WOW! We rode yesterday for the first time. There is a ride vehicle off on a side track where those who have mobility issues load with no time restraint. Then when the vehicle is loaded the track slides the vehicle over to the main track for the ride. After the ride the track slides the vehicle back to a side track and you have unlimited time to unload. AWESOME set up!!!!!!!!! Disney did good! :D :D

I'd heard that before they're done every ride will accomodate the mobility issue to the best level that current technology will allow! I LOVE the pooh vehicle and the raft loading on GRR is PERFECT so I can't wait to experience this one!

For those with problems with flashes there is one (maybe 2) ***really*** bright flash at the end when they take your pic.

Having no stress boarding on all the rides will be awesome!! It's got to cost a lot of $$$ though for Disney.

thats a win..win for everyone. the line isn't held up and the people who need won't feel rushed...:)

WOW! We rode yesterday for the first time. There is a ride vehicle off on a side track where those who have mobility issues load with no time restraint. Then when the vehicle is loaded the track slides the vehicle over to the main track for the ride. After the ride the track slides the vehicle back to a side track and you have unlimited time to unload. AWESOME set up!!!!!!!!! Disney did good! :D :DIs there an elevator up? We've never done SM before when we have had the service dog. We cannot taking him on the moving walkways. Guess I should go look at Disney's site.

Is the line wheelchair accessible, I assume? That was the WORST line ever for HCA. If those people in wheelchairs will be able to wait in the regular line now, the line should be shorter now for people in chairs. (Yes, waiting in the regular line was often faster than waiting in the HCA line.)

Adrienne

Is the line wheelchair accessible, I assume? That was the WORST line ever for HCA. If those people in wheelchairs will be able to wait in the regular line now, the line should be shorter now for people in chairs. (Yes, waiting in the regular line was often faster than waiting in the HCA line.)

Adrienne

I don't know that the regular line is wheelchair accessible. I didn't see anyone in line in a wheelchair, and to exit, you now have to walk up a flight of stairs, rather than a non-moving speed ramp.

As we exited, I saw the regular HCA line, and yes, it was as long as I remembered it.

I don't know that the regular line is wheelchair accessible. I didn't see anyone in line in a wheelchair, and to exit, you now have to walk up a flight of stairs, rather than a non-moving speed ramp.

As we exited, I saw the regular HCA line, and yes, it was as long as I remembered it.Many people don't realize the HCA lines are often as long if not longer than the regular queue. The problem comes from the limitation of how many chairs are allowed on the ride at one time. Its simply a safety issue. I know many times the regular line in POTC is MUCH shorter than the HAC queue. My daughter always wants to use the regular line, but due to special loading of the dog, we get rerouted to the HAC queue.

You enter the exact same way if you have a wheelchair. The CMs saw us rolling up walked up to us and redirected us before we got anywhere near the regular entrance. In fact Space Mountain being re-opened made me wonder what will happen now that the ride is back up. When Indy opened DLR still had the *cards* so they put the time you rode on the back of your card so that you could only ride a certain number of times. Now that DLR has no cards there will be no way to limit the riders using the HCA entrance. I wonder if this will become a problem?

Our first ride on, we practically walked on the ride. However, when we rode later we did have to wait in the outside the exit area near the restrooms.

They can load an ENTIRE rocket of disabled people at once now. One of our rides the whole rocket was people from the HCA line the other ride we had a parent pass person filling in an open space.

I didn't ask how many disabled rockets are going at one time, maybe only one??? I want to say that each rocket holds 8 people, but please don't shoot me if I'm wrong! :( Personally I do like it that they stage the wheelchairs outside the ride. On the days when they used to let us all go in and wait inside the ride that hallway was a MESS. Not to mention hard to navigate if someone down there had a large/ wide wheelchair. Our wheelchair is wider than standard issue so that plus encountering someone *else* with a wide chair in a narrow hallway was a challenge.

Check out my photos from yesterday, I had a chance to join a friend and watch her "slide" into Space Mountain, using the new system... She loved it...

