Disney transportation vs rental car?

[couch007]

Hi! We are going to DW 4/8 - 4/13/07 for the first time. My DD13 can walk but has stamina issues so we are renting a wheelchair from an outside company, so it will be with us as we move from park to park. We are staying at the comtemporary, and have character meals most days, so we will be park hopping. Does anyone have any good thoughts on having our own rental car vs use Disney trasportation.


Thank you!

 

[SueM in MN]

Even though we usually have a vehicle, we do use the WDW transportation a lot. We have to lift our DD in and out of the wheelchair for transport, but even if your DD can get in and out of the chair by herself, it gets tiring to be putting the wheelchair in and out of a trunk.

Since you are staying at the Contemporary, I would probably just use the WDW transportation. You can use the monorail to get to MK (or walk there) and also use the monorail to get to and from Epcot.
Even with waiting for the monorail, you will probably end up faster using the monorail than driving.
You can take the boat from Epcot to the Studios and back.

If you have a Handicapped parking permit, the Handicapped parking at the Studio is very close to the entrance, so parking there would be convenient. The buses are about as close to the entrance as the handicapped parking is at both the Studio and AK.
One nice thing we have found about taking the WDW transportation is that you can go to another park or directly to your resort from where ever you are. If you drive, you always have to be moving the vehicle to whatever park you want to go to. If you park at one park, but then end up taking WDW transportation to another park, you have to somehow get back to your vehicle. We usually only take our vehicle if we are not planning on park hopping.

 

[couch007]

Thank you so much! We don't have a handicapped parking permit as the wheelchair is only because she will have major stamina issues! How easy/hard is it to deal with the wheelchair on the Disney buses? Do you fold it up and put it in a storage area?~Susan

 

[SueM in MN]

The buses don't have a storage area underneath like tour buses have. They are more like city buses.
Almost all of the buses have lifts or ramps for loading wheelchairs by the back door. The driver will let down then lift or ramp and instruct you how to get the wheelchair onto the bus. Then the wheelchair is usually fastened down with special tiedown straps. Youd DD could stay in the wheelchair while it is in the bus.
There is more information about how the buses work in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

If you do want to drive and don't have a handicapped permit, let the CMs directing parking know that you have a wheelchair and don't have a permit. They do save some spots up near the front and also near the parking lot tram stops for people in that situation. If your DD can step up onto the tram and you can fold the wheelchair and hold it during the tram ride, you can park in the lots. If you can't do those, then let the CMs know so they can give you a spot close enough to walk and not worry about the trams.

 

[couch007]

Thank you so much, again! I really appreciate it! I think I've swayed my decision towards not using a rental car! One more question....do you know if you can fold the wheelchair up and bring it on the bus, maybe like someone with a stroller would? My DD wouldn't need to sit in the wheelchair on the bus. She can get on the bus under her own power. Again, thank you!

 

[couch007]

I found my answer in the FAQ section. Thanks!

: How many wheelchairs can be accomodated?
A: Provided that you are able to transfer out of your chair to a standard seat, WDW buses can accomodate ANY number of wheelchairs that can be folded and safely stowed. For those who are unable to utilize the standard seats, each bus in the fleet has Two Tie Down Wheelchair stations.

 

[SueM in MN]

I found my answer in the FAQ section. Thanks!

Many of the bus drivers DO prefer to tie the wheelchairs down if there is room. But, people have posted that they have carried on a folded wheelchair (you still want to do that from the back door because it will be easier).

 

[couch007]

Thank you! Dealing with the wheelchair will be quite a chore. I have a new found appreciatin for those that have to deal with one on a daily basis! It would be easier to just rent one from Disney each day one inside the park(instead of one from outsdie), but I am afraid with the park hopping we have to do, they will run out!

 

[twinmum]

Hello! We went to WDW in Nov with our 8 year old twins. One of our sons has cerrebral palsy and was mostly in his wheelchair (he can use a walker very effectively, but stamina/speed a big issue for a huge place like WDW).

A few fairly random thoughts:

- we stayed at the Grand Floridian and did not have a car - really didn't need one. The transportation system was a major plus for us. We explained that Mark could get out of his chair also (we were trying to get >2 w/c's on the buses), and some drivers were reluctant - they really preferred them tied down.

- we did have one day when we had to wait for a third bus because the 1st 2 already all full up for w/c's. (We were not the 1st stop on the route.) The
2nd driver actually "called ahead" (not sure to whom) to send word that we were waiting and needing w/c access. The 3rd bus arrived quite quickly. If you run into this problem, ask the driver if he'she can "call ahead" (whatever that means!)

- the ease of using the monorail was amazing!!! The CM's saw us coming and would pull out the ramp in a flash. Our son tended to stay in the w/c, just because it was easy for all of us and comfortable for him.

- if you plan on taking any of the launches, be prepared for some push back re: w/c. We often took the boat from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian, and we also took the boat from Wilderness Lodge after dinner one night. We explained that w/c could be collapsed and our son could walk (with lots of assistance) onto the boat (aka "it's no different than a stroller and we see lots of them here", we said very politely), and then we were OK. We were not there at a crowded time, so be prepared for variances.

- I'd definitely take your own rented chair - you don't want to run the risk of them running out, although I have no idea how likely this is. Does your son often use a w/c? If not usually, and he's going to be using it a lot, get a w/c that is the right size for him if you can. Sitting awkwardly for long periods gets uncomfortable.

- we saved our son's stamina for going out for dinner in the evenings - the walk through the hotel to the monorail, to the restaurant and back again etc. He also walked from the GF to the Polynesian for a character breakfast - a decent walk, good exercise and got those hips loosened up!

We will definitely be going back to WDW, and one of the biggest reasons was physical accessibility AND the CM's desire to make life easier for the whole family. I hope you experience the same - have a wonderful trip!

Twinmum