Can my family stay with me and my mother in the handicap line?

[*Fantasia*]

My mother will be in the ECV. My dad is in his mid 80s will need some help too (he gets kind of confused and his hearing is not that great) and I have my DS 8 and DD 6 with me. I know some attractions will have special lines for handicap, since my father is going to need my help and I can't leave my children on their own and stand in the regular line... can we all be together?

Same as the bus... can we all stand in line with my mother? and get on the bus together? Thanks.

 

[Nanajo1]

Yes, your family can stay together in line and at the bus stop. Your mother will be loaded on the bus first then your family will be allowed to board. Most lines are mainstreamed so your won't be in a seperate line for many rides but when the ecv does need to go a separate way you will be allowed to stay together.

 

[xterratri]

Our party of 4 stays together. The CMs just ask how many of you there are. You might end up with an ECV for your Dad too. The walking can get overwhelming even for younger people. My Grandma got a treadmill this summer to 'train' for our next trip in December but we'll still get wheelchair for her but let her choose how much to walk and how much to ride. Have a great trip.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thanks nanajo and exterrati. Now you got me thinking exterrati if I should rent an ECV for my dad too. I guess for a mid 80s... they will probably get tired faster than us. My mother needs ECV due to her heart condition and so she is usually short of breath and she got arthiritis. Hmmm... you really got me thinking there.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Sure you all can ride together.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you have two rooms it will probably be easier to store one of the ECVs in each room.

As far as groups together, often a group larger than six will be requested to split up. Also, some of the parade viewing areas will attempt to limit the people in the area to the person in a wc/ECV and one other due to space limitations.

 

[SueM in MN]

An ECV might not be a good choice for someone who is hard of hearing and confused. People with hearing disabilities need to be alert to avoid dangers around them that others might have more advance warning of from hearing things. Someone who is both hard and hearing and confused may have difficulty reacting in time.
I'd suggest if you are thinking of getting your dad an ECV, that you take him out to stores like grocery stores, Target, Walmart where he could practice and you can get an idea of whether or not having one at WDW would be a safe option for him.

And, as the others mentioned, most of the lines are wheelchair/ECV accessible, so you will be waiting in the same line with them. If you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you'll find a link to the official Disney Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities webpages.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thank you guys for all your help.

Telly

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thank you guys for all your help.

Telly

Fantasia, no help, no advice, just wanted to say "have a great trip!!!"

 

[nwdisgal]

Hi Fantasia My mom had a pass, too, because of a serious heart condition (she was in a wheel chair) and we were able to wait in line/board the rides with her. We were at DL as opposed to WDW that trip, but it sounds like their policies are similar. Both my parents complained that there weren't enough sit down benches at the parks for old folks. I hope there are more benches at WDW for rest periods, or that you come up with a good solution for your dad. Too bad those ECVs don't have tandems, or side cars like the motorcycles for the significant other

 

[Disneyholic]

You might consider an ECV for Mom and a Wheel Chair for Dad that you can push. That way you wouldn't have to worry about him getting away from you or having problems with the EVC.
My Mom just gave up her car at 80 and will not use an EVC because she feels you have to remember as much as driving a car. She prefers the wheel chair with basket at stores that someone can push her in, but not a lot of stores have these anymore since they got the EVC's so she just pushes the cart for something to hold her up and to lean on. People look at me as if I'm a bad daughter for letting her push the cart, but this is her choice.

Enjoy your vacation. Hope everything works out for you whatever you decide to do.

 

[SueM in MN]

I just noticed this is a really old thread. Hope the OP had a good time.

 

[Disneyholic]

From what I read on other posts by *Fantasia* I thought she was going July 2007.