Folks with wheelchairs, or those who need additional time loading have to go thru the exit area (Special waiting area). Basically one trains worth (12 folks) are taken down to the special boarding area (the same old special loading path). Then they are loaded in the special "off-track" area, and when everyone is ready, it is placed on the main track, and after the ride, it is returned to the side staion. SeaWorld San Diego has the same system for Journey to Atlantis, and is similar to what Shipwreck Rapids and GRR offers in loading those who need additional time. It worked out to the exact same waiting time between the majority of the group that went thru the main queue and the few of us that went to the assistance queue, about 70 minutes....

Those with the need to avoid stairs go through the regular queue, and then need to let the loading CM's know (and show your GAC), as you need to get off the ride by exiting LEFT, not right. The old exit moving ramp has been changed to stairs.

But I am impressed with the system...

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/629428/32

I didn't ask how many disabled rockets are going at one time, maybe only one??? I want to say that each rocket holds 8 people, but please don't shoot me if I'm wrong! :( Personally I do like it that they stage the wheelchairs outside the ride. On the days when they used to let us all go in and wait inside the ride that hallway was a MESS. Not to mention hard to navigate if someone down there had a large/ wide wheelchair. Our wheelchair is wider than standard issue so that plus encountering someone *else* with a wide chair in a narrow hallway was a challenge.

A train holds 12 persons, and they are only loading one assistance group at a time, as the pathway is fairly narrow, a new group of up to 12 gets to leave the area near the bathrooms as soon as the last group has returned....

A train holds 12 persons, and they are only loading one assistance group at a time, as the pathway is fairly narrow, a new group of up to 12 gets to leave the area near the bathrooms as soon as the last group has returned....

So, in theory, this COULD make the line move faster. Sort of. If a person with a wheelchair has the maximum 6 people in their group, then a train would only handle two groups at a time. With smaller groups, the train will handle more. So there's potential of the line moving faster.

Adrienne

Check out my photos from yesterday, I had a chance to join a friend and watch her "slide" into Space Mountain, using the new system... She loved it...
But I am impressed with the system...

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/629428/32Dark, do you have pics of the new loading? I was trying to go thru the pics, but could you give me an idea about where those pics are? (I looked at the first 10 pages)

I think theoretically it could move faster. Usually I have a group of 3 so that means 2 other groups could go with us on a 12 person rocket. I'm not sure what the protocol is for filling the rocket and then putting it onto the ride que. We seemed to sit there on the side with the rocket full for several minutes.

My **guess** is that it will move at least as fast as the old system. I'm just *so* glad to have Space Mountain back!!!

Dark, do you have pics of the new loading? I was trying to go thru the pics, but could you give me an idea about where those pics are? (I looked at the first 10 pages)

They're around page 22. This link might help: http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/629428/22/26816000

Adrienne

My **guess** is that it will move at least as fast as the old system. I'm just *so* glad to have Space Mountain back!!!

Well in my experience, the old system moved VERY slowly since they only allowed one person in a wheelchair or with a card on the ride at a time. It couldn't get much slower. That line was miserable, LOL.

Adrienne

I don't know that the regular line is wheelchair accessible. I didn't see anyone in line in a wheelchair, and to exit, you now have to walk up a flight of stairs, rather than a non-moving speed ramp.

As we exited, I saw the regular HCA line, and yes, it was as long as I remembered it.

The regular line is too narrow... especially shortly after entering the FP merge point (aka entering the building)... The path gets even more narrow as you past thru the "turnstyle" or electric eye. It is easy to spot, as they narrow the queue even more than average....

Dark, do you have pics of the new loading?

I didn't find all of them I don't think but picture 172 shows the area. You see the rocket and to the side there are no loading lanes? That is the disabled loading. The loading area with the lane dividers is just behind the disabled area. The regular track is right below the rocket you see in the picture. Does that help?

Start at photo 300, there are a LOT of photos of the wheelchair/special assistance queue and laoding procedures....

It couldn't get much slower. That line was miserable, LOL.

Adrienne

No kidding, huh? There were many times we got in the line heard the wait time projection of 2 hours +/- and skipped Space Mountain and would try again later.

I'm sure you've experienced the phenomena where it seems like every other handicapped person in the entire park is going to the exact same rides at the exact same time. When that happens we try to see what we can do to shake the group by skipping a ride or two or back tracking although in general we simply do NOT back track our particular issues just make that a non option.

