[tinkerbell]

my DH is very worried now ..because he read on another site people that said disney world is doing something called Mainstreaming .. making people in Wheel Chairs wait in lines even in the hot sun .. its really upset him. Because of the MS he can not even sit out in the heat .. have any of you heard of this .. the post he read .... We were told some law was being passed that those not in wheelchairs were wanting equal rights with those that needed wheelchairs. In other words there would be no more "cutting in line".


So anyone heard of this ??.. I told my husband it sounds insane that I cant imagine any such "law" being passed .. its the dumbest thing I ever heard

[mickaholic4077]

I can imagine that your husband is worried about that,but I don't really see that ever happening.

[trishb]

I cannot imagine that they would be able to do something like that. Really...wheelchairs or scooters cannot fit in the que areas. All theme parks would have to re-configure the waiting areas for all attractions. I can't see it happening.:madmad

[tinkerbell]

ya'll it just made me see red for several reasons but that person said that they are already doing that .. ohhh please the part that really really got me was those not in wheelchairs were wanting equal rights with those that needed wheelchairs ..
do they want the right not to be able to walk across a room with out falling down ..how bout the right to be in pain or feel that your not a useful person any more .. that your worthless ..oooo I am so sorry but I am crying because my DH has struggled so much and I won this little war with him about how he should use a wheel chair so he can enjoy this trip as much as possible ..now he is feeling what is the point in going .. he will need to use his cane and not be able to wait in those lines for very long .. he is having the hardest time accepting his limits .. and pushes his self to the point that it takes him days not hours to recover ..trying so hard to be normal and do normal things ..oooo please forgive the rant .. but its been so hard keeping his spirits up ..and planning this trip has made him happier then he has been in months and it hurts me so much to see him like this .. this was a strong proud hard working man ..who never asked for special treatment and wouldnt now

[MickeyMac]

Tinkerbell, I would caution DH on the reliability of information over the internet, and to contact Disney himself. Did he happen to get the information from Joanne's Disney disabilities page, it's from 1998 but still registers high on the search engines, as do corresponding forum discussions. Disney did try mainstreaming everything, and although they found it worked well in some areas, it didn't do so well in others.

Try this link, it has the most current information, direct from Disney. It has a list of queue rides, and how to approach rides that are direct board.

Disney's Disability FAQ

I know you can also request them from Disney, and they will send it out to you ASAP.

As for long waits with queued rides, it was suggested to me to approach the Fastpass attendant for assistance, and they could guide you from there.

I hope this helps. BTW, the friend I mentioned told me her husband ended up at the front of almost every ride, and the queues they were in were all inside, but very minimal.

[Goofette]

Tinkerbell, please try not to worry, I know it's hard...but I just can't imagine they would be doing that. MickeyMac has given you some great information. I'll try to help you find out as much as I can also...there are some people I chat with who work at WDW, and DL, so I'll ask them what this is all about, plus I think we have some people who post here that also work there. It'll Work out, really. You know better than anyone how Disney Goes out of their way to help their guests..it'll all be alright *Hugs*

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by MickeyMac
Tinkerbell, I would caution DH on the reliability of information over the internet, and to contact Disney himself. Did he happen to get the information from Joanne's Disney disabilities page, it's from 1998 but still registers high on the search engines, as do corresponding forum discussions. Disney did try mainstreaming everything, and although they found it worked well in some areas, it didn't do so well in others.

Try this link, it has the most current information, direct from Disney. It has a list of queue rides, and how to approach rides that are direct board.

Disney's Disability FAQ

I know you can also request them from Disney, and they will send it out to you ASAP.

As for long waits with queued rides, it was suggested to me to approach the Fastpass attendant for assistance, and they could guide you from there.

I hope this helps. BTW, the friend I mentioned told me her husband ended up at the front of almost every ride, and the queues they were in were all inside, but very minimal.

yep that was the page he started with ..but ended up on another page where the comment was that We were told some law was being passed that those not in wheelchairs were wanting equal rights with those that needed wheelchairs. In other words there would be no more "cutting in line".

I told him the whole thing could be a lie .. some people do that .. my innocent DH said "why would they lie about that" .. and yes MickeyMac I went even downloaded the whole guest with Disabilitys from the Disney Website you gave, printed it out and I have showed him that there is no where in there about any "law" ..I dont believe it for one minute .. I was just really upset ..and still am because of the effect it had on him .. you know? That line *** those not in wheelchairs were wanting equal rights with those that needed wheelchairs *** has to be one of the most stupid things I have ever heard ..ohh I dont doubt that some selfish stupid person might have really said that .. but still when you have watched soemone you love and have loved for over 30 years ... I know hush up lisa .. your just ranting .. and I am sorry .. never in my life have I ever thought .. "ohh I want to have the same rights as someone with a crippliing illness" you just dont know how much I have fummed over that this afternoon. Thanks for enduring my ranting and raving

[Goofette]

Well Tink, I talked to someone who works there, and he is going to post something here pretty soon. Maybe he can clear up the matter a little bit. It sounds like things have changed, but I'm sure it will be ok. I'm curious to see myself how they are doing it, and I'm sure it will be helpful to many members.

[mktiggerman]

i'm the person she spoke to.

for the most part, WDW attractions have had alterations made to their queus making them wheelchair accesible... and the ones that don't, they have ways (other than TTA) to get them on the attraction. If anything, stop by GR on your way in the park to ask for advice..

[Goofette]

Mktiggerman, I'm still not sure about something...When we went the last time there was a seperate line for wheel chairs..do any of the rides have that now? I can't understand why they wouldn't have seperate lines still, can you shed any light on why they changed?


Ok, someone else just told me you needed to ask about Special Assistance Passes, that it's at the discretion of the Guest Relations, and they are different colors. MickeyMac might have already mentioned this...but, Im sure your husband would have no problem getting this.

