Handicapped parking vs regular lot parking

[FoggyToad]

I've just read the very helpful information posted about parking on the FAQ thread but have a question. My friend and I are both seniors with health problems including knee replacements and shoulder replacements so we will be renting ECV's at the park as we don't think we could assemble/reassemble/transport the type you rent offsite very well. Since we both possess handicapped parking passes, we could park in the handicapped lot but then it sounds like it's quite a walk from the car to the front gate of each park so we might be better off parking in the regular lot and taking the tram. The problem is I think I would be able to get onto the tram but my friend might not. I'm just not certain whether she could do it, maybe yes, maybe no. Would any of you know how far it is to walk from the handicapped spaces to the front gate at each the parks? Several blocks? Any personal recommendations about this? Many thanks for your opinions and other information you can provide.

 

[MagiKitty]

My BF uses crutches so we parked at the handicapped parking. Distance really depends on which park.

At MK, the handicapped parking was quite a ways from the transportation station. It was also hilly. They do have complimentary manual wheelchairs (if available) at the lot, in order to get you to the entrance where you can switch to the ECV. We found this parking lot to be the most challenging and difficult.

At the transportation station, we found the ferry to be much easier and accessible. The ramp to the monorail was quite steep and people were pushing too much for my comfort. We found it easiest to wait on the side and until everyone else was on/off the ferry for us to board/disembark. People just are in a rush.

At EPCOT, the handicapped parking was as close to the entrance as possible, approximately two blocks from parking lot to entrance. It was flat though, so if walking short distances is not an issue, this may work out for you. You may get lucky and find an abandoned complimentary wheelchair, but I didn't see any designated areas for them.

At MGM, again, the parking was closest to the entrace, but the lot is significantly smaller so we had a difficult time finding a space. I wound up dropping my BF off as close as possible then going off to find a space elsewhere. Did not see any complimentary wheelchairs.

At AK, the parking again was about two blocks from the entrance. But the lot was also quite small. I ended up again dropping off my BF near the complimentary wheelchair area, parking the car, then taking the wheelchair to the entrance.

There was very few handicapped spaces at Downtown Disney. It was quite frustrating and I don't know if we'll go back for that reason.

Hope this helps out and makes some sense. Overall, I found the parking attendants to be quite helpful, so I would ask them for additional help if necessary.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

To the OP, are you staying onsite or off? if onsite you could use the disney transportation system with offsite rented ECVs though having two does complicate things as most can only take two or three I foget which and if some one else is on or in line you or friend may have to wait for next bus.
It is a haul though from HC parking at MK to the trans and ticket center then monorail or boat and another long walk to security and then through lines into the park before you can try to rent an ECV which may or may NOT be available to rent.

 

[merryweather20]

I agree with the above poster. The complimentary wheel-chairs to get you to the entrance aren't going to be much good to you with bum shoulders if you have no-one to help push them.

Also it sounds like having the ECV's is a definite necessity, so you wouldn't want to chance not getting one, and then losing a day at the parks

 

[FoggyToad]

We're staying offsite this time so a rental car is a necessity for us. You're absolutely right about not being able to use manual wheelchairs to get us into the park. Couldn't push them on our own and have no one else along to push. We will be there the week after Thanksgiving and into early December and plan to be at the parks at opening time so chances are good that we will get ECV's at the park, right? We won't park hop so we should be okay I think. Wish we could rent them from offsite since I've read they're so much better in many ways, but I just don't think we would have the strength and ability to load them, unload them, assemble them, and disassemble them for transport. Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

[earthfaries]

We have always parked in the handicap spaces because my mom is disabled and can't walk much. I find it outrageous that there is no tram from the handicap spaces to the front of the park or the TTC at MK. Who thought of that idea?
Anyway. MK is the longest walk and it is hilly. My mom really has problems with it every year. It is a really long ways to the monorail and then when you get off the monorail you have a long walk to the entrance of the MK. If you are staying on site I would suggest riding the bus to the MK, you will still have a walk, but not near as much

 

[Shorty82]

if onsite you could use the disney transportation system with offsite rented ECVs though having two does complicate things as most can only take two or three I foget which and if some one else is on or in line you or friend may have to wait for next bus.

All Disney busses have space for two wheelchairs or ECVs.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the above poster. The complimentary wheel-chairs to get you to the entrance aren't going to be much good to you with bum shoulders if you have no-one to help push them.

