Special Needs Not So Magical Cast/Guests - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I was with Mom in her wheelchair and Cindy from Spoons who uses an ECV. I was pushing Mom. The CM told Cindy that she could not take the ECV through the line. She walked and I pushed Mom. We get off then I have to leave the two of them at Pooh Corner to shop while I trudge back up the hill to get her ECV. I ended up talking to a trainer who is higher up than a lead.
This is exactly the reason I get a GAC !
The GAC states I can use an alternate entrance "exits" to get on rides that I can't get through the que on my ECV.. I find it deters a argument with a CM about where I can enter & get on a ride..
One argument was enough to convince me a GAC was the way to go..
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
This is exactly the reason I get a GAC !
The GAC states I can use an alternate entrance "exits" to get on rides that I can't get through the que on my ECV.. I find it deters a argument with a CM about where I can enter & get on a ride..
One argument was enough to convince me a GAC was the way to go..
The problem was that the ride is mainstreamed and my friend was an exception to the rule. If a guest shows up in an ECV then they transfer to a wheelchair and their party pushes them to the ride vehicle. The other option is if they can walk to the ride vehicle but some were not told that they will have to walk back up the hill. If they can not walk to the ride vehicle and back plus have nobody to push them in a wheelchair then they use the exit.
One does not need a GAC if they are obviously disabled but I get one for those times when I have to walk the line. Fantasyland rides are very hard for me to use a scooter on let alone a wheelchair so I rather have the GAC but often just pointing to the scooter is enough. Leads are a last ditch effort. I have learned that at Disneyland I have to roll with the punches and be very flexible. I adapt to the park. I wish it was brand new and there was lots of land to make things all mainstreamed and many rides with wheelchair vehicles but that is not possible. Even in WDW the Magic Kingdom is cramped compared to other parks but you can see how in time Disney is making things more mainstreamed and adding ways for the disabled to ride.
Laughing at the boyfriend,, sorry, should not laugh.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
I learned a great lesson from a CM on the Winnie the Pooh ride. My family and I were in line behind a gentleman who smelled like he had not bathed in days. They were loading multiple families in the cars and we couldn't not stand the thought of going thru the ride with the smell.
The CM loaded the gentleman and his family and when asked how many in our party I took the CM to the side and explained why we couldn't ride with that family. The CM smiled and said, "Sure you can have your own car" without missing a beat.
From now on if there is a chance we might be paired up with some obnoxious person in line, I just ask for our own car. We might have to wait just a little longer, but it works!
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~Joby/Lil~Me stealing Capt. Jack Sparrow's treasure!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I wish it was brand new and there was lots of land to make things all mainstreamed and many rides with wheelchair vehicles but that is not possible. Even in WDW the Magic Kingdom is cramped compared to other parks but you can see how in time Disney is making things more mainstreamed and adding ways for the disabled to ride.
.
Give it time!
Disney has a whole department of people who are creating attraction cars and queues so that everyone can have an equal experience. These guys really take ewhat they do seriously, too!
I learned a great lesson from a CM on the Winnie the Pooh ride. My family and I were in line behind a gentleman who smelled like he had not bathed in days. They were loading multiple families in the cars and we couldn't not stand the thought of going thru the ride with the smell.
The CM loaded the gentleman and his family and when asked how many in our party I took the CM to the side and explained why we couldn't ride with that family. The CM smiled and said, "Sure you can have your own car" without missing a beat.
From now on if there is a chance we might be paired up with some obnoxious person in line, I just ask for our own car. We might have to wait just a little longer, but it works!
This is exactly the reason I get a GAC !
The GAC states I can use an alternate entrance "exits" to get on rides that I can't get through the que on my ECV.. I find it deters a argument with a CM about where I can enter & get on a ride..
One argument was enough to convince me a GAC was the way to go..
I DID have a GAC too! I just got a not very nice CM i think...
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
I never did get to ride Peter Pan - I was told to park the chair in the stroller parking and walk in, as if I had a huge ECV - i had a tiny powerchair that turns in a smaller radius than my manual chair
They ask Lenny to park his scooter too but I think the reason for this is because there really is NO ROOM at the exit of the ride - it's really just a narrow walkway. Even Lenny's scooter - as small as it is - would take up most of the area so at Peter Pan, having scooters or wheelchairs blocking that area is not only a safety hazard but probably against fire regulations IMO.
They ask Lenny to park his scooter too but I think the reason for this is because there really is NO ROOM at the exit of the ride - it's really just a narrow walkway. Even Lenny's scooter - as small as it is - would take up most of the area so at Peter Pan, having scooters or wheelchairs blocking that area is not only a safety hazard but probably against fire regulations IMO.
