Accessibility of Boats

[Jecca]

We're leaving for WDW in a couple of weeks and its our first trip without a car. I'm going through withdrawal already and am starting to get concerned about getting around using Disney transportation. We've used the buses before, so I'm not so worried about those, but never been on one of their boats. How wheelchair accessible are they? I'm specifically asking about the ones from the Epcot resorts to MGM and the one from MK to Wilderness Lodge. I'd really like to go there to see the decorations, but not if its going to be too much of a pain. Thanks for any help.

 

[SueM in MN]

The boats in the Epcot area are accessible - you roll on and they have ramps if needed.
The boat at MK and at WL may or may not be accessible. It depends on the water level. If the water is too high or too low compared to the dock, the boat is too high or low to roll on even with a ramp. I've been told that because Bay Lake is so large, they can't raise or lower the water level to keep it consistent. The water level at the Epcot resorts can be managed more and they are unlikley to have a problem with the water level.
We were at WL last March and there were signs that said the boats might not be accessible. There was a bit of a difference between the boat and the dock. We were able to lift DD in her wheelchair into the boat. If we hadn't been able to, we would have taken the bus to TTC and the monorail to MK. Other people have said that by doing some "creative loading" boat CMs are sometimes able to make the difference less of a problem - like loading an ecv last so the weight of the other people on the boat will lower it in the water, or loading first when the boat has to be higher in the water. Someone who can get out of their wheelchair and take a few steps could also walk onto the boat and then have the boat lifted on. Ask the CMs at the boat dock and they shoul be able to help you out.

 

[cupcake]

And the boats were the easiest of all the forms of transportation to take -- no problems whatsoever getting on and off, and very well configured so there were no tight spaces to get in and out of in an EVC. I have not taken any other boats, though. I wish you the best with your trip.

Cupcake

 

[BCV23]

Does anyone know if the boats from MK to FW are accessible for a power chair. My daughter will have hers on this trip for the first time.

With a manual chair there have been times we were unable to use MK boats as Sue has said. Lately it's been fine. Also the little launches to GF and Poly have no ramps at all. You'd need to be able to step down and the wheelchair would have to collapse.

How hard do people find the little ramps onto the monorail to be to manuever? I'm a little worried about her doing this.
Whoops, I guess I added questions to your post!

I agree about the MGM- Epcot boats. They're so easy to access!

 

[cupcake]

Before I went to WDW in October, I saw posts commenting on the metal ramps used to get on & off monorail cars; they were not universally thought to be easy. I used a scooter for the first time for this trip (previously used a push wc, so not an issue).

I really did not find the ramps to be a problem. I sometimes backed up to hit the ramp just right and sometimes needed to try a second time, but I don't profess to be the world's best driver! It's like any ramp, you want to back on straight and have enough speed to make it over the edge. They are like the metal ramps to get on & off the boats. I imagine your dd's wc is narrower than a sccoter so it would be even easier for her.

When I got onto the monorail, bc I had read about people having trouble backing up, I stopped once I was inside and didn't pull all the way thru or otherwise move around so it was easy to just back out straight again (not an issue on the boats as I was always able to turn around). Worst case scenario: if for some reason your dd had trouble, you would be with her and could scoot the ramp as necessary to line up (I was by myself). I found I needed a bit more speed going forward onto the ramps than backwards but I think that's bc I had a three-wheeled scooter.

Pixe dust to you, your dd, and your family! I can get flustered, and this was not something that fazed me at all.

Cupcake

 

[JudithM]

I have rented an ECV from Walker on my last two trips & had no problems getting on the monorail & the boats. I try to back onto the monorail or boat, so that I can just go forward to get off.

Be sure the CM at the monorail stop calls ahead to let a CM know where you are getting off. The CM forgot & we were at the MK trying to get someone's attention, so I cold get off . Yes, it was funny!

I had no problems on the boat at the World Showcase at EPCOT. The CM did aks me to go forward & be completely off the ramp before I begin to turn. The night it rained we were fortunate that an EPCOT resort boat was at the dock. Now if only the family with the screaming children would have stopped running around
.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks for the help Cupcake and Judith.

Cupcake...LOL about being flustered. That will be me not my DD. She tends to remain as cool as a cucumber while I worry away. She is very excited about being so much more independent on this trip. She's also anticipating people talking to her instead of to us about her!

Thanks again for the reassurance!

 

[daughtersrus]

The wheelchair use of the boats at FW depends on the water level. When we were there july '99, my daughter was not able to use the boat as the water level was too low. My husband asked if he could carry her chair on (empty of course) while I carried Emily. They wouldn't allow that either. I'm not sure why since it really wasn't any different than those with strollers. Emily was only 24 lbs at the time. It was a real pain to have to switch buses and the TTC. Not all of the buses had lifts.

