Are these restaurants ECV accessible?

[CJ]

DH has fractured his fibula and will unexpectedly be in an electric scooter this week for our trip

Could you please tell me if we will have any difficulties getting to or into any of these restaurants? We will be using Disney transportation exclusively. It's our 31st wedding anniversary trip and I don't want him to be any more uncomfortable than he already is.....

House of Blues, Yak & Yeti, Hollywood Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Citrico's, Coral Reef, Tutta Italia,
Kona Cafe, Tusker House, Les Chefs de France, Nine Dragons and the
Sci Fi Diner (I doubt we can sit in a car, right? )

Thanks in advance!

 

[KPeveler]

You can get into almost every restaurant with an ECV. What they may suggest is using an ECV to get to a table and then transferring to a regular seat. Unless it has a swivel seat (where the seat turns to the side), you can't really eat at a table from an ECV. If he has his crutches with him, they may suggest that he park the ECV and use the crutches to get to the table (not far, but definitely easier to maneuver).

As an ECV is a mobility device, they have to have things accessible ("reasonable accommodation"). Most people do not stay in their ECVs while eating, just because things do get crowded. But restaurants WILL do everything they can to make things work!

 

[ILoveMyGirls]

wow, we are going for our 31st wedding anniversary but with kiddos i'm going to have to use an ECV too unfortunately.

 

[CJ]

wow, we are going for our 31st wedding anniversary but with kiddos i'm going to have to use an ECV too unfortunately.

That's a coincidence, isn't it? I hope you have a good time with your kids and we do without ours!

 

[CJ]

You can get into almost every restaurant with an ECV. What they may suggest is using an ECV to get to a table and then transferring to a regular seat. Unless it has a swivel seat (where the seat turns to the side), you can't really eat at a table from an ECV. If he has his crutches with him, they may suggest that he park the ECV and use the crutches to get to the table (not far, but definitely easier to maneuver).

As an ECV is a mobility device, they have to have things accessible ("reasonable accommodation"). Most people do not stay in their ECVs while eating, just because things do get crowded. But restaurants WILL do everything they can to make things work!

Thanks again for your help. I guess I am more concerned about the getting into the restaurants themselves, he can definitely park the ECV and then sit in a chair. Are any of the places we're going on an upper floor, etc? Or are restaurants at WDW accessible to all (ie. via an elevator)?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Hollywood Brown Derby and Coral Reef have multiple seating levels - HDB has two, Coral Reef has three. Just tell the Host/ess that steps are difficult (only one to three steps per level, but still...) and ask to be seated on the upper levels/same level on which you enter the restaurants.

Kona, Tusker House, and Chefs de France are all single level, with Kona being on the second floor of the Polynesian; if you use the monorail you'll be on the correct level, if you come by bus the elevator is in the right-hand corner beyond the check-in desk. At Chefs, if you're dining at 8 or later ask to be seated in the window. They'll turn down the lights and I think pipe in the music for Illuminations. You won't see everything, but you will see the fireworks. Be sure to tell them it's your anniversary (it may help with your seating request). You may be asked to park the ECV outside, although one time I was allowed to leave it out of the way in the entry hall.

At Sci-Fi, if the cars are open on your husband's 'bad leg' side, he should be able to slide into a car, after you! A server can move the ECV if it needs to be too far from the table. I haven't eaten at the other restaurants, but they all should be accessible to him.

 

[CJ]

Thanks kaytieeldr, that's exactly the info I was looking for!

I'm just a little concerned with Citrico's. We've never been there or even seen it, so I don't know what to expect.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, well, these links have some pictures. It looks to be all on one level

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=186
http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=172

 

[CJ]

Okay, well, these links have some pictures. It looks to be all on one level

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=186
http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=172

Thanks, I should have thought to do that!

 

[KPeveler]

I know of no restaurant that you cannot access at all with an ECV. I cannot transfer to a regular seat or do stairs really, (use a manual or power chair) and I have been able to eat anywhere that I wanted to! Again, a server or CM may move the ECV away from the table after he transfers, but he will definitely be able to get in.

At counter service places, there is often an "accessible" lane which will fit the scooter, so he doesn't get stuck and can still order his own food!

 

[CJ]

Good to know! I'm going to relax now and just try to look forward to this new adventure.

 

[POOHsie]

We had lunch at Les Chefs. I parked my scooter outside and used a wheelchair to get to my table. It was tight inside the restaurant. I transferred to a chair, and they brought a wheelchair for me when we were ready to leave.

House of Blues had a few levels, with the lower level down a few steps. So we had to wait for a table at the upper (accessible) level, which I think was the same level as the entryway. We really enjoyed our meal there.

At Sci-Fi you should be able to determine for yourself when you get there, if DH could slide into the car seating. I believe they also had tables that were just regular.

At Kona we sat at a booth. DD took my scooter away and brought it back after the meal.

Yak & Yeti, we haven't been, will go in September. I believe there are 2 floors with an elevator.

Really, I think every dining venue at WDW is accessible. The only tricky thing I have experienced is at Counter Service lines. You have to be careful to only go to the lines marked with the blue handicap signs. They are usually on the far left or the far right. The regular lines are in a "U" shape. When you get to the food counter in the regular lines (bottom of the "U"), it is too tight to turn your scooter to return to the dining hall. You have to try and back up, and with a zillion people behind you, it is major league bad. I have had more than one CM direct me and my scooter to a regular line, but I know better!

 

[KPeveler]

Yes, things will be different but you should still be able to do everything you want (except perhaps put him on things like BTMRR)

Another note - they can slow moving walkways (except the TTA and Peter Pan), so if he finds himself having problems balancing, they may be able to slow things down for him. I am not certain if you need a GAC to have them slow walkways or just talk to the CMs when you get to the ride.

Use Fastpass as much as possible, go to the rides and greeters at restaurants, and just ask where you go. Usually when I get to the ride queue, they just point or tell me where to go - I don't even have to ask!

LOTS of people use ECVs at Disney (in fact, that is one of the only mobility devices I have NOT used at Disney!), so the CMs know what to handle.

I do find it helpful to call Disney and have them put that I use a wheelchair on my ADR, just so there is no surprise, but this is not necessary.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I answered your question on the Dining Board, so be sure to check back there.

 

[CJ]

I do find it helpful to call Disney and have them put that I use a wheelchair on my ADR, just so there is no surprise, but this is not necessary.

That is a great idea! I will call with my list tomorrow.