disabled at disney

[ada1]

My family recently vacationed in Florida at Disney world . My son who is autistic was not treated fairly . We asked for a pass that enables people with disabilities to access the rides a little quicker . Well we tried to use the pass for first time at 1:30 Pm Oct 31st at the magic kingdom, first of all there was no attendant at the handicapped access area , and when an attendant did appear . My son my wife and I were forced to wait for the ride to board and unboard 4 sets of riders . before we were allowed to board . After the ride I questioned the park supervisor Craig who didn't want to be bothered with this problem I became angry and said "you people deal with disabled children like a bunch of morons", The supervisor then called security and threatened to kick us out of the park. At this point my son became very upset this entire ordeal ruined his first day at Disney.

[BUTTERHEAD1]

I dont think calling people Morons is the way to deal with a problem. In my opinion there isnt any place that caters to people with disabilities as well as Disney.

[Johnie]

The GAC (Guest Assistance Pass) is not meant as a way to bypass the entire line. It often gives the family using it quicker access to rides but I don't beleive that is the actual intention.

I'm sorry that your upset.

[triciacarole]

There are safety rules that only allow so many disabled people on a ride at a time so this may be why you had to wait.

[bawden2]

Although i feel for you i have never had a problem. We have always had excellent service at disney. My daughter is in a wheelchair and although she is not Autistic she hates to wait as she does not understand and she hates to be in the middle of a crowd. We to have been made to wait for 4 families to get on but i would rather that than stand in a longer queue.
Disney have always made our holiday easier in the way they treat my dd and the fact that most of there rides and access are wheelchair friendly. We were never made to wait to get on the transport back to the hotel. :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand: :wand:

[pluto]

I have to agree with the replies to your post. Firstly calling people Morons while doing their job is not a good start "If you are unhappy then complain officially not by fireing personal insults" Secondly like being posted there is restrictions on the number of disabled riders and some cars are disigned to hold disabled riders while others are not. Thirdly the people waiting in the main queue would have waited a lot longer than 4 off/on loads before getting their ride so count yourself lucky that Disney even offer this service. Sorry but your issue seems avoidable with more understanding and manners on your part.... Sorry harsh but true.....

[Wendy]

I have to agree with the replies to your post. Firstly calling people Morons while doing their job is not a good start "If you are unhappy then complain officially not by fireing personal insults" Secondly like being posted there is restrictions on the number of disabled riders and some cars are disigned to hold disabled riders while others are not. Thirdly the people waiting in the main queue would have waited a lot longer than 4 off/on loads before getting their ride so count yourself lucky that Disney even offer this service. Sorry but your issue seems avoidable with more understanding and manners on your part.... Sorry harsh but true.....

:iagree:




The supervisor then called security and threatened to kick us out of the park. At this point my son became very upset this entire ordeal ruined his first day at Disney.


I hope you might consider your own behaviour that may well have contributed to your son's distress........surely his happiness is the priority here? :confused:

[ukwdwnut]

have to agree with all on your behaviour, tbh i dont agree with fastpass, why should one person get preferential treatment to others to get on a ride, (i still use it tho) but its there so i have to go along with it, so you should do the same imo you cant just expect to walk straight on :)

[PaulaK]

have to agree with all on your behaviour, tbh i dont agree with fastpass, why should one person get preferential treatment to others to get on a ride, (i still use it tho) but its there so i have to go along with it, so you should do the same imo you cant just expect to walk straight on :)

It would only be preferrential treatment if it wasn't available to everyone, but it is. Those that queue have chosen to do so.

[ukwdwnut]

It would only be preferrential treatment if it wasn't available to everyone, but it is. Those that queue have chosen to do so.

yeah i know that :D thats what i dont understand its not available to everyone all the time cos there are limits on #'s to it arent there so if you turn up at the park at a later time there is a chance they have all been used up, thats all im meaning PK :D

at the time of year i go it dont make much difference to me anyway cos there generally arent any q's :D

[kezshez]

Whilst its sad that what should have been a magical time for your son became a distressing experience the nature of the parks means everyone must queue to some degree.Everyone in the queue has a good reason why they should walk straight on to rides(they are maybe only there for a day and need to squeeze in lots of rides,some are juggling older children with a baby's sleep pattern etc)but how would it be if we all just charged up to C.M's venting our anger?
With all due respect maybe your expectations were a little high of what was on offer to yourselves at the parks?

[Catherine]

I agree that being able to jump lines is a highly discussed and sensitive issue, however i do feel that as the parent of a disabled child i greatly appreciate the use of the GAP. One can only imagine how hard it can be for anyone with a disabled child, any form of help and assistance is greatly appreciated. I am not defending anyone at all, however having lots of expereince with disney staff over the years i have to say that during our last vist to disney our experience was the most negative we have ever had. It was at some times a disgrace, so as a parent is the same position it does become very frustrating. I am sure we have all been in situations like this.

I hope Disney can sort out their major issues with Disabilites as many attractions in this country have done and to a fine tune too.

[triciacarole]

I did experience 1 or 2 unhelpful staff last year, but the majority were really good and made a fuss of DD.

