parking with wheelchair

[welovespacemoutain]

DD will have to use a wheelchair at Disney due to an ankle condition (will be bringing one - not renting in the parks). Last time we tried it using the buses and have several issues and would rather drive to the parks/DTD (except MK and Epcot- will be at Poly). She only needs the chair for trips like this that involve a lot of walking, so we don't have a handicapped permit. It is going to be DS (16), DD (13) and I. Will they let me pull upfront and drop the kids off and then I can go park? Will AAA parking be of any help? TIA for any tips!

 

[KPeveler]

DD will have to use a wheelchair at Disney due to an ankle condition (will be bringing one - not renting in the parks). Last time we tried it using the buses and have several issues and would rather drive to the parks/DTD (except MK and Epcot- will be at Poly). She only needs the chair for trips like this that involve a lot of walking, so we don't have a handicapped permit. It is going to be DS (16), DD (13) and I. Will they let me pull upfront and drop the kids off and then I can go park? Will AAA parking be of any help? TIA for any tips!

My dad perfers not using handicapped parking, so he always drops us off at the front, and then goes and parks. You won't have a problem with MK and Epcot... but it is easy enough to drop people off at the park. The only park it is a pain to leave people at is MK, and you will be a short monorail ride away from that!

 

[welovespacemoutain]

Thanks! Last time they weren't old enough to even think about dropping them off, so I never paid attention. Sounds like we can easily make it work!

 

[casjen]

Where do you drop someone off at MK? I have hurt my ankel and will most likely be on a scooter. A wheelchair will be too hard for my DH to wrangle with my boys. Can he bring me and the boys to MK, and then park in the lot? Or just drop us close to the ferry at MK so we don't have a long ride to the front?

At the other 3 parks it won't be an issue at all, and I don't even think I'll need the scooter at DHS. It's just MK that has tricky parking.

 

[KPeveler]

The "drop off" for MK is at the TTC, not the park. You will still have to walk quite a ways to the ferry or monorail, and then into where the scooters are rented. There are sometimes courtesy wheelchairs you can use to get to the ferry or monorail but they can sometimes be hard to find. Are you staying onsite? It may be easier for you to take the bus to the park (I heartily suggest the use of a folding cane to take the weight off the ankle!), since then you skip the TTC entirely. You could even have your DH and sons drive to the park themselves and just take the bus yourself.

If you park in the regular lot, you can take the tram to the TTC, which may actually get you closer than the drop-off location. If you ask the CMs they will let you park on the end of a row, so you have the shortest distance to walk. My mom pinched a nerve in her foot in Disney once and we did this until we could get to where we rented a wheelchair for her. This worked better than dropping her off. It actually cut down on the amount of time she had to be on her feet.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree that the shortest distance to walk will be parking in the regular lot and using the trams. I have not seen them yet, but the trams now have doors, which may make it a little more difficult the lift a folded wheelchair onto the trams.

 

[KPeveler]

I agree that the shortest distance to walk will be parking in the regular lot and using the trams. I have not seen them yet, but the trams now have doors, which may make it a little more difficult the lift a folded wheelchair onto the trams.

We have the doors out here, and it is pretty impossible to load folded strollers into the trams. There is a special section at the front of the disneyland trams for wheelchairs, so I have not seen anyone try to load a wheelchair into the regular rows.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A couple of comments.

AAA Diamond Parking is very close to Disabled Parking.

Even though DD is too young for a Driver's License, she can still get a state-issued disabled hang tag. Check with your state DMV for the rules. You can probably print the necessary forms from their web site and take it to her doctor to be filled in. Having this will assist you in other situations, not just at Disney World.

 

[SueM in MN]

A couple of comments.

AAA Diamond Parking is very close to Disabled Parking.

Even though DD is too young for a Driver's License, she can still get a state-issued disabled hang tag. Check with your state DMV for the rules. You can probably print the necessary forms from their web site and take it to her doctor to be filled in. Having this will assist you in other situations, not just at Disney World.

Good point - my DD got her first handicapped parking permit when she was 3 yrs old and she will never drive.

Depending on your DD’s situation, she may or may not qualify for a handicapped parking permit. You will be able to tell from your state’s website - they should have the qualifications listed there.
Even if it is a temporary problem, states do issue temporary handicapped parking permits.

 

[welovespacemoutain]

Thanks for all of the input! I would hate to take up a disabled spot when we can manage another way.

 

[prncess674]

If you can manage to get on and off the tram then definitely use the regular lot and then rolll down your window as you approach and tell them you need to park at the front of the row due to limited mobility.

The MK handicapped parking lot was a challenge for me the wheelchair pusher for my dad. There was a big dip in the road that you had to control going down then had to use some big leg muscles to get back up. Whoever designed that was not a wheelchair pusher!

 

[seashoreCM]

There is a colored patch at the start of each row of parking, often used as a handicapped parking space. Ask the CM before going down the parking aisle, then swing a cloverleaf turn and commence a new row, parking close to the tram lane.