Is there a list somewhere of what attractions have special entrances for ECV's and wheelchairs? About This Page:

[Lorelei528]

I'd love to have a list to bring with us, as this will be the first time we would be using an ECV with mom and I have no idea about the special loading/queues etc...

On many, she'll probably be good with just parking it and waiting on line, but she can't stand for too long, so for anything with a longer line, I'd like to know beforehand so that we're not in the anyone's way or just wondering where to go etc...

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Eeyore Tattoo]

Quite a few rides will use the fast pass entrance for ECV's, Splash Mountain uses the exit for EVC's so you are going up while people are going down
Finding Nemo (In the Living Seas) has a back entrance that is inside the building.
If you don't have Passporters Open Mouse you should get a copy, It has lots of great info & also info on the rides & accessibility info you need.
http://www.passporterstore.com/store/158771048X.aspx

[SueM loves WDW]

There are special park maps for Guests with Disabilities that you can get from Guest Relations. At our last trip in October, we also found those maps with the regular maps at the park entrance. AK and the Studio were built with primarily Mainstream Lines, which means that the 'regular' line is accessible. Epcot and MK were built before Mainstream lines were common, so they have some which are not accessible thru the 'regular' line. When that is the case, it is marked on the park map. For some attractions, like Haunted Mansion ir Splash Mountain, and Toy Story Mania, you wait in the regular line until you get to a point where there is something that makes the line in-accessible (a set of stairs, in the case of Splash Mountain and Toy Story Mania). At that point, there will be a gate or Area marked with a wheelchair symbol that tells you where to go.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

Toy Story Maina lets you in the fast pass line with a GAC.

[SueM loves WDW]

Originally Posted by Eeyore Tattoo

Toy Story Maina lets you in the fast pass line with a GAC.

Depending on what stamp is on the GAC. Not all GACs allow that access.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

Originally Posted by SueM loves WDW

Depending on what stamp is on the GAC. Not all GACs allow that access.

I will add, Have your GAC stamped "Use Handicapped Entrance"

[TinkerBellK]

Originally Posted by SueM loves WDW

Depending on what stamp is on the GAC. Not all GACs allow that access.

not only that, but it could change each time you get there, depending how many others are there right then.

Use Handicapped Entrance will not necessarily get you a fastpass entrance, especially at TSMM, since the main entrance is entirely accessible! Use Handicapped Entrance is not a useful stamp for a wheelchair or ECV user, since the wc or ECV is a visible cue why you need the accessible entrance.

If the ECV user's needs are met by the ECV itself, then a GAC is not needed...

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by TinkerBellK

since the wc or ECV is a visible cue why you need the accessible entrance.

This is NOT the case. Just because you have an ECV does not automatically get you into the handicapped entrance, nor does it give you the same privileges as someone who is truly handicapped.

When I was there in December, I had an ECV because I had a cast on my foot. A cast that was clearly visible and indicated to the CMs that I was in a sense 'handicapped'. When we were at Buzz Lightyear, the CM at first was not going to let me in with the ECV, that is until he saw the cast on my foot. At which point, he began writing me a return pass, which is basically a handwritten fastpass, so I could enter through the fastpass line and then be directed to the handicapped loading area when I reached the main loading area. While I was waiting for the CM to write me the return pass, another gentle in an ECV, who's only handicap was his severe obesity, tried to gain entrance to Buzz Lightyear while still in his ECV having seen me sitting just outside the entrance. The CM refused him entry with the ECV. He was told he HAD to PARK the ECV and then WALK into the attraction through the line. He was NOT allowed to bring the ECV in because he was clearly capable of walking.

This is one example of where having the GAC if you cannot walk for extended periods of time is needed. I was given the return pass and allowed to bring the ECV through the line due to my "obvious" limitation. If I hadn't had the cast on, I would have had a GAC indicating that I could not walk/stand for long periods of time due to stress fractures in my leg.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

We seem to be getting off topic here, There are many GAC threads for GAC info. The OP is wanting info on Entrances..
Thanks!

