EVC and ASM

[pmdeve]

We are staying at ASM suite in June. I will be using an ECV. How difficult will it be to get on a bus to go to the parks?

We last stayed at POFQ and because it was the first stop on the bus there was no problem.

 

[mechurchlady]

The three All-Star resorts have the bus stop by the lobby which is in the main building where you also find restaurants.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/index.htm
That is a list of the resort maps in regular and pdf form. There is no way to know which resort will be first. They are from north to south Sports, Music then Movies. Look on the map to see where your room is and if it is too far from the bus stop then read the quote below. Say that you need a room near the busses.

You might want to contact Special (Medical) Reservations at 407-939-7807 and find out exactly what you will be getting and discuss the situation with them. They are the only ones who can assign handicap rooms in advance, and normally once it is assigned it is locked in. The only control that the resort front desk has over handicap rooms is they can give them out, within certian limitations, on the day of use if they are not previously assigned.

 

[Charleyann]

The three All-Star resorts have the bus stop by the lobby which is in the main building where you also find restaurants.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/index.htm
That is a list of the resort maps in regular and pdf form. There is no way to know which resort will be first. They are from north to south Sports, Music then Movies. Look on the map to see where your room is and if it is too far from the bus stop then read the quote below. Say that you need a room near the busses.

We stayed at the movies with ECV for my 12 year old son. Sometimes we had to wait for a couple of buses to get on . The longest was 1hr and few minutes. The Movies buses sometimes stops at Sports and Music first.

On Dec 15th, we moved to POFQ. We had no waits there! Loved it and changed my reservations from Movies to there next Christmas!!!!

 

[dclfun]

It all depends on how many other guests are staying at the resort at the same time and also using ECV's or w/c's. Over the past year I have seen a HUGE increase in the amount of guests using ECV's which has greatly impacted my ability to utilize the busses quickly. This seems to be much worse during free dining which of course isn't normally in June. One time last September when I was at Pop, I waited behind 6 ECV's to get to Epcot one morning. You can minimize this possiblity by either going really early or waiting for the morning crowd to head out then by avoiding leaving at park closing.---Kathy

 

[jm-mom]

We had reservations at All Star Movies in December and decided to switch because of the bus issue. I was concerned that we'd spend half our vacation waiting at the resort for a bus. With the increase in ECV use and the high volume of guests at the value resorts, and with three of the resorts sharing a bus, I knew we'd have longer than normal waits. In the end we switched to Port Orleans French Quarter and LOVED it. It was a bit more expensive but the bus service was great. As an ECV user the driver always has to load you and your family first so when I'd see a long line waiting, with no other wheelchairs or ECV users, I'd breathe a sigh of relief. I'm sure the people standing in that long line weren't thrilled to have to wait a few minutes longer for me to load but it was a lot easier for me. If you can swing a moderate resort or even Pop Century which has it's own bus, I'd strongly suggest it. Otherwise you may encounter long waits for bus both at the resort and at the parks, especially at closing.

 

[seashoreCM]

It should not be necessary to resort to (no pun intended) a moderate when you are handicapped and really wanted a value.

Meanwhile All Star Movies is usually third in line, after 'Sports and 'Music.

Do things really even out: one day you wait behind 6 ECV's while many others who can walk past you do so, but the next day you roll right into the back door ahead of 200 people standing in a queue you just overtook?

Is it really true that if the next person in line has a wheelchair or scooter and the bus is unable to accommodate him/her, then that bus has to close its door and move on? And hopefully the driver radios for another bus to come well ahead of schedule. How does this work with buses shared by more than one resort? Namely the bus arrives at 'Movies and there is just a little space for people who can stand.

 

[dclfun]

I still have to say that it's been much more difficult for me to stay at a value resort in the last year due to the massive increase in guests with ECV's. It's just not worth it to me even if it costs more money to stay elsewhere. Of course it's the luck of the draw- there could be a timeframe when very few people needing a lift are at the resort you've chosen. Pop isn't any better either, in fact one time it was way worse. Of course if you want a value resort then choose one- the resorts themselves are just fine, but I will admit that the OP would be taking a chance with the busses- it may work out fine but be prepared. Truthfully during crowded times of the year it's becoming difficult to be in the parks. I was lucky to receive a comp pass from a friend for all of us to go to the MVMCP. There was a sea of ECV's everywhere and many were turned away from the accessible parade viewing area. I'm not saying that people don't need them but the increase is very noticeable.---Kathy