Anyone done Rafiki's Planet Watch with ECVs?

[travelbug]

I will soon be at WDW with both my parents in ECVs. We'll be there for a nice long stay (12 days) and I'm looking for a few new things to do with them this time. They have never been out to Rafiki's Planet Watch. I've only been out there once, and I don't remember it too clearly.

Question - How easily will the train accommodate ECVs? Any concerns with motoring around the area and around Conservation Station once we're out there?

TIA!

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2E8aMfi4Gk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ULB8awgjS4&feature=related

This is a quieter time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo1aCkHgwfI

I did it in 1998 in an ECV. The trains were easy to board and you have to back into the spot so you can see the sites along the way. CMs make sure other guests do not stampede while you are loading. It is very disabled friendly and I had fun with the millipedes and thiis booth that was dark inside and you listened to jungle sounds. It was the highlight of my trip and I went there at least twice on that trip.

 

[FoggyToad]

I will soon be at WDW with both my parents in ECVs. We'll be there for a nice long stay (12 days) and I'm looking for a few new things to do with them this time. They have never been out to Rafiki's Planet Watch. I've only been out there once, and I don't remember it too clearly.

Question - How easily will the train accommodate ECVs? Any concerns with motoring around the area and around Conservation Station once we're out there?

TIA!

Can't answer the part about RPW or CS, but when we boarded the train using ECV's, we had to be in separate cars as each car holds only one ECV. The CM's were excellent at assisting us in loading, unloading, etc.

 

[pugdog]

The train only holds 3 ECV/WC's and once you get out there it is very accesible.

 

[Talking Hands]

I believe it is the last 3 cars that are wheelchair accessible. Only one spot per car and you will need to back in. Pretty easy as long as you align the ECV right with the door. Once you park the ECV the one with the best mobility can leave the ECV and join their family in the other car if they want. Just let the CM know.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've got pictures of the wheelchair car. From my notes when we went on the last time, it looks like there might be room for up to 5 or 6 wheelchairs/ECV. We were directed to the last car, but from what I could see, it looked like there were spots like we used on 5 or 6 places.
Here is the car from a little ways away.

Here is the wheelchair/ECV spot close up.

A picture showing the floor (it's quite level).

And a picture of part of the path from the train to the Planet Watch building.

That path is generally wide and has some gentle slopes up and down, but no really big hills. There are spots scattered along the path with roofs or big umbrellas and there are some exhibits staffed by CMs along the way.

 

[mechurchlady]

In one of the videos I posted was a petting zoo and a person in a wheelchair. Guests must transfer to a manual wheelchair to enter the "Affection section in Rafiki's Planet Watch". It is an outdoors and mostly dirt. The CMs do in the indoor air conditioned area come up to guests with critters and have displays where guests can meet and greet live critters.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/Plain?id=PlainMobilityDPage

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I believe it is the last 3 cars that are wheelchair accessible. Only one spot per car and you will need to back in. Pretty easy as long as you align the ECV right with the door. Once you park the ECV the one with the best mobility can leave the ECV and join their family in the other car if they want. Just let the CM know.

They ask you to remain seated on the ECV, or at least they did when we rode it and it was not because it was crowded either.

Suzanne