Checkin/Valet parking/Wheelchair driver questions?

[shovan]

We will have our van set up for DH to drive from his wheelchair on our next visit in October. DH will be able to drive but if he does, this will mean there will be no car seat in the driver position.

For any of you who drive from your chair, how do you handle checkin and valet parking? On previous trips we have allowed them to valet park our van after checking in and for dining at other resorts. We called BC valet services to ask about this & they just said we'd check in, unload & then DH would go park in a handicap spot. But you all know how rare a handicap spot is to find, much less one with room for a side ramp. Anyone else out there, who has dealt with this situation?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I just called and spoke to a parking supervisor. The response was that even if there was no seat in the driver's position, a valet could go in and kneel or squat and use the hand controls.

The only thing they would ask is if there were brief, clear, instructions readily available for the hand controls. This is more important for the person retrieving the car from the lot as the person taking it can have the controls pointed out to him.

 

[shovan]

I just called and spoke to a parking supervisor. The response was that even if there was no seat in the driver's position, a valet could go in and kneel or squat and use the hand controls.

The only thing they would ask is if there were brief, clear, instructions readily available for the hand controls. This is more important for the person retrieving the car from the lot as the person taking it can have the controls pointed out to him.

Chesire Figment, Thanks so much for taking the time to make that call!!!! We really appreciate your assistance! I will pm you with further info. and questions.

 

[dclfun]

Your husband and I have the same type controls and both of us drive from our chair. I would NEVER, EVER let someone valet park my car by squatting in the driver's seat area or use my joystick hand controls. It took me quite some time to learn to drive with the joystick and there's no way I'd let anyone without experience drive my van- it's too hard to control and if it was damaged, I'd be stuck without a way to get around. Even if the van is set to be driven w/o the joystick, there's still the issue of the EMC touchpad, which if someone chooses the wrong button they can leave on your lights, put on the emergency brake, or something else that would be dangerous. Once you're inside the resort, then you'd have no way to be contacted if the driver can't figure out how to safely turn off the van or how to press the correct button to shift gears, etc. If there was an emergency then I'd have no recourse, but in this situation I always let the valet direct me to park in a h/a space. I've never had a problem with this at Disney- the h/a spaces we've been directed to have often been in the valet area, such at the BC where it's right next to the check in area that only the valet otherwise has access to. I've only once had a problem finding a h/a parking space for this kind of situation. That was at the GF and we were allowed to park by the entrance then along the curb. BTW, did your husband get his van back yet ? It seems like it's been awhile since they took it to install the driving controls but I know mine seemed to take forever. ----Kathy

 

[shovan]

Your husband and I have the same type controls and both of us drive from our chair. I would NEVER, EVER let someone valet park my car by squatting in the driver's seat area or use my joystick hand controls. It took me quite some time to learn to drive with the joystick and there's no way I'd let anyone without experience drive my van- it's too hard to control and if it was damaged, I'd be stuck without a way to get around. Even if the van is set to be driven w/o the joystick, there's still the issue of the EMC touchpad, which if someone chooses the wrong button they can leave on your lights, put on the emergency brake, or something else that would be dangerous. Once you're inside the resort, then you'd have no way to be contacted if the driver can't figure out how to safely turn off the van or how to press the correct button to shift gears, etc. If there was an emergency then I'd have no recourse, but in this situation I always let the valet direct me to park in a h/a space. I've never had a problem with this at Disney- the h/a spaces we've been directed to have often been in the valet area, such at the BC where it's right next to the check in area that only the valet otherwise has access to. I've only once had a problem finding a h/a parking space for this kind of situation. That was at the GF and we were allowed to park by the entrance then along the curb. BTW, did your husband get his van back yet ? It seems like it's been awhile since they took it to install the driving controls but I know mine seemed to take forever. ----Kathy

Kathy, Glad to hear they have allowed you to park it in the valet area! DH is going to call the parking supervisor at the BC to be sure of that! (Thanks to Cheshire Figment for suggesting that!)

Yes he just got it back, 2 weeks ago! It was back in the shop for two of those days, because some little circuit went haywire & it wouldn't start. Hopefully we won't have any more trouble with it. The guy who installed everything, gave him a quickie lesson on driving but he is still waiting on the state to schedule his "formal" lessons. He has been having someone take the seat out & praticing in the parking lot at work, he's doing really great with it, can even parallel park already! Hopefully they will get the lessons scheduled very soon because as soon as he is really comfortable with it, I'm gonna have a tough time keeping him off the streets!!!

Now my driving the van is a whole nother issue!! It takes me 5 minutes just to remember how to start it! Then I'm constantly reaching for the shift lever or just trying to remember what darn button to press!

And he definitely plans on driving to WDW on our next trip! I could drive, but he won't hear of it!

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with Kathy.
I would not want them to park a car/van with that much equipment on it (plus no seat).
They should be able to find a close enough spot for you to park.

 

[shovan]

I agree with Kathy.
I would not want them to park a car/van with that much equipment on it (plus no seat).
They should be able to find a close enough spot for you to park.

I'm sure they will have to find a spot for him somehow. I would think that once they see all of the equipment in the van, I doubt they will be wanting to move it at all! I'm scared of the darn thing!

I do know that just parking in the regular handicap spots won't work all of the time. They are usually filled up almost everywhere in WDW and he will need the room for the ramp too.

Who knows maybe it will work out even better, they'll have to keep it near the entrance and with room for the ramp!? Now that would be nice!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

At some resorts (and the Boardwalk is one example), there are handicap spaces immediately adjacent to the porte clochere.

If you are worried, phone ahead and I am sure that they will 'cone off' two spaces for you.

