We are going in December. DH and I are taking dd (1) and DS (5) and the grandparents! My mom has a few issues that concern me...heart condition...she had an ablation last month due to aFib...and is healing with a high pulse around 120-150. She is overweight and has a bad hip (chronic brocitis).
She believes she can do Disney with just breaks in between rides. I plan we will be renting an
ECV by day two if not day one.
She probably doesnt realize the distances involved in a day at WDW. Guests walk anywhere from 3 to 9 miles per day at WDW. Some of that is in lines, but much of it is just getting from place to place. Just to walk around World Showcase at Epcot is over 1.1 miles - without going into the countries and looking around in the shops - thats just the basic walk around.
One thing that has helped people convince loved ones they will need a mobility device is to think of a familiar place to her that is between one and 3 miles away. Ask if she could walk there. Most people will realize that is too far for them. If she thinks she could walk there, ask whether she could walk there and back. At that point, you can share the distances involved in a WDW trip.
There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread in post 2 that includes peoples estimates of how far they walked. You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board, or follow the link in my signature. Post 2 also includes information about renting wheelchairs and
ECVs from the parks and offsite. ECVs are in limited numbers at the parks, so if you need one, you need to get there early to make sure there are some when you arrive. Wheelchairs are available in much greater numbers and there is seldom a problem getting one unless you are there at extremely busy times like Easter, Christmas or New Years Eve.
If she is hesitant to try an
ECV, testing one out at a store like
Walmart, Target or a grocery store is a good idea. If she can drive one of those, she will have little trouble driving the ECVs at WDW. Even the large park rental ones will be easier because they dont have a cart attached.
1. Can I park the EVC with stroller to board rides? Is theft an issue? Talking Disney rental.
You can park the ECV with the strollers if you want. Theft of ECVs is not an issue - you will be taking the key with you when you leave it.
Things to be aware of though -
some of the ride queues are long, even if the wait is short. For example, Pirates at MK, Soarin at Epcot, Bugs Life at AK and the Safari at AK are examples of attractions with a long distance from the time you enter the line until boarding. All are greater than 1/4 mile.
There are also attractions where everyone must stand for a time period unless they have a mobility device in line with them. Many of these are shows and you will be standing the length of at least one show. There is a list of attractions with that situation in post 22 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
2. Rides with moving walkways...will they slow down per request or do we need to go in handicap lane. Do we need a pass to go in thus lane and how do we get.
Post 28 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has a list of attractions with moving walkways and stairs.
All the moving walkways can be stopped except Peter Pan, Tomorrowland Transit Authority and the exit ramp of Pirates.
The walkways are moving at the same speed as the ride car, so once you are on the walkway, your ride car seems to be standing still for boarding. The difficult points for most guests are entering the moving walkway (sort of like entering an escalator), getting into their ride car before the moving walkway ends and stepping off the moving walkway at the end of the ride.
CMs at the regular boarding area can stop the walkway in an emergency, for example, if someone trips, but in general, you need to board at the accessible boarding area to have it slowed or stopped.
Guests with mobility devices, such as an ECV or wheelchair or an obvious mobility need (such as a cane) will be boarding at the accessible boarding area without needing to do anything special. The CMs normally slow the moving walkway for guests with mobility needs boarding and unloading in those areas. They do watch to see if they will need to stop it, but dont usually bring the walkway to a complete stop.
If she does not want to bring an ECV into line, many of those attractions have wheelchairs available to use in line on request.
If she wants to walk in, she would need a Guest Assistance Card to allow her to use the accessible boarding areas/avoid stairs. You can find out more information about Guest Assistance Cards in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
3. Parades...do we just get in line with everyone else...line up early to get up front so she can actually see?
There are designated wheelchair viewing areas for parades, marked on the park maps for each park. You will need to line up there as early or even earlier than if you found your own spot because the spots can fill up quickly.
Its a good idea to check them out before daytime parades because some of them are in full sun and you may be better off finding a spot somewhere else.
In general, the CMs line up wheelchairs across the rope at the front of the viewing area, placed very close together, nearly touching. Everyone needs to stay behind the rope, but if you have small children, they may be able to sit on the ground in front of the ECV. The rest of your party will stand behind the ECV/wheelchair.
If it is very busy, they will often make 2 rows of ECVs/wheelchairs, so you would be standing behind the last row or kneeling/squatting during the parade so other guests can see.
Any rides I should plan to sit her out...plan is if baby can't go on neither does she. Ha! Any rides I would take a one-year old on that grandma would be more comfy not attempting?
Thanks!
Post 23 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has a list of attractions with warnings. Most of the ones with warnings also have a height requirement so the baby would not be going anyway.
The main things to be aware of for the ones that are OK for baby would be things like spinning - Dumbo at MK, Aladdins Magic Carpets at MK, Triceraptop Spin at AK, Teacups and Carousel at MK.
The spinning motion is sometimes difficult for some people, especially if it makes them a bit dizzy or unsteady as they get off.