[SueM loves WDW]

Most of the parks have Mainstream Access, which means that the 'regular' line is accessible and there is not a different handicapped entrance.
This is a link to the official WDW website page of information for Guests with Mobility Disabilities:
Mobility Disabilities | Plain Text | Walt Disney World Resort

Some queues are wheelchair accessible, but may not be ECV accessible. The size of the ECV makes a difference; in many of these attractions, the big park rental ECVs won't fit, but many smaller rental ones will have no problem and can go in the line if it is a Mainstream Line. (Mainstream Lines are wheelchair accessible).
Guests may choose to transfer to a wheelchair that is at the attraction or may walk in.
This is a quote from that page (I added an * to those attractions that have Mainstream Lines and an E for those where I have personally seen ECVs in the regular line):
Guests in motorized vehicles or electric convenience vehicles (ECVs) must transfer into an available wheelchair at these Disney Theme Park attractions:
Magic Kingdom Theme Park
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin * E
"it's a small world" E
Stitch's Great Escape! *
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin *
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. *
Tom Sawyer Island Rafts
Walt Disney World Railroad E

Epcot Theme Park
Ellen's Energy Adventure in Universe of Energy Pavilion * E
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros in Mexico Pavilion * E
Living with the Land in The Land area * E

Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park
Toy Story Mania * E

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Affection section in Rafiki's Planet Watch (MY NOTE: NO ECVS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE ANIMALS)
Kilimanjaro Safaris * E
TriceraTop Spin *

The information in italics is the information about Mainstream Lines from that WDW page (I added an * to the ones that are listed above as ECV users needing to switch to a wheeelchair):
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

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 Guide for Guest with Disabilities maps I picked up in October 2009. 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 whereever 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 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: Enter thru standard queue. 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.
Snow White's Scary Adventures: Enter through Exit on RIGHT
Cinderella's Golden Carrousel: ENter through exit on RIGHT
Dumbo: Enter using ramp on RIGHT
Tea Party: ENter through exit on RIGHT
Barnstormer: Enter through exit on LEFT
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 you 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, which you need to transfer from an ECV to an attraction wheelchair and which you need to transfer to a ride car.

[Laughaholic]

Thanks for posting this information, Sue.

Fellow PPers, feel free to add on any personal experiences/information you have about these attractions!

[taylan1]

I emailed and was able to get WDW to send us the maps for Disabilities ahead of time. This might be a good option for you. Be aware that they do change things from time to time and the maps may not be 100% accurate. I also HIGHLY recommend Passporter's Open Mouse book, very thorough.
Our experience with our sons wheelchair at these attractions:
IASW- you enter through main entrance and then go through the handicap gate which leads you down the exit ramp, it will easily handle a EVC, then if you can not walk into the boat then you will have to transfer into a wheelchair as the boats will not take a EVC.

Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, use Fastpass lane- either get FP or have GAC. This is way to small for EVC, you will need a wheelchair if you are not able to walk.

Railroad- the train has no problem with a wheel chair, I did not see an EVC on it the entire time we were there, I believe they are just too big for the space provided. So I assume you will need to transfer with an EVC to a wheelchair.

Spaceship Earth: enter through the exit on the left or right of main entrance and you will go to the actual exit of the ride and wait there, they will take your information about your limitations and assist you from there. They can slow the ride down, although it does not move very fast to begin with, they may even be able to stop it. I think they have vehicles to take wheelchairs if necessary.

Peter Pan's Flight - use fastpass entrance, again too small for EVC

Pirates of the Carribean - this had changed when we were last there, wheelchairs can go through the main queue and then you transfer into the boat, when exiting they will direct you to a elevator to take up and you then exit through the back near the bathrooms and gift shop. EVC would need to transfer to wheelchair as the queue narrows and can not fit the EVC at points.

We did not do the thrill rides because of my DS but the maps are pretty accurate and if unsure ask the CM's, they are extremely helpful.

Enjoy your trip.

[SueM loves WDW]

Originally Posted by taylan1

I also HIGHLY recommend Passporter's Open Mouse book, very thorough.

I do too. It can be intimidating to look at because there is so much information. I suggest just picking a part that you are interested in and look at it. Don't try to absorb all the information or underline things on the first look. You will end up underlining everything. Think about what you read for a while and then do some notetaking/underlining.
Sticky notes are a good way to mark things without marking the book all up.

IASW- you enter through main entrance and then go through the handicap gate which leads you down the exit ramp, it will easily handle a EVC, then if you can not walk into the boat then you will have to transfer into a wheelchair as the boats will not take a EVC.

I have seen small, manouverable ECVs on the boats a few times. Most people using ECVs do choose to walk on, but there are wheelchairs available if you don't.

Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, use Fastpass lane- either get FP or have GAC. This is way to small for EVC, you will need a wheelchair if you are not able to walk.

The regular line is accessible for wheelchairs, but not ECVs. I have seen wheelchairs in the regular line. We have always done Fastpass for Winnie the Pooh.

Railroad- the train has no problem with a wheel chair, I did not see an EVC on it the entire time we were there, I believe they are just too big for the space provided. So I assume you will need to transfer with an EVC to a wheelchair.

