ASD and Disney Bus Concerns

[Disneylvr]

We are actually going to try to do Disney without renting a car for the first time in about 10 years and we are little apprehensive about it. DD, age 7, has moderate to severe autism, is non-verbal and can get very stressed in tight spaces which is why have been avoiding Disney buses entirely. We are planning on staying at either the Contemporary or the Poly so we really only need to use the bus for AK, Studios and Downtown Disney. DD is fine on the monorail because she can stay in her special needs stroller where she has her own space and she feels safe. In order to avoid the crowded park buses in the morning I wondered if we could take the monorail to either the TTC or Epcot and take a park bus to AK or the Studios from there in order to avoid standing room only occupancy in the buses. Would this work or is it a bad idea?

 

[disney david]

We are actually going to try to do Disney without renting a car for the first time in about 10 years and we are little apprehensive about it. DD, age 7, has moderate to severe autism, is non-verbal and can get very stressed in tight spaces which is why have been avoiding Disney buses entirely. We are planning on staying at either the Contemporary or the Poly so we really only need to use the bus for AK, Studios and Downtown Disney. DD is fine on the monorail because she can stay in her special needs stroller where she has her own space and she feels safe. In order to avoid the crowded park buses in the morning I wondered if we could take the monorail to either the TTC or Epcot and take a park bus to AK or the Studios from there in order to avoid standing room only occupancy in the buses. Would this work or is it a bad idea?

if you stay at the poly you could walk to the ttc and their are buses to to ak dhs. but if you stay at cont you could walk to the magic kingdom take the bus to boardwalk in the morning it should be empty then you could walk to dhs from the board walk so it be a little bite more walking but it should get you an emptyer bus. they have new bus qhich are wider then those old bus so their a little more walking room. but that being said when it really busy they can fit more people in the bus. and when you done at dhs their a bus back to the poly and cont. you could also take the the bus from your hotel to dhs but in the morning that might get crowed because everyone rushing to get on toy story mania. now for ak the you could take a park bus sugest middle of the day epcot might be the best to try for ak it hopefully will not crowed bus but if it looks crowed then you could take the bus to dhs and try their bus. if you try to explain to the bus driver he will can get someone to move and give up their seat. they might be people who would be willing to give their seat up or make room for her.

 

[Disneylvr]

Thank you! Are they only using the new style buses now or are there still some old ones in the fleet?

 

[disney david]

They still have some of the older one they are replacing with two new kinds of buses. Which are lower to thE ground and wider. You could fit around three adult shoulder to shoulder in the aisle. There no way to know which bus hey using till it get there so you could take the new bus then have to take the old bus back but there alot less of the old ones so there a good chance you will get a new one. The inside of the is proberly a little wider then the monorail car so there will be more room to walk around and more space.

 

[disney david]

Thank you! Are they only using the new style buses now or are there still some old ones in the fleet?

you could try this i know your kid not in a wheel chair but you could request if they can try to send new bus to your resort or if there a way to request a new bus to pick you up at the park. and if there a way while there to request that a nova or gill bus those are the new types of bus be dispatch to pick you up at the park or resort.


Q: I have a child (or children) who have certain, special needs, and must utilize a wheelchair. Can I contact the Bus Department to make sure that everything goes smoothly for my family?
A: Absolutely. Contact Guest Relations, and let them know that you'll be relying on the Bus Department for transportation. They will pass it along to Bus Operations, who will then add your family's name to the daily briefing sheets for the duration of your visit. Drivers will then know to look for you at your resort, and make sure that your use of the Bus System is as flawless as possible.



i found that on a thread started by SueM in MN

 

[mickeyluvsjess]

If your wheelchair /stroller is a certain kind you can use on bus like wheelchair and have her strapped in.(I just learned this on another thread I posted)But either way if you get the stroller as wheelchair tag when you get your GAC they will at least load you first, strap the chair in and you can try to get seat where you think it won't be as cluttered( I think sometimes the back is good for that depending on time of day)I stayed at CR last year with my 2 autistic children in a regular double stroller (they were 3 and 2)and we did very well like this.

 

[Disneylvr]

Our special needs stroller (Maclaren Major Elite) cannot be strapped in like a wheelchair, it must be folded like an umbrella stroller if the foot rest is removed. We would have to carry the stroller, the foot rest and have DD by the hand when we board the bus. I carry all of our supplies in a backpack so I am as hands free as possible but it still takes some team work. Our DD is an elopement risk and I have to have a firm hand on her at all times and she is FAST. The stroller is not for mobility in her case, it is to keep her safe in crowded situations and it is a comfortable place for her to escape to when she gets overstimulated. I wish we could just wheel it on the buses but I know that probably isn't the best option.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But either way if you get the stroller as wheelchair tag when you get your GAC they will at least load you first

Um, well, just so the OP is prepared - the 'stroller as wheelchair' tag has no official standing except at park attractions and shows. Simply waiting in the wheelchair loading area at the bus stops will be effective.

And, OP, since the stroller can't safely be tied down, you may actually prefer the older buses - the ones with two by two seating all facing the front of the bus, whenever possible. You can seat your daughter at the window and you can sit on the aisle. This should keep her from getting away from you and protect her from crowds.

 

[Disneylvr]

Um, well, just so the OP is prepared - the 'stroller as wheelchair' tag has no official standing except at park attractions and shows. Simply waiting in the wheelchair loading area at the bus stops will be effective.

And, OP, since the stroller can't safely be tied down, you may actually prefer the older buses - the ones with two by two seating all facing the front of the bus, whenever possible. You can seat your daughter at the window and you can sit on the aisle. This should keep her from getting away from you and protect her from crowds.

I am not sure how we would store the stroller on the old buses unless we take up a seat for it. It is pretty big/heavy. We really weren't planning to load the stroller as a wheelchair but wanted to make sure we always used buses at less busy times avoiding the standing room only issues.

 

[disney david]

I am not sure how we would store the stroller on the old buses unless we take up a seat for it. It is pretty big/heavy. We really weren't planning to load the stroller as a wheelchair but wanted to make sure we always used buses at less busy times avoiding the standing room only issues.

yeah the older bus would be a pain because it smaller isles so your only choise their is if the stroller is heavy and big to use the wheel chair left just to ease the stress. and with the new bus you would have to fold the stolloer due to flordia law which it say on the bus but if you tell the driver he put the seat up and you could have he stay in to seat and lock the wheels. they will not let you unforntly let her stay in the stroller any where else on the bus.well the new nova buses have two seats that faces the front of the bus behind the driver they are seprate from the other seat that it right by the entrance and exit. so it might be a good place to seat because she get her own window to look out no one behind her and only the bus driver in front of you so it wont matter how many people are on the bus because those seat make you feel like your in your own world unless she like to look out the front of the bus then those wouldnt be good because you really cant see out the front of the bus.jsut let the driver know he will give you all the time you need to get her on the bus seat safely and the stroller folded they cant rush you they have to give you the time you need no matter what time of the day and how busy it is. i would also sugest geting every drivers name and bus number just in case something happens are if the driver is rude or refuse to help which they wont but just incase a driver having a bad day. you have their name and bus number to report to a transportion manager which the front desk at you hotel can have them meet you to file a complaint. you could even have them called when you check in and explain to them and they would be able toexplain the buses and what can be done so you and your family have a magical time. then they will let their drivers know at morning meeting so they know what going on so they can be already aware so they get out and offer help before you ask so your trip goese smoothly.