I was allowed to bring my manual chair in, no problem, several times. The footprint of my powerchair is even smaller! I think they just did not know the difference between a power wheelchair and an ECV.
Disney has a whole department of people who are creating attraction cars and queues so that everyone can have an equal experience. These guys really take ewhat they do seriously, too!
They recently (in the last year) added some ride cars with wider openings or sides that open so that people can get on more easily. Dumbo does not have a wheelchair accessible car like Aladdin, but they did add a new Dumbo where the whole side slides open to the back. A wheelchair can be parked right next to the Dumbo for a sliding or easy lift transfer.
We were in the wheelchair entrance for Dumbo waiting to get on and the CM at the front of that line asked to see DD's GAC, but before I could even get it out, she corrected herself and said 'No, no. I don't need it. You have a wheelchair." I think they are so used to seeing people without wheelchairs or mobility devices using GACs that they automatically look for one at times.
There is also a new boat at Living with the Land at Ecpot that has better wheelchair access than the old boat had.
The new boat is much easier to load a wheelchair on and can accommodate much larger wheelchairs.
Disneyland will probably never had disabled ride vehicles unless the ride is in the annual refurbishment AND the changes can actually be done. Alice has a three wheel design that makes it easy to get around corners but they cannot put too much weight on the front. Maybe the Canal Boats but there is no much room on the dock and the weight may be too much. I can hope that some day soon Mom will get to ride but for now it is the same set of rides, forever. I cannot afford to get her to WDW let alone push her in the parks so it is jungle cruise, river boat, Pooh, Monsters, Small World, Toy Story, monorail, and the train. Over and over again as that is all she can ride that she cares to ride. Buzz is sensory overload and not her thing. Sun Wheel is a freak out ride for her so we skip that.
You in WDW are like royalty and spoiled rotten with all your disabled rides.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
I was allowed to bring my manual chair in, no problem, several times. The footprint of my powerchair is even smaller! I think they just did not know the difference between a power wheelchair and an ECV.
trust me, this the only issue 90% of the time. As I said in my example, it's generally newer cast. When asked to verify with another CM or manager, the pwerchair is cleared to go through, which it does just fine.
The problem is, when a person doesn't know to ask. I once watched a man in a perfectly acceptable power chair turned away at pooh because he could not transfer. His two very young children declined to go with their mother because they wanted to share Pooh with Daddy.
Ever since, when this happens to me, after I ride, I let Guest Services know. I'm extremely pleasant. I don't consider it complaining, it's advocating. I know not every ride is accessible to everyone. I accept that. What I don't accept is people being turned away from a ride that is accessible due to lack of knowledge, be it the knowledge of the guest or the CM.
Ever since, when this happens to me, after I ride, I let Guest Services know. I'm extremely pleasant. I don't consider it complaining, it's advocating. I know not every ride is accessible to everyone. I accept that. What I don't accept is people being turned away from a ride that is accessible due to lack of knowledge, be it the knowledge of the guest or the CM.
Well said. No one should ever be turned away for lack of knowledge. You are right, it is advocating. The thing about advocating is that if you don't do it for yourself and/or your children, then no one is going to do it for you.
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I see it as "educating" as the CM or any person in your life is not doing their job right then they need to be taught the proper way to do their job. I prefer not going to leads or management if I can avoid it. If I meet parents with small kids who want information and will listen then I tell them about Rider Switching passes. I met a disable man and his large group on the tram so we got to talking about services, the fact that he had a large group, where to eat, and tips. If they are willing then I will try to help.
Some CMs may not be familiar with pushchairs, powered chairs, etc.
I like DLR for its cast members whom most are familiar faces. Same ones every time we go.
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Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
I was walking west on the path toward a disabled seating area. I was going past the tratatoria and up hill. Two woman and a girl walk up to the chair and plop on the ground. I have to stop for them. It is a parade route and 10 minutes to show time so why would they walk up to friends or anyone and set on the parade route? A friend said they did not see us. Two fat ladies and one in a wheelchair is invisible.
Who has had that invisibility shield attached to their chair or scooter? Did not see me? I should work for the army and infiltrate terrorist strong holds, lol.
__________________
Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
Who has had that invisibility shield attached to their chair or scooter? Did not see me? I should work for the army and infiltrate terrorist strong holds, lol.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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trust me, this the only issue 90% of the time. As I said in my example, it's generally newer cast. When asked to verify with another CM or manager, the pwerchair is cleared to go through, which it does just fine. 
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