The parks rent manual wheelchair and
ECVs (power scooters), which are a bit different than power wheelchairs. (Power wheelchairs are controlled with a joystick and take some individual setup and more practice to drive. The parks don't rent them at all and the off-site rental places only rent them to people who already have experience with them).
There is no discount for AP holders renting wheelchairs or ECVs at the parks. There is a multi-day option that includes a discount, but it may be suspended during busy times.
If you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board (thanks triplefigs and ktglads), you will find information on the various places/ways to get wheelchairs/ECVs, boarding rides, a link to the official WDW site disabilities information with lists of what attractions you could stay in the wheelchair for.
Most of the lines are what is called Mainstream Access, which means wheelchair/
ECV users wait in the same line with everyone else. If there is a separate area/entrance for wheelchair users, the policy is that 5 people plus the person using the wheelchair can use the entrance. As was noted, there are special areas for wheelchair/ECV users for parades and Illuminations. If it's busy, they sometimes limit access to the person with a wheelchair plus one or 2 members of their party. You do want to get there early because the areas fill up quickly sometimes.
There is no special viewing area for fireworks (I guess the idea is that they are above you, so no problem with people standing in front of you).
If you don't have a wheelchair with you, you have a few options for parking:
- You can try to get a temporary handicapped parking permit issued by your state (your doctor may have the form that needs to be filled out or most states have a copy of it on their website.) That would allow you to park in the handicapped parking areas. There are "shuttle" wheelchairs available in the handicapped parking lot to get from there to the park entrance. NOTE: They are first come, first serve and may not have any wheelchairs.
- You can tell the parking lot CMs that you have a mobility problem and ask to park near the end of a row so that you have a shorter walk to the parking lot tram.