It looks like space mountain has the same exact system as the old one Except for the wonderful new boarding time not being restricted. This will limit the amount of down times because when that ride timed out it was down for a good 30 mins.
I am praying and hoping they will allow fastpasses through the exit like they did before for Autistic kids. We used to get a fastpass and come back at our scheduled time and they would let us up they exit without waiting in the 90 minute line. kids with sensory issues will not stand in a 90 minute line like that. Even if they give us a time to come back 3 hours from the time we show up I would be happy! If not we will have to wait until Fall to ride it when it is not so busy.
jennia thanks for the flashing information. A lot of people don't realize that it can be such an issue. I found out I had photo sensitivity on space when they added the photos at the end. I had my first seizure at Disneyland! Then I started having them all the time until they were under control by medication. I have been seizure free for over a year yipee! For some reason the flashing lights at space were the worst for me maybe because they are brighter from being in the dark?
Thumbs up to Disney for accommodating guest with mobility issues on space. They do not have to do that but they did!
(((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))
Toursbabe

Toursbabe, you also have seizure disorder? gosh, you're so unlucky health wise... I think there is a warning at the doors of SM saying that ride is not for people with seizures /epilepsy that's why I won't let my daughter go on it.
But since it's the Land of the Free, you've the right to go and take your kids with sensory issues on it... once again we 're not here to judge each other, just to help each other to enjoy the parks to the most... and all those discussions about what trick is best to get the assistance card (did I say it right?) is so sick to hear for me who never asked anything for my DD.
Sincerely yours
David

Toursbabe, you also have seizure disorder? gosh, you're so unlucky health wise... I think there is a warning at the doors of SM saying that ride is not for people with seizures /epilepsy that's why I won't let my daughter go on it.
But since it's the Land of the Free, you've the right to go and take your kids with sensory issues on it... once again we 're not here to judge each other, just to help each other to enjoy the parks to the most... and all those discussions about what trick is best to get the assistance card (did I say it right?) is so sick to hear for me who never asked anything for my DD.
Sincerely yours
David
Hi David,
I have had a nightmare of medical issues in the last 12 years but I have been doing really well ever since I have l have no longer been working. But what kind of life is that? Not saying that people that don't work have no life I just am the type that gets very bored very fast. Maybe I just need a less stressful job. I am sorry that you have never asked for any kind of assistance for your condition but I am not sure what your condition is. They are now giving assistance cards on a need to need basis. It works well at times and other times it is frustrating for people but I can see why they did it because the abuse was out of control for a while. If you feel you need any type of assistance while at the park don't be afraid to go to city hall and find out what can be offered to you. They are very helpful 99% of the time. But like us they are human and they have bad days and I am sure that the bad days are the ones that make it here on the boards ;)
I have not been on space mountain since the first seizure episode but I have been on other attractions with strobes since my seizures have been under control with medication and have had no problems. In fact I just got my Divers license back a month ago because my doctor feels I have complete control of my seizures. Even though I have A lot of medical problems their are people much worse of them me so I don't get down about it. I feel I am truly blessed to be able to do all I can do and will continue doing it as long as I can! Take care!
Toursbabe

Toursbabe,
1)you may not remember but you pmed me to advice me on what kind of assistance I should get for my child...
2) as you have misread, I dont have any medical condition, I was talking about my DD (dear daughter)
3)its not such a place to display her condition in public because its her own private life and our privacy but I thank the other members here who were very opened to help us...
4) you seem to take a certain pleasure to expose your own medical life and your childrens and frankly I don't feel interested at all in it...and get tired everytime you put it forward
5) as I said everyone do as they feel like even if it's to put their health in danger just to have fun
6) Tours, who talked about jobs? I didn't for sure... everyone carries his own cross... maybe should I suggest you stress management?

That all said, take care all of you and have a blast at Disney!
David

I am not going to defend myself on this one because this post is just rude. I was trying to be helpful not judgmental and I did not know what DD means I am sorry I am not up on all abreviations. I never asked what your diagnoses was or anyone else's I was saying I don't know what is so I can not give you specific information for your needs. I am sorry if you thought I was going against you in anyway because I was not.
This forum is for fun and to help out one another not to lash out on members.
Toursbabe