ECV Bus Stops

[Sinderelly]

My husband uses an ECV. We haven't stayed at a larger resort with multiple bus stops. How does that work when the bus is already filled with guests from the resort's previous bus stops? Do the drivers still allow the scooter on the bus and how do you maneuver the scooter when passengers are onboard?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

They won't make people get off to load a scooter, so if the bus is full you may need to wait. We found that by using the buses during non-peak times, and going to the first pickup at the resort we didn't have to wait for another bus that often.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

At SSR which has multiply bus stops it can be an issue. The Springs is the worse always full! So we stay at The Grandstand if we can. Try and find the first bus stop and request a building near there or travel there if you are able.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

HH at OKW is the worst, as it's also the last stop for the park buses. The scooter who was already there when DD and I got there said they'd already watched 4 MK buses go trough, the last couple of which didn't even have the courtesy of saying, "Sorry but I can't get you on."

The 5 of us (the party of 3 with a scooter, and DD and I with a scooter) gave up after the 4th bus had rudely pulled in and pulled straight out again and went round the corner and up the road where we got to the first stop of the park. We were all able to get on there, it being the first stop, and as it happens no other scooters wanted to get on at any of the other stops. We were still an hour late to MK, and we nearly missed our first FP+.

What was interesting was going to the MK bus stand at AoA and me driving straight into the scooter section. There was a bus loading at the time and I commented to DD and OH that we'd have to wait for the next bus. The driver suddenly closed the door and we watched him walk down the bus and kick 3 people out of the scooter spot. I told OH to go and tell him not to do that - I was more than happy to wait as we'd only just got there. He came out, all solicitous and asked whether I was sure I wanted to wait, as he could get me on. I said no. There were a lot of people in the queue and we were in no hurry. He was very thankful and said that when he'd been in the same position earlier, the scooter person had INSISTED on being loaded even though he was already loading 'ordinary' folks. I earned myself a lot of brownie points from the 3 dozen people with kids who were still in the queue and heard everything, especially when he opened up the doors again and got nearly half of them on.

As it happens, a second MK bus pulled in as soon as that one had gone! Needless to say, we got on that one first and then the rest of the queue got on as well.

So, the above is a longwinded way of saying that you can be lucky, or very unlucky. A lot depends how early in the multiple bus stop route you are and how helpful the bus driver is. Funnily enough, we saw quite a few drivers in November that I recognised from our March trip - especially one particular nice chap called Adolph!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

By the way VWL was the best resort we stayed at for buses and using my wheelchair or scooter.

 

[Sinderelly]

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! We just put in a request to rent DVC points for BWV, OKW or AK studio. We usually stay at Pop where there is only one bus stop.

 

[Mamacita]

If the bus is half or more full I don't get on, it's much less stressful to wait for the next one and they'll usually radio for one to come right away. Once I got on a bus that was about 1/4 full, so it shouldn't have been a problem. You probably know you have to drive up the aisle a bit and back into the spot, which I've gotten pretty good at. This time though, there was a woman with a kid in her lap sitting right where I couldn't turn in without bumping her knees so I had it on the slowest speed and still was only going about half of that speed and was moving very carefully as she sat there and stared at me instead of sliding over to the other end of the empty bench. The driver who was standing in front of me got impatient and grabbed the controls to park it for me, moved way too fast and the child's arm got between the handlebar and the bus's grab bar. He screamed, mom screamed, and I screamed and everyone including the driver looked at me like it was my fault. Thankfully it wasn't a super tight squeeze and he wasn't hurt. Of course then she scooted over and I parked without any trouble.
Another time I was waiting at a very full bus stop at night in the rain and 40 degree weather. I'd been there before 80% of the people and should have gotten on the first bus to come, but when it came people swarmed around me and the driver didn't see me. I had left earlier than my family because I was feeling bad so I was on my own but someone who was near me got up to the door and told him and he just stuck his head out and and told me I'd have to get the next one which left me waiting even longer in the cold rain alone.
I have to say though, other than a grumpy driver here and there those are the only two times I can really complain about the whole process of dealing with a scooter on the bus system which is pretty amazing.

 

[elmoandzoey]

You probably know you have to drive up the aisle a bit and back into the spot, which I've gotten pretty good at. This time though, there was a woman with a kid in her lap sitting right where I couldn't turn in without bumping her knees so I had it on the slowest speed and still was only going about half of that speed and was moving very carefully as she sat there and stared at me instead of sliding over to the other end of the empty bench.

