Handicap Enterance at WDW Railroad Main St

[moonpie85]

Where is the enterance at the Railroad for handicap at the Main St location, I've never seen it. Also is there usually an attendant there to let you in? We don't need a ramp because none of us are in wheelchairs but a couple in our group have size issues and can't go thru turnstyles.

Thanks!

[mechurchlady]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1009395&referrerid=93883
Found the above thread that should help and info from Sue.

::yes::
The first car behind the engine is the wheelchair car. In place of the row of seats that faces front, there is an empty space that wheelchairs can park in.

Many people don't realize that there is a ramp to get up to the Main Street Station. It is on the side closest to the City Hall. Looking at this map, (http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/MK.htm) go straight down (toward the train) from the "M" in Main Street USA. The ramp is fairly steep and has a couple of switchbacks, but it gets you up to the wheelchair boarding area.
You can also choose to fold the rental wheelchairs and hold them on the train seats if you choose. But, you will still need to use the ramp to get up to the Main Street Station.
The Toontown Station is the easiest, there is a not very steep ramp to get on and off the train.

[moonpie85]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1009395&referrerid=93883
Found the above thread that should help and info from Sue.

Thanks! So even though we don't really need to use the ramp we'll still need to use it to access the handicap gate?

[SueM in MN]

I saw your post first on the Theme Parks board.
The handicapped access ramp goes only to the sort of 'corral' for the first train car, which is the handicapped accessible railroad car.
There is a gate there, rather than a turnstile.
I'm not sure whether or not there are any gates or larger turnstiles at the 'regular' entrance. The Passporter Book for special needs mentions a turnstile, but does not say whether it is a problem for Pooh sized guests. It's possible that the turnstiles are rather generous sized, as folded strollers can be brought on the train.

[moonpie85]

We're just worried since it was listed as the smallest turnstile in the park in one book.

[SueM in MN]

We're just worried since it was listed as the smallest turnstile in the park in one book.
It is not listed as a problem in the 1st edition of the Passporter Book for Guests with Special Needs (the newer version is called Open Mouse).
If it was in the Open Mouse, I would take it as fact. If it's another guidebook, I would assume it's probably wrong.

[shovan]

Sue or Mike,
This isn't a reply to the OP, but a related question about the Railroad. (Instead of posting another thread about the MK Railroad.) Can motorized Wheelchairs board the train? We had stopped riding the train after they required ECV's to transfer to a manual WC. But haven't tried to board since DH changed to the chair.

[Carnator]

Yes,

The 1st train car behind the engine is for wheelchairs. I think I have seen motorized chairs in there.

[SueM in MN]

Yes, power wheelchairs can be taken on the train.

The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities says that
"Guests must transfer from motorized scooter or ECV to an available wheelchair."

[dclfun]

I think the turnstile IS fairly small, only because a friend of mine at work mentioned being at the MK and boarding the train at Main Street with her family. She had said that she felt badly for a woman in front of her who was pooh-sized having trouble getting through the turnstile. She wished she could have assisted her by holding her purse as she was struggling with that too but didn't want to offend the guest by offering.---Kathy

[shovan]

Yes, power wheelchairs can be taken on the train.

The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities says that
"Guests must transfer from motorized scooter or ECV to an available wheelchair."

Thanks!

[mykidsintow]

Julia rode the train in her power chair. It will fit 2 power chairs.

Also the ramp goes into a holding area. There are regular benches for most ppl then there is a separate place for powerchairs or ppl who can't transfer to get onto the train. They aren't all together. We went into the holding area and he had us go back up and around to where the ramp is.

The ramp to go onto the train is at the top of the entrance ramp, before you make the left to go around and down into the holding area.

[shovan]

Julia rode the train in her power chair. It will fit 2 power chairs.

Also the ramp goes into a holding area. There are regular benches for most ppl then there is a separate place for powerchairs or ppl who can't transfer to get onto the train. They aren't all together. We went into the holding area and he had us go back up and around to where the ramp is.

The ramp to go onto the train is at the top of the entrance ramp, before you make the left to go around and down into the holding area.

Thanks good to know!:goodvibes

[Cheshire Figment]

If a person is Pooh-sized and cannot fit through the turnstiles, there are doors that also open from the waiting room into the platform. All it would take is to get the attention of the attendant and make the request.

[mechurchlady]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dxyPrKsOZM

This is a view from the train and as you exit the station you see the handicapped loading area. The video was made for the conductor's mother.:rotfl:

[SueM in MN]

If a person is Pooh-sized and cannot fit through the turnstiles, there are doors that also open from the waiting room into the platform. All it would take is to get the attention of the attendant and make the request.

Thanks
That is very likely why the Passporter Guide did not mention it.

[dclfun]

It's good to know that there's alternate access vs. a guest having to use the turnstile if they cannot fit easily due to size. Just to mention that although there is space for two wheelchairs in the ramped train car, if you need that space you might have to wait if guests are already seated there and are not getting off at the stop where you are waiting. This past September, for instance, we waited through three trains before a guest got off at Toontown so we could get on.-Kathy

[peemagg]

So if you have a personal ECV and wanted to ride the rails around to say ToonTown, what happens with the ECV? Is there a way that they load it on board or is it one of those things that you are s.o.l. on?

[SueM in MN]

So if you have a personal ECV and wanted to ride the rails around to say ToonTown, what happens with the ECV? Is there a way that they load it on board or is it one of those things that you are s.o.l. on?
You would have to leave it at the stop you boarded at and make a round trip.

Some smaller ECVs will fit. It is the park rental and larger personal/rental ECVs that will not.

[jmartinez1895]

Just for the record, my son used his stroller as a whell chair and we got into the handicap line. THey loaded his little stroller onto the wheelchair car and then we sat in the bench behind it. He sat in our lap so he could see. THey would not take no for an answer when we tried to tell them not to go to all the trouble. He just wanted to ride the train and we could have left the stroller and rode back around to it, but the CM said that if he needed is he would have it. I was very thankful for the kindness and understanding. If they will take a stroller for a ride I don;t see why they cant take an EVC

[SueM in MN]

If they will take a stroller for a ride I don;t see why they cant take an EVC
they will if they can, but some of the larger or less manouverable ones won't fit (some can't turn sharply enough to get into the train car). Most of the strollers being used as wheelchairs are no bigger than a wheelchair and will fit just fine.

[mechurchlady]

If they will take a stroller for a ride I don;t see why they cant take an EVC
It has to do with the size of the ECV. The ones rented from parks are humungous compared to the smaller fold and go types or even the ones you rent from Randy's and Walkers. If the ECV is too wide or long the they cannot let it on the train. I have driven ECVs at various amusement parks and stores but the Disney ones are very large compared to others.

If the ECV is small they will let it board but it has to fit or the guest has to leave the hulking ECV behind and use a wheelchair or walk onto the train.