Magical Express Bus had no wheelchair lift

[twoll]

We were just at WDW. We took my Mom and Dad for their first visit. My Dad can stand and walk short distances, but for the most part in confined to a wheelchair for getting around.

I was very pleased that everything at the hotel, the parks and the Disney transportation system is very wheelchair friendly. It was extremely easy to get around all week.

The only problem we ran into was Magical Express to the Airport. The motorcoach they sent did not have a chair lift. I know they have them. I've seen other Magical express buses with them, but ours didn't. I guess I'll take the blame because I didn't say anything when I called in the confirmation the day before. I assumed too much.

I know this service is actually operated by MEARS, not disney so I'm not sure who needs to know the info.

We managed to get Dad on and off the bus with only minimal difficulty but if you NEED to use the chair lift and you're on a tight departure schedule, be advised. You may not have time to wait for the next bus.

 

[Gracie09]

Sorry you had a problem but they don't all have lifts and if you need one you should confirm in advance that the bus they send has a lift.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry he had trouble getting onto the bus.

Sorry you had a problem but they don't all have lifts and if you need one you should confirm in advance that the bus they send has a lift.

That is very important to confirm.
Not all of the DME buses have wheelchair lifts. If you don't request one, the bus that picks you up may or may not have a lift. I'm not sure of the number of buses with lifts, but at one point, it was less than 1/3.

And, if the bus for your assigned time does not have a lift, there is no guarantee the next bus to come will have a lift. Because buses are assigned based on what time guests need to get to the airport, there is also no telling when the next bus will arrive.

 

[curemyreed]

We were just at WDW. We took my Mom and Dad for their first visit. My Dad can stand and walk short distances, but for the most part in confined to a wheelchair for getting around.

I was very pleased that everything at the hotel, the parks and the Disney transportation system is very wheelchair friendly. It was extremely easy to get around all week.

The only problem we ran into was Magical Express to the Airport. The motorcoach they sent did not have a chair lift. I know they have them. I've seen other Magical express buses with them, but ours didn't. I guess I'll take the blame because I didn't say anything when I called in the confirmation the day before. I assumed too much.

I know this service is actually operated by MEARS, not disney so I'm not sure who needs to know the info.

We managed to get Dad on and off the bus with only minimal difficulty but if you NEED to use the chair lift and you're on a tight departure schedule, be advised. You may not have time to wait for the next bus.

This is a good reminder. Where was the wheelchair stored during the drive to the airport?

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I've been on ME 4 times and I've never actually seen one with a wheelchair lift.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a good reminder. Where was the wheelchair stored during the drive to the airport?

They will store it underneath the bus in the cargo area.

I've been on ME 4 times and I've never actually seen one with a wheelchair lift.

It's possible you have seen one, but not noticed it.
Or, since there are not that many, you may not have actually seen one.

The only difference that would be visible to most people is a door at the very rear of the bus. It blends in with the side of the bus and may not be noticed unless it is in use. The lift itself folds out from the door and is not visible unless it is being used.
Since most people are focused on the front where they are getting on, it may not be noticed.

 

[Piper]

There are definitely wheel chair lift buses on Magical Express. You need to reserve one ahead of time and then let them know when you check in at the Magical Express counter that you are here and need one. You often have to wait longer for them to arrive. Sometimes you will wait off to the side.

When you leave the resort, you need to call to make sure they are sending a lift bus. I usually call the day before and then make a reminder call about 4 hours before I leave to verify.

They are the old style "up in the air--your first/last ride" type of lift buses!

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a picture of the lift bus with the lift in the top position.

 

[BillSears]

I've been on ME 4 times and I've never actually seen one with a wheelchair lift.

That's odd. Every time I've been on a ME bus there was a wheelchair lift.

I do make sure they know I'll need a lift equipped bus. When I call to set it up I make sure they know. When I arrive at the ME desk at the airport I make sure they mark it for the return bus. Sometimes I even call to make sure on the return bus. So far I've been lucky and had no problems.

