- Joined
- Aug 23, 1999
Toy Story at WDW does usually have a long wait when we have gone (we go to WDW twice a year for long trips in non busy times). Our experience is usually what blondietink described with a long wait at the accessible boarding area.It is actually rare that TSMM has a line in the accessible queue anymore at DCA and 9 times out of 10, you can ride as many times as you want in a row. Two is usually my limits, as my arm is sore after that, but they would let us go again if we wanted to.
When TSMM first opened, up through about a year and half later, the accessible queue was almost always filled. I would expect RSR to end up being the same way in the long run, but it may take a little more time to level off.
The more I think about it, the FP+ infrastructure could be utilized to fix these kinds of issues with GACs and actually provide equal access. It will probably take a bit to get it just right, but it is possible.
The line usually extends at least from the boarding area back to the first bend of the ramp and we have seen it extend back to about 10 feet from the start of the ramp. We have never been able to ride twice - there are always people waiting when we reach the end and I don't know of anyone who has been able to ride twice at WDW.
I obviously don't know why everyone is in the accessible line - some are obvious with wheelchairs, etc. some have no visible need, but could have issues with stairs. My guess is that some are just there because they have a GAC and could do the stairs, but are routed there or think they need to be there because of the GAC. Even though a GAC has specific stamps, it is still pretty general and non-specific about the needs of the specific guest it was issued to.
I agree that there are probably ways that Fastpass Plus could be used to equalize waits a bit more and improve the experience. An RFID equipped GAC would 'know' where it was and could have more specific information available about the guest's needs related to their disability and the best accommodations available at that time for that specific attraction.
The WDW and DL rides were designed and built at the same time and the DL one opened less than a month after the one at WDW, so they had no experience with back up in the accessible line at the time to DL ride was being built.I have not followed any updates at Disneyland, mostly because I don't think we will ever go there. But I fail to understand why, after having issues with access at HS's TSMM, would they ever build another ride with similar line issues (stairs? really?). I also don't know much about fire codes, etc, but I have always thought the the line snaking up and down the stairs at TSMM is a real hazard if there was an emergency situation.
My DS can walk for short periods of time, so for TSMM we get a regular FP and go back at the allotted time, go through the FP lane and before going up the stairs, a CM always tries to guide us over to the accessible line (DS's disability is very visable). We politely say no, he can walk up the stairs fine and continue on. We look at the accessible line (always huge) when boarding from the regular line, and inevitably by the time we get off the ride, the same people are still waiting in the accessible line. We did try the accessible line a few times, but it takes a very long time to load/unload people from it ... and the CM's really hustle!
So, I cannot for the life of me figure out why they designed a ride with similar issues at Disneyland. Just MHO.
I understand why they did it - the stairs take guest over the extra piece of track that goes to the handicapped boarding area. The bad effect is that anyone who can't use the stairs for whatever reason is forced to use the accessible boarding area to avoid them.
The good effect is that guests with disabilities have extra time to board and there is time to do a change over of the ride car to make it wheelchair accessible.
We have had a 'come back' hand written Fastpass to different attractions at WDW a number of times. The last time was as recently as on our trip in October 2012, when there was a long line for guests traveling with wheelchairs and ECVs at Jungle Cruise. I know of other people who have had the same thing happen, which is why I say it is a possibility ( maybe not likely, but possible).That's why I asked. " I've" never known this to happen at DW,
It can happen any time the number of guests with special needs (whether in whelchairs or not) is greater than the attraction can handle. This could happen because of space, staffing or reaching the number of guests who would need to be evacuated in an emergency.
We have also been asked to come back at attractions without Fastpass - such as Pirates, because they did not have enough staff to move DD's personal wheelchair from boarding to the unload area. So, yes, my family has experienced it.