Handicap parking at the parks...

[Picabo]

Can anyone give me detailed info on handicap parking at the parks and resorts? We're specifically interested in AK, Hollywood Studios, Polynesian and Mickey's Backyard BBQ. Just wondering how close or far the handicap parking is from the enterance to the parks -- is these still a long walk even though it's handicap parking? Thinking of bring my father in law who can walk on his own but not for LOOOONG distances....till we get to a wheelchair.

Anyone know how I can get info or if there is a map to show this anywhere?

THANKS!

 

[Chuck S]

If you get to the studios early, there is limited, but excellent, HC parking within the bus pick-up areas.

If you are staying onsite, please take the bus to Magic Kingdom, their HC parking would still require a fairly lengthy walk and transfer to monorail or boat.

The HC parking at AK is still quite aways from the park entrance. Look around for some courtesy chairs in the parking lot. You can use the courtesy w/c to get him to the gift shop outside the park where you can rent one.

The Poly has limited HC parking, and it fills up quickly. If you find a HC spot at the Poly, it will be convenient.

At Fort Wilderness, you can park fairly close to the parking lot bus stop. You'll need to take an internal bus into the Fort itself. I'm not sure where the BBQ is actually held, as I haven't attended. It is a bit of a hike to the Hoop De Doo from the bus stop, so I assume the BBQ would be as well.

Overall, if you have a large enough car, your best bet may be to rent a wheelchair from an offsite company and take it with you in the car to/from the parks and dining locations.

 

[mechurchlady]

It is cheaper and easier on a person to rent from offsite. Your handicapped license plate or hang tag allows you to park in the blue and white disabled parking spaces anywhere in Florida including WDW. Some resorts and Downtown Disney offer free valet parking for guests with disabled plates, plaques or hang tags.

Even if you get the first parking space at Epcot and Animal Kingdom it is several blocks walk to the rental area. TTC requires parking in a lot then walking under a bridge and about a long way to the ferry or up a very STEEP, get the crimpons, incline to the monorail. The drop of area is still a long way. Then you have to walk from the monorail or ferry to the entrance then to the rental area.

I cannot remember DHS but again it is blocks to get to the rental place.

By getting an offsite wheelchair rental he can save his energy for in the parks. He can park the chair then walk into a show or restaurant then later set for a while. Lines are know for being deceiving and can be very long.

An option is to buy a wheelchair at home and take it with you on the flight. It is not counted toward your luggage total and will be at the gate if you ask. You can then donate it to charity either at home or in Florida. You would get a tax write off for the donation. Airports can be very large so you can ask for them to take him from front door to boarding area in a wheelchair or golf cart like contraption. I have done that on all but one flight in the past 9 years and regretted that.

 

[bzzymom]

It is still a pretty good walk. When we travel with my mom, we park in the handicapped parking and use the courtsey w/c to the gate, and then she rents an ecv inside. We have had times though when there hasn't been and wheelchairs there, because cm's haven't brought them back to the gate. My dad has had to go find a CM and ask for one. It can be a real pain. We do not park at MK. We always take the bus. There is a bit of a walk to go through security, but mom stops and rests on the way.

 

[prncess674]

Since in this situation the handicapped person is an adult consider dropping them off at the front of the hotel then go park the car.