Handicapped Parking @ Parks & Bus or Drive

[GPoppins]

So - This will be our 71st trip to WDW but our 1st time staying at FW. Because I have read that the bus system at FW is cumbersome, I'm thinking that we may drive to the parks. My mother has a handicapped tag and we will have an ECV with us. Can anyone tell me about the parking at the parks? Are the spaces near the bus areas more than out in the boondocks of the parking lots? Are they severely limited?

Also - Any thoughts on the WDW transportation at FW? Quicker to drive with the ECV in tow or just bus it?

Thanks so much!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

So - This will be our 71st trip to WDW but our 1st time staying at FW. Because I have read that the bus system at FW is cumbersome, I'm thinking that we may drive to the parks. My mother has a handicapped tag and we will have an ECV with us. Can anyone tell me about the parking at the parks? Are the spaces near the bus areas more than out in the boondocks of the parking lots? Are they severely limited?

Also - Any thoughts on the WDW transportation at FW? Quicker to drive with the ECV in tow or just bus it?

Thanks so much!!

HC parking for the Studios is in a pretty good location and we haven't ever not gotten one. EPCOT is hit or miss. We get a spot but sometimes they are pretty far out. AK is the same. I think their HC lot is a hike!
For MK, I would use the bus. It gets you closest to the gate. If you drive, you will have to take the ferry or monorail to get to MK from the parking lot!

 

[Huskiesrule]

HP at the Studios is right where the buses drop you provided you get there early enough. (Seasonal issue?) Epcot is ok, to me it seems like the same walk from the bus anyway. AK is a jaunt, but it is the same with the bus so no difference. Bus is the way to go for MK though. If you are staying at FW (lodge or camp) don't they have a boat that takes you to MK? My mother, who is disabled stayed at the campground and loved the buses. They had a site by a stop so that helped. I stayed at the lodge and had no issues with buses. Driving yourself will always be faster and you get free parking if you stay on property.

 

[tobikaye]

We drove to all the parks except MK. We only had my sister's rollator the last time we stayed at FW. We were in Loop 2800 so it was an easy in/out from FW. It was just easier with my sister to drive to the parks, as she panics at public transportation at times. For MK, we enjoy arriving by boat best, from FW or TTC. A later trip with a ECV, we stayed at POP and still drove to all the parks. Here are my thoughts on the HA parking:


MK: A long walk to TTC if you are on a far end. Since my sister was on an EVC, she had no problems, but if she had been walking, she would have been.
exhausted by the time we finally made it to TTC. We have never had a problem with using the ferry or monorail to get to MK, but we prefer the ferry.

Epcot: Although it is a farther walk from the buses, it is not too bad. The walk is flat. My sister walked it fine with her rollator.

DHS: Great location, but very tiny. Depending on time of year, plan to be at DHS pre-rope drop to get a HA spot. When we showed up around 9:30 one day it was full. When we showed upat 7:30 pm on an EMH night, we found a HA spot.

AK: Can be far if you are in the very last row of HA parking, but compared to where the bus drop off at AK, it is about equal.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I don't have a disabled tag, but was told to tell the CM at the front of the line directing cars that I had a scooter in the car and he would direct me to somewhere appropriate to park. The furthest back I parked was row 5 in one of the reserved rows, and the nearest was literally 30 feet from the path to the entrance to AK.

I was also allowed to park in the disabled areas at the resorts when we went for our ADRs.

 

[bidnow5]

I need to add don't ever park in handicap parking without the proper hang tag the Orange County police patrol and don't care if you were told to park there by a Disney cast member

 

[RubySue]

for MK:

You can take the internal Fort Wilderness bus to the Settlement Depot, go to the boat dock and take the boat to MK. (you can't park a car at the Settlement)
That boat is WC/ECV accessible and drops you off very near front gate.

"There are 4 routes available in the Magic Kingdom area, each designated by a colored flag. Each route operates 30 min prior to park opening including Extra Magic hours until 1.5 hours after park close. The boats may cease operation due to inclement weather."

"Green Flag Launch: The green route carries guests from the Magic Kingdom to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. This is a heavily traveled route due to the Hoop De Doo Revue and Mickey's Backyard BBQ being at this resort, along with the fact that guests staying at the resort can only get to the Magic Kingdom by boat. This route typically runs two cruisers which are both capable of accommodating ECVs and wheelchairs without a required transfer. Travel time from Magic Kingdom to Ft. Wilderness is approximately 13 minutes once underway. Wait time between boats is typically 10-20 minutes."

http://www.wdwinfo.com/transportation/water.htm

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have a disabled tag, but was told to tell the CM at the front of the line directing cars that I had a scooter in the car and he would direct me to somewhere appropriate to park. The furthest back I parked was row 5 in one of the reserved rows, and the nearest was literally 30 feet from the path to the entrance to AK.

