Walt Disney World Special Needs – Attraction Boarding Tips Part 2

(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!”