Accessibility for Spectators

[LatebloomerultraF3]

Hi! My mother in law is coming to chEAR at Wine and Dine for my daughter (doing the 5k) and wife’s first Half. She uses an ecv there because she has a bad back and can’t walk for long. (Especially not from one side of Epcot’s entrance to the parking lot on the other side.)

We have heard the busses are accessible (or at least that accessible busses are available) if we ask but they tried that at the 2024 MW and everyone seemed confused so they never made it.

So. We looked at Minnie Vans and Mears. They both seem to say “well just call the morning of.” Which is great…but given road closures and ecv challenges makes me nervous.

Wife and I won’t be there to navigate her…though my 19 yo daughter will be.

Anyone have any experience with this or tips?

 

[matt and beth]

I saw the shuttle buses load the ECVs in the bottom cargo hold once. The driver was madder than a hornet and the runners were very worried and impatient during the process. I’d recommend scheduling a mobility van or possibly staying at a monorail resort

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

That is good to know. Thanks!

 

[Herding_Cats]

Monorail resorts do not run for the 5k races, so that suggestion will only pertain to spectating the half.

They don't need to close any roads for the 5k, so as long as you can manage to get transportation for her/the ecv you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

We are Riv so our skyliner that runs to the wrong side of the park is also closed. More’s the pity. (That would be so convenient for this!)

 

[FlyingDonut]

Monorail resorts do not run for the 5k races, so that suggestion will only pertain to spectating the half.

I thought I saw in the digital expo info for Wine and Dine this year, that they weren't going to run the monorail at all. Do they frequently say this and then decide to run it anyway?

this page, click "transportation" as of 10/10/25 at noon: https://www.rundisneyexpo.run/disney-wine-and-dine-half-marathon?show=cmfh1gue4002r356ttj7f6q09

"There will not be monorail or Disney Skyliner transportation during the 5K, 10K and Half Marathon."

 

[jmasgat]

Wow. That’s a change. I’m sure done for financial reasons.

 

[matt and beth]

I thought I saw in the digital expo info for Wine and Dine this year, that they weren't going to run the monorail at all. Do they frequently say this and then decide to run it anyway?

this page, click "transportation" as of 10/10/25 at noon: https://www.rundisneyexpo.run/disney-wine-and-dine-half-marathon?show=cmfh1gue4002r356ttj7f6q09

"There will not be monorail or Disney Skyliner transportation during the 5K, 10K and Half Marathon."

Oh no! That’s why we picked GF for this race and Poly for the next.

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

I get the regular buses. But monorail and skyliner are static and seem like they would be an easy way to manage crowds…especially with road closures.

I know my wife and kids rode the monorail in 24 to get to MK to cheer for the marathon. Maybe the problem is not money but the number of CMs it takes to run those and it’s easier just to outsource wholesale to mears or whoever it is that runs the private busses.

 

[LatebloomerultraF3]

Well…let me rephrase. Clearly the problem is not “money.” I meant trying to maximize the bottom line.

 

[The Expert]

For some reason I am thinking they only used to run the monorail for MW and Princess, but maybe I've made that up? Either way, it is disappointing if they have taken it away for some of the weekends.