ECV and Wishes/MSEP

[dimndgal1]

I will be tooling around in an awesome set of wheels on our upcoming trip and am trying to figure all the intricacies. I know I could ask this on DISabilities but I also know this board has amazing maps/experiences, so (as a visual person) I put my faith here.

Is there a designated area for ECV/Wheelchairs for MSEP and Wishes? I assume space is limited so how early should one stakeout? We are a group of 7 but I imagine not everyone can be in the area, correct?

My real goal is to see MSEP (I keep missing it!!!) But there is no way I can stand through it (I will be 8-ish weeks post hip surgery). Is there special viewing during the second running of the parade during evening MH if they do two parades?

TIA- appreciate any info!!!

 

[ygracey]

Usually the area under the Liberty Tree (in Liberty Sq) is reserved for guests with disabilities for parade viewing. There is usually a max number of guests who can accompany the disabled guest in this area because of its' limited size. They can stand or sit nearby in the regular viewing area. Of course the whole parade route is ECV compatible. Disabled viewing areas should be marked on the guidemap with a wheelchair symbol.

You won't have good viewing for Wishes from that specific location, but you can go to the area near the stockade and Liberty Bell to watch Wishes. Unfortunately, you won't be able to see MMAY from either of the above locations. So you will have to move for each one. There may be a disabled guest viewing area in the hub (where you can see all 3)or on Main St, but since they are first come first served -you will have to arrive even earlier than Liberty Sq. they usually start setting up for parade (with ropes etc) 90 minutes before parade -depending on attendance levels. Good luck!

 

[earthfaries]

There are designated wheel chair/ecv parking areas set aside for the parades. Just ask any cast member (they are stationed all over before the parades and fireworks) and they'll direct you to a spot. I just suggest arriving early ~ they fill up quickly.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[elphie101]

I'm not sure about the parade route in Lib Square/Frontierland, but on Main St there are two designated disabilities areas (as of the last Parade shift I worked in 12/2011, though I doubt this has changed): 1) down by the train station, on the island with the flag pole across from City Hall and 2) in the Hub on the Partners statue island, on the 'southeast' side, facing towards Tomorrowland - trying to give you a visual!

Like previously mentioned, the entire parade route is wheelchair/ECV accessible, these areas just have the distinction of being reserved for guests with WC/ECVs - if parties line up in these areas before the route is roped off to claim a spot and no one in their group has a WC/ECV, the CMs will ask them to move.

 

[kaligal]

Be sure to get there early. Family members get in, too...and they don't always move to make room for more chairs. You'd think that they would. I do. But they don't.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is a link to the MK map.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/MK.htm

The wheelchair viewing spots for parades are marked on every park map with a wheelchair icon.
As was mentioned, there are 3 spots for MK, at the Main Street hub, at the castle hub and in the Liberty Square area.

The 2 hub spots are fairly deep, so they line up the wheelchairs and ECVs tightly across the area along the front. The rest of your party ( no more than 5 others) are asked to stand behind you. If it is very busy, the wheelchairs and ECVs may be parked in rows 2 deep, with the standing guests behind the back row.

The Liberty Square area is only one person deep at points, so there is not much room for wheelchairs. If it is very busy, they may limit the party to one person to accompany the guest using an ECV or wheelchair and the rest will need to be nearby outside the area.

For ll the spots, it is important to get there early. Many people don't like the 'right next to each other parking' and do choose to just stake out a spot. As was mentioned, the whole parade route is accessible, so there is no requirement that guests with wheelchairs or ECVs go to the handicapped viewing areas.

There is no wheelchair viewing area for Wishes, so you just have to pick out a spot and get there. The ropes that marked the parade spots are removed just as the parade is ending, so no marked area at that point.

 

[ttintagel]

I was using a wheelchair on my last trip in June, and a Cm direcetd us to a designated wheelchair area on Main St., sort of kitty-corner from the Firehouse. We got a takeout dinner and got there about an hour before the parade, and there was only one spot left after us. The CM's were saying that every wheelchair could have one family mamber standing behind and one sitting on the sidewalk in front, and most of the families abided by that.