I was also allowed to park in the disabled areas at the resorts when we went for our ADRs.

they do save some spots for guests with ECVs who do not have handicapped parking permits.
They are sometimes at the ends of rows in the closer regular parking or there are some spots in some handicapped parking lots that are OK.
Handicapped parking spots with signs or blue paint are the official handicapped parking spots and parking in those without a permit could get you a ticket.

The spots in that area with white paint are ones where guests can park without a handicapped parking permit.

I need to add don't ever park in handicap parking without the proper hang tag the Orange County police patrol and don't care if you were told to park there by a Disney cast member

If you don't have a valid handicapped parking permit, you can get a ticket. As bidnow5 mentioned, the lots are patrolled by the Orange County police, and people do get ticketed according to Cheshire Figment (a frequent DIS poster and CM until June 2014, when he retired). My family has seen them patrolling and have seen tickets being written out at Downtown Disney.
One year when we forgot to bring our handicapped parking hang tag, we were told that if we parked in the marked handicapped spots, we were parking at our own risk and could be ticketed. In checking with the police, we were told if we were ticketed, we maybe could get the ticket dropped or the fine reduced by appealing the ticket with a copy of our DD's handicapped permit.
We took the bus a lot that trip. Because she is not able to walk or stand, we had to park in the handicapped spot, do drop off or be in the perfect non-handicapped spot (end of row with a clear space next to the vehicle large enough to park the wheelchair and lift her out). We put a note in the windshield explaining that we did have a permit, but had forgotten it; with our WDW parking paper, they would have been able to find us to verify need.
We didn't get a ticket that trip, but were pretty nervous every time we parked in one.

for MK:

You can take the internal Fort Wilderness bus to the Settlement Depot, go to the boat dock and take the boat to MK. (you can't park a car at the Settlement)
That boat is WC/ECV accessible and drops you off very near front gate.

"There are 4 routes available in the Magic Kingdom area, each designated by a colored flag. Each route operates 30 min prior to park opening including Extra Magic hours until 1.5 hours after park close. The boats may cease operation due to inclement weather."

"Green Flag Launch: The green route carries guests from the Magic Kingdom to Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. This is a heavily traveled route due to the Hoop De Doo Revue and Mickey's Backyard BBQ being at this resort, along with the fact that guests staying at the resort can only get to the Magic Kingdom by boat. This route typically runs two cruisers which are both capable of accommodating ECVs and wheelchairs without a required transfer. Travel time from Magic Kingdom to Ft. Wilderness is approximately 13 minutes once underway. Wait time between boats is typically 10-20 minutes."

http://www.wdwinfo.com/transportation/water.htm

We have been to Trail's End restaurant several times, using different methods to get there.
If you drive, parking is by the main front area, near the check in area for the resort. From there, you take buses to get to the area where a Hoop De Doo, Trail's End and the BBQ are located.

From MK, you can use the buses - 2 buses, one that goes between park and resort, then an internal bus.
You can also use the boats. If they are not using two cruisers, then every other boat will be a small boat which is not wheelchair or ECV accessible. Because only the large boats can carry ECVs and wheelchairs, and can only carry 2 at a time,you may have to wait for the next boat.
On one of our trips, they were only running one cruiser and it broke down. The transportation CMs in the dock area advised those of us who needed accessible transportation that our only option was the buses since the othe boat was not accessible.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I need to add don't ever park in handicap parking without the proper hang tag the Orange County police patrol and don't care if you were told to park there by a Disney cast member

... and how, as a Brit, am I supposed to know that? If a CM tells me to go to X and park there, then that's what I do!

The time we get to the parks we're always miles away from the entrance (and always the far end of row), and there's no way I could get an ECV on the road train and I also couldn't expect my companions to walk all that way next to the ECV.

 

[bidnow5]

I wasn't trying to be offensive I just worry that people will get ticketed. I talked to a couple last May that were told to park in handicap and got a ticket I think they said it was $250

 

[lanejudy]

... and how, as a Brit, am I supposed to know that? If a CM tells me to go to X and park there, then that's what I do!

The time we get to the parks we're always miles away from the entrance (and always the far end of row), and there's no way I could get an ECV on the road train and I also couldn't expect my companions to walk all that way next to the ECV.

