Bus wait times with scooter? Better to drive?

[robinb]

I posted this on another board, but it probably belongs here.

I’m going to WDW at the end of May. I have arthritis in my right knee and I use a scooter. I used one on our last trip in October 2019 and we took the bus with no problems. We’ll be staying at Boardwalk so I’ll be able to scoot to 2 parks. I’ve heard that with the new covid social distancing restrictions that people with mobility devices have to wait a long time for a bus. They have to wait much longer than they did before and longer than other people who don't need a mobility device. Have you found that to be true?

We will probably rent a car so we can drive to AK and MK with the scooter in the trunk, but I am afraid that I’ll miss the early opening for resort guests who arrive by bus if I arrive by car. Do people on buses have that much of an advantage at those two parks? We’ll be able to walk/scoot to DHS which seems to be the park you really want to be at early.

Thanks!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I posted this on another board, but it probably belongs here.

I’m going to WDW at the end of May. I have arthritis in my right knee and I use a scooter. I used one on our last trip in October 2019 and we took the bus with no problems. We’ll be staying at Boardwalk so I’ll be able to scoot to 2 parks. I’ve heard that with the new covid social distancing restrictions that people with mobility devices have to wait a long time for a bus. They have to wait much longer than they did before and longer than other people who don't need a mobility device. Have you found that to be true?

We will probably rent a car so we can drive to AK and MK with the scooter in the trunk, but I am afraid that I’ll miss the early opening for resort guests who arrive by bus if I arrive by car. Do people on buses have that much of an advantage at those two parks? We’ll be able to walk/scoot to DHS which seems to be the park you really want to be at early.

Thanks!

remember at MK unless you use the long walkway around from TTC past GF to MK you will have to use Disney transportation to get to MK gate from parking lot. a lot will depend on when that starts a lot of resort guests could be ahead of you

 

[lanejudy]

I haven't been since the covid restrictions, but I don't know that ECVs wait considerably longer than others for buses. Everyone has been experiencing long waits in the morning. Buses have limited capacity -- I think approximately 6-10 parties (depending on size and spacing on each bus). MK is likely going to be the most impacted by driving, because you'll need to take the ferry or monorail. If you really want to make the early-opening and can get out early in the morning, I would do the bus for MK and be at the bus stop 60-90 minutes prior to 1st bus, which is about 80 minutes prior to stated park opening.

 

[robinb]

remember at MK unless you use the long walkway around from TTC past GF to MK you will have to use Disney transportation to get to MK gate from parking lot. a lot will depend on when that starts a lot of resort guests could be ahead of you

hmmm. I wonder if I can drive to the MK and scoot the the MK while my DH takes the bus and meets me there. I wouldn’t want him to walk all the way around with me.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

hmmm. I wonder if I can drive to the MK and scoot the the MK while my DH takes the bus and meets me there. I wouldn’t want him to walk all the way around with me.

you would probably have to leave earlier than him. not sure I would want to do that by self. plus I am not sure parking opens early enough for you to make it before a bus would get you there

 

[Jane Eyre]

I posted this on another board, but it probably belongs here.

I’m going to WDW at the end of May. I have arthritis in my right knee and I use a scooter. I used one on our last trip in October 2019 and we took the bus with no problems. We’ll be staying at Boardwalk so I’ll be able to scoot to 2 parks. I’ve heard that with the new covid social distancing restrictions that people with mobility devices have to wait a long time for a bus. They have to wait much longer than they did before and longer than other people who don't need a mobility device. Have you found that to be true?

We will probably rent a car so we can drive to AK and MK with the scooter in the trunk, but I am afraid that I’ll miss the early opening for resort guests who arrive by bus if I arrive by car. Do people on buses have that much of an advantage at those two parks? We’ll be able to walk/scoot to DHS which seems to be the park you really want to be at early.

Thanks!

It has always been my experience that scooters get loaded onto the bus before regular passengers. So if you are the only scooter waiting for a bus, you will get on first. It is always good to get to the morning bus stop early, if you want to be at parks in time for rope drop.

 

[mamabunny]

It has always been my experience that scooters get loaded onto the bus before regular passengers. So if you are the only scooter waiting for a bus, you will get on first. It is always good to get to the morning bus stop early, if you want to be at parks in time for rope drop.

It's true that in "normal" times, folks with mobility and assistive devices have been loaded first, using the ramp that is mid-ship on the bus.

And, during current pandemic procedures, that holds true as well, however, we are hearing reports from folks about buses that arrive "full" (ie, there is already someone sitting in that section, sometimes with an assistive device visible, other times not).

My personal best advice is to make sure that you are at the "first" bus stop at your Resort - so, if you are at a Disney Resort hotel that has 3 stops, make sure you are at the "first" stop in the loop, and not the 2nd or 3rd, because as the bus makes it's way around the Resort, the likelyhood of the mobility assistance section being filled increases with every stop the bus makes.

You may have to (initial) travel further within your Resort, but that will increase your odds of getting on the bus in a relatively timely fashion.

Myself, I don't care... LOL if I am at Disney World, I'm so happy to be there, that if I have to wait a bit, that's fine by me! I'm where thousands and thousands of people *want* to be, and I try to always remember how blessed and fortunate I am to be able to visit there as often as I do.

 

[fabfemmeboy]

I think driving would be more of a hassle and not save time, tbh. Particularly if you're trying to get there early, the wait lines to get into the parking lots are absurd, and from TTC to MK you have to take at least one additional type of transport, etc. When we went in December, we didn't have any issues getting on the first bus that came along, but we were also the first stop within the resort. I would second what mamabunny said and be sure you're at the first stop, particularly if you're trying to go during a popular time. In terms of getting back from the parks, we never had to wait for an additional bus or anything, so it was much faster and easier than driving. To say nothing of loading a scooter into/out of the car...I am notorious for doing whatever I can to avoid needing to hoist my chair into the car, so that may be my own bias talking!

 

[Debbie Jean]

I’ve been at BWV since Covid with a scooter and had no issues with longer bus waits.

The only resort that presented problems was SSR. But honestly there were simply not enough buses to carry everyone, not just scooters. It was frustrating.

BWV bus service was fine, as was AKV.

Have fun! I love scooting over to Epcot and HS, as well as the resorts in that area... and now you have the skyliner, too