Help-Disney with a Wheelchair

[KayaWildfire]

Due to an unfortunate slip and fall on the ice, one of our party will need to be a wheelchair for our upcoming trip. We arrive on Saturday at Disney after staying a few days offsite, that part we have figured out. I have some questions about Disney and flying though. 1. As far flying, we notified Southwest of our wheelchair assistance need. We just need to ask the ticket agent when we get there how to obtain a wheelchair escort to the plane right? 2. As far as Disney, we rented a wheelchair from Gold's that will be delivered our first day to All Star Music. As far as buses, do we stand in the wheelchair line? She can walk, but short distances and needs a seat on the buses. The wheelchair can be folded and held right? We have 6 different adult pushers so no worries about being too tired. 3. As far as rides, just ask the CM at the entrance how to proceed correct? Are there special areas for fireworks viewing? I know about the ones for parades, I've seen those. 4. Anything else we should know? Or any good previous threads to read? Thanks everyone for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[gap2368]

I can not help much with flying but for the parks you can go to the handicap line for the buss ( sometimes at the MK they have one line at the end of the night for the value resorts but this will be obvious

when getting on the bus she can fold the chair and sit ( there are two spots ECV can be tied down so please do not take one of them if other are in need of them

for the rides just about all but 5 in all of Disney you will be fine going in what ever line you have. ( there are a few more ECV can not go in) the lines where wheelchair go in is JC BTMRR IASW tea cups space mountain ( you do the FP line ) and space ship earth but if you are not sure you can always dubbe check with the CM. At the MK they do have spaces for fireworks and at EPCOT.

 

[Bjkandma]

Will the person needing the wheelchair need assistance outside of airport? You need to have at least one in your party, go into airport and will find a courtesy phone for wheelchair assist. You will wait for someone to come.

If the person can walk through airport, (where you would check in luggage), there is a n assist area. You would wait there. They will escort you t though security and to the gate. Please allow extra time! Even though you requested wheelchair assist, you will wait.

Leaving for home (if using Magical Express - Disney's free bus transportation to airport). When you get off at airport, you will go inside (seating is,available) but there has not been good communication between bus drivers and wheelchair assist at airport. If one of the adults could grab a wheelchair (you will find them by the elevators) someone in your party should push to elevator and go one floor up and then ask for assistance. There doesn t seem to be assistance from entrance to floor of where airlines are. Maybe this will get fixed, but it hasn't in the past three years.

 

[KayaWildfire]

Will the person needing the wheelchair need assistance outside of airport? You need to have at least one in your party, go into airport and will find a courtesy phone for wheelchair assist. You will wait for someone to come.

If the person can walk through airport, (where you would check in luggage), there is a n assist area. You would wait there. They will escort you t though security and to the gate. Please allow extra time! Even though you requested wheelchair assist, you will wait.

Leaving for home (if using Magical Express - Disney's free bus transportation to airport). When you get off at airport, you will go inside (seating is,available) but there has not been good communication between bus drivers and wheelchair assist at airport. If one of the adults could grab a wheelchair (you will find them by the elevators) someone in your party should push to elevator and go one floor up and then ask for assistance. There doesn t seem to be assistance from entrance to floor of where airlines are. Maybe this will get fixed, but it hasn't in the past three years.

Thankfully, the way our home airport is setup, the walk from the curb to the check in area for luggage is about 20 feet, so we will be good there. We have set an extra early alarm so we are good there too. We aren't using the Magical Express so will be arriving back at MCO in a rental after a few days offsite. We will use the advice to go up one floor and ask for assistance though, thank you.

 

[SueM in MN]

Due to an unfortunate slip and fall on the ice, one of our party will need to be a wheelchair for our upcoming trip. We arrive on Saturday at Disney after staying a few days offsite, that part we have figured out. I have some questions about Disney and flying though. 1. As far flying, we notified Southwest of our wheelchair assistance need. We just need to ask the ticket agent when we get there how to obtain a wheelchair escort to the plane right?

When you check in for your flight, your need for wheelchair assistance will be noted and (our experience) you will be asked multiple times if you need assistance and what type.
Check in at the gate also.

2. As far as Disney, we rented a wheelchair from Gold's that will be delivered our first day to All Star Music. As far as buses, do we stand in the wheelchair line? She can walk, but short distances and needs a seat on the buses. The wheelchair can be folded and held right? We have 6 different adult pushers so no worries about being too tired.

