Best way to get from here to there......?

[pat fan]

We have a large group going in '07 and my mom and dad will be using wheelchairs. They will most likely be able to get from the chair into rides (how the wait lines work I don't know) but my concern is getting from the hotel to the parks. What way is best/easiest? (BTW we are staying at the ASMusic)

1. WDW busses
2. Take our own vehicle (we will have a van )
3. If we take our own vehicle, do we park and hassle with getting the chairs onto a tram? We have room only right now through AAA. Do we get the AAA parking pass and is that lot closer? I've heard it's actualy a further walk because no trams service it.

I still haven't decided if we are going to rent chairs at home and bring them, rent them from somewhere in Florida or get them at the hotel. OR get them at the park. This is my least favorite option as I don't know how well it works! If we lose it or switch parks I don't want to be stuck without one.

Thanks for ANY advice, transportation or otherwise. This is the first time at WDW for my parents and I so want them to have a good time, but the mobility thing has me VERY nervous even though I know WDW does a good job in helping out with that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

First of all, welcome to disABILTIES!

As long as there is either a handicap plate or hang tag you can park in the medical parking areas. They are generally closer to the parks than where the buses lett off and almost as close as the trams. The only exception is the Magic Kingdom.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The second item down is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs.

Last I would suggest getting a copy of PassPorter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs which is available at Amazon or www.passporter.com and study it. There will be tons of good advice in it and you will have plenty of time.

And then ask more specific quesitons as you get closer

 

[spiceycat]

go with the buses - unless your van has a wheelchair ramp....

wheelchairs are heavy - and are heck getting out and in on a car....

if your parents can wait until you arrive. I would get the free wheelchairs from the resort.

 

[pat fan]

if your parents can wait until you arrive. I would get the free wheelchairs from the resort.

The wheelchairs are free at the resort? I thought there was a length-of-stay renatl fee which was cheaper than renting every day....but free?

As long as there is either a handicap plate or hang tag you can park in the medical parking areas.

We will not have a special plate. It will be a rental from the airport or wherever.

There will be tons of good advice in it and you will have plenty of time.

That's why I'm looking for info now! I want to make sure I have all the info and everything lined up for them so they can just go and have a good time. Thank you all for the tips!

 

[spiceycat]

The wheelchairs are free at the resort? I thought there was a length-of-stay renatl fee which was cheaper than renting every day....but free?

We will not have a special plate. It will be a rental from the airport or wherever.

That's why I'm looking for info now! I want to make sure I have all the info and everything lined up for them so they can just go and have a good time. Thank you all for the tips!

yes, the wheelchairs are free from a WDW resort. Now you may have to sign and agree to pay $250 if you don't return it. but this is only with that resort's wheelchairs - they will also give locks, chain and a key. sometimes they are out of their chairs and will give you a older theme park one. these you generally don't even have to sign for - just return them and everyone will be fine.

now remember that the airport is big. So if you don't take their wheelchair you need to get help at the airport. (and yes the airport has wheelchairs too) to deliver them to the rental car area or DME if you are using that.


you might ask your state for the blue handicapped (they need a doctor's okay to get one). It can go with you. You can then park in the handicapped section.

I would go by their house and pick up their wheelchairs a couple of times - now if you think you can manage this thing several times a day (we always leave the park when it too hot or crowded and come back later). Then your van would probably work better - expect for the magic kingdom - always ride the WDW bus to the MK.

the length of stay rental is for the parks not the resorts. As a Disney resort guest you get a free wheelchair from your resort.

now these are not guaranteed. but I have been taken mother several times a year and we always manage to get a free one. even at the value resort.

 

[Haley Whippet]

We always use the buses, I use a ECV, Never had any trouble..
Deb

 

[pat fan]

yes, the wheelchairs are free from a WDW resort. Now you may have to sign and agree to pay $250 if you don't return it. but this is only with that resort's wheelchairs - they will also give locks, chain and a key. sometimes they are out of their chairs and will give you a older theme park one. these you generally don't even have to sign for - just return them and everyone will be fine.
you might ask your state for the blue handicapped (they need a doctor's okay to get one). It can go with you. You can then park in the handicapped section.

I would go by their house and pick up their wheelchairs a couple of times - now if you think you can manage this thing several times a day (we always leave the park when it too hot or crowded and come back later). Then your van would probably work better - expect for the magic kingdom - always ride the WDW bus to the MK.

the length of stay rental is for the parks not the resorts. As a Disney resort guest you get a free wheelchair from your resort.

now these are not guaranteed. but I have been taken mother several times a year and we always manage to get a free one. even at the value resort.