As SueM stated, you may have been directed to a non-h/c space which they do try to leave for guests with mobility devices who do not have a hangtag or license plates. You may not have realized the difference and thought you were in the h/c reserved spots. In the future, just be clear to the parking attendants that you have an ECV but do not have a hangtag permit; they'll try to get you as close as possible.

If you do park in a blue painted space, or a space with a sign or other indication it is for h/c parking, there is risk of receiving a ticket -- regardless of whether someone directed you there. In the U.S., it is illegal to park in a handicapped designated spot without proper permit, this is true not just at Disney parks but throughout the U.S. Enforcement may or may not occur and fines may vary by location, but the risk of ticket is there. There are reports of people receiving tickets at WDW parks and resorts, and the fine can be hefty.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I'm not offended - more exasperated!

At Epcot I was asked if I was mobile and I said I was. He directed me to row 5 but I parked quite a way down (in the first available space in that row). I'd have been better off in row 6 near the road, but what can you do! That was a reserved parking area, but certainly wasn't a blue area.

At AK the spaces seemed randomly placed - the car park was angled and the rows didn't seem to line up. I can't remember whether I parked in a white or blue space, but as I parked a row back seeing the blue spaces in the front with wheelchairs painted in them, I have a feeling I was in a white space. It wasn't a super-wide space, but was just very close to the entrance.

At GF and Contemporary when we presented ourselves at the gate to park up for our ADR, I was directed to specific areas in the car parks. At GF you end up quite a way away: only people with disabled tags get the free valet parking. At Contemp I was specifically told to take the first left: this turned out to be the valet car park. However, I parked there because I was told to. I parked in a blue space because it was the only one free. When we went to the hotel entrance I told them where I'd parked and they said it was okay.

I was told that I could use the 'disabled' spaces anywhere on Disney property, but obviously realise that once outside I can't - not without the tag, which I can't get as they've changed the rules over here and I don't qualify at the moment.

 

[disney david]

I'm not offended - more exasperated!

At Epcot I was asked if I was mobile and I said I was. He directed me to row 5 but I parked quite a way down (in the first available space in that row). I'd have been better off in row 6 near the road, but what can you do! That was a reserved parking area, but certainly wasn't a blue area.

At AK the spaces seemed randomly placed - the car park was angled and the rows didn't seem to line up. I can't remember whether I parked in a white or blue space, but as I parked a row back seeing the blue spaces in the front with wheelchairs painted in them, I have a feeling I was in a white space. It wasn't a super-wide space, but was just very close to the entrance.

At GF and Contemporary when we presented ourselves at the gate to park up for our ADR, I was directed to specific areas in the car parks. At GF you end up quite a way away: only people with disabled tags get the free valet parking. At Contemp I was specifically told to take the first left: this turned out to be the valet car park. However, I parked there because I was told to. I parked in a blue space because it was the only one free. When we went to the hotel entrance I told them where I'd parked and they said it was okay.

I was told that I could use the 'disabled' spaces anywhere on Disney property, but obviously realise that once outside I can't - not without the tag, which I can't get as they've changed the rules over here and I don't qualify at the moment.

Not to jump on you but just more to keep you from getting a 250 ticket. As the deputy and judge if you fight it won't care if you was told by a cm to park in those spots. If it has a sign or able paint or a handicap symbol please don't park in them. I don't want you to have to pay 250 I am sure you can out that towards something else. Their are regular spots in the disabled parking already mention which you are fine to park in. Now at the resort since you did let them know most likely they wouldn't call but if a deputy dose come in which Disney won't stop them and decides to do a patrol of the handicap spots they can write you a ticket. It won't be Disney giving you a ticket it be a Orange County sherif deputy that will issue you a ticket. Disney security might also patrol and call them in but as I said since you did say something I doubt they ran out their to call them to give you a ticket. If another guest comes along and decides to call the non emergency number they have to ticket you.


Again not saying you went out of your way to do something Erin I understand a cm told but the deputy won't listen to that. And I do not want you to have to pay the 250 ticket as Disney will never admit they told you to do that. The sign and blue paint and symbol is your warning not to park in those spots the sign even says handicap tags required and references the law and says it a 250 fine.

 

[GPoppins]

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for the responses! I really appreciate the time you all took to help me out. My mom does, in fact, have a handicapped tag and we will definitely have it with us. Isn't it strange that even after 70 trips, I can have pre-trip jitters just because of staying somewhere different and under new circumstances? You have all helped out tremendously.