At the resorts, there is a painted box on the ground (I can’t remember if All Stars has a line with a gate instead). Anyway, look for the wheelchair symbol and wait there. For stop with buses going to more than one destination, let the driver know whether you want that bus or not. We usually make exaggerated head shakes or nods while trying to get the driver‘s attention.
Let the driver know you plan to to fold the wheelchair so he/she doesn’t fold the seat up to make a wheelchair spot.
She can ride in the wheelchair up the ramp, then get out and fold the wheelchair. The seats directly across from the back door are usually the ones that fold up, so you want to avoid sitting in those.
At the parks, not all the bus stops are exactly the same. Most are arranged so guests using mobility devices wait part of the way in the regular line until they get to a gate marked with a wheelchair symbol.

3. As far as rides, just ask the CM at the entrance how to proceed correct? Are there special areas for fireworks viewing? I know about the ones for parades, I've seen those. 4. Anything else we should know? Or any good previous threads to read? Thanks everyone for all of your help, I really appreciate it.

Most attractions have Mainstream lines, which means the regular (and Fastpass) line is wheelchair accessible. For the few that are not, the attraction greeter will see you and tell you where to go.
All attractions are wheelchair accessible to the point of boarding with a few exceptions.
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority at MK load and unload area are one floor above ground and are accessed by a steep moving walkway. The line is ECV and wheelchair accessible until the point of the moving walkway.
- Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is an ambulatory attraction with steep, narrow stairways. There is a wheelchair overlook area where guests in wheelchairs can get a view of the kitchen area. To get there, go past the attraction entrance/exit toward Jungle Cruise.
- Tom Sawyer Island raft is wheelchair accessible, but the island itself is not.

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can also find it stuck near the top of this board. The first post in that thread is an index to where to find information.

 

[KayaWildfire]

When you check in for your flight, your need for wheelchair assistance will be noted and (our experience) you will be asked multiple times if you need assistance and what type.
Check in at the gate also.
At the resorts, there is a painted box on the ground (I can’t remember if All Stars has a line with a gate instead). Anyway, look for the wheelchair symbol and wait there. For stop with buses going to more than one destination, let the driver know whether you want that bus or not. We usually make exaggerated head shakes or nods while trying to get the driver‘s attention.
Let the driver know you plan to to fold the wheelchair so he/she doesn’t fold the seat up to make a wheelchair spot.
She can ride in the wheelchair up the ramp, then get out and fold the wheelchair. The seats directly across from the back door are usually the ones that fold up, so you want to avoid sitting in those.
At the parks, not all the bus stops are exactly the same. Most are arranged so guests using mobility devices wait part of the way in the regular line until they get to a gate marked with a wheelchair symbol.
Most attractions have Mainstream lines, which means the regular (and Fastpass) line is wheelchair accessible. For the few that are not, the attraction greeter will see you and tell you where to go.
All attractions are wheelchair accessible to the point of boarding with a few exceptions.
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority at MK load and unload area are one floor above ground and are accessed by a steep moving walkway. The line is ECV and wheelchair accessible until the point of the moving walkway.
- Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse is an ambulatory attraction with steep, narrow stairways. There is a wheelchair overlook area where guests in wheelchairs can get a view of the kitchen area. To get there, go past the attraction entrance/exit toward Jungle Cruise.
- Tom Sawyer Island raft is wheelchair accessible, but the island itself is not.

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can also find it stuck near the top of this board. The first post in that thread is an index to where to find information.

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it.

 

[elaine amj]

This is helpful! We are also travelling with a wheelchair for the first time, although we ended up opting to buy a used one and bring it with us. Folding ours isn't as easy as I would have liked and it remains bulky after folding so it sounds good that it could be an option to leave it unfolded and use the ECV spot. Regardless, it is helpful yo know we can wait in line for the bus with the wheelchair until we board the bus before we have to fold it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We aren't using the Magical Express so will be arriving back at MCO in a rental after a few days offsite. We will use the advice to go up one floor and ask for assistance though, thank you.

You might want to very seriously consider dropping everyone off at the Departures level, then circling around to the garage to return the car. From experience, it is not a short walk, and it's very difficult to get a wheelchair in the garage.

 

[KayaWildfire]

Thank you, we will do that. Sounds much easier.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you, we will do that. Sounds much easier.

I agree with dropping off others curb side and then returning car

 

[Simba's Mom]

The only tip I have about Southwest and wheelchair assistance is that while they've been great, I have had one problem-once the wheelchair pusher took me to the gate and then I transferred to a regular chair (for some reason). Yes, they then changed the gate, and I was stuck without a wheelchair. Since I was traveling alone, there was no way to have someone grab me a wheelchair. Made for a difficult transition. But since you have several other people traveling with you, it may be OK. Just in case, I now always ask for the attendant to leave me in the wheelchair even if the attendant leaves.

 

[Boopuff]

If you fly southwest they do a great job. My DH had knee surgery and he made sure the wheelchair was listed on his ticket. They were very helpful. We did have to use a wheelchair a few years ago (again knee stuff) at WDW. We found it very easy to push my DH around (lol). Ride access was simple.