Most of this post is from before the Skyliner opened, so only the last few pages have actual experience. We just got back from WDW and I working on a post about the Skyliners with many pictures and video.
The regular line loads on moving Skyliners. They are moving slowly, but still moving.
Given that she has reduced mobility and sometimes balance issues, it would be safer and less intimidating for her to load at the mobility loading area where the gondola is completely stopped.
PatMcDuck posted above that they were able to go thru the regular line with her adult son’s Convaid chair (looks like a large umbrella stroller). If you choose to try it, I’d suggest using mobility line the first few times and watching the regular line boarding so you get a feel for how everything works and how fast it is.
My guess is that if she’s riding in the wheelchair, you will need to use the mobility line - they want to make sure the occupied wheelchair won’t tip or move during the ride.
DisneyOma said:
These are safety issues and should be reported to WDW guest services as huge concerns.
I did report the concerns - wheelchair rider going forward into the gondola, having chocks under the wheels that prevent the chair from moving, warnings and alert box to call for help by the front door. I was told these are all things they are aware of and are looking at.
But, more voices are always better.
We rode multiple times during our stay. The very first time, the CM made sure the wheelchair brakes were locked and put wheel chocks behind her rear wheels. Trips after that, they said we didn’t need the chocks because her wheelchair has brakes and anti tip bars.
I don’t know the reasons it was decided to have wheelchair riders drive in instead of backing in, but think part might be so that the CM can check for brakes and tip bars (many people’s personal chairs don’t have anti tip bars or they are placed high).
If the chair is backed in, it would be harder to place the wheel chocks to hold the back wheels. Putting them under the front tires would not hold as well.
I’m sure things will change as time goes on. Driving straight onto the monorails with a mobility device was not always how it was done. The monorail cars used by wheelchairs originally had a small center wall, which contained tiedown straps. In the beginnin, wheelchairs were tied done on the monorails just like they are on buses. As time passed, they stopped doing that.
SueM in MN
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