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by mktiggerman
i'm the person she spoke to.

for the most part, WDW attractions have had alterations made to their queus making them wheelchair accesible... and the ones that don't, they have ways (other than TTA) to get them on the attraction. If anything, stop by GR on your way in the park to ask for advice..

ok .. :) see I dont have a problem at all with this .. if they have the lines where wheel chairs can get in that is great ... but the way it was posted on that other site and by a person that claimed they had to wait out in the heat .. and that it was a "law being Passed" just really upset me .. personally DH and I think its fine if he can get in line with the wheel chair .. as long as he isnt sitting out in the sun for a long time. and I admit .. my biggest problem was the idea that anyone deserved the same rights as someone with disabilities .. because oooo that just needs no explaination ya'll does it!! who in thier right mind wouldnt rather be running around the parks and doing everything !!!!

[MickeyMac]

Again, that "law being passed" rumor is from 1998... I had my SIL run a search on disability law in FL (she's a lawyer in DC). Initially, she can see no law on the books, or bill in wait right now, discussing mainstreaming of disabilities to the level of these rumors. She also cautioned me on rumors on the interenet (she was very cute - I told her this was for 'a friend of mine' and since I'm considering a wheelchair for my visit, she equated it as my personal concern) If that "law being passed" isn't followed by an RSA number or something, question it's validity. In the mean time, you've got Walt Disney World's word on the subject, compared to an internet vaporware rumor.

Please dont' think of it as "getting over it Lisa" You have every right to be concerned, but don't let it take control - does that make sense? Check the source, check the dates, question the question, take back YOUR rights, as a very abled man and his very loving wife.

Look at it this way, if the Internet wasn't around as a source of information, all you would have to go on is Disney's Disabilities Guidbook, right? That's the one I'm going on.

my biggest problem was the idea that anyone deserved the same rights as someone with disabilities ..

Yeah, that really blew my mind, but I can understand the thought process. They are jealous over something they know nothing about.

Can I share a little story with you? My doctor found out I was driving again (I'm not supposed to be, but I'm using the "but I need to" as an excuse.) He issued a handicap tag for me and told me if I was going to be stupid on my feet, then he was going to try to lessen the severity of damage I was doing to myself. Well, I got the tag, and headed off to take the kids grocery shopping. I went to park in a standard spot, and son yelled at me to park closer, so I did, arguing with myself the whole way. Went to get out of the car, and DD said "Mommy, why is that lady angry with you?"

I looked up to see this woman glaring at me. I felt like the world was sitting on my shoulders, and I had to ignore her stares in front of my children. I just mumbled something unintelligent, and swung to get out of my car. She started to turn away and walk into the store, then (this really got me) started to watch me walk to the store. I hitch and roll and waddle - it's not very dignified looking at all. I started to cry.

My son said "Man, that lady sure has a problem!" and I just got the most horrible case of giggles. It kind of hit me then that I did't know what she was staring at, and the ONLY thing that mattered to my kids was that no matter what, I was strong for *them.* So, I stared back, laughing (I couldn't help myself). Literally, her nose went into the air and she huffed away. She avoided me in the store.

Anyways, I just had to share that, I don't know why. I love that my kids gave me back a measure of dignity, and think it's kind of ironic that in a split second, I can loose my own personal power, or gain it back. It was also a split second that changed my leg forever. That lady doesn't know what's coming down the pike for her, she needs to learn a little empathy. I've learned mine.

[Goofette]

MickeyMac, people have done that to my mother and it upsets me so bad. She had a stroke last year and although she looks completely healthy, she wears out really fast and the less walking she has to do the better. I get so upset when people do that. I just wish others would stop to think, there are a number of reasons, too many to count, of what makes someone disabled. The mentality to think it's only for someone with a broken leg drives me crazy...there are reasons as I stated above with moms stroke, but also different types of treatments can cause weakness with of course Chemo as being one of them, but there are a number of others. It's a sad day to me when people who are completely healthy would want the same treatment as someone who is disabled. To them I would say, ok, you can go through what they go through everyday, being so week it's almost impossible to stand, wanting to keep some type of dignity and not wanting sympathy but understanding from people who can only glare and critize.....sure I know my mother would be MORE than happy to trade places with them.

Tinkerbell, are you feeling better today? I'm glad we were able to chat last night. I'm keeping you and your husband in my prayers. Just think.....You're going to Disney!!!! And nothing is better than going to WDW :)

[Park Hopper]

I toured Epcot in December with someone who was in a wheelchair. There were separate waiting areas for people in wheelchairs but the areas were all indoors. Our party never waited more than a couple of minutes for access to an attraction. Hope this helps relieve your concerns.

[tinkerbell]

Originally posted by Goofette
It's a sad day to me when people who are completely healthy would want the same treatment as someone who is disabled. To them I would say, ok, you can go through what they go through everyday, being so week it's almost impossible to stand, wanting to keep some type of dignity and not wanting sympathy but understanding from people who can only glare and critize.....sure I know my mother would be MORE than happy to trade places with them.

Tinkerbell, are you feeling better today? I'm glad we were able to chat last night. I'm keeping you and your husband in my prayers. Just think.....You're going to Disney!!!! And nothing is better than going to WDW :)

You said that so much better then I tried to goofette ..my DH would love to get his life back .. anyone stupid enough to want to trade with him .. might deserve it .. and that may sound mean to say someone deserves to be disabiled ..but if they are so stupid they think they should have the same rights .. maybe they are already "mentally disabled"

feeling better? no ... I got more bad news today :( feeling better about the trip to WDW yessssssssssss. And our Beloved Leader Mickey ( thank you again Mickey for your help ) has given me some good advice on this upcoming trip in 2004 !!