Andrew

 

[dclfun]

The h/a spaces at BW are marked for "drop off only" but by asking I've been able to park there since the h/a lot is so far down the hill. As Andrew mentioned there is often a porte cochere with plenty of space to allow someone to park with a ramp if there's no accessible spaces left. At BC though since there are h/a spaces with ramp access in the valet area, there are usually quite a few.

I've always had the opposite experience of someone really wanting to try and use the gadgetry in my van and think it's fun to touch everything. Most don't realize how costly the controls are and how easily they can be messed up by having the wrong row of touchpads highlighted, for instance.

Shovan- your husband reminds me of when I learned to drive. I spent days in the parking lot at the stadium here, driving around, parking, etc. The biggest challenge is backing up since you have the van in "reverse" but have to push the joystick forward. It's the opposite of what is done with a w/c so it takes a little getting used to. I'm glad he's doing so well! I had someone from "Driving Ambition" do my lessons- they came all the way from Texas.---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

The biggest challenge is backing up since you have the van in "reverse" but have to push the joystick forward. It's the opposite of what is done with a w/c so it takes a little getting used to.

That would be the end of me

 

[shovan]

The h/a spaces at BW are marked for "drop off only" but by asking I've been able to park there since the h/a lot is so far down the hill. As Andrew mentioned there is often a porte cochere with plenty of space to allow someone to park with a ramp if there's no accessible spaces left. At BC though since there are h/a spaces with ramp access in the valet area, there are usually quite a few.

I've always had the opposite experience of someone really wanting to try and use the gadgetry in my van and think it's fun to touch everything. Most don't realize how costly the controls are and how easily they can be messed up by having the wrong row of touchpads highlighted, for instance.

Shovan- your husband reminds me of when I learned to drive. I spent days in the parking lot at the stadium here, driving around, parking, etc. The biggest challenge is backing up since you have the van in "reverse" but have to push the joystick forward. It's the opposite of what is done with a w/c so it takes a little getting used to. I'm glad he's doing so well! I had someone from "Driving Ambition" do my lessons- they came all the way from Texas.---Kathy

Kathy, Well you are probably right about them wanting to play with it, especially young guys. You should have seen our son-in-law eyes light up when he saw the joystick!! He wanted to know if he could go with DH when he has the lessons!! I remembered you had told me about the backing up & how it was so different from the wheelchair. I reminded DH of that the day before he drove it. Of course he came home & said " Man, the backing up is really tough!" I'm really glad to hear the valet guys have been accommadating for you! DH hasn't had time to call yet, but he will just to settle his own mind.

He will be working with Driving Ambition from Texas, if the state ever gets it set-up. Apparently they are very few people in the country who are instructors for this type of set-up.

Sue, I am not even going to attempt to use the joystick! I'm having enough trouble with the buttons. Darn it's taken me forever to just manage moving the wheelchair around the house!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

you are probably right about them wanting to play with it, especially young guys. You should have seen our son-in-law eyes light up when he saw the joystick!!

A couple of years back, I had ridden from my home to the local foodstore in my powerchair. I stopped just inside the door to consult my shopping list. A seven year-old boy walks past and grabs my joystick. I shoot forward and into a magazine rack. While I am trying to figure out what happened, I hear a voice repeating over & over 'it wasn't me mum, I never touched him!

I now turn the power off whenever I stop.

Andrew

 

[shovan]

A couple of years back, I had ridden from my home to the local foodstore in my powerchair. I stopped just inside the door to consult my shopping list. A seven year-old boy walks past and grabs my joystick. I shoot forward and into a magazine rack. While I am trying to figure out what happened, I hear a voice repeating over & over 'it wasn't me mum, I never touched him!

I now turn the power off whenever I stop

Andrew

Yes, My DH has also realized the neccessity to turn it off around all children. At a recent family gathering he had a new one though, an elderly relative who thought the joystick could replace her walker!

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue, I am not even going to attempt to use the joystick! I'm having enough trouble with the buttons. Darn it's taken me forever to just manage moving the wheelchair around the house!

I'm actually very good at driving my DD's power wheelchair while walking next to it (with either hand even). When she got her new chair and the tech was working on programming it, I had to drive it a bit before she got in so I could see if anything was too fast, slow, jerky, etc.
I nearly gave the poor tech guy a heart attack as I got it up to full speed in out living room, do hairpin turns and sudden stops. He said he had never seen anyone drive one like that before with that amount of certainty. Interestingly enough, if I sit in it, I am not a very good driver. I guess my 'muscle memory' of driving from the side is too strong and I tend to steer as if I was standing next to it instead of sitting in it.

 

[shovan]

I'm actually very good at driving my DD's power wheelchair while walking next to it (with either hand even). When she got her new chair and the tech was working on programming it, I had to drive it a bit before she got in so I could see if anything was too fast, slow, jerky, etc.
I nearly gave the poor tech guy a heart attack as I got it up to full speed in out living room, do hairpin turns and sudden stops. He said he had never seen anyone drive one like that before with that amount of certainty. Interestingly enough, if I sit in it, I am not a very good driver. I guess my 'muscle memory' of driving from the side is too strong and I tend to steer as if I was standing next to it instead of sitting in it.

You know just this morning I was using our semi-new easy pivot lift & DH had to remind me to do this or that, and I thought out loud "When is this muscle & rote memory stuff ever going to kick in? Yep it's all about muscle memory & rote memorization!! I guess that's why all of this new stuff is freaking me out a bit! Now give me a regular car and I am a wild woman! When we were looking around at cars, I test drove a Dodge Magnum with the Hemi in it. I had this very young salesman take me for the test drive & I think I scared the poor boy to death!