd rather go of course w/o the boot or crutches and walk at a pace that keeps up with the family. I know i can take breaks if I have to but am just trying to prepare myself. I didn't know if I saw a ramp and used it - if a cast member would question me as to why I dont' have a pass and tell me to turn around. Guess I will try taking ramps when I see them and see if they allow us to come in. I know I was at one attraction - I think it was Toy Story (this was almost 2 years ago, on crutches...and the handicap line was almost as long as the regular line - but at least it had the ramp and that helped)

---------- Post added 08-13-2012 at 12:08 AM ----------

P.S. - how do you email disney???? That was a great suggestion! I figured they'd have thousands of emails and couldn't possibly answer them all!

[Bill]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

Hi charity-

If I understand you situation correctly, you are simply saying that you will be in a wheelchair for the majority of your visit. If that is the case, then no, you do not need any further paperwork. Simply use the normal entrances at all attractions, and if there is an alternate entrance, the Cast Member at that specific attraction will direct you to it. But always attempt to go to the main standby (or Fastpass if you are using it) entrance.

If you will not be in a wheelchair, it is best to stop by Guest Relations and explain the nature of your condition. They will be happy to give you a Guest Assistance Card with appropriate notations that can streamline the process for attractions Cast Members during your visit.

Just know that for most attractions at Walt Disney World, the disabled persons line IS the normal line, it simply will split off to a separate line at a later location in the queue.

[charity]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

Bill thank you for taking the time to reply. No, I will not be in a wheelchair. I will have a bootcast and probably crutches, so taking steps is going to be a huge problem. Even w/o crutches taking steps in the boot cast is difficult and easy to trip and fall. I will keep my eye open for the alternate entrances and go ahead and talk with guest relations. I just don't want to bother them as I've heard too many people abuse the policy. I just want help with steps that's it. Thank you so much for your post.

Hi charity-

If I understand you situation correctly, you are simply saying that you will be in a wheelchair for the majority of your visit. If that is the case, then no, you do not need any further paperwork. Simply use the normal entrances at all attractions, and if there is an alternate entrance, the Cast Member at that specific attraction will direct you to it. But always attempt to go to the main standby (or Fastpass if you are using it) entrance.

If you will not be in a wheelchair, it is best to stop by Guest Relations and explain the nature of your condition. They will be happy to give you a Guest Assistance Card with appropriate notations that can streamline the process for attractions Cast Members during your visit.

Just know that for most attractions at Walt Disney World, the disabled persons line IS the normal line, it simply will split off to a separate line at a later location in the queue.

[ttintagel]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

I just don't want to bother them as I've heard too many people abuse the policy.

I keep *hearing* this, too, but I'm not convinced. I think a lot of people are too willing to jump to conclusions about other people when there's no way they can know the whole story.

I wouldn't let fear of what other people might think keep you from asking for help if you need it.

Last time I was there, I had a broken foot and a boot cast, which would have only required crutches in the real world. However, given that the average WDW guest walks 8-10 miles a day, I used the wheelchair that the doctor recommended. It meant the difference between a vacation spent enjoying myself and one spent fighting pain and exhaustion, struggling to keep up, and missing out on stuff. If you get there and find that it's too much to do on crutches, I hope you'll reconsider.

Either way, I recommend going to Guest Services and asking what to do. Helping you is what they're there to do!

[charity]

Re: Please clarify the new info about the handicap entrance

Thanks ttintagel for the advice. I was actually there once before on crutches and not sure how but I got used to them. There were times I would have liked a wheelchair but my husband won't push me in one and he won't pay to rent the electric type. Conversation I'd rather not elaborate on because it makes him sound horrible. I did fine on the crutches and am pretty upset with myself now about my foot and getting injured a lot lately. Between my knee surgery and my broken foot I also had a broken elbow from falling off my darn bike. I've never had a broken bone or injury in my life until the last 2 years. Yes, I do worry about what others say about the abuse and the new policies but there was a thread somewhere where a castmember posted and she worked in the guest services office at one of the parks and said absolutely no pass for crutches or the boot. So that's why I'm scared about doing steps. Even with no wheel chair and no crutches, just walking with the stupid boot is hard on steps, it's sooo easy to trip because your leg doesn't move the same way or bend the same way. SIGH SIGH SIGH!

I keep *hearing* this, too, but I'm not convinced. I think a lot of people are too willing to jump to conclusions about other people when there's no way they can know the whole story.

I wouldn't let fear of what other people might think keep you from asking for help if you need it.

Last time I was there, I had a broken foot and a boot cast, which would have only required crutches in the real world. However, given that the average WDW guest walks 8-10 miles a day, I used the wheelchair that the doctor recommended. It meant the difference between a vacation spent enjoying myself and one spent fighting pain and exhaustion, struggling to keep up, and missing out on stuff. If you get there and find that it's too much to do on crutches, I hope you'll reconsider.

Either way, I recommend going to Guest Services and asking what to do. Helping you is what they're there to do!