Question about monorail

[deany]

We have never used the monorail during our other 3 trips to WDW but now that we have the dining plan we were wondering how far it is to walk from MK to the monorail station. And what about going from MK to Epcot? Would it be faster to just bus it? Unfortunately, I have a bad type of arthritis and cannot walk too far. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will probably need a wheelchair most days . I can still get up and walk (usually with a limp). I know that some people assume that when someone gets up and walks from the wheelchair that they don't really need one and was wondering if anyone has encountered this? I almost don't want to go to WDW because of this - I have been so active in the past - but my daughter really wants to go one last time with me. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[maelstrom]

The MK monorail station is right outside the gate, to the right. It's a small ramp up to the platform, and then you wheel yourself right into the monorail (they put down a ramp for you). You cannot bus from the MK to Epcot. You can take the monorail or ferry to the TTC and then switch to the Epcot monorail. It's a short distance from the MK to the monorail station, and then at the TTC it is a short distance from the MK monorail to the Epcot monorail. You would probably have no problem walking it. The killer is coming down from the Epcot monorail platform; you may want your chair then.

 

[denecarter]

maelstrom is correct. In fact, the Monorail station is closer than the bus stops.

 

[MareSINY]

If your plan was to rent a chair in the parks keep in mind that the ramp to the MK monorail as well as the ramp from the MK monorail to the Epcot monorail is steep and can be difficult for you.

 

[SueM in MN]

The ramps at MK and at TTC are very steep; they go straight up from ground level to the second floor level where the station is. There are no elevators at either station.
The ramp at Epcot is longer, but not as steep. There is also an elevator at Epcot (ask the CM).

Rather than a wheelchair, you may want to look into an ECV (motorized mobility scooter). They are more expensive to rent, but you have a lot more independence (plus no one has to push you).
The park rental wheelchairs and ECVs can't be removed from the park you initially rented it from. Also, wheelchairs are pretty plentiful, but ECVs are not always available.
For those reasons, a lot of people choose to rent from one of the off-site rental companies. If you follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES Baord and then check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board, you will find a lot of information, including links to places to rent wheelchairs/ECVs.

For the question of "do people judge you?"
The answer is some do. But, you are the only person whose judgment matters. You know that you would not be able to go on the trip without it. You will also find out that having a wheelchair or ECV is not really an "advantage" (although many of the people who assume someone "doesn't need one" because they see someone walking think it does). Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible, so you will usually be waiting in the same lines with everyone else.
We have heard people comment that our DD doesn't need a wheelchair when they see her sitting on a bench next to her wheelchair. That is their assumption and some have commented where we could hear. What they couldn't see is that my DD can't walk by herself, she can't even stand up by herself or even get out of her wheelchair and sit on the bench by herself. So, there are people who will judge, but most don't and I figure it's their problem, not ours.

 

[deany]

Thanks so much for the info. Hopefully, I will be able to walk from the entry way of MK to the monorail and then rent another wheel chair in Epcot. I am able to walk, just not for too far without causing myself lots of pain and damage to the joints. Denecarter, this will be my daughter's graduation trip also but we are waiting to go until the end of Sept-Oct as we are hoping the weather will be a bit cooler.