Can someone check this out for us :

[terri01p]

Just read on another board that a wheelchair user can no longer ride the boats from FW to MK unless their wheelchair folds and they can walk on board
on their own, is this true or did I miss understand ? PLEASE someone check this out and report back to us wheelchair users. Also for ECV users you can not ride the boats at all...correct ? TIA

 

[stacktester]

Just read on another board that a wheelchair user can no longer ride the boats from FW to MK unless their wheelchair folds and they can walk on board
on their own, is this true or did I miss understand ? PLEASE someone check this out and report back to us wheelchair users. Also for ECV users you can not ride the boats at all...correct ? TIA

I would make 2 phone calls. One to the front desk of FW. (407) 824-2900 and one to CRO (407) wdisney. The reason I say these 2 numbers is to see if you get the same answer.

I kinda doubt this is the case because of the disability acts in Florida. I know on the buses they have you ride the ecv? on and they put up the handicap seat and strap your scooter in. I've not seen anyone sit on it while it was parked. If this is true, I'm sure WDW will provide alternative transportation for you. I've seen some pretty amazing things provided for handicapped guests so if it's true I'll be surprised.

Just a funny note. Over this past weekend we saw a bus driver putting down the ramp for a lady on a scooter and before it hit the ground she was already going. She took off so fast all 3 wheels hit the ramp and then the ground. Each landing was probably about 4-5 inches lol. The bus driver asked her to stop moving but it was too late. Once she was on the concrete she did a 180 and turned around to wait for her family. I told my daughter if it was one of the ramps with the little flap extension on the end it might have been a different outcome. That may have delayed the 2nd jump.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Just read on another board that a wheelchair user can no longer ride the boats from FW to MK unless their wheelchair folds and they can walk on board
on their own, is this true or did I miss understand ? PLEASE someone check this out and report back to us wheelchair users. Also for ECV users you can not ride the boats at all...correct ? TIA

According to the post by a watercraft CM only one of the boats on the FW/MK route is wheelchair friendly, the other boat will be one of the smalller launches, like the one used on the CR/WL/MK run. So if you just miss the cruiser at the dock you could have a very long wait for it to make it's round trip. The other 2(3 in all) cruisers will run between WL/MK, FW and WL will no longer share the MK boats.
Your other option is to take a bus to WL and then the WL bus or boat to MK, not very effecient but I guess it covers Disney for ADA complience.

 

[Gatordad]

The bigger boats with the obnoxiously loud horns allow you to wheel a stroller on, so I see no need why you couldn't wheel a wheelchair on. The smaller ones that loook like they stole them from Asia will not accomodate the stroller.

 

[Rhonda]

There are times when the water levels in the lake are so low, that there is a big "step" to get into the boat, and a wheelchair couldn't make it. When it happens, it is a temporary thing, until the lake level comes back up again.

 

[Claymax]

According to the post by a watercraft CM only one of the boats on the FW/MK route is wheelchair friendly, the other boat will be one of the smalller launches, like the one used on the CR/WL/MK run. So if you just miss the cruiser at the dock you could have a very long wait for it to make it's round trip. The other 2(3 in all) cruisers will run between WL/MK, FW and WL will no longer share the MK boats.
Your other option is to take a bus to WL and then the WL bus or boat to MK, not very effecient but I guess it covers Disney for ADA complience.

This is the first I've heard about boat changes at the Fort. I'll be there in a week. Can someone fill me in on the details of the new boat routes or changes? I like to find out this stuff before I get there.

 

[mr.merlin]

We were there last week and saw wheelchairs on every boat we took. There seemed to be no problems as the doors and aisles are wide enough to accomodate almost anything. I never saw anyone in a wheelchair turned away.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Just a funny note. Over this past weekend we saw a bus driver putting down the ramp for a lady on a scooter and before it hit the ground she was already going. She took off so fast all 3 wheels hit the ramp and then the ground. Each landing was probably about 4-5 inches lol. The bus driver asked her to stop moving but it was too late. Once she was on the concrete she did a 180 and turned around to wait for her family. I told my daughter if it was one of the ramps with the little flap extension on the end it might have been a different outcome. That may have delayed the 2nd jump.

Evil Granny-val

 

[Tri-circle-D]

There was a sign posted in the Reception Oupost office that stated that effective 11/18/07, the boat transportation routes were changing. The boats to an from MK now go direct from WL and FW. This past week, they were primarily using the large enclosed boats for FW, and the smaller open boats for WL, but that was not always the case. It seems like they are adjusting it based on the volume of travelers. This may only be temporary for the busy holiday period. The issue seems to be that no one knows in advance whether it is going to be a large boat or small boat showing up. The small boats cannot accommodate a person in a wheelchair.

TCD

 

[clkelley]

The way I read the information, instead of sharing boat routes to MK, WL, and Ft. Wilderness will have their own boats to MK. There will still be a large boat going from Ft. Wilderness to MK which will accomodate those that can't transfer and ECVs as long as the water levels cooperate. What the new route eliminates is the large boat going between Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge which means ECV users and those that can't fold their wheelchair would either have to take the bus between Ft. Wilderness and WL, or the walking path.