Also it sounds like having the ECV's is a definite necessity, so you wouldn't want to chance not getting one, and then losing a day at the parks

Besides not being able to push yourself, you may not find a wheelchair. There are supposed to be loaner wheelchairs to get from place to place, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily available when you arive.

All Disney busses have space for two wheelchairs or ECVs.

Occasionally, you will run into a bus that can only hold one because there is something wrong with the tiedowns that secure wheelchairs/ECVs in the bus for one of the wheelchair stations.

 

[mechurchlady]

The worst part of my last WDW trip was the hike to the ferry at TTC. Disabled guests may use their disabled plaque or tag to park in spaces near the trams instead of the disabled parking. They did not tell me that so I ended up walking way to much and would have been happier if I was not so bloody tired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI2s_YVuc4E

In this video you see the underpass that disable guests have to use to get to the TTC. If you get there at the opening of the parking lot and get a first spot then you have to walk to that under pass and then either find the elevator for the monorail or walk all the way past the monorails to the ferry.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

and then either find the elevator for the monorail or walk all the way past the monorails to the ferry.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but if you can find an elevator to the monorail at TTC (or MK) you are doing better than anyone else - there is none!

 

[mechurchlady]

Sorry for the sarcasm, but if you can find an elevator to the monorail at TTC (or MK) you are doing better than anyone else - there is none!

I could not find it back then and assumed Disney would have put an elevator in by now. I looked for an elevator back in 1998 because I assumed anything that steep would have one. I ended up giving up and hiking to the ferry. I guess Disney does not realize that for some people that hike takes a lot out of some people.

 

[fla4fun]

Have you checked into whether you could rent an accessible van with a ramp that you could just drive an ECV (or two) up in to? I know it can be a pain to take them apart and put them back together, but if you could transport it all in one piece, that would work.

 

[missypriss19]

I second that thought. Maybe renting an accessible van iwth a ramp would do you better. There are places to this. just google accessible van rental in orlando and sites should pop up. We are staying on site to avoid this mishap. We have found that if there is handicapped parking everyone and there brother seems to have a placard for the parking even if they dont need one.

 

[SueM in MN]

wheelchair accessible vans are very expensive to rent. If you do rent one, make sure to ask for one with 2 tiedowns since you will need to attach both ECVs to the van for transport.
If you are looking at that option, you might also want to look into whether it would be less expensive to rent a regular van and a ramp. There aould not be enough head room to drive the ECV into the van; you would have to put down the portable ramp and then push the ECVs in; but that may work out for you. If you work with the disability coordinator/supervisor from the ar rental place, they may be able to help you.

 

[BroganMc]

Um, I don't believe there's enough space in a ramp van for two ECVs. We own an Entervan and can just fit my dad's Rascal scooter and my powerchair inside. And that is if we remove the front passenger seat and park my powerchair there (or do a crazy squinch up the chair in the corner maneuver). There's no way we could fit two scooters inside. They don't have the turning radius to maneuver. It's a straight in and out route.

Also, last time I checked ramp vans were renting for $100 a day in Orlando. That's why we drive the 900 miles down.

As for lots, Animal Kingdom and MGM seemed the closest to the front gates. EPCOT is farther. Magic Kingdom is a ways away. If you're planning on renting ECVs and distance is an issue, you really can't get closer than where the trams drop you off.

 

[LindaBabe]

Given your situation, I would rethink the decision to stay off property. You really need the bus service, and rental ecv's. The couple times lately i've tried without it, it has cost me. You may save monitarily staying off site, but please believe me when I say you will pay dearly in other ways.

 

[FoggyToad]

Thanks to everyone for their input on our situation. I really appreciated your various opinions and suggestions. This is what we've decided to do. We have rented a compact car for the two of us as we would find a h/c accessible van to be cost prohibitive as well as potentially presenting problems accommodating two ECV's. Back in October we paid in full to rent a house in the Kissimmee area so that is not subject to change either. We will be driving to the parks and then using your recommendations for parking in h/c area or in general parking depending on the park. My friend wants to try to board the tram. If it is impossible to do that for her, we will have to relocate the car to h/c parking area and do the trek slowly but surely. We are determined to not let our lack of mobility get in our way of having a great time and will be at DW in just ten days' time. Yahoo!