We just returned last night from a trip celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary. All 10 of us had a great time and I can't say enough good things about how we well they treated my mother who uses a wheelchair due to a broken hip and foot earlier this year.
We stayed at GF and visited Epcot, MK and MGM with my mom. Did quite a few rides (she doesn't like scary ones so those were out). Sometimes we used the handicap entrance and sometimes not. In all but one case (HM), they even let all 10 of us ride with her (wasn't that crowded in the parks). I was a bit surprised that more of the rides weren't completely wheelchair accessible--could ride onto the rides--but my mom managed to get in and out o.k. with her cane. The ride that caused the biggest trauma was Peter Pan--too quick a moving sidewalk and jump into the boat. I know they would have stoppped it if she hadn't have made it but it was a bit scary, especially for DDad. Generally, all the CMs were very helpful and not condescending.
Monorail CMs were particularly great--used a portable ramp to help her on and off. Would radio ahead to the station we were disembarking and they would have the ramp ready.
My parents loved that the GF waived the valet parking fee since they had a handicap tag.
Bus drivers were unbelievably helpful--it's not easy or quick task to get a wheelchair in to a bus and secured. We would probably not have her stay in the wheelchair for a bus ride again since all the buckling of the chair and her (all six of them!) takes lots of time. She would just climb up the steps using her cane.
That's all I can think of. Let me know if you had specific ride questions.
Don't agree with the post that the wheelchair doesn't help get you on some rides--it does but it always takes a bit longer than usual to get the person on and off the ride so what you gain on a short line you lose.
We stayed at GF and visited Epcot, MK and MGM with my mom. Did quite a few rides (she doesn't like scary ones so those were out). Sometimes we used the handicap entrance and sometimes not. In all but one case (HM), they even let all 10 of us ride with her (wasn't that crowded in the parks). I was a bit surprised that more of the rides weren't completely wheelchair accessible--could ride onto the rides--but my mom managed to get in and out o.k. with her cane. The ride that caused the biggest trauma was Peter Pan--too quick a moving sidewalk and jump into the boat. I know they would have stoppped it if she hadn't have made it but it was a bit scary, especially for DDad. Generally, all the CMs were very helpful and not condescending.
Monorail CMs were particularly great--used a portable ramp to help her on and off. Would radio ahead to the station we were disembarking and they would have the ramp ready.
My parents loved that the GF waived the valet parking fee since they had a handicap tag.
Bus drivers were unbelievably helpful--it's not easy or quick task to get a wheelchair in to a bus and secured. We would probably not have her stay in the wheelchair for a bus ride again since all the buckling of the chair and her (all six of them!) takes lots of time. She would just climb up the steps using her cane.
That's all I can think of. Let me know if you had specific ride questions.
Don't agree with the post that the wheelchair doesn't help get you on some rides--it does but it always takes a bit longer than usual to get the person on and off the ride so what you gain on a short line you lose.
