Endurance Issues and Transportation to and from Room - Onsite or Offsite?

[Dr. G]

Hi All:

We are in the preliminary stages of planning a trip next June and I'm trying to figure out transportation and on-site vs. off-site. By way of background, my wife has endurance issues (fibromyalgia, fatigue, other auto-immune stuff, etc etc). We are traveling with two of our sons ages 17 and 15 and the three of us have no problem going all day in the parks. As part of her condition, we've learned as a family that we sometimes just have to split up on vacations so my wife can join us part of the day then go rest so she doesn't feel like she's holding us back.

I know if we stay onsite that is the easiest because she can hop on a bus to go back to the hotel and rest during the day and then re-join us later in the afternoon/evening. The cost of on-site is freaking us out just a bit though, since we really don't want to have double beds--we "need" a Queen so my wife can sleep better at night to make it through the next day--so we'd be looking at a Moderate instead of Value. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth $100+ per night more for the on-site convenience of getting back to the hotel.

Way too much background above there; here's the question: any recommendations for off-site hotels and transportation options that would allow us to go in the morning as a family to the parks, allow my wife to leave during the day for a rest somewhat easily, then re-join us in the evening? We realize she could just take the car, and that certainly works for us. Maybe that's the best option by far. Anyone know of hotels close by (maybe in Disney Springs) that have their own shuttles to get her to and from on-property locations (mainly the 4 parks) on her own?

Hope this all makes sense! My gut feel is either stay on-site, or plan on her taking the car back and forth during the day if we are off-site, but figured there would be experts here with some experience and wisdom to share. Thanks for any info!

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

All of the off-site park shuttles I have experienced are pretty inconvenient, truthfully. There are usually scheduled times and sometimes, they only drop you off at the TTC & you have to go through a lot of effort to make it to DHS or DAK. Also, they usually only have morning drop off and afternoon pick up- no flexibility for your wife to return later in the day. If you stay off-site, I'd take the car.

I personally recommend staying on-site, you will find it the most convenient & it will help to save some of your wife's energy.

 

[gap2368]

I would keep looking for on site disney dose offer discounts also check with travel agency and travel web site. most of the time I stay on or at a friends or families house the next moth I will be there 3 different times and one time staying off site for 1 night. so I really do not know I know some hotel do off transportation but is normally to for MK and just a few times a day or you have to book when you want to go the day before so I would say have her drive take a cab/or what ever.

a few things that may help her to last longer in the park

make sure you have your 3 FP
do a show where she can sit for a while ( they are at ever park well maybe not HS and can last any where form 10 minutes to longer about 45 I think
you are going during a very hot time but the parks will be open early most of the time 9 am and close late like 11 12 and maybe 1 am so take advantage of the early morning and late evening hours
first aid is your friend great place to rest for a bit but not as comfortable as the hotel bed
have you thought about using a ECV or wheel chair so that she can save her energy

 

[Dr. G]

Thanks so much to both of you for the thoughts and input! We do have a wheelchair we take to Disneyland, but the bumping up and down are usually worse pain-wise and so she'll just get in it when absolutely necessary. Haven't ever tried and ECV--maybe we should try that one day when at Disneyland to see how she does. She doesn't want to have to deal with loading/unloading an ECV onto buses or car, but if it helps her get through the day... Thanks again!

 

[seashoreCM]

I dare say that from leaving the rest of the family, slogging through traffic and stoplights, to opening the room door of your offsite resort will likely be something like 45 minutes, or more. Repeat for returning to the park and meeting back up with the family.

That is, unless she hustles which is inconsistent with having stamina issues.

Would it be less stressful to find a quiet place in the park to rest? A reclining back wheelchair might be helpful.

 

[Dr. G]

Finding places to rest in the parks is a great idea. We are familiar with Disneyland and do that frequently (for example, the high-back recliners in Grand Californian Hotel Lobby are close and free!). We'll have to start researching places to put up the feet and rest, and are open to any suggestions... Thank you!

