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 The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk.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.
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Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
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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.
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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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can you all help me here..we will be in Disney in 2 days, ( we leave the 21st and are staying at the Poly ) and my mom is handicap, and will be in a wheelcahir/scooter...last yr when we were at Epcot, it was the only park NOT accom. to the handicap. guest relations was NO help...all the other worlds are so wonderful for the handicap, no waits, and are so understanding. what can we do when we get to Epcot so she can enjoy herself ( what little she can )....HELP!!!
oh and I have also sent an email to Disney asking for some advice..no response..=(
Sandra Bostwick (mod) Should be able to help too. And I was on "AllEars" and found a section on mobility in Epcot -- basically what our special needs section says.
I too am curious to know what issues you had. I was there a few weeks ago in an ECV due to having a cast on my foot and I was able to experience all of EPCOT that I wanted. If you want some one on one advice send me a message and I can give you some advice/tips.
get a note from your mom's doctor, get a special access pass and in some instances, you will have alternate entrance available to you (ie fastpass lane) if it is appropriate to your circumstance. keep in mind that CM's are not allowed to physically assist guests in and out of attractions (due to insurance purposes, i am sure ie risk mgmt issues) but they can slow or stop the attraction temporarily to allow your mom to board. guest relations will definitely be able to help you. also, pm me if you have any other specific questions since i have escorted lots of special needs kids and adults to all the parks.
You don't need a note from your doctor - every CM I've talked to says they won't even look at them because they're not doctors. Just get a Guest Assistance Pass from Guest Relations. You can get it at any park, and it's good at all of them.
What exactly are you looking for? Most of the rides/attractions in EPCOT are wheelchair/ECV accessible, so you don't need a special line. If you're looking to get a "Go to the front of the line" pass, that's not going to happen. If you're just saying they weren't accommodating once you got in to the ride area, that's something else entirely.
I'm surprised to hear someone didn't have a good experience there, since they've always taken the best of care of my DD and dad.
Sandra Bostwick (mod) Should be able to help too. And I was on "AllEars" and found a section on mobility in Epcot -- basically what our special needs section says.
HTH
Awwwwwwwww, shucks! Actually Eeyore Tatoo is our wheels specialist.
I'm so sorry to hear that you did not get cooperation, but that sounds pretty unusual. Maybe you got that rare unaccommodating guest relations cast member. If that ever happens again, since life is short, just ask to speak to someone else. There are usually a few people in guest relations.
OK, my best advice is to run, don't walk, to your book store and get your hands on the Open Mouse! (No, Reviewers don't get a percentage of book sales.) The chapters on mobility (page 68) Also see the chapter called "Wheels" on page 211.
The best way to make the parks wheel-friendly is to be familiar with the lay of the land, I think. As far as that goes, I think the actual PassPorter has the most current tips and maps for that.
Do you have any specific questions? I know you are leaving soon, but I'll try to sign on often today to get back to you before you go.
Count me in as one of the wheeled kind...not sure what problems you ran into...unless like someone said it was an issue of transferring to a ride(indeed the cm's are NOT allowed to assist in that case). As for being accessible, I haven't found Epcot any less so than any other of the Disney parks.
I'm not sure what you expected, bit we have been coming to WDW with a child with a wheelchair for over 20 years and find Epcot to be pretty accessible.
The majority of the attractions at Epcot are accessible thru the regular line, so there is little need or existance of separate wheelchair lines. You don't need a Guest Assistance Card to use the accessible entrances/ lines. Just pick up a park map for Guests with Disabilities at the entrance to the park (on our last 2 trips to WDW we found they were with the other park maps just after the turnstiles entering the parks. )
Those maps list the accessible entrance and in most cases, you will find it says to use the Mainstream Queue. Just having a disability doesn't mean a shorter wait or a separate entrance. As much as possible, people with disabilities are accommodated thru the regular lime with everyone else. If you want to avoid waiting, using the Fastpass system is a good way to shorten your. Touring plans (like ones that Paasporter has) will help you to know what the quieter times for attractions are so thst you can go then and shorten your wait in line and find less crowds.
If you want to avoid waiting, using the Fastpass system is a good way to shorten your. Touring plans (like ones that Paasporter has) will help you to know what the quieter times for attractions are so thst you can go then and shorten your wait in line and find less crowds.
GREAT TIP about the fastpass system. That can really make a big difference. Thanks, Sue!
I too agree with everyone else - that maybe you just got that one CM that's no help. My hubby uses a scooter and on all 3 of his trips using one, the only issue we had in Epcot was with a CM in France but once I showed our GAC he apologized and let us go on our way, scooter and all.
I too agree with everyone else - that maybe you just got that one CM that's no help. My hubby uses a scooter and on all 3 of his trips using one, the only issue we had in Epcot was with a CM in France but once I showed our GAC he apologized and let us go on our way, scooter and all.
That is strange.
The movie in France is listed on the park map as wheelchair and ECV accessible; enter through the left side of the entrance hallway. In 20 years of twice a year trips, we have never seen anyone stopped or having to show a Guest Assistance Card to use what is listed as the wheelchair entrance at Epcot (which as I mentioned, is usually just the regular line).
One of my hints is to pick up the park map for Guests with With Disabilities; they list all the handicapped entrances and anyone using a wheelchair or ECV can use those entrances without a Guest Assistance Card. If you are entering where the map says and have any problems (like CinderAbby mentioned), showing the map to the CM is usually enough to solve the problem. If it's not, ask for a manager.
All lines are wheelchair accessible, but may not be ECV accessible (or may be difficult with an ECV because of twists and turns in the line). If you need to trade in your ECV for a wheelchair for a line, ask the CM at the entrance; they do have ride loaner wheelchairs for situations like that.
Last edited by SueM loves WDW; 12-20-2009 at 01:40 PM..
I agree must be that CM.....this past trip in Sept my Dh was in a wheelchair and we had no problems whatsoever. At some places we actually had a longer wait only because the handicapable spots were all taken, never did it act as a front of the line thing. We used the fastpass system often at all the parks. CM we talked to said that Epcot was the most ADA compliant of all the parks, warned us against tranfers since CMs aren't allowed to do that, and overall was so helpful. Maybe it was the wheelchair but we never had to show our GAC card once the whole trip.
hey guys, thanks sooooooooooo much for all your help and tips/advice!!!!!!!! the main problem we had was at guest relations ( rude cast member ) and at the ride Soarin'....we just ran into 2 cast members that day within an hr or so, who should not be working at a WDW park....anyhoo...it's very frustrating when you are already dealing with your mother who is in a wheelchair ( i mean that in the nicest way, but c'mon )....and my husband, and two boys.....so I dont have the patience for a cast member to take out their bad moods on us....just remember leaving Epcot thinking it was my LEAST favorite park....hopefully this time will be better!!! we leave tomm.morning..I live in Atlanta, so the flight is only like an hour or so....wish us luck, 9 days at WDW...hope we can survive thru it...starting to think this trip might be a bit too long?!! lol....i will keep checking this board if anyone has some more great tips for us! i have an Iphone, so from time to time i will ck!!! thanks again everybody!! Happy Holidays!!!!!!!! =0)
9 days is an great amount of time, especially over Christmas week! Try to take in as many of the Storytellers in the World Showcase, that you can!. They were the highlight of our trip last year!!
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Handicap at Epcot..need advice!
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