Welcome to disABILITIES :
:
I need some advice and just general imput. My son is a bilateral amputee, very mobile, but usually needs his wheelchair after a day or two at the parks. We always bring it just incase. We have never flown to FL before however, flights from our local airport are very reasonable so we are considering flying for our next visit. What do I need to know? Should we bring his chair on the plane?
He would most likely to more comfortable in his own wheelchair than one you might rent, so my recommendation is to bring it with you.
My DD is 23 and we have been traveling with DD's wheelchair since she was almost 3. It's very easy.
Wheelchairs can be brought onto the plane at no charge and the wheelchair does not count toward your baggage allowance.
The easiest way is to gate check the wheelchair - ask when you check in about gate checking. They are likely to tell you to check in at the gate, but we sometimes have been given a gate check tag when we first check in.
A special tag is put on the wheelchair that lets you leave it at the door of the plane and the baggage people pick it up and load it into the plane. When you arrive at your destination, the wheelchair will be waiting for you.
If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board, you will find one of the posts is about air travel with disabilities.
What if we don't and there are none available at the parks? Is it a hassle taking a wheelchair on the Magical Express? I don't even know if I am asking the right questions... HELP!
Not every Magical Express bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift, but they will provide a wheelchair bus on request. You should let them know ahead of time that you will need a wheelchair bus.
There is more information and pictures of the lift in one of the posts of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is also a picture of the steps, to help people judge how steep the steps are and what kind of handholds they have. If he thinks the steps would not be a problem for him, you don't need to make any special arrangements for the bus - he can go up the steps and the wheelchair will be placed under the bus with the luggage.
I'd suggest taking a look around the disABILITIES FAQs thread to see what might be useful to you. There is information about accessibility of the buses, the boats and monorails.
Just feel free to ask whatever questions you think of.