[SorcererMickey]

I know Disney CMs with disabilities and have met guests with disabilities that have visited the parks and have had the best experiences. True, there is always room for improvement, but that is true in everything in life.

In conversing with them, one thing that they all agree in is that Disney gives them the opportunity to feel equal.

CMs are given the tools and safe work environments, which makes them feel productive. Most do not want special treatment, just the opportunity to feel equal to everyone else.

Same thing I've heard from disabled people I know that have visited the parks, that Disney facilities are designed in a way that a person who is wheelchair bound can enjoy the parks as much as people who have use of their legs. Makes them feel equal.

A GAP will shorten your attaction wait time from 1 hour to 15 minutes, will allow you and your family an uninterrupted view of fireworks, will give you a table at a dinner show which will allow you to both see the show comfortably and give you a clear path to use restroom facilities, etc.

GAPs are designed to help people with disabilities enjoy Disney the same as everyone else, no more, no less. Which is what all the people I know who are disabled want, again, just to feel equal.

Here is a link to an article I posted some time ago. The author, Jessica Steinmetz, has cerebral palsy and recounts her experience as a guest at Disney, from planning, getting to and experiencing Disney.

Planning a trip to WDW and you have a disability? (http://www.wdisneyw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39681)

:ears: :ears: :ears:

[OKWTink]

There is a bit of another side to this too, if I may? :unsure:

I had my six year old relative with me this past summer as most of you know.

While we were heading for Soarin, he had to use the bathroom. So, we went to the companion bathroom as we had been doing for almost all of our "stops." He was uncomfortable in the ladies room, and although I did let him go into the men's room by himself once, that was because there was no one else around.

He went into the companion room and I stayed outside. As he was LEAVING the room a woman approached with a clearly disabled child and began berating me for using the handicapped facilities when clearly I did not need to, and wasn't I the most inconsiderate selfish thing because I took up a room with my "normal" child... and on and on.

HE WAS DONE!!!! She didn't have to wait a bit. She wasted more time being nasty to us than he did using the bathroom.

I did tell her that it was a companion/family room, which was also handicapped accessible, NOT handicapped reserved.

I have been confined to a wheelchair in my life. I know exactly how frustrating and difficult it is to find ways to be mobile in this society.

I felt sorry for her child. He appeared to have CP and was quite alert and an engaging child. I wondered how he felt hearing his mother imply he was not normal.

So, the point? Let us all be kind and considerate, regardless of circumstance. If we were, perhaps there wouldn't be so much of a need for special passes. We'd all be busy being respectful to one another, and wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

Sorry, for the nattering on but that woman really bothered me. Still does to this day. :(

[Wendy L]

There is a bit of another side to this too, if I may? :unsure:

I had my six year old relative with me this past summer as most of you know.

While we were heading for Soarin, he had to use the bathroom. So, we went to the companion bathroom as we had been doing for almost all of our "stops." He was uncomfortable in the ladies room, and although I did let him go into the men's room by himself once, that was because there was no one else around.

He went into the companion room and I stayed outside. As he was LEAVING the room a woman approached with a clearly disabled child and began berating me for using the handicapped facilities when clearly I did not need to, and wasn't I the most inconsiderate selfish thing because I took up a room with my "normal" child... and on and on.

HE WAS DONE!!!! She didn't have to wait a bit. She wasted more time being nasty to us than he did using the bathroom.

I did tell her that it was a companion/family room, which was also handicapped accessible, NOT handicapped reserved.

I have been confined to a wheelchair in my life. I know exactly how frustrating and difficult it is to find ways to be mobile in this society.

I felt sorry for her child. He appeared to have CP and was quite alert and an engaging child. I wondered how he felt hearing his mother imply he was not normal.

So, the point? Let us all be kind and considerate, regardless of circumstance. If we were, perhaps there wouldn't be so much of a need for special passes. We'd all be busy being respectful to one another, and wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

Sorry, for the nattering on but that woman really bothered me. Still does to this day. :(

I couldn't agree more Tink :hug: :hug:

[Johnie]

There is a bit of another side to this too, if I may? :unsure:

I had my six year old relative with me this past summer as most of you know.

While we were heading for Soarin, he had to use the bathroom. So, we went to the companion bathroom as we had been doing for almost all of our "stops." He was uncomfortable in the ladies room, and although I did let him go into the men's room by himself once, that was because there was no one else around.

He went into the companion room and I stayed outside. As he was LEAVING the room a woman approached with a clearly disabled child and began berating me for using the handicapped facilities when clearly I did not need to, and wasn't I the most inconsiderate selfish thing because I took up a room with my "normal" child... and on and on.

HE WAS DONE!!!! She didn't have to wait a bit. She wasted more time being nasty to us than he did using the bathroom.

I did tell her that it was a companion/family room, which was also handicapped accessible, NOT handicapped reserved.

I have been confined to a wheelchair in my life. I know exactly how frustrating and difficult it is to find ways to be mobile in this society.