 

[gap2368]

Finding places to rest in the parks is a great idea. We are familiar with Disneyland and do that frequently (for example, the high-back recliners in Grand Californian Hotel Lobby are close and free!). We'll have to start researching places to put up the feet and rest, and are open to any suggestions... Thank you!

good places to really sit out of the sun is kind of hard to find but there are a few.

some good show/ rides at the MK

the train if you go all the way around it will be about 15 -20 minutes and you really never need to get off ( or I have never been told to if you are using a wheel chair then maybe.

philhermagic ( show) about 12 minutes

tom sawer island ( there is something similar at disney land you can find places to sit there but really is not wheel chair or ECV friendly

tiki room ( show) about 20 minutes

country bears ( shows) about 16 minutes

most of the time the people mover is walk on ( ride) 10 minutes

laugh floor ( show) about 12 minutes

rover boat 13 minutes

hall of president ( show) 22 minutes

maybe Stich ( most people do not like this) retrench come over your head and push down on you ( not hard) and a lot of things blow in your face ( air water) it is a show and normally is a walk on 15 minutes

I will not do HS as too many things close there to make room for two new lands

but a FP or stand by for great movie ride might be nice this is 22 minutes

fantastic is the night time show here 30 minutes

there are planter in frontierland liberty square where the parade goes through they are a little higher then a chair but casey to get on to sit and then you can wait for the parade and have a good view. there are rocking chair out side of hall of president ( I think this is where they are but there are only 2)

Animal kingdom

flight of wonder ( I think they are still doing this) 25 minute

safari ( it is bumpy) 22 minutes

finding Nemo show 45 minutes
lion king 30 minutes

this park is very big so she may want a wheel chair or ECV for this animal kingdom

EPCOT

space ship earth ( ride in the ball) 13 minutes

Ellis energy (ride) 45 minutes

the circle of life ( show) 20 minutes

living with the land ( ride) 15 minutes

a few show in world show case the one at china ( it is 360) last about 15 minutes one in the american palvioln ( about 30 minutes france and canada both about 20 minutes


there are a good number of lines inside or attest under shade witch help with the heat

some times on how long the rides or show are might be off some but I think they are close also I think I have not put anything that has closed but I may have or may have left something off.

also at EPCOt there are a number of show that take place out side if she has a wheel chair or ECV with a small umbrella she could watch then check out the time guide for the day you will be there as they change

 

[Dr. G]

Wow! Thanks so much!!!!! Great list.

 

[gap2368]

I forgot to add at EPCOT disney short films not sure how long I only did this one time. I believe it is 3D I want to say it was like 15 minutes long ( but just guessing) also innovation ( with east and west) is a nice place to sit in the AC but I did have a hard time finding something to sit on in one of the buildings ( not sure about them as it has been a whole since I last went in them, there are some places to sit in the interactive ( really the exit you have to go thought the gift shop) for TT ( just ask a CM where the Exit for the ride is and keep walking back

if you take the exit in the back of EPCOT you can take a boat to the resorts and the board walk and then to HS some nice places to site and rest at the resorts and also the bard walk ( but most places at the bard walk will be out side)

HS has muppiets ( show) there are some benches at the exit for TT again walk thought the gift shop and they are right were you come off the ride

one mans dream at the end of this there is a show ( I want to say it is like 10-15 minutes long


at the MK two places I like to sit ( all thought they are out side so if it is hot you may not want to sit there I d use an umbrella for shade) both both are out side the bathrooms the ones in tomorrow land and fanticey land have concert benches that you can sit on ( there are more in the fanticeyland area then tomorrow land and I think there is a bench out side the bathrooms at the front of the park by GR there are a few little wall that you can sit on back by dumbo and brainstormer but again out side and no shade.

I am sure I have forgotten some

not sure but hope I said first aid there are coats so she can lie down for a bet they are not that comtable but they do help when tired also AC and cold water

 

[kaytieeldr]

Check the Disney Springs hotels http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-hotel-plaza-blvd-lake-buena-vista-52903.html
Big benefit is their regularly scheduled, all day transportation to and from all the parks. The bus location is a little less convenient that the WDW buses (a lot less at the Magic Kingdom) and I don't know the prices.

