buses to parks?

[tarabl]

We will be headed to Disney in about 20 days. My husband has end stage liver disease and is anemic and can not stand for long periods of time without feeling lightheaded. I plan to wait for a bus to the parks with seats but was wondering do they have special buses for those with handicaps?
He doesn't "look" disabled but has this condition and we plan on bringing a note from the doc and renting a wheelchair/scooter for him to get around in the park.

I don't mind waiting but was just curious about the bus situation.

 

[Cruisefan2]

Yes they do have busses with the wheelchair ramp. They do a very nice job getting the person in the wheel chair on and off the bus and securing them in place. Hope that helps!

 

[ABCastillo]

I noticed that they were very helpful for people with wheelchairs, scooters and such. I did notice that there were often some yellow/blue lines at the bus stops for people who needed assistance to line up at.

 

[disney david]

Every bus is handicap accessible they all can take at least two wheelchairs. You might have to wait for a bus if it busy and they have guest on the bus already in the seats. But they don't have separate buses for guest with disabilities they exceed Ada and dot requirements and one of the only company's that spend more money to make sure guest in wheelchairs and ecv can get in safer and easier. And also one of the few company's that always put guest with disabilities in the planing when they do new things not just because they have to but they look at everything and see where they can make it easier for you. Their buses are may be in my opinion the most accommodating buses for a transportation. They really put a lot thought into which buses company to use to make them and how they wanted them arranged.

 

[crashbb]

You say that you are renting a wheelchair/scooter - do you mean at the parks or from an outside vendor? If you are renting at the parks, you won't have it on the buses, so the comments about lifts etc. are moot. If you are renting from an outside vendor, he'll have it for the buses.

There are no special (i.e. separate) buses for those with wheelchairs. If you have a scooter/wheelchair there are lifts (or ramps) and tie down places on the buses. If you don't have a scooter/wheelchair, waiting for a bus with empty seats (i.e. waiting until you are within the first group of people boarding) is a great idea (difficult though if you are at a resort where the bus comes from another stop first).

 

[buffettgirl]

Definitely do not wait to rent your wheelchair/ECV at the parks. You need one before then. Depending on what resort you're at, the walk to the bus stop alone is tiring. Then walking from the bus stop to the entrance of the park is another hike. You will do far better to have that ECV/WC already with you.

Good luck!!

 

[LilyWDW]

You should rent a wheelchair/ECV to have at all times, not just in the parks. There are no special buses for those who have mobility issues. If you have a wheelchair or ECV then you will be loaded first and be able to stay in the chair or transfer to a seat (for an ECV). Otherwise you will not be guaranteed a seat on the bus.

 

[SueM in MN]

As was alteady mentioned, all buses are wheelchair and ECV accessible. At your resort, there will be limited numbers of benches, but no guarantee that the seats won't be filled when you arrive at the bus stop.
Also, if the waiting line is crowded, there is no guarantee you will get a seat on the bus after you get in the line. You coul

There are no special accommodations for people without wheelchairs, ECVs or other mobility devices.
The waiting areas people mentioned are for people with mobility devices so that the driver can see thém and know the ramp needs to be lowered.

Renting a wheelchair, ECV or rollato will help him conserve his energy and have a place to sit when he needs one.
There is information bout renting in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. I would recommend renting from offsite since you would have it all the time. You don't need a doctors note to rent one.

 

[tarabl]

thanks for the info. He doesn't want to start off renting one, pride I presume. But I made sure to copy all of the info for preferred vendors incase we need it. I think it's going to be too much with the heat and the fatigue he experiences already but he wants to try with just renting if need be in the parks or renting if he finds he can't do it.

Luckily we've been many times and are going to take the time to relax and enjoy at a slower pace.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Without an ECV or wheelchair there is no guarantee he will get a seat on the bus. Also, most bus stops have either no seating or only a few benches which are usually full. Especially at the parks. And you can easily wait 30 minutes to an hour certain times of the day. A 10-20 minute wait is pretty average to wait unless you are lucky enough to walk up when there is a bus there.

I get the pride thing, but his pride is going to be more hurt if he passes out or requires emergency medical assistance because he wouldn't use an ECV.

 

[Gracie09]

Take a walk maybe around a track. Go a mile and ask him if he could do that three times (3miles total)? And then get up the next morning and do it again? And add in hills.
Some people don't get how much walking in involved in a dw vacation. It's easily 5-7 miles a day.
Is there a zoo or small amusement park near you that you can visit for a day? It may give him an idea of what he is dealing with. The queue for soarin if a quarter mile long!

 

[powellrj]

Forget the pride, if he is like my DH, explain the price difference and that alone should be enough for him to decide to rent off-site! It is so much cheaper to rent off-site, plus you will have it to get around the resort if needed.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Please ask him the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ask him if he would rent one for you? Explain how special this trip is to you, and how you do not want to spend your time worrying about how he is going to make it waking back to the room at right (it can be a VERY long walk).

The fact that his disability is invisible may work against him especially if he is younger. Many people will give up a seat on a bus for someone that they can see needs it but not for a "healthy looking" man.

Prayers for a magical trip

 

[jworkkul]

As for renting an ECV in the parks when he needs it, at some parks they get sold out rather quickly in the morning. I know at MK the ECVs are gone before noon. So, if he waits to rent one in the afternoon they may not be available. Also the cost to rent one is, I think, around $70. You do get $20 back after you turn in the ECV. If you rent one from an outside company, it may be just $30/day.