 

[SueM in MN]

That's odd. Every time I've been on a ME bus there was a wheelchair lift.

I do make sure they know I'll need a lift equipped bus. When I call to set it up I make sure they know. When I arrive at the ME desk at the airport I make sure they mark it for the return bus. Sometimes I even call to make sure on the return bus. So far I've been lucky and had no problems.

Probably because you requested one

 

[Nanajo1]

When I book the Magical Express I tell them I need a lift bus. When I check in at the airport I remind them. The day before I leave I call ME to remind them.However, there was one time despite all my efforts a non lift bus was sent for my return trip to the airport. Luckily, I was using my ECV. The CM at the resort ME authorized a cab to take me to MCO.

 

[seashoreCM]

If your confirmation sheet back to the airport (typically delivered morning of the day before the day you leave) is not just right then go down to the front desk to make any needed adjustments and receive the corrected version before heading to the parks.

Sometimes they will say the corrected version won't be ready until later in which case you need to get it as soon as it is ready and not wait until departure time.

Does the confirmation sheet mention wheelchair lifts? If it never does or if it did then Magical Express can be expected to use magical (including heroic) efforts (including such things as getting some beefy guys to carry you on) to transport you punctually if your assigned bus does not have a working lift

 

[SueM in MN]

When I book the Magical Express I tell them I need a lift bus. When I check in at the airport I remind them. The day before I leave I call ME to remind them.However, there was one time despite all my efforts a non lift bus was sent for my return trip to the airport. Luckily, I was using my ECV. The CM at the resort ME authorized a cab to take me to MCO.

We do the same.

We've used DME on 2 trips a year since it started and only had issues a few times.
Once the lift broke at the previous stop (some kids were playing at the back of the bus and broke a handle off). There was enough time to send another bus.

Another time, the bus filled up at a previous stop and didn't have room for our group - people scheduled for a later bus sometimes get on an earlier one just because they are at the stop. In that case, they re-routed another bus to pick us up.

And once (early in the history of DME) they forgot.

So, 3 times in that many years is not too bad - especially since they were able to arrange an appropriate bus for us quickly.

 

[cmwade77]

We were just at WDW. We took my Mom and Dad for their first visit. My Dad can stand and walk short distances, but for the most part in confined to a wheelchair for getting around.

I was very pleased that everything at the hotel, the parks and the Disney transportation system is very wheelchair friendly. It was extremely easy to get around all week.

The only problem we ran into was Magical Express to the Airport. The motorcoach they sent did not have a chair lift. I know they have them. I've seen other Magical express buses with them, but ours didn't. I guess I'll take the blame because I didn't say anything when I called in the confirmation the day before. I assumed too much.

I know this service is actually operated by MEARS, not disney so I'm not sure who needs to know the info.

We managed to get Dad on and off the bus with only minimal difficulty but if you NEED to use the chair lift and you're on a tight departure schedule, be advised. You may not have time to wait for the next bus.

You do need to call and let them know ahead of time that you will need a bus with a lift.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I could have been too distracted watching the dog get up those steep stairs at the front of the bus... that was always an adventure.

 

[brown1442]

Will a pediatric tilt-in-space (nonfolding) wheelchair fit under in the cargo area or should we request a lift bus?? He can come out of the chair and sit on the bus without a problem as long as we can transport his chair. We've put his medical strollers under before but those clearly fold and his Zippie Iris doesnt.

 

[SueM in MN]

Will a pediatric tilt-in-space (nonfolding) wheelchair fit under in the cargo area or should we request a lift bus?? He can come out of the chair and sit on the bus without a problem as long as we can transport his chair. We've put his medical strollers under before but those clearly fold and his Zippie Iris doesnt.

Height would be the issue, not width.
I have seen regular adult wheelchairs in the under us cargo space - they were the standard type that you can see for rent in the parks.
This is one picture I could find of the cargo are, but it is a bit higher inside than the door.