 

[gap2368]

Check the Disney Springs hotels http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-hotel-plaza-blvd-lake-buena-vista-52903.html
Big benefit is their regularly scheduled, all day transportation to and from all the parks. The bus location is a little less convenient that the WDW buses (a lot less at the Magic Kingdom) and I don't know the prices.

I think I am staying at one of these hotels in two trips never stayed at one before so I can not tell you anything about them

 

[Betty Rohrer]

just to add some more info for your planning but there is no tram to handicapped parking area at MK and it is a distance from the TTC transportation. something to think about if she would be returning to car in that area by self.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Would taking Uber work? They're usually a lot cheaper than taxi's and you don't have to worry about tipping -- it's really a simplified/streamlined process with a smartphone.

 

[stitchlovestink]

just to add some more info for your planning but there is no tram to handicapped parking area at MK and it is a distance from the TTC transportation. something to think about if she would be returning to car in that area by self.

yes, I definitely agree with this!!! Between getting to the monorail (and I recommend using the monorail over the ferry....you can have to stand and wait awhile for the ferry to arrive and more than likely will have to stand as there are only a few benches on the ferry) and then walking from the monorail station to HC parking, it can be a HIKE!!

Would taking Uber work? They're usually a lot cheaper than taxi's and you don't have to worry about tipping -- it's really a simplified/streamlined process with a smartphone.

The closest place she could grab an uber is from the Contemporary. It's not a bad walk for a healthy mobile person but for a mobility impaired person, it is still quite a walk.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Check the Disney Springs hotels http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-hotel-plaza-blvd-lake-buena-vista-52903.html
Big benefit is their regularly scheduled, all day transportation to and from all the parks. The bus location is a little less convenient that the WDW buses (a lot less at the Magic Kingdom) and I don't know the prices.

just keep in mind that many of the hotels in the Disney Springs area have additional fees that are not negotiable such as hotel parking and resort fees. They often are not included in your price quote. So be sure to inquire about any of these fees. We looked at a few but by the time we added those extra costs in, it wasn't such a great deal. Plus if you did decide to drive yourself to the park, you would have to pay Disney's parking fee. Whereas if staying at a Disney hotel, parking is free.

 

[mamabunny]

Hi All:

We are in the preliminary stages of planning a trip next June and I'm trying to figure out transportation and on-site vs. off-site. By way of background, my wife has endurance issues (fibromyalgia, fatigue, other auto-immune stuff, etc etc). We are traveling with two of our sons ages 17 and 15 and the three of us have no problem going all day in the parks. As part of her condition, we've learned as a family that we sometimes just have to split up on vacations so my wife can join us part of the day then go rest so she doesn't feel like she's holding us back.

I know if we stay onsite that is the easiest because she can hop on a bus to go back to the hotel and rest during the day and then re-join us later in the afternoon/evening. The cost of on-site is freaking us out just a bit though, since we really don't want to have double beds--we "need" a Queen so my wife can sleep better at night to make it through the next day--so we'd be looking at a Moderate instead of Value. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth $100+ per night more for the on-site convenience of getting back to the hotel.

Way too much background above there; here's the question: any recommendations for off-site hotels and transportation options that would allow us to go in the morning as a family to the parks, allow my wife to leave during the day for a rest somewhat easily, then re-join us in the evening? We realize she could just take the car, and that certainly works for us. Maybe that's the best option by far. Anyone know of hotels close by (maybe in Disney Springs) that have their own shuttles to get her to and from on-property locations (mainly the 4 parks) on her own?

Hope this all makes sense! My gut feel is either stay on-site, or plan on her taking the car back and forth during the day if we are off-site, but figured there would be experts here with some experience and wisdom to share. Thanks for any info!

I will alway vote for the Disney Resort, but that's a personal thing

Have you considered any of these as an option?

 

[powellrj]

You might want to check out renting dvc points. Check out the dvc thread for information on how to do it.

Off site, bonnet creek is really a great place. It's condos that are still onsite, but not owned by Disney. Check out the Orlando board for information.

