Buses and ECV's ?

[msr709]

I know that the Disney transportation buses are equipped for the ECVs' but is it an easy transition to rely on them for a 4 day trip? We are a group of 11 (all immediate family) and 2 of us want to rent ECV's, now from what I have read here its almost always better to get one from an outside source, Walker, Randy, etc., but since we won't have a rental car we will solely be relying on Disney transportation and I want to be reassured it won't be a burden on the rest of the group to have the ECVs with us at all times or it might be better to just chance it and rent one at the parks. This is not the first time for me at WDW but it is for my sister and neither of us have had one 24-7. Can anyone share their experiences with me on the reliability of the Disney bus system? We're staying at RPR from 8/29 to 9/1 and then moving 9/1 to 9/5 to ASMo, we have a car service (van) doing the transfers for us, and I don't think there will be enough room (even disassembled) for the 2 ECVs. I thought I might call the ECV rental place and see if they can just pick up the 2 from RPR and deliver us new ones at ASMo (or make 2 separate reservations). Anyone have any thoughts you'd care to share, I'm wide open to suggestions from you experts. TIA!

 

[andrew_bichard]

I have always found Disney buses entirely reliable, using my own electric powered wheelchair.

My opinion (though others may disagree) is that it is easier to use Disney buses than load/unload two ECVs into your own car. The only downside I can see, is that the buses can take only two ECVs/wheelchairs at a time, and you won't both be able to get on if the bus is already carrying one.

However, 11 is a hard party to keep together, even without ECVs, so you might do better splitting up anyway.

Assuming RPR is a Disney resort (I'm not too good on abbreviations)... Why are you using a car/limo service for your transfer? I always pack & check out at Disney hotel #1 and set out for a day at the park of my choice. Bell services arrange the transfer of my luggage, which Bell services at Disney hotel #2 have in their store room ready to bring up to my room onee I have checked in.

Andrew

 

[msr709]

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for the reply! RPR iis Royal Pacific Resort in Universal Studios. That's why the car service transfer. Splitting up doesn't matter since I know my way around (I've gone solo, and I've been going every year since 1999) this is the first time with the whole family. Has anyone else done a transfer like the one I am planning that could give me some insight? TIA

 

[cupcake]

Someone posted re this pretty recently, but my connection is kinda slow so I can't locate it. There are two spots per bus for wcs/ECVs. The consensus was that if you find the buses are too full when they get to you or the wcs spots are consistently taken, or if you are simply a plan ahead kind of person, you can have Guest Services contact the transportation folks and they will send out a bus for you. Give them at least 45 minutes to an hour notice.

At a park, you will not have a problem as the buses are empty and if there are a bunch of wc people, they can immediately deploy more buses, as they have extras waiting there.

So short answer -- the WDW bus system can accommodate multiple wcs traveling together.

Cupcake

 

[SueM in MN]

There is information about transporting ecvs by bus and by car in the FAQs thread at the top of this forum.
We travel by bus with DD's wheelchair and have found it to be a lot more convenient most of the time than trying to drive. We've never traveled with more than one wheelchair, but we have traveled in a party of 10. My suggestion would be to not try to stay together all the time. It's just too difficult.
As far as transferring the ecv from the resort you are staying at first to the second resort, I'd suggest you ask the company you are renting them from for suggestions. I'm sure you are not the first group to have this dilemma.

 

[msr709]

Thank you all for your replies. I did call Walker and they suggested we do 2 reservations, one for each hotel. Now when you all say to contact Guest Services for the buses, is that at the parks or at the resort? I've never done this and I appreciate all the help I can get! You guys are the best!!

 

[ktglads]

Just for a couple of hints for transport to and from the Universal resorts:

1 - There are no tie downs on the boats so it will be easier if you can transfer from the wheelchair and, altough there is a ramp to from the boat to dock, there is a hill that you have to go up to get to the street level. This is not fun for the person puching the wheelchair

2 - The buses have a wheelchair lift but no tie downs. They do not seat very many people if there is a chair in there since it basically is parked in the middle of the bus.

3 - It may be fastest for you to walk to the parks. When I was at full strength, it was only a 10 minute walk to IoA and 15 to US from the RPR

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by msr709
Thank you all for your replies. I did call Walker and they suggested we do 2 reservations, one for each hotel. Now when you all say to contact Guest Services for the buses, is that at the parks or at the resort? I've never done this and I appreciate all the help I can get! You guys are the best!!

When you are at the parks, you would just go to Guest Relations/Services in the park you are at. When you are at a WDW resort, you should ask when you check in who to contact -often it's just touching the buttons on your room phone for Guest Services.

 

[clkelley]

We are using Tiffany's van service for our transfers to and from the airport with 6 people and 2 ECVs in September. We are also using them for round trip transportation to and from Universal on 2 different days. From what I remember, there should be no trouble fitting the two ECVs in the back of the van.

I will report on what happens after the trip.

Carol