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(Back to Part 1 of Walt Disney World® Special Needs – Attraction Boarding Tips)

I’m going to spend a minute here on what to do when being denied boarding on a ride.  Sometimes, due to the nature of the ride, you may not be allowed to board…be it because you must transfer or because you are not able to load within a certain time, etc.  This can be a very defeating moment and I have a few things you should keep in mind.

First, the Walt Disney World® Resort (and other Disney properties) is the best in the whole world at making things wheelchair accessible.  Their business is customer service and they do a great job when it comes to meeting the special needs of all their customers.  There may be, however, operational, construction or safety issues that are out of their control.  I was once told by a Walt Disney World Special Needs counselor that they would love for everyone who cannot transfer from their wheelchair to be able to ride all the rides, however, putting a wheelchair on the Rock’n’Rollercoaster was simply not a good idea!

Second, if you are being told you cannot ride due to your particular disability, and the Cast Member (CM) has not already done so, request to speak with a manager/supervisor.  It has been my experience that the CM’s call their manager before they ever come talk to you about it, so that the manager has time to get there.  Remember to remain polite and calm, but ask the manager to explain to you why they think the ride would be dangerous for you.  They probably know something that you don’t, and they are just looking out for your safety.  However, as in my case in one instance, I knew something that a manager did not know…“me!”  The situation occurred at my favorite ride, Rock’n’Rollercoaster.  I had ridden the attraction several dozen times before the incident occurred, so I knew there was no danger.  I explained to the manager that while it may not appear so, I have a large amount of upper body strength, and even though I don’t have arms, I use my shoulders to brace myself and to protect my neck.  After answering a few of her questions, she said to get onboard and have fun!

In conclusion to this Walt Disney World® Special Needs Tip:

The Walt Disney World® Resort is magical…but there has to be some safety added in with that magic, or it wouldn’t be magical!  Remember that while some situations may be handled poorly, that the CMs involved are not getting joy out of making it more difficult for you, but rather they are getting joy out of giving you a safe, but wonderful experience.  And always remember, no matter what happens whether you’re at the Walt Disney World® Resort with Special Needs or anywhere else…“Only you can let someone else ruin your day!”

Many folks in wheelchairs know that there are unique boarding and accessibility requirements at each and every ride in the Walt Disney World® Resort.  Most of the time, Disney is quite good about having cast members at the entrance to each ride in order to answer specific questions and to direct you on where to go.  However, here are some steps to follow in order to know the boarding procedure at every ride before you get to the loading platform:

1. Before your trip, have your Off to Neverland Travel® Magic Maker® send you the “Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities” for every park.  You can also get these Walt Disney World special needs books at Guest Services in each park, however having them before the trip is invaluable for planning information.  They help with general knowledge like what lines to use, whether you have to transfer or not, and the intensity level of each ride.  Some explanations in these books are kind of vague, but they do help.
2. As you approach each ride, there should be a Cast Member standing at the entrance.  Approach them and explain what your abilities are in regards to transferring, walking, and your ability to control body motion once onboard.  (Some rides offer more restraints for those who have difficulty controlling there body movement.)
3. The Cast Member will then tell you (based on what you told them) where to go and what to do when you get there.  They have these things down to a science, so just follow their directions and you’ll be fine.
4. At the loading platform, a Cast Member (CM) may ask you some of the same questions you just answered outside.  Just repeat what you told the entrance CM and answer any other questions they might have.  Remember, safety is paramount, so if you need them to slow down or stop a moving ride in order for you to get, don’t hesitate to ask.  They are there to make you happy, and to keep you safe.
5. Before you get on, be sure to ask where your wheelchair/walking device will be when you get off.  On many rides, they will take your wheelchair to the spot where the ride unloads.  On other rides, you will board where the ride unloads in order that your wheelchair may already be there when you get off.  Just ask.

Seeing a theme in this Walt Disney World Special Needs tip?

Ask, Ask, Ask!  Don’t hesitate to ask these Cast Members any questions that you have.  They’ll be happy to answer you so that you will have the best time possible.  Stay tuned as we’ll have part 2 of this Disney World Special Needs article in just a few days.

In celebration of the grand opening of Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, check out this time lapse video below showing the construction of Disney’s newest resort on the island of Oahu.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R75GiK5Q40c

Let’s face the facts; no trip to the Walt Disney World® Resort is complete without getting some great photos with the Disney characters.  Even for us “older kids”, there’s just something magical when Mickey puts his arm around you, Pluto ruffles your hair, or Stitch tries to pick your nose.  The problem is everyone finds that moment special, and pretty soon you might find yourself paying your park entry fee to stand in line to greet the characters.  While standing in line can’t be totally avoided when it comes to characters, here are a couple of tips to lessen the time:

1. Book a character meal.  Having had the pleasure of eating a few character breakfasts, we are pretty impressed with the amount of time each character spends with you and those with you.  You can enjoy your meal, and take pictures with the characters when they come to your table.  One extra tip for the character meals is to try to book the earliest possible reservation time that you can for the meal.  In other words, if a character breakfast begins at 7:30AM at a certain restaurant (and you have your own vehicle on property or are staying in the resort that hosts said meal), try to get that time.  You’ll have enough time to get your food before the characters show up, and the crowds usually don’t come for an hour or so after opening, so you’ll practically have the characters to yourself.  Chip and Dale can make interesting dining companions when they have nobody else with whom to chat!
2. Go to a party night at the Magic Kingdom® Park (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party).  On specially selected nights, the Magic Kingdom® Park stays open for several hours after closing to those with tickets to the party.  Characters are in full force on party nights, and are often dressed in special attire.  Don’t go see them as soon as they arrive, but wait until about an hour before the scheduled closing time. If you can stay awake that long, you will have noticed many people already leaving, and you will have the characters all to yourself!
3. Utilize FASTPASS® for select characters. At the front of the Magic Kingdom® Park, inside Exposition Hall, you’ll find a host of Disney Princesses and Mickey & Minnie waiting to sign autographs and take pictures.  For this meet and greet, Disney has made FASTPASS® tickets available, and this might be a smart move for your family.  If the wait is less than 20-30 minutes, then you might be better off waiting in line, but if the wait is longer, then grab FastPass tickets for everyone in the family, come back later at your appointed time, and you’ll only have to wait a few minutes to see those world famous Disney Characters.

Mickey, Minne, and all your Disney friends await your visit, and hopefully, with these few tips, you won’t have to wait very long to see them!