My DD used uber this spring when she stayed offsite in her friends parents condo.
It was very reasonable and they felt very safe. They had several soccer moms driving them! They used the poly as their pickup point.

 

[DisneyOma]

How about two rooms at a value resort?

 

[Bete]

I have travelled to Disney World with a cousin who has similar issues. She absolutely loved using an ECV. You can just rent at the parks and avoid the on and off process of doing an ECV with Disney transportation. The drawback here is then you have to deal with walking to the buses and getting to your room and so forth on foot. Also, availability can be an issue; unless, you get to the parks early. Then, if you return later after a rest you are taking a chance that an ECV will be available once again. Finally, it costs way more to rent at the Disney parks.

Getting an off site ECV rental will allow her to use it every where. When you are with her one of you can take over and do the ECV for her on and off the buses and so forth. With some practice she will get more use to doing the ECV on her own with buses. She can try first and if she has problems you can then take over. You do have to fit an offsite ECV rental in your room and you have to charge it everyday diligently. You can get a portable, travel one that comes apart in 4 or 5 pieces. With three men this should be pretty easy for you to put in the car trunk and out. The catch here is then you have to use your car back and forth to the parks and assemble and dissemble the scooter each time. She can practice using the scooter at the resort before heading off to the park.

Using my cousin as an example she managed an 8 hour day at the parks using an ECV. It really makes a difference. Also, I feel they take any bumps and so forth better than a wheelchair. You can get a 4 wheel or a three wheel scooter. The 4 wheel are considered by most as a more stable scooter. If she wants to walk some you can always park the scooter for a short while. The ride queues are mostly friendly to scooters. You can use the handicap areas for the parades and fireworks with a scooter.

People have taken naps on the cots in first aid. Then, you don't have to go back to the room. It's not as quiet or private in first aid, but it's not that bad, either. If rest and not sleep is needed there are places in the park you can go to that have benches and such. Alternating shows with rides really helps with resting. Have lunch at a quick service restaurant and your wife can just stay there longer and rest.

If your boys can be trusted in the parks on their own I would consider you going back and forth with your wife to the resort if she needs to do it. You would make her feel better that way. And then using an off site scooter would be less frightening if you would be there to help.

We have used air mattresses in Disney resorts. It gets crowded but you can make twin ones work for your boys. You can get extra blankets or whatever. Then, a double bed could be for your wife alone and you could have the other double bed alone.

Off site is not the best idea. The shuttles are so so. Some stop at multiple resorts. As others have stated you don't get direct access to Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. If you miss your shuttle it can be a long wait to get another one. I would have Uber as a back up plan. When using fast pass plus off site guests only get to make reservations 30 days out, not 60. Also, when staying on site you get early and late extra magic hours.

Sometimes, we have sacrificed birthday and holiday gifts going to Disney World to stretch the budget. Those monies could help with resort costs and an ECV.

 

[lanejudy]

I know it's never recommended to rely on an offer to come out, but be aware that at the moment you are only seeing rack-rates for the resorts. Discounts will most likely come out sometime this late winter/early spring for June dates. Room-only discounts are usually easier to catch than some of the popular package discounts, though I've never gone in June so I'm not overly familiar with that is commonly offered in that time frame. I suggest keeping an eye out.

As to resting in/near the park -- each park has a First Aid location. She's welcome to pop in there for a break. If she just wants a comfortable place to sit in A/C, she could head to a nearby resort (this works best for MK or Epcot) and find a comfortable seat in the lobby. If she really wants to sleep well, she is probably best off headed back to the room; I suggest planning that to take up to an hour each way -- from leaving your group and exiting the park, getting to transportation and the ride/drive, getting to the room, and then reverse. That in itself can be tiring.

I would also recommend an ECV from an off-site vendor. She could try one out at home at a local big box store, those are bigger and clunkier than what is rented at WDW. Most bus drivers are helpful, and mid-day will have fewer other guests traveling which makes it easier as well; when traveling at rope drop or park close someone else in the party could actually drive onto the bus for her. There are relatively few benches around the parks, and having her "seat" with her is the only way to guarantee a place to sit when she needs it.

Enjoy your vacation!