Parking strategy w/ECV but no disabled parking permit

[Mom of 3]

I will be renting a off site ECV and since we have our own van we won't be using Disney transportation but instead just use our van. Since I don't have a disabled parking permit to park in the handicapped section, what would be a good parking strategy?

Should we pull up to the entrance, assemble the ECV and I wait with the kids while hubby goes to park the van and come back?

Any suggestions?

I will have a AAA Diamond parking pass if any spaces are available, are these close to the entrance?

Anita

 

[ducklite]

Why do'nt you just use WDW transportation? It seems that it would take care of a lot of problems.

At the MK he can't drop you off at the entrance, you still need to access via the TTC monorail or ferry.

Anne

 

[Nanajo1]

Why do'nt you just use WDW transportation? It seems that it would take care of a lot of problems.

At the MK he can't drop you off at the entrance, you still need to access via the TTC monorail or ferry.

Anne

I agree. Use WDW transportation if you can. If you are off campus then I would drive to any park other than MK get dropped off as you said and wait for your DH. From there you could use the bus system.

 

[Mom of 3]

We'll be staying at the Wilderness Lodge so we plan on using the ferry to get to MK. Also, we may take the Ferry to the Monorail to go to Epcot or we may drive. We'll be driving to AK and MGM as I have heard that it is quicker than Disney transportation.

Anita

 

[dclfun]

Anita- I'm not sure why you're using the ECV but if it's for something temporary ( perhaps the reason why you don't have a disabled parking permit?) then you might be able to get a temporary permit before leaving home. I do agree that Disney transportation will be the easiest. Unless someone drops you off you will be unable to get on the trams from the parking lot, meaning a potential long ride in your ECV to the park entrances while everyone else takes the tram. ---Kathy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The AAA Diamond Parking is usually very close to the medical parking at the parks.

 

[FranP]

At Epcot and MGM, you might consider having DH drop you at one of the Epcot resorts, assemble your ECV and then you could take WDW transportation to Epcot or MGM - either walking/riding your ECV or taking your ECV onto the boats. He would then have to go park in the regular lots and meet you somewhere - this would probably take a long, long time to do though. Just a thought.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

It is relatively easy to obtain a temporary handicapped permit. You do need a have form filled in by your doctor stating your condition. I got my parking permit at the county office bldg in my town. The permit is free and it is issued to you on the spot. As far as the AAA Diamond parking is concerned, I have it one year(before the permit) The CM at the gate usually directs you to the handicapped parking area when available, BUT space are limited.
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN

 

[dclfun]

I just want to be clear on what the last poster said...with a AAA parking pass, you were directed to park in the disabled guest area? If so that was wrong. Those parking spots require a placard. AAA parking is usually away/next to the disabled parking so if they were directing you to enter the lot that way, towards the disabled parking lot, then they expected you to park only in the AAA Diamond lot. I agree...space is limited in both lots. ---Kathy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I aggree with Kathy.

The AAA Diamond parking is next to medical parking, and so with the Diamond permit the CM will direct you in that direction. However, the Diamond areas are used for overflow from Medical.

Medical Parking cannot be used for overflow from Diamond as the Orange County Sheriff's Office will occasionally patrol that lot and in Orange County the current ticket cost for parking in a marked disabled space without a permit is $250.00.

Mike

 

[Nanajo1]

We'll be staying at the Wilderness Lodge so we plan on using the ferry to get to MK. Also, we may take the Ferry to the Monorail to go to Epcot or we may drive. We'll be driving to AK and MGM as I have heard that it is quicker than Disney transportation.

Anita

Some people think driving is faster. But you will have to reassemble the ECV after finding a space or wait for your DH to come back after parking. The car will be hot on the return trip. For me it just doesn't add up. If you take the ferry to MK then you have all the other parks and resorts busses right there.

 

[ztbz]

Last week when passing through Typhoon Lagoon, there is a Orange County Sheriff's deputy posted at the entrance to the park and is right next to disabled parking, I notice that the deputy left a pink slip on one of the cars parked in a disabled spot, so yes the Orange County Sheriff's office will give you a parking ticket of $250 for parking without a permit.

 

[travelitis]

I better put on my flame-retardent suit for this . . . Before we had a placard but when we were taking an ECV, the Disney CMs in the parking lot told us to use the handicapped spot. Now, technically, you can get a ticket, but we ran into this on a couple of trips, and it was not an issue. I remember that when I see someone without a placard parked handicapped at Disney. They shouldn't do it, but it was different CMs daily, and we'd park hop and get the same response. It may be different now, though. I'd take Disney transportation to be on the safe side or get a temp permit. My doc did that for me, because I was worried about the parking situation.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Last week when passing through Typhoon Lagoon, there is a Orange County Sheriff's deputy posted at the entrance to the park and is right next to disabled parking, I notice that the deputy left a pink slip on one of the cars parked in a disabled spot, so yes the Orange County Sheriff's office will give you a parking ticket of $250 for parking without a permit.

Disney (technically Reedy Creek Improvement District) pays the Orange (and Osceola) County Sheriff's Offices to provide coverage. I find that about half of each day there is a Deputy at TL. Sometimes hangs around inside the gate and other times wanders/patrols the lot. I have also seen them parked near the tram lanes (in the shade) at Epcot.

In talking to several of them (when the gate is slow) the basic response is they are there to be nearby in the event of any incidents. However, they will often cruise the lots to be on lookout for stolen cars. At least three of them, when I asked, said they will often walk the medical parking, especially if crowded, and ticket cars without valid plates or tags.

 

[SueM in MN]

I better put on my flame-retardent suit for this . . . Before we had a placard but when we were taking an ECV, the Disney CMs in the parking lot told us to use the handicapped spot. Now, technically, you can get a ticket, but we ran into this on a couple of trips, and it was not an issue. I remember that when I see someone without a placard parked handicapped at Disney. They shouldn't do it, but it was different CMs daily, and we'd park hop and get the same response. It may be different now, though. I'd take Disney transportation to be on the safe side or get a temp permit. My doc did that for me, because I was worried about the parking situation.

No flames, but you were lucky to not get a ticket if you were parked in a marked handicap parking spot. One year we forgot our DD's handicapped parking permit and were told by the CMs that we did risk a ticket if we parked in any of the marked spots.

There are marked handicapped spots in the "Medical Parking" area. Those are marked with a sign, a wheelchair symbol or blue paint. If you park in those spots, you might get a ticket if you don't have a handicapped parking permit displayed in your vehicle.

In the Medical Parking area, there are also some spots that are not marked. You can park in those and not risk getting a ticket.

Another alternative is to tell the CMs directing parking that you have an ECV and don't have a handicapped parking permit. They do save spots on the ends of rows and toward the front of the lot for things like that.

I also agree with the posters about checking into a temporary handicapped parking permit or using the WDW transportation.