We use the lift bus because my DD could not get onto the bus otherwise. Her wheelchair is a Quickie GP, which doesn't fold side to side. I can remove the seat back, and then the back canes can fold down to make it smaller. Doing that makes it only about 26 inches tall. You may not be able to get your child's that height, but if it has things that stick up high (like stroller style handles), you might be able to get it short enough.
A standard adult wheelchair is around 40-42 inches tall.

Here is another picture that shows the bus steps.

If you don't use a lift bus, would he be able to carried or get up and down those?
This is one of the older buses; the new ones have a slight curve going up and the top step faces the back of the bus.
It may be easier to just use the bus lift. He could use the lift sitting in his wheelchair, then transfer to a bus seat.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Will a pediatric tilt-in-space (nonfolding) wheelchair fit under in the cargo area or should we request a lift bus?? He can come out of the chair and sit on the bus without a problem as long as we can transport his chair. We've put his medical strollers under before but those clearly fold and his Zippie Iris doesnt.

As Sue said; height is the issue. Having said that, those luggage compartment doors are very nicely accomodatin heightwise. I always have my manual chair along to use to get to the gate (not allowed to gate check powerchair at home airport), which is an adult sized Colours Shockblade with a higher than normal back. My backrest comes a bit heigher up than my shoulderblades, and I'm 1.68m tall. Also a nonfolding chair, never ever been an issue or even come close to an issue. Gets put into the hold in a breeze.



Can't say it enough so I'll also chime in; you need to inform upfront of needing a lift. Sometimes does get lost in the paperwork, allthough they are very good at working on the spot if need be. Just don't go looking for that though as it will add time on. I've had it been lost or bus been sent off (was stuck long time dealing with airline due to damage, olden times when there weren't that many busses), where options would range from adding serious time to private "group" standard Mears transportation being provided.

But; making prior arrangements is the way to go, always. I've had multiple trips where we'ld be at the gate at 4.40pm and I'ld be in my room by 6.15 , eventhough I'm the last to deplane, assistance for that taking up some time, need more time to put my powerchair back in use-mode, need to pick up my bagage (international traveller and medical stuff in there, so always just picked it up) and never being the first resort to stop at.


And yes, DME does work with you where and when they can. I've had a rather troublesome transportation situation on my last trip back to the airport due to the combination of solo traveller, powerchair having died on me yet needing very specific support to make transportation safe. We worked on it beforehand and it took a resort manager and dme management to get involved, but they made it work. In the wellknown Disney way of above and beyond. Ended up with dme management helping me to check in and getting my mobility studd in order instead of normally needing someone to hunt down airport assistance. Made for a surprised looking assistance caddy when he noticed who I was, all the trouble was almost worth that look on his face.

 

[brown1442]

Who do you need to let know that you need a lift bus? Should I call and confirm the day before or the day of?

My concern is we don't have much time for error (our own fault admittedly) because of flight time and ADR. Flight arrives at 330 and ADR is at 540 (at our resort). Its very tight but thats the only ADR they had

 

[lanejudy]

Who do you need to let know that you need a lift bus? Should I call and confirm the day before or the day of?

My concern is we don't have much time for error (our own fault admittedly) because of flight time and ADR. Flight arrives at 330 and ADR is at 540 (at our resort). Its very tight but thats the only ADR they had

Call Magical Express directly. Call them now. Call them again about a week ahead to check that it's still noted. And you might even check again the day before.

That's tight timing. In my experience, "flight arrival" is not the time you get off the airplane plus MCO is a big airport to get through to the ME area. Hopefully your bus departs shortly after you board and won't need to make other stops before your resort. But since the ADR is at your own resort hopefully you'll be ok. If nothing else, check your carry-ons with bell services when you arrive and go straight to dinner (unless you need your KTTW card for the dining plan and you'll have to check-in first). In all honesty, you might consider a taxi or car service.

Enjoy your vacation!