ECV 's on WL boats???

[disneyboundteacher]

I took my parents to YC in 2001 and the friendship boats could take the scooters (ECV) on them. My husband and I stayed at WL last year and the boats are smaller. I don't recall if I saw any ECVs on those boats. We are leaving in 8 days with my parents and are staying at the WL. Does anyone know for sure if the boats can take ECVs???? How will we get to MK?? Some say there is a bus and some say there is not.

 

[n2mm]

It will depend on what type of boat you get. They use two different type. One is the larger enclosed one and the other one is the old ones they use to use for Discovery Island. The older ones you have to step down into,so no ECV on them. I would love to hear the final decision on the bus too. We were there in February and loved the bus to MK, but heard they are working on the bus area and the WL bus is not running, then I heard it was running to TT center only. We leave in 2 weeks, so guess I'll find out then.

 

[2goofee]

I took my parents to YC in 2001 and the friendship boats could take the scooters (ECV) on them. My husband and I stayed at WL last year and the boats are smaller. I don't recall if I saw any ECVs on those boats. We are leaving in 8 days with my parents and are staying at the WL. Does anyone know for sure if the boats can take ECVs???? How will we get to MK?? Some say there is a bus and some say there is not.

The larger boats (motor cruisers) do carry ECV's. The cruisers operate from 30 minutes before MK opening until 75 minutes after MK closing, including early opening and late closings. The smaller boats (motor launches) usually operate only on the blue-flagged route (WL-FW-CR). If one of the 3 cruisers is out of service, it may be replaced by a launch, so you may have to wait for a cruiser to load the ECV. The bus only goes to TTC during construction at the MK bus stop area.

 

[disneyboundteacher]

Thank you so much for the great information. You have put my mind at ease now! Only 7 days till we leave!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

besides what was already posted, occasionally the large motor cruiser boats at WL are not accessible to ECVs because of the water level in Bay Lake being either to high or too low. There are lots of things the CMs can do to deal with the water level (things like using a ramp, loading ECVs/wheelchairs first if they need the boat to be light and floating high in the water, etc). Occasionally, conditions are such that they just can't get the boat floating in the water at the correct level for 'roll on' boarding. When that happens, there will be a bus to go to MK.

 

[2goofee]

besides what was already posted, occasionally the large motor cruiser boats at WL are not accessible to ECVs because of the water level in Bay Lake being either to high or too low. There are lots of things the CMs can do to deal with the water level (things like using a ramp, loading ECVs/wheelchairs first if they need the boat to be light and floating high in the water, etc). Occasionally, conditions are such that they just can't get the boat floating in the water at the correct level for 'roll on' boarding. When that happens, there will be a bus to go to MK.

The lake water levels are no longer a factor in loading because both sides of the WL dock are floating docks which are designed to be at the same level as the boats. The only loading problems are when the boats are loaded with guests, causing the boat to float lower in the water than the floating dock (because the dock has no load on it). There are no ramps to load ECV's on cruisers. As noted in previous post, there is no bus transportation to the MK during the Mk bus station construction. The bus from WL goes to TTC, from which monorails or ferries provide transportation to MK.

 

[FlyingBelle]

They will have a sign posted near the dock if they cannot accomodate handicap entrance to the boats (both at WL and at the Epoct resorts). It happened a few times while we were there.

 

[seashoreCM]

Are all MK buses to all resorts diverted to TTC during construction or just the Wilderness Lodge buses?

Are WDW waterways subject to high and low tides?

 

[ztbz]

Are all MK buses to all resorts diverted to TTC during construction or just the Wilderness Lodge buses?

Only the Wilderness Lodge bus. Also the Orange Ft Wilderness route is the same bus that goes to TTC (it does not say Orange when its at TTC or Wilderness Lodge but it is the same bus route).

Rumor has it that the change to the TTC route may become permanent but we will see once the MK Bus Station has finish the rehab.