Buses departing from EPCOT and EVC

[pmdeve]

I have been using a ECV for a while and I am pretty good at getting on and off of the bus, but I do get nervous when there are other people on the bus. The new bus policy at EPCOT has me worried.

Has anyone used and EVC and gone through the regular line? Is there enough room in the line to make the turns as you go through the line? Is the handicap entrance from the line to the bus clearly marked? What if there are a lot of people on the bus already and then you come up in line, how does this work?

I have reservations at POP during the F&W and I am very concerned about boarding the busses when leaving EPCOT. I have considered shortening my trip and staying at Beach/Yacht or Boardwalk, but there is nothing available. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks

 

[GranJan]

I've been wondering about the correct procedure for scooters & buses too. There's another thread about wheelchairs & buses...no need to read it all...Sue's post #50 & #54 cleared up things for me. Hope you can find it & it helps you. I would give you a link to that thread but I don't have a clue how to do that.

 

[Talking Hands]

I'd say expect to wait for another bus unless you are at the very front of the line. Unfortunately this a something they haven't worked out properly.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here' a copy of what I posted on the other thread:

Previously, there was a marked spot for guests using wheelchairs and ECVs to wait outside of the regular line.
That meant they were very visible to the driver and the wheelchairs and/or ECVs were loaded first. That is easier than loading on a bus with other guests already on the bus.

The bus stops at the parks are being slowly converted to a wider line that is wheelchair accessible and the separate place to wait is no longer marked.
Some of the stops have an opening where the front door of the bus will be when it stops and a chained ‘door’ about where the back door would be.
This is a picture of one of those stops:

sorry about the large size image. Everyone gets into the line together and there is a gate to let guests in wheelchairs get out of line to board at the left side of the picture on the front row of railing. Look for the black rail in the picture some stops will have that and some will have chains The bus front door will be at the right of the picture.

Some of the stops, like OKW’s stops, have no way to get out of the line once you enter until you get to the very front - by the front door of the bus. Here's a picture of the OKW Epcot bus stop.

this picture is small - the front door of the bus will be at the place you can see people waiting.

In those lines, someone could be waiting in the line with a wheelchair or ECV, but by the time they reach the front of the line, the bus is too full for them to be loaded. That can happen even if there is still space for other passengers to get onto the bus. When that happens at those kind of bus stops, they move aside and people who were in line after them will get onto the bus.

That’s the part that people are saying is not fair to guests with wheelchairs and ECVs.
That is also why people are confused - because there seems to be no set way to deal with things right now. Some people get into line and are told they should not have and others don’t get in line and are told they should have.

Honestly, though, if you avoid the busiest travel times, you will probably have little trouble. The bus lines are the busiest and people are least patient with other guests at times like right after a parade and right after the park closes when everyone wants to leave.
If you hold back and wait, even 15 -20 minutes, you will have a much easier time getting out because most of the crowds will have thinned. That also means the first couple of buses will have left and the crowds for the buses will be much smaller. You may even be the only people in line for a while.

 

[pmdeve]

SueM thank you so much for the explanation. It is a great idea to wait. I can always look around the shops and find that last minute gift. I feel a lot better now, thanks again