Animal Kingdom and ECV

[cm wannabe]

Hello from the warm northeast. My question is about how easy it is to get around AK with an ECV. We have nevere had to to this, but now it is a reality. Can the scooter fit in all the viewing trails I have heard so much about and the restaurants. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have never had any problems anywhere in AK with an ECV. All of the trails are paved. The only potential problem area is the viewing area for the Bengal Tigers, but there is a ramp in addition to the stairs.

Of course, almost all the pavement there is "distressed" so you think your are in a poorly maintained "third world" location, and the ride may not be the most comfortable because fo some of the intentional ruts, etc., in the pavement.

 

[kimsuenew]

Hello from the warm northeast. My question is about how easy it is to get around AK with an ECV. We have nevere had to to this, but now it is a reality. Can the scooter fit in all the viewing trails I have heard so much about and the restaurants. Thanks for all your help!

VERY easy! It fits everywhere, including into restrooms (we ate outside so I am not sure about restaurants). It is the newest park, and even though you do hear some complaints about it being a bumpy place, or to crowded, it has to be up to code for the AWDA! I actually felt it was the easiest of all parks to go to/get around!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

As Cheshire Figment said, the trails are perfectly doable, though perhaps not always the comfiest of rides! One or two of the viewing areas can be hard, as sometimes people step in front of you. Just be patient and, if possible, have someone in your party help politely clear some room. Normally a gentle 'excuse me please' works wonders.

As for other areas of the park, I've found them to be just as accessible as every other part of Disney (i.e. extremely good), other than the occasionally bumpy ride. All of the shows, rides and restaurants are perfectly accessible. Be aware that the safari ride might take a it longer to board, as all groups with a wheelchair or ECV in them are directed to a different boarding area, near the end of the queue. This area can be a bit over-loaded, which adds an extra wait for the ride. also be warned that it's quite a large step up into the cars and the ride is extremely bumpy. That said, we always do this one, as it's a great attraction and is different every time.

If you do run into any accessibility problems in the park, or are not sure where to go with the ECV, just ask a CM and they'll help you out.

Have a great trip!

 

[Talking Hands]

Where is the ramp. I have never seen it and I would love to go up to the top in my wheelchair. I have always viewed from the window below to the right.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Where is the ramp. I have never seen it and I would love to go up to the top in my wheelchair. I have always viewed from the window below to the right.

Maybe that's what I was thinking about. But I go past the windows and then make a U-turn to the left. I have never had a problem with a bad view from there.

 

[SueM in MN]

My advice would be to study the maps a little bit before you venture out. It is not that difficult to find your way, but the park was designed to be 'discovered', so some of the paths are not direct paths. I would say it is no more difficult to get around than MK is, but you can get 'lost' a bit if you don't know where you are going. When it is busy, some of the paths get rather full of people.
It is one of my favorite parks because it is themed so well. There are so many details that you could go many times and still not see everything.

PS - I have to second the long waits for the Safari. My DD needs to stay in her wheelchair, so we sometimes have to wait longer than even other people using wheelchairs or ECVs. Our longest wait was 40 minutes more than the 'regular' line (when the regular line was boarding as fast as people could walk up).

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Sorry to go a little OT here, but I still don't understand why they can't just direct a couple more cars to the w/c loading area when it's busier. I've regularly seen the accessible cars being used at the regular loading area, and they were only running two cars to the disabled stop (as you can guess, we were waiting there a while in order to see two full cycles round the ride!).

Anyway, I'll stop hi-jacking this thread for my own rants now! As you were, people!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Sorry to go a little OT here, but I still don't understand why they can't just direct a couple more cars to the w/c loading area when it's busier. I've regularly seen the accessible cars being used at the regular loading area, and they were only running two cars to the disabled stop (as you can guess, we were waiting there a while in order to see two full cycles round the ride!).

Anyway, I'll stop hi-jacking this thread for my own rants now! As you were, people!

That was my thought exactly. We saw many cars go through and return before we got loaded and we transfer to the regular seats anyway. I finally realized that there was an area in the front car for someone in a WC that can't transfer, but they just kept us waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

Suzanne

 

[SueM in MN]

That was my thought exactly. We saw many cars go through and return before we got loaded and we transfer to the regular seats anyway. I finally realized that there was an area in the front car for someone in a WC that can't transfer, but they just kept us waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

Suzanne

I'm not sure of the exact reason, but I believe it has to do with the number of cars/people out on the trail who would need to be evacuated in case of emergency.
We have already been on a fully loaded tram just sitting there waiting to go. Since DD stays in her wheelchair, we are always in the first row. We can hear that the driver gets clearance to go and it seems like it may be connected to how far/where the last wheelchair tram is on the path.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I'm not sure of the exact reason, but I believe it has to do with the number of cars/people out on the trail who would need to be evacuated in case of emergency.
We have already been on a fully loaded tram just sitting there waiting to go. Since DD stays in her wheelchair, we are always in the first row. We can hear that the driver gets clearance to go and it seems like it may be connected to how far/where the last wheelchair tram is on the path.

That sonds reasonable to me, I can certainly understand the reasoning for that. Seems like I have noticed that in the Jungle Cruise at MK as well.

Suzanne

 

[mechurchlady]

For me the main problem was rude people who would stand in front of where I wanted to go at an exhibit, people so close to the ECV that I dare not move it, and people blocking the view. People will walk around you even if you are in line behind someone who is not moving. Of course I have been walking and run into those same rude guests.

Yes the park has more bumps, jolts, and inclines but it is not where near as bad as the San Diego Zoo or their Wild Animal Park. At the Wild Animal Park I had to take my flip flop sandals off then back down a steep hill. AK is not too bad and has lots of CMs around. AK is a newer park so there is more room for guests to walk about.

For disabled persons on rides there is set pattern that the ride operators use. It can be one car per cycle for example. There is a method to their madness but best left to the ride fairies, lol.

 

[SueM in MN]

That sonds reasonable to me, I can certainly understand the reasoning for that. Seems like I have noticed that in the Jungle Cruise at MK as well.

Suzanne

It happens in a lot of rides, but you don't know it.
In Spaceship Earth and Test Track, for example, they have to wait for the ride car with a person with a disability to get past a certain point in the ride before they can send another person with a disability enter the actual ride. That is to ensure that they are able to evacuate all the guests within a reasonable time if there is a ride malfunction and they need to evacuate the ride. I know for some rides, the 'certain point' in the ride is the point where the person would not have to be rescued by the Fire Department in an evacuation.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Ahhh, of course! Thank you for reminding me of that, Sue, for some reason I just hadn't made that connection in my head. *Slaps hand into forehead*

 

[Dedejf]

I don't know if it was my driving or what, but I seemed to have trouble making the corners in the queue for EE. I was constantly getting stuck as I rounded a corner and hitting my ECV into a wall, pole, whatever. I didn't notice this at any other attraction at AK or any of the other parks, in fact. Maybe I was just having a bad driving day? I must also ditto what everyone has said about KS wait time. It seems to take forever even if you're the second party in the queue. We had no problems viewing the Bengal tigers but had difficulty viewing some of the other animals in other spots along the trail. Have fun!

 

[sofun3]

Someone in my party almost toppled in her ECV. Be careful on the sides of some of the trail because there are some mounds. She went over a mound and the chair began to tip. She caught it with her foot and righted the chair, but her knee was sore after that.