On our last trip July '02 she was able to use the boats. They had been getting rain for weeks before we got there so the water level wasn't a problem. We still had some problems with non-working lifts in some of the buses though.

It was a nightmare trying to get on a monorail at the close of MK. There was a HUGE amount of people trying to get on and it was like herding cattle to the slaughter. Poor Emily could barely breathe. She sits so low to the ground and she was surrounded by so many people, she couldn't get any fresh air. I'm not sure what we were thinking when we decided to drive instead of use the boat.

Best of luck!

Diane

 

[SueM in MN]

We also are thinking of bringing DD's power wheelchair for the first time on our next trip.
When we stayed at WL last March, we shared a boat with FW. From what we heard, in the morning during the real busy times, each had their own boats, but during the slower times, the boat went to both places.
We were able to lift DD on in her wheelchair, but I think that's because DH and I just went ahead and did it without the CMs noticing us until we were already on. We knew what we were doing and just did it.
It's hard to back a power wheelchair up a ramp (and really is not recommended by most power wheelchair manufacturers). We do it to get into our ramp van because of how the tiedowns are situated in the van. You need to have a pretty good speed built up to back up a ramp with a power wheelchair. Since we've never done it on the monorail, I don't know if they have power wheelchair users back onto the monorail ramp or not. If there is enough room to turn around, you are better off going forward. (ECVs are controlled differently than a power wheelchair and are easier and more stable to back up).

 

[BCV23]

Thanks daughtersrus and Sue. Since you both talk about lifting your daughter's chair I assume there is not a ramp??? Are these the smaller boats or was it merely the water level issue? We couldn't possibly lift her power chair.

Yep...I don't think backing up would be good for her. I don't think she could manuever that well in reverse and I'm afraid she might tip forward. But she shouldn't have to turn around for the Mk monorail because we'll be on the resort line. For the Epcot line I think the same is true. I sure hope no one insists she back on!
I remember once when she was 4 or 5 a young monorail guy insisted I fold her Gerry stroller (this was back when the monorail cars were still the original design). I tried to explain but he wouldn't listen. So there she was holding on to the rails at the Poly while I folded the stroller and then carried her on. He apologized and I felt badly for him as I know he was just eager and trying to follow the rules.

Thanks again. Sue are you planning on flying? I'm driving because I've heard stories about airlines damaging chairs and not repairing the damage. Actually I wonder how they would tie them down? You know so much about these things I would welcome your advice.

 

[Talking Hands]

Don't count on the boat from FTW to MK. I have rarely been able to use that boat since I got my power chair. I no longer even try. TAKE THE BUS.

 

[SueM in MN]

They do have a portable ramp for the boat, but since we could lift her, we did. (And quickly before anyone could stop us ). There was asign though that said the boat was not accessible because of the water levels, so I'd follow Lisa's advice and take the bus if the chair can't be lifted on.
Obviously, if we take DD's power wheelchair, we won't be able to lift it - I can barely push it when the clutch is disengaged and it's free-rolling.

There are people who read and post here who have traveled with their power wheelchairs. If the airline damages the wheelchair, they do have to fix it. We thought about taking DD's power chair last Spring, but decided against it. We actually looked into renting one, but it would have been $200 a week and they could give us a chair that was close to her size, but not necessarily exactly her size (her seat is something like 14" wide an 19" long). They also had a standard joystick and she's used to a goalpost, plus our supplier didn't get out in time to give me the settings for her controller. So we ended up with only her manual chair. She's so much better this year with her power chair though, that I think we will take it when we go naxt March.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks Sue and Lisa.

 

[pugdog]

BCV23, we just got back and used the boats several times. at FW the boat and dock were at the exact hight right now, but at the WL there was a 4 inch difference. But we just went toward the front on the boat side of the door and with alottle help from me pushing on the back the DW was able to get the powerchair up it with any problems. we had ;no problems anywhere at WDW with her Powerchair just the airlines with them bending her back, which we were able to fix enough to enjoy the trip.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks pugdog...we just arrived back, too. We went to HoopdeDoo on NYE and took the boat from the MK to FW. Our boat was packed and there was a difference of maybe an inch and a half. No problem getting on but getting off my DH pulled and the boat driver pushed to get her off. The entrance was tight, too. If they used the big middle doors it would have been much easier but those weren't being used.

On the way back we took the bus to the TTC and then hopped on the monorail to the GF where we were staying this time. It was drizzzling as we left FW and pouring as we got to the TTC!