Mom may be coming..scooter questions!

[NYDisneyMom]

I posted this over on the disAbilities board, but no one has replied. I'll try here...maybe someone knows!


We're leaving in 10 days..my mom is now thinking about coming with us on this trip. It's just me and my two boys. We've tried to get her to come before but for health reasons she's never been able to make it. I'm really happy she's thinking about it now, but I have a few questions.

She has her own scooter, so we won't be renting one. I have a 1 bedroom villa at BW, I'm thinking of getting a 2 bedroom now, though just for the extra space and so she can have her own bathroom.

Is there any particular request I should make for a location at BWV?

Next...I have PS for the luau, I will have to add her to it. I'm assuming this is handicap accessible, do I need to tell them she's in a scooter? Do they put you in certain area for the show?

How about Fantasmic? I don't recall seeing wheelchairs/sccoters in the theater. Does she have to sit all the way in the back area?

Anything else I should know about any particular rides, shows, etc. ? I think she will really enjoy the Boardwalk area and the closeness to Epcot.

Oh...thought of another thing!! I have Cartier car service booked for a town car. I guess I need to change this, too!

Thank you in advance for any advice you have for me.

 

[Darwineffect]

I think you kinda answered all of your own questions there. There should be handicap access to everything at the world. It would be a good Idea to call ahead on your PS to make sure your wait time doesn't get adjusted and that you get the best seat possible. Fantasmic as far as I know only has Handicap access in the top row where you come in but the view should be o.k. anyway. I am a local so I can't really help with the room choice, I have never stayed there. I am sure someone can though. I would definately call your car service and let them know. You really shouldn't have much trouble in the parks though, my mother-in-law has a scooter and she does just fine when we go. Enjoy your trip.

 

[nasmith]

All of the parks have a disabilities guide you can pick up at guest services- You might be able to pick them all up at once at your Hotel's guest services too. They'll tell you things like which rides are scooter friendly, which ones you'll have to transfer out of the scooter for, etc.....
Can your Mom walk short distances? If so- she might be able to enjoy more things (fantasmic, Luau) closer if she chooses to park the scooter and walk to regular seating. Just a thought - the CMs are generally great- so ask them lots of questions. And I would definitely tell the BC that your Mom will have a scooter- as they might have suggestions about scooter-friendly rooms. Ask them about transportation limitations too- I don't know if there are any- but it's better to be forewarned in case the scooter can't go on the boats or some other thing (although I think they are all okay, I'd ask anyway )

 

[Puffy2]

ECV is a great idea. The Board Walk villas easily handle them because they have elevators to all villas. Location won't be a problem there.

Buses are easy to navigate with the ECVs too - the driver will assist. Sometimes you should tell a driver when he pulls up that you are with a person with an ECV - she should board the buses at the back of the bus (still on the side but the lift is located at the rear,not the front).

Fantasmic handicapped seating is rear right (just like the reserved seating for the dinner package). It is not bad even in the back - you will still enjoy the show.

Luau shouldn't be a problem at all. You may wish to arrive a little early for your reservation. If you use the monorails with the ECV have you mom TURN IT OFF when she enters the monorail (the ECVs have a tendency to move when the monorail shifts it's weight and that is kind of scary. It won't move if you turn the key off).

For transportation, try Happy Limousine - www.happylimo.com - they have a van now in addition to their fleet. You can also use the coupon code from Orlando Trip Planner.com - OTP1277- when you book to get a discount on your reservation.

Hope all this helps.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry no one replied to you on disABILITIES Board. I was not able to get on the computer until this evening.
Here's a link to the DIS page about touring with mobility disabilities, which includes a list of rides/attractions where you can stay in the scooter (ECV) for the entire attraction.

As someone else mentioned, there is a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for eac park. They are kind of basic and don't give a lot of info, but definatley better than nothing.
Here's a link to the official Disney website FAQs about disabilities, which includes links to download the Guidebooks.

Do let them know for the luau that she will be using a scooter. It might not be necessary if she is able to get out and park it in the back, but it's always better to let your PSs know if possible ahead of time.
If you don't have Fantasmic dinner package, the accessible seating is at the back row of the theater, with room for the rest of the party either tight next to the scooter or in the row ahead. We have not had a problem getting wheelchair seating even during Easter coming 1/2 hour before the show time. You can ask the CMs at the status board (the one at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset) how early to get in line for a spot. If you do a dinner package, let them know that she uses a scooter. There are a few wheelchair seats in the very front row, but I think you need to get there very early for those and you risk getting wet. For Fantasmic, she would need to stay with the scooter. There are really too many people for her to park it and go somewhere else in the stands; besides, if she leaves it somewhere, she would have to climb donw the steps to seating and then back up to get out. We feel the accessible seating is a pretty good view.

The only transportation problem is that sometimes the boats fro the MK resorts to MK can't carry scooters or power wheelchairs because of the water level being too high or too low compared to the dock. The boats at Ecpot and the Epcot resorts (BC and BW, Swan and Dolphin) are not a problem. The monorails are accessible as well as almost 100% of the buses.