I felt sorry for her child. He appeared to have CP and was quite alert and an engaging child. I wondered how he felt hearing his mother imply he was not normal.

So, the point? Let us all be kind and considerate, regardless of circumstance. If we were, perhaps there wouldn't be so much of a need for special passes. We'd all be busy being respectful to one another, and wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?

Sorry, for the nattering on but that woman really bothered me. Still does to this day. :(


That was just rude! Companion and handicapped stalls are indeed not RESERVED for people with disabilities. And you know what bothers me the most, she just assumed that neither of you had a disability by looking at you. You cannot look at people and determine that.

I had the lovely experience of being in line at Target last night and hear a woman complain and carry on about a dog in the store. The dog in question was wearing his working harness and with a person in a wheelchair. It was very clear he was a service animal and this woman kept going on and on about how a dog shouldn't be allowed in the store. I did turn around and tell her very nicely that it was a service animal for people with disabilities. :rolleyes: she did have the decency to look embarrassed.

My point and ramblings are that people with disabilities want to have every access that people without disabilities have. They do not want special services to make them stand out even more. They just want a level playing field.

Disney, IMO, does a wonderful job at helping many people with disabilites make their vacation a wonderful experience. However, they can't be all things to all people and some people get disappointed.

[triciacarole]

OKWTink don't let that silly women bother you, its her problem if she could not understand your situation.

I feel that a lot people ought to learn some manners and tolerance for others. My daughter's disability is not obvious and to hear people tutting and sighing because she is so slow at walking and often needing to lean into me as a support does annoy me, outwardly yes she is a 14 year old girl but she has the stamina of an old women, I just wish people were not so quick to judge.

[OKWTink]

That is so very true, isn't it? Judgments are very quick, and so very often WRONG.

Although I don't immediately "look" like I have any mobility problems, like your daughter, I do. There are some things this body just won't do (and age has nothing to do with it! Heeeeeheeeee) that others think it should be able to.

Johnie, you are right and thank you for saying so. She was just rude, wasn't she?

I will say it does still bother me though. :blush:

[triciacarole]

Think of her gloating over you getting upset over what she did then it will soon stop bothering you :)

[OKWTink]

:eek:

Well then! That certainly puts a new spin on it! LOL! Thanks, triciacarole! :hug:

[triciacarole]

Glad you feel better about it now :)

[Dawn]

I use companion restrooms when I'm out with Steven. I can't fit me, him, his buggy, and all the other junk we travel with, into a regular stall. I'm not leaving him outside on his own. :eek:

[Johnie]

A companion restroom is just that....a restroom for people who need someone to accompany them. I had to use one with my mom not too long ago. She had surgery on her rotator cuff and that doesn't lend well to working snaps and things.

[Wendy]

Isn't it a sad world when we have to justify ourselves for using a companion restroom????:sigh:Sort of sad....but at the same time funny that some people have the energy to spend time trying to make someone else feel bad about it. :rolleyes: Obviously, they don't have other more pressing concerns to take up their time...:wink:

[triciacarole]

So true Wendy.

[Whitequeen]

Isn't it a sad world when we have to justify ourselves for using a companion restroom????:sigh:Sort of sad....but at the same time funny that some people have the energy to spend time trying to make someone else feel bad about it. :rolleyes: Obviously, they don't have other more pressing concerns to take up their time...:wink:

It is funny, Wendy. In fact it's hilarious. It brightens my day when things like this happen to us. I can laugh for hours over it, just after I've laughed in the face of the person that's got their underwear in a knot about it.:lol:
I used to get really annoyed.................now I just laugh at them.:shrug:

[PaulaK]

I'm afraid I have no time for judgemental people, especially before they know the facts. :grrr: My mum has a disability but she tries her very best to hide it. She will stay in her room all day at Disney rather than use a wheelchair. She has a spinal disease and has disability badges which unfortunately she left in her own car at Manchester airport this year. She didn't tell me until we got home because she didn't want to make a fuss. She used the Disney buses to come and meet us rather than the car and kept quiet. :(

'Tink, petty minded people like that nasty over-opinionated woman often back down when challenged. Hopefully the fact that you did speak up will make her think twice before she verbally attacks others without knowing the facts :hug:

[triciacarole]

I agree with you Lesley, but it does annoy me when people are staring at DD in her wheelchair in the parks and wondering if we are genuine or not, it upsets her also, but hey I can't change that so I try to make a joke of it with DD.

[Whitequeen]

D'ya know, I've never noticed anyone staring. :shrug:
I'm in WDW having a good time..............they can't possibly be if they're staring at DH!:lol:

There was a woman on a bus once who made herself look really stupid by complaining loudly about having to wait for wheelchairs/ECVs getting on. After everyone on the bus had turned to stare the stare of death at her she shut up. That was funny.:lol:

[triciacarole]

I think the worst for DD was when a girl aged about 15 was stood at a check out waiting to pay and we had to manoeuvre past, she just stared and stared, I wanted to say something but did not want to attract more attention and upset DD more. The best was when a CM saw her and announced "here comes the princess in her throne" whilst beaming at DD, we all thought that was very funny :).