I have seen some very small, manouverable ECVs on the railroad (we rode with someone on one once). Many ECVs are too big to fit or can't turn in a small enough space, so I'm not surprised you did not see one.

Spaceship Earth: enter through the exit on the left or right of main entrance and you will go to the actual exit of the ride and wait there, they will take your information about your limitations and assist you from there. They can slow the ride down, although it does not move very fast to begin with, they may even be able to stop it. I think they have vehicles to take wheelchairs if necessary.

They usually slow the moving walkways unless you actually ask for it to be stopped. Most people do fine with just slowing it down. We do usually need a full stop of Spaceship Earth.
There isn't a wheelchair accessible ride car, although there is one that has a wider door opening that makes a wheelchair transfer easier. We park our daughter's wheelchair right next to the ride car and transfer her in. ECVs can't be taken in, but if someone using an ECV can't walk into the handicapped boarding area, there are attraction wheelchairs.
THe CM will move the wheelchair out of the way once you are in. THis is a picture of the boarding area. Guests using wheelchairs and ECVs board at the exit. The regular boarding area and and exit look very much alike.

Pirates of the Carribean - this had changed when we were last there, wheelchairs can go through the main queue and then you transfer into the boat, when exiting they will direct you to a elevator to take up and you then exit through the back near the bathrooms and gift shop. EVC would need to transfer to wheelchair as the queue narrows and can not fit the EVC at points.

They prefer people to transfer to one of the attraction wheelchairs - even people who are traveling with their own wheelchair. That's because the boarding area is in a very different place than the exit and it is time consuming for the CMs to move the wheelchairs from boarding to exit. It actually is taken out a backstage way and then the CMs need to use the elevator the previous poster mentioned to bring the wheelchair to the exit area. If you use one of the attraction wheelchairs, it's easier since you can just use one of the attraction wheelchairs at the exit.

[taylan1]

Originally Posted by SueM loves WDW

I have seen small, manouverable ECVs on the boats a few times. Most people using ECVs do choose to walk on, but there are wheelchairs available if you don't.

I had never seen a boat that could take and ECV or wheelchair. Thanks for the info on that.

The regular line is accessible for wheelchairs, but not ECVs. I have seen wheelchairs in the regular line. We have always done Fastpass for Winnie the Pooh.

We got a FP for this attraction as well, but then the CM asked to see his GAC. I thought that was strange since they tell you to get FP when you try to go through the regular line. At least that was our experience. Maybe we were all confused. LOL

I have seen some very small, manouverable ECVs on the railroad (we rode with someone on one once). Many ECVs are too big to fit or can't turn in a small enough space, so I'm not surprised you did not see one.

Good to know that small ones can take the railroad


They usually slow the moving walkways unless you actually ask for it to be stopped. Most people do fine with just slowing it down. We do usually need a full stop of Spaceship Earth.
There isn't a wheelchair accessible ride car, although there is one that has a wider door opening that makes a wheelchair transfer easier. We park our daughter's wheelchair right next to the ride car and transfer her in. ECVs can't be taken in, but if someone using an ECV can't walk into the handicapped boarding area, there are attraction wheelchairs.
THe CM will move the wheelchair out of the way once you are in. THis is a picture of the boarding area. Guests using wheelchairs and ECVs board at the exit. The regular boarding area and and exit look very much alike.


Okay, I thought that I had read somewhere that they had cars that could take a wheelchair. Thanks for letting us know about that.

They prefer people to transfer to one of the attraction wheelchairs - even people who are traveling with their own wheelchair. That's because the boarding area is in a very different place than the exit and it is time consuming for the CMs to move the wheelchairs from boarding to exit. It actually is taken out a backstage way and then the CMs need to use the elevator the previous poster mentioned to bring the wheelchair to the exit area. If you use one of the attraction wheelchairs, it's easier since you can just use one of the attraction wheelchairs at the exit.

Yes, this was our experience the first time we took him on this but then this past December (2009) they told us to just take him into the queue in his own wheelchair and then when we were finished they directed us to the elevator and we got in alone and went on up. I actually was happy with the change, it was much easier than having to put him in one of their huge wheelchairs and then having to carry him up when we got off. Although he has gained much mobility since our first trip and walking is easier for him now. Now it is more of a stamina issue than a mobility issue for him.
I hope they keep it this way.

Thanks for all the clarification.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Thanks so much for the very informative post! And keep those photos of Jonathon coming. He gets to be more of a cutie very day!