ME Waiting Area - POFQ

[mmmbop]

My grandmother and uncle both require the use of an ECV at WDW. Both can only walk/stand for a very short period.

We've only stayed at the All Star resorts since they've required the use of ECVs. It's worked well, they'd get off the ME bus and sit down on the benches as I picked up their ECVs and drive the ECV to where they are sitting. It isn't that far of a walk from the bench to the podium, but I'd usually be standing and waiting for the CM to find the key, locate the proper ECV, etc. And it's simply too much for either of them to do - heck, it's hard to even do that step on/off the bus.

We were planning on staying at POFQ. My uncle is extremely worried that he will get off the bus, and not have a place to sit down. The last time we stayed at POFQ, no one in our party required the use of an ECV, so we simply never noticed.

We called the resort, and were told that they have a bench inside the lobby. If that's true, it looks as if we'll have to seek out another resort. I saw a photo on a PO site, and the walk from ME to the lobby looks to be too far for them to walk. I think I see benches at the ME area, but I don't want to arrive and there be no benches.

I guess I write too much. My question is: are there benches in the ME Waiting Area at POFQ? If you could share any photos, or even just confirmation that there is/is not a bench or two, it'd be greately appreciated. Thank you!

 

[livndisney]

This is a picture of the entrance to the resort.

http://allears.net/acc/fq17.jpg

Bell services is just to the right of this view. I have seen the ME buses stop in front of bell services.

 

[mmmbop]

Right.. I found a photo that shows ME in relation to the lobby: http://www.portorleans.org/gallery/....DownloadItem&g2_itemId=821&g2_serialNumber=2

However, I'm really concerned about whether or not there are any benches in/around the ME stop. In the photo, it looks as if there's about 3... but I could always be wrong. Just hoping someone knows and could give some confirmation

 

[livndisney]

Right.. I found a photo that shows ME in relation to the lobby: http://www.portorleans.org/gallery/....DownloadItem&g2_itemId=821&g2_serialNumber=2

However, I'm really concerned about whether or not there are any benches in/around the ME stop. In the photo, it looks as if there's about 3... but I could always be wrong. Just hoping someone knows and could give some confirmation

Ok-the brick building in your photo is Bell Services. On the left hand side of your photo (behind the woman in jeans) is the sidewalk with the benches I posted.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Why couldn't they sit on the bus until you have everything ready and then they could walk off the bus right onto the ECV?
I have broken foot right now, so I am always trying to figure out how to manuever myself onto my scooter.

 

[mmmbop]

Why couldn't they sit on the bus until you have everything ready and then they could walk off the bus right onto the ECV?
I have broken foot right now, so I am always trying to figure out how to manuever myself onto my scooter.

From my experience at other resorts, it seems to take several minutes for the CM to locate the key, or the proper ECV, etc. I wouldn't want to hold up the ME bus (or worse, have the ME driver drive off with them still on the bus!).
Also, I can't remember if my uncle had his walker put under the bus or not... but if he did, I wouldn't want something left unattended. Maybe I'm just paranoid?

 

[Hankshouse]

My daughter is a manual wheelchair user and we always use ME when travelling to Disney. I was wondering if you had considered having your scooter delivered to you at the airport somewhere (at the ME desk or an airline ticket counter, etc.) so that you have it before you get on to the Magical Express. Or perhaps ME even has a manual wheelchairs they use to transfer riders. The Magical Express buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts - you just need to let them know you need one in advance. It can accomodate wheelchairs or scooters. Sometimes it takes them a while longer to arrive but it's terrific. I could almost guarantee that there is somewhere at the airport where you could pickup your ECV prior to boarding the bus to the resort.

 

[CoffeeCup]

We stayed at POFQ about 3 years ago, and there were benches at the ME area then. We had an early morning flight and went out early since we needed to be sure we were at the pickup spot for ME on time. I remember sitting there complaining to my husband that we were a lot earlier than we needed to be

 

[mmmbop]

My daughter is a manual wheelchair user and we always use ME when travelling to Disney. I was wondering if you had considered having your scooter delivered to you at the airport somewhere (at the ME desk or an airline ticket counter, etc.) so that you have it before you get on to the Magical Express. Or perhaps ME even has a manual wheelchairs they use to transfer riders. The Magical Express buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts - you just need to let them know you need one in advance. It can accomodate wheelchairs or scooters. Sometimes it takes them a while longer to arrive but it's terrific. I could almost guarantee that there is somewhere at the airport where you could pickup your ECV prior to boarding the bus to the resort.

In all honesty, none of us have even thought of that! We never really even thought about it, because we knew that there was a long bench along the wall at the All Star resorts, so it was never really needed. I will inquire about it, thank you *so* much!

