Parks: Driving vs. Disney Buses with dd's Anxiety

[staceyhzoo]

We have a few months before we go, but another thread got me thinking.
We recently got dd's handicapped parking permit. We only use it when she is walking or going to therapy. We haven't thought of using it at DW, but last year dd had multiple breakdowns on the buses and when people stare it makes her worse. We would let people go in front of us if it was standing room only since she would just melt and cry her eyes out.
Since we drive anyway, would it be a huge pain to drive. I would attempt MK, but would we have to use trams at the other parks? We drove to one park last yr, but I dont' remember which one. My gma was with us and she uses an ECV (and we used her permit that day) I don't remember it being an issue. I think it may be better for dd esp on the way back to the rooms.
Does this sound like a better plan?
We were saving to stay at a monorail resort next year, but now thay are not running them during EMH, we probably won't
Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

The is no tram service from the handicapped parking lots in any of the parks.
The lot at the Studio is very close to the park entrance, but the ones at the other parks can be quite a walk to the turnstiles, especially if you are at the far end of the lot.

For MK, keep in mind that the parking lot is not at the park, you still will need to walk to the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). From there, you will either take a monorail or boat to get to the actual park entrance. I would suggest the boat for your situation because there are rows of benches in the boat.
The monorail has seats along the edges, but there is space for people to stand in the center and during busy times, that area will be full of people.
I guess the other consideration would be whether your daughter has any anxiety related to either being way up in the air for the monorail or on the water for a boat.

MK's guest drop off is at the TTC, but dropping your daughter and a companion off and then going to park in the regular lot would be another option.

 

[KPeveler]

I too have difficulty with "crowding." I suggest, if walking is not too much of a factor, driving to the parks when possible. Even with the wheelchair ensuring that I have a fair amount of personal space I still had to have my wife stand in front of me to make sure that people do not run into me

with my wheelchair, buses are usually the only option for me, but I very much miss when my parents used to drive me around!

 

[ireland_nicole]

We always always drive- works soooo much better for us. We are rd to lunch people mostly, and find that it's a very short walk to ak, epcot and DHS. For mk you just walk through the tunnel under the road- a little farther but not a problem. It is so freeing to be able to gauge how much time it will take to get to the car when Dd's mood is changing rapidly or she's getting overwhelmed- plus, they're in thei own comfy caresses and we blast the ac to cool them down- plus, we keep all the possible extra changes of clothes, etc in the car so less to carry around the park.

 

[krisnme]

My DS(19) ASD also has issues with crowding and strangers on the WDW transportation. we ALWAYS drive now. HC parking at Epcot (our fav park) is really close to the entrance and allows us to escape quickly if necessary. at park closing, it can take sooo long to get out of the parks without a car and DS just can't handle all the cranky kids and crankier adults packed on the busses and monorail.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

We drove our last trip and loved it. We id do the bus to MK to avoid the TTC, but since for the other parks we got there at RD we got very close parking.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I would suggest not taking the monorail - it's known for its breakdowns and you don't want to be stuck in a stuffy cabin with an anxious DD for 30-45 minutes. That's a recipe for disaster!

 

[GrumpyMom25]

We drove to every park last year except MK. The year before we drove to MK and it was a nightmare getting back to our van in the handicapped parking lot. We even waited a bit after the fireworks to head to the van. The lines to get to the monorail to get to the parking lot was outrageous. Pushing a handicapped stroller through a crowd that big is impossible. When we got up to the monorail they put us in one that was already packed full of people. People were actually leaning on the doors which scares the heck out of me. We did have a few stops along the way. Never again! We drive to AK, EPCOT, HS and take the resort buses to MK.

 

[staceyhzoo]

We drove to every park last year except MK. The year before we drove to MK and it was a nightmare getting back to our van in the handicapped parking lot. We even waited a bit after the fireworks to head to the van. The lines to get to the monorail to get to the parking lot was outrageous. Pushing a handicapped stroller through a crowd that big is impossible. When we got up to the monorail they put us in one that was already packed full of people. People were actually leaning on the doors which scares the heck out of me. We did have a few stops along the way. Never again! We drive to AK, EPCOT, HS and take the resort buses to MK.

I talked to DH and I think this is what we are going to do. I was confused on MK. I always forget about TTC, since we have stayed on site for the last 5 visits.

I can't imagine being on the monorail that crowded. We rode it from the CR last year and it was easy, but there were left over seats too.