See, this is why I love the Dis! Thank you...that answers a lot of questions. I also don't want to give you the wrong impression of my parents. My DD does not normally use a wheelchair, but he has a problem where if he walks a lot or exerts himself at all, he gets chest pains etc..and winds up in the ER. He has nitro pills he uses, but I'd like to avoid all that and not spend our vacation in the ER.

My DM actualy needs the chair. She can fairly well function day-to-day but a trip to the mall? Nope...it's got to be with a chair. She just plain can't walk, especialy on a hard surface like a mall floor, or a road, or sand either for that matter. Her true love is the beach and she can't go there anymore because she can't walk on the sand. They still go every summer to a christian conferance in Harvey Ceders N.J. (my DD is a minister) but she sits in the parking lot at the ocean just so she can see and smell it. It is VERY sad, really.

Again...thank you!

 

[evedein]

In regard to borrowing a wheelchair from the resort, I was told by Pop Century that we could borrow theirs, but couldn't take it off the resort's property. Is this true?

 

[BionicEar]

Just my thoughts here - please don't take it the wrong way....

But why take the wheelchairs? Why not rent an ECV for your parents? I hear there are a few good companies in Orlando that will rent an ECV (have seen a thread or two here on that) for the week. Wouldn't that me more "fun" than a wheelchair?

You could use the free wheelchairs at the airports, etc., until you arrive at the resorts, where I know of at least one ECV rental company will bring the ECV to you at the resort, give you some training on its use and you're on your way to having fun!

The WDW buses are very accomodating to people in ECV's.

Think about it . . . weigh all the pro's & con's. Carrying & setting up the wheelchair, pushing the wheelchair (when it's hot down there in sunny FL), etc. While, with an ECV, your parents will have some degree of independence since they can wheel themselves around without depending on someone to push them.

Just my two cents...

 

[SueM in MN]

Just my thoughts here - please don't take it the wrong way....

But why take the wheelchairs? Why not rent an ECV for your parents? I hear there are a few good companies in Orlando that will rent an ECV (have seen a thread or two here on that) for the week.

If you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread located near the top of this board, there is contact information and links to the different companies that DIS posters have reported good experiences using.

In regard to borrowing a wheelchair from the resort, I was told by Pop Century that we could borrow theirs, but couldn't take it off the resort's property. Is this true?

Other people have posted the same thing (not just about POP) from time to time. Others have occasionally posted that they were allowed to use a wheelchair, but were told they could only have it for a limited time, not their full stay. Those things appear to be unusual, but could happen.

There are no guarantes that your resort will have a free wheelchair to loan or that you will be able to have it for your whole length of stay.
You are likely to be able to get one, have it for your whole stay and use it where ever you need to.
Just in case it doesn't work out, I always suggest people take along some of the phone numbers of off-site rental places. That way, you have a back up if you need it.

 

[pat fan]

Just my thoughts here - please don't take it the wrong way....But why take the wheelchairs? Why not rent an ECV for your parents? I hear there are a few good companies in Orlando that will rent an ECV (have seen a thread or two here on that) for the week. Wouldn't that me more "fun" than a wheelchair?

Not taken at all the wrong way,no worries! I've suggested the ECV's and my DM wants no part of them! She would spend all her time worrying about running someone over, where she was going etc....that she would have no fun at all. She just wouldn't like it.

My DD would also rather have a chair than EVC for pretty much the same reasons, and as I stated before, any exercise gets his heart/stomach going and the same goes for stress/excitement. We had to make a deal with him to get him to go to WDW that we would not expect him to go on ANY rides AT ALL or he wouldn't go. Just the thought of them gets him worked up (in a good way) and it sets his heart off.Good excitement can be as harmful as bad....so.....no excitement for dad

There will be 4 of us to push them around anyway, so we can swap off. The 3 or 4 days they are there it's all about them...whatever they want to do, we do...and whatever they want to see, we see. If they don't want to do something...that's a-ok....this is for them to see some of the wonders of WDW, whatever that may be to them.When they leave, then we get our vacation

 

[spiceycat]

In regard to borrowing a wheelchair from the resort, I was told by Pop Century that we could borrow theirs, but couldn't take it off the resort's property. Is this true?

well I have never been told that. I got told it could go anywhere on WDW property.... some people think this means resort property (including CM). If you have a question or they say that - just look at the paper you are signing - it says WDW property.....

however Sue suggestions is a good one - bring the phone numbers with you for offsite places. then if there is a problem just call one of the off site places.