We stayed at POFQ about 3 years ago, and there were benches at the ME area then. We had an early morning flight and went out early since we needed to be sure we were at the pickup spot for ME on time. I remember sitting there complaining to my husband that we were a lot earlier than we needed to be

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I was wondering about. I knew someone would know. In the photo of the ME line at the resort, it looks like that there were a couple benches but I wasn't sure if it was what I wanted to see or that they were actually there

Thank you all so very much

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find information about the Magical Express bus - there are no pictures of benches, but there is other information that may be helpful (the FAQs thread is near the top of this board or you can get there from a link in my signature).

My grandmother and uncle both require the use of an ECV at WDW. Both can only walk/stand for a very short period.

We've only stayed at the All Star resorts since they've required the use of ECVs. It's worked well, they'd get off the ME bus and sit down on the benches as I picked up their ECVs and drive the ECV to where they are sitting. It isn't that far of a walk from the bench to the podium, but I'd usually be standing and waiting for the CM to find the key, locate the proper ECV, etc. And it's simply too much for either of them to do - heck, it's hard to even do that step on/off the bus.

I'm not quite understanding the sequence of what you are doing.
If I understand correctly, your grandmother and uncle are getting off the bus and finding a seat. Then, you wait for someone to get the ECVs off the bus luggage compartment.
Is the person getting the ECV off a different CM than the bus driver??
(in our experience, the bus driver has gotten ECVs off the bus).

OR are you talking about rented ECVs that are at the resort, waiting for you to pick the ECVs up when you arrive? (which is what I think you are talking about).

If you are renting ECVs, you can request where they be delivered. There are companies listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread that DIS posters have had good experience with. Try calling around to see which you get the best response from about delivery to alternate places and rent from that company.

Not all the Magical Express buses are equipped with lifts and wheelchair/ECV tiedowns. It is best to arrange for that ahead of time; you can arrange it when checking in at the ME desk, but you may have a longer wait for the bus. There are pictures of the lift equipped buses in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board (or use the link in my signature to get there). There is room for only 2 wheelchairs/ECVs to be loaded into the seating area of the bus. The wheelchair buses are usually set up for only space for one - so the driver would need to do the set up for the second ECV.

If your 2 people can walk up the stairs onto the bus, it might be easier just to load the ECVs in the baggage compartment. That way you don't need to wati for a special bus. It also makes it easier getting back to the airport (on our last trip, the wheelchair accessible bus they sent to pick us up had a piece that broke at the stop before ours, so we had to wait for a second bus).

 

[mmmbop]

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find information about the Magical Express bus - there are no pictures of benches, but there is other information that may be helpful (the FAQs thread is near the top of this board or you can get there from a link in my signature).

I'm not quite understanding the sequence of what you are doing.
If I understand correctly, your grandmother and uncle are getting off the bus and finding a seat. Then, you wait for someone to get the ECVs off the bus luggage compartment.
Is the person getting the ECV off a different CM than the bus driver??
(in our experience, the bus driver has gotten ECVs off the bus).

OR are you talking about rented ECVs that are at the resort, waiting for you to pick the ECVs up when you arrive? (which is what I think you are talking about).

If you are renting ECVs, you can request where they be delivered. There are companies listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread that DIS posters have had good experience with. Try calling around to see which you get the best response from about delivery to alternate places and rent from that company.

Not all the Magical Express buses are equipped with lifts and wheelchair/ECV tiedowns. It is best to arrange for that ahead of time; you can arrange it when checking in at the ME desk, but you may have a longer wait for the bus. There are pictures of the lift equipped buses in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board (or use the link in my signature to get there). There is room for only 2 wheelchairs/ECVs to be loaded into the seating area of the bus. The wheelchair buses are usually set up for only space for one - so the driver would need to do the set up for the second ECV.

If your 2 people can walk up the stairs onto the bus, it might be easier just to load the ECVs in the baggage compartment. That way you don't need to wati for a special bus. It also makes it easier getting back to the airport (on our last trip, the wheelchair accessible bus they sent to pick us up had a piece that broke at the stop before ours, so we had to wait for a second bus).

Sorry!
Yes, they are both renting scooters from an outside vendor. We've never had a problem in previous years (they knew the layout of the resorts we were staying at/the ME area). Now that we're going to a resort that we haven't been to in years (pre-disability & pre-ME) we never noticed the set up.
It's hard for them to walk on the bus, but we haven't thought of having a different delivery location, so that is why we haven't used a ME bus that could accommodate an ECV before. But now that we know about alternate delivery locations (especially at the airport as a PP suggested), it is definitely something we will look in to.


Thank you all for your help

 

[peemagg]

Do they have their own scooters at home? If so why not just bring them with you? I did this the last time and it was a very easy thing to do. I just rode my scooter to the door of the plane, then they put my scooter in the hold. When we got to the airport on the other end my scooter was waiting at the door of the plane for me. With ME they just loaded my scooter under the bus and away we went. No waiting for someone else. Everything was under my control for the most part and had no problems. It also cost a whole lot less than having to rent a scooter for the week.