Also, it appears that that the large cruisers do not start until 8:30 am, so to get to early EMH at MK, you would have to take the small boat to the Contemporary and walk, or if you needed disabled access, take the bus to WL, then transfer to the bus to MK.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

The way I read the information, instead of sharing boat routes to MK, WL, and Ft. Wilderness will have their own boats to MK. There will still be a large boat going from Ft. Wilderness to MK which will accomodate those that can't transfer and ECVs as long as the water levels cooperate. What the new route eliminates is the large boat going between Ft. Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge which means ECV users and those that can't fold their wheelchair would either have to take the bus between Ft. Wilderness and WL, or the walking path.

Also, it appears that that the large cruisers do not start until 8:30 am, so to get to early EMH at MK, you would have to take the small boat to the Contemporary and walk, or if you needed disabled access, take the bus to WL, then transfer to the bus to MK.

Carol- I am not sure what you read, but what you state is what was happening in practice this past week, except that there was one occasion where the small boat was used to pick up guests at FW to take to the MK. This was in the evening, right after a HDD seating, and I have seen them do this before, because there is usually a larger than normal crowd. So, I am not sure that you will always be able to count on one of the large boats showing up at the FW dock.

TCD

 

[clkelley]

This is what was posted by a watercraft CM on the transportation board:

Please note the following changes in WDW Watercraft operations on 7 Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The WDW Watercraft boat routes to the WL and FWC from the MK have changed effective 11/16/07. Boats to the WL and FWC leave for the World Cruise dock (center dock) at the MK. They now are as follows (See *** below):

Ferry boats operate from the TTC to the MK and return. Depending on the time of day 1 to 3 ferry boats operate. Ferry boats run from 0830 to 45 minutes after the MK closes.

There are 2 Motor Launches (GOLD FLAG) that run from the MK to the GF and Poly before returning to the MK. These launches run from 0830 to 45 minutes after the MK closes.

***The WL is now serviced by 2 Motor Cruisers (RED FLAG) and begin running each day at 0830 and terminate operations about 1 hour after the MK closes. These 2 RED FLAG boats run only between the MK and the WL.

*** The FWC is now serviced by 1 motor cruiser and 1 motor launch (GREEN FLAG) running each day from 0830 until about 1 hour after the MK closes. These boats run only between the MK and the FWC.

The 2 Motor Launches (BLUE FLAG) on Bay Lake serving the CR, WL and the FWC begin service at 0645 daily. They both run clockwise until 3 p.m. and then reverse direction at 3 p.m. These launches run until 2330.

***NOTE: If you want to go to the GF/Poly from the WL, CR or FWC by boat, you will have to go to the MK and then get the Gold flag launch. In addition, there is no boat that goes directly from the CR to the MK, GF or Poly. Additional boats may be added to the Gold, Green, Red and Blue routes during periods of exceptionally high demand - like at heavy MK closings - to alleviate the guest lines at the docks. Additionally for all motor launches, strollers must be folded prior to boarding and ECVs cannot be accommodated on motor launches under any circumstances.

 

[Claymax]

Thanks for the info everyone!

Hmm, our own launches for the FW-MK trip. That will be nice. However, I wonder if the overall travel time will stay the same since with only 2 boats vs. 3 in the past, we may have a bit longer wait.

Guess I'll find out next week!

 

[terri01p]

Ok, thanks for all the information, this will make a differents as to if we stay in a prefered site or not, I'm not going to pay extra to get close to the marina if my dd can't ride the boat, we'll just get a regular site and drive everywhere. The busses for wheelchair users are a nightmare, one bus ok, but changing busses not fun.

Stacker thanks for the numbers, I've got someone suppose to call me back tomorrow.

 

[LarryJ]

It's been several years since we have ridden the little launches, but if it's cold, windy, rainy be prepared there is absolutely no where to hide on those and we took one from MK to FW one time when they were running and MAN O' MAN was it uncomfortable. I'm too old or maybe just wiser or it could and probably was true the last time I was just young and foolish, but now I'd pass the launch up unless the weather is really great and wait on one of the larger boats.

Larry

 

[Cndrsgrl]

thanks for the info. My dad uses an ecv and he will miss the boat ride. I guess we will have to drive to the parks. We have found out the last couple of years this is the best thing to do for the other parks because it is so hard to "load" dad on the bus.

 

[clkelley]

There will still be a cruiser going from Ft. Wilderness to MK, so there will still be accessible boat access, just not as frequently.

 

[Cndrsgrl]

The key is how frequent. My family and I have noticed that the last few years it has been harder for those with ecv to board any form of transportation. As mentioned earlier, some of the busses let the ecv on but make the rider transport to a seat and buckle the chair in by itself. We asked one bus driver about that because Dad just has such a hard time getting out of his vehicle and its much easier to let him stay in it. (he's a big guy at 6ft 6in) The bus driver informed us that most people have rentals and those people should be asked to transport to a chair but if you own your own ecv you wouldn't have too. We have seen so many more ecv's in the parks and busses. It's hard to load a bus when you have 2 ecv's and 1 wheelchair and the bus can only take 2 at a time. Just wish those that would rent the ecv knew how to drive them.

 

[terri01p]

thanks for the info. My dad uses an ecv and he will miss the boat ride. I guess we will have to drive to the parks. We have found out the last couple of years this is the best thing to do for the other parks because it is so hard to "load" dad on the bus.

Yes, next time we go we are planning on just driving everywhere, even though I only have a daugther in a wheelchair I still feel your pain, I seen a couple on ECV waiting for a bus and they told me they had already waited over 1 hour and a half to get a bus to take both of them.