Parking without a HP Tag

[Kcross3625]

Wow ! What a lot of great information here!

I have read most of the posts concerning wheelchair usage and the FAQs but did not see the answer to my question, so I hope it's OK for this particular thread.

I have been to WDW many times over the past 35 years but it appears that Friday will be my first visit in a wheelchair. I have a disease which "flares up" from time to time, leaving me weak and unable to walk long distances. I also cannot climb stairs. (I can walk short distances and transfer to rides OK) I don't own a wheelchair and we were planning to rent one at EPCOT when we got there. I also don't have a handicapped sticker for the car.

So here is my specific question:

Since I don't think I can climb on the tram from the parking lot to the park, can DH drop me off at the entrance and then park the car?

I think I can walk from the car to the tram stop OK and then from the tram to the park entrance, but I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how I can haul my tookis up those one or two steps to get on the tram. DH may be able to board first and then pull me up or push me from behind, but that would not be a pretty sight, and probably would hold up the tram.

Does anyone know if he can drop me at the entrance and then go park?

Thanks for all the great info here. I have learned soooo much.

Kim

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi Kim and to disABILITIES!

Your post implies that you will be going to Epcot. When you arrive, if they are doing the paring in one of the first two areas (near the first tramway), follow the green line in the pavement and turn in before the second tramway toward the kennels. You can then park near the kennels,which is close to the entrance. If they are doing the parking in that area, I can't think of any good quick solution.

For the other parks there are also work-arounds. However, most of these will require dropping you off and then exiting the parking lot and coming through the toll plaza again. Of course if you have an AP that is not a problem; also showing that day's stamped parking receipt will allow reentry into the parking lot.

I think you may have a situation, long term, where having a HP placard will become a necessity. I would suggest talking to your doctor about it. Here is a link to the application form, so you can have it partially filled out and bring it to the doctor. Note that this would be something only used as needed.

 

[Kcross3625]

Thank you Cheshire! This is just what I was looking for. Yes, we are going to EPCOT (just for the day) for FWW. We live in Tampa, so we usually pop over for a day here and there and try to take advantage of DD being out of school. (She has a school holiday on Friday) and we are AP holders, so paying for parking is not a problem.

And finally, I think you are right in that it is time a got a HP sticker (hang tag) for the car. Usually when I am not feeling well, I just stick close to home and walk the short distances to the grocery store, etc. But DD is sooo looking forward to EPCOT on Friday, I hate to disappoint and say we can't go.

Usually we are at the parks early enough that we park close and don't use the tram. I am just thinking WHAT IF we get there later than intended and parked too far to walk. Will take your advice and try to park near the kennels.

This board rocks!

Kim

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides what Cheshire Figment wrote, there is also a drop off point at the Epcot handicapped parking area toward the front of that lot. There are about 4 spots that are marked "Drop off only", although I have seen people parked in them
Tell each parking lot CMs that you get to that your DH is going to drop you off. He can drop you off and then go to park.

 

[mechurchlady]

Definitely get the hang tag. The disabled plate or tag can be used in any US state and you do not have to use it. I often park at the store in regular parking and at Wal Mart find that there are no disable parking spaces close. It is easier to get one for those tired run down days than waiting until you need one. Good Luck on your trip.

 

[Kcross3625]

Wanted to give ya'll an update on my day at EPCOT yesterday and to thank you for the information.

DH was able to let the parking attendent know that he needed to drop me off and they let him drive up, drop me near where you go thru security and then go back and park. So I did not have to get on the tram. He was able to park fairly close (Journey 7) so when we were leaving, I just walked back to the car, taking two rest breaks along the way. I took awhile, but I was able to make it.

We were pleasantly surprised at how light and maneuverable the wheelchair we rented was. After DH rolled over DD's foot (twice) and rolled me into a pole, he finally got the hang of pushing. I liked that sitting down put me at eye-level with DD and I think we had more conversation that way. It was harder to talk to DH as I had to turn my head and look up. DH is quite tall so I felt I was having to yell up to him. I also found out that DH does not know his way around the parks. He usually just follows me around, so I was having to give him more direction as to where to go next.

Where I went wrong was underestimating the crowds and underestimating the length of the queue in the attractions. THe UG had the crowd level at a 5, but I think it was more like a 7 or an 8, with the F&W and EMH. It made for some pretty tight crowds in the afternoon. A few times the crowd was so thick that we had DD ride on my lap because she kept getting squeezed into the wheels on the chair.

Since I am able to walk short distances, I would leave the chair outside in stroller parking and walk through the queue. Most of the time, this worked out but Soarin' has an extremely long queue area, most of it slanted uphill. I should have taken the chair through the line, then transfered onto the ride. Also Mission Space posted 10 minute wait, which is doable for me, but in actuality it was more like 20 minutes, so again it would have helped if I had taken the chair in.

Overall, we had a great day and I'm glad I didn't postpone it.

Thanks again for all the help.

Kim

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report. We often don't get a report on how things went and always appreciate one.

 

[evenpar4me]

You should consider renting a ecv off site,then you can ride as we did from lot to entrance,ecvs are cheaper offsite,and faster