This. It is very awkward to maneuver around the middle if people are sitting down and are NOT moving. I found that to be the biggest problem, people just staring at you but not moving over to an empty seat or getting up for a few seconds to stand against the seat or move out of the way completely which would have given me more space to turn. I had one incident where a dad didn't even move thie awefully large double stroller which was blocking the complete middle aisle. In that instance, I just flipped to manual and moved it in but I found that to be absolutely inconsiderate to those boarding the bus after me from the front because he didn't move the stroller for them either.

I also one instance where the bus driver wouldn't see me. The AK bus stop for DHS is extremely bad in that regard because it's the first stop in the row and there's a large hedge right next to the wheelchair spot so when they drive up, they can't see you. The bus driver started loading the bus without seeing me so I sent my boy up to tell him but by that time some some other lady had already pointed me out at the end. He then stopped loading the bus and profoundly apologized to us when he loaded me and my kids.

I don't know if Disney still has any of the buses with the lift - the Disney Springs resorts still do and I found those to be extremely unfriendly to board. Not because of the lift or anything but because people would rush to the front door to climb in. I always made a point of waiting right at the front of the bus but in some instances, it just didn't help. I always signaled the driver that I need to get on that particular bus before the bus even came to a stop but it never helped. Bus stops, driver gets up and opens the door and people run him over getting on. And then won't move when the bus driver says he needs to load the ECV first. They'll just stand there in front of the door so he can't even get the lift out.

So I guess in essence it comes down to the bus driver and the people on the bus. I really had more issues with inconsiderate people on the buses than with bus drivers themselves. Frankly, I can't recall having any issues with the drivers at all other than the one time when the DHS driver coming to AK didn't see me but frankly, I don't blame him for that because there really is no way they can see you if you wait in the wheelchair spot.

 

[disney david]

At this point if they do it very few if at all they have been buying lots of buses. The drivers might be hanging onto a few they liked them as their higher up but they hated the lift so the new buses are much better. If they still have them they use them only when needed to much money to operate. And now with them switching the whole fleet over to clean fuels they won't be able to use them for much longer anyway.

 

[GrammyJudy]

I so prefer the Value Resorts for loading an ECV since they have designated lines for each park and a handicap spot.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I was so annoyed at MK. We got into the queue for HS as it was a late nighter there and we'd all been chucked out of MK for it's 3rd Christmas party of the week (overkill if you ask me). Anyway, I had to join the queue and the CM there saw me. We had a bit of a wait during which time the queue got longer and wrapped round. We saw someone trundle up in an ECV and take herself to the front of the queue which infuriated me - especially when I thought I saw the CM come looking for me. But there were now people blocking her view of me as the queue had turned round on itself and she went away again before I could catch her attention. We gave up in disgust and went over to Wilderness Lodge for dinner instead, as a bus turned up just then and it was the other side of the stop to where we were.

 

[Sinderelly]

I have noticed when DH wears pants he gets more dirty looks because he's using an ECV. When he's wearing shorts that exposes his leg brace people are nicer to him. I don't understand why people don't realize not all disabilities are visible.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Usually - if the bus has no room for the ECV - the bus driver pulls to the bus stop & explains that he/she will call transportation for another bus. We have never had to wait too long for the second bus. The bus drivers want to help, and try to do their best for you.

 

[Debbie Jean]

FYI

At OKW only a couple of buildings have elevators, the rest have stairs. You will need to sure you have one of the following noted on your reservation: a handicapped room, or a medical request for first floor only or an elevator building.

There are DVC units at both the Jambo and Kidani buildings at AKV. Buses to all the parks stop at Kidani first. Depending on the time of day that you travel, boarding with a scooter at Jambo, the second stop, can be very difficult. When I stay at AKV, I stay at Kidani to avoid this issue.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

There are plenty of buildings at OKW where you can stay on the ground floor (sorry, first floor to you), and it's buildings 62, 63 and 64 which have the lifts (elevators). We started in building 44 on the ground floor but couldn't stay there was not only was it miles away from HH (and we had QSDP) but it was far too noisy so we were moved to building 63 on the first floor where it was lovely and quiet and we had a lovely view.

We are staying at Jambo rather than AKL because we want access to Boma and the Mara. If there's too much of a problem with the buses, we'll take the car!

 

[Sinderelly]

Our request came through for OKW! We rented points. I can't remember how to modify my signature lol. We cancelled Pop.

I requested a Wheelchair accessible room for DH. He is able to walk a little but very unable to do stairs. I was informed this was only a request not a guarantee. I know room locations are just a request but I thought a request for a medical need would be granted.

Now I'm worried about getting him on the bus with an ECV.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

As long as they know you'll have a wheelchair you will be put on the ground floor somewhere or in one of the three buildings with a lift. Don't worry.