Question about wheelchairs on the buses..

[BabyFu18]

This is my first year traveling with my manual wheelchair, my mom suggested that I find out if the wheelchair needs to be folded on the buses. Last time we went my mom had a rollator, some bus drivers asked her to fold it and some did not, so with a wheelchair that is foldable I wasn't sure what they'd want me to do with the chair. Do you stay in the chair or transfer to a seat? Will bus drivers ask us to fold the chair or leave it open? We plan on using the monorail and boats when possible but I know we will need to use the buses on some occasions so I need to be prepared for what to do on the buses.

Thanks guys!

 

[SueM in MN]

You can choose whether or not you want to ride in the wheelchair. You will be loaded thru the back door because that is where the ramp is. Wheelchairs are loaded first, before other guests.

If you ride in it, it will be securely fastened down to the floor of the bus with hooks around a sturdy part of the wheelchair frame. You will wear a seatbelt.

If you choose to not ride in it on the bus, you can still use the back door ramp, then you will take a seat and a member of your party will fold the wheelchair and hold it on the bus.

I'm not sure why some bus drivers asked your mom to fold it and others didn't, but it should have been folded.

 

[SueM in MN]

On the monorail, you can leave it open, lock the brakes so it doesn't roll and sit in it.

You can do the same thing on the bigger boats - like Ferry boats, cruisers and Friendship hosts (at Epcot).

The small boats like this one are not accessible.

They require a big step down, so if you want to ride this type of boat, the wheelchair would need to be folded and you would need to be able to step down into the boat.

 

[BabyFu18]

Thanks for the info! Those smaller boats are they the ones used at the MK area resorts? We are staying at the GF and the only time we might use the boats would be to MK and maybe to the other resorts in the loop.

Like we have reservations one night for dinner at ft.wilderness and I thought we could get there by boat, but possible not if it's by small boat.

As far as why some bus drivers asked for my moms rollator to be folded and some didn't, I really have no idea about that. I think it would be easiest for me to stay in the wheelchair on a bus but if it's necessary I can transfer with help (from those in my party). Transferring to a seat and folding the wheelchair could get pretty old for my family though, that means I have to take my bag off the back, drinks out of the cup holders and my seat cushion out of the chair and hold on to those things along with any other bags we might have, sounds like a hassle! I think staying in the chair and letting the bus driver strap it down sounds like the easiest idea!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the info! Those smaller boats are they the ones used at the MK area resorts? We are staying at the GF and the only time we might use the boats would be to MK and maybe to the other resorts in the loop.

Yes.
Those are the boats that go to and from the MK area resorts. There is a post about boat and monorail transportation in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find it near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

Like we have reservations one night for dinner at ft.wilderness and I thought we could get there by boat, but possible not if it's by small boat.

The bigger cruisers go to Fort Wilderness. They are accessible to wheelchairs and you can roll right on. We've eaten at Fort Wilderness multiple times and taken those larger boats. If there is an issue (like mechanical problem with boat), you can take a bus from the area with Trail's End and Hoop de Doo Review to Wilderness Lodge and then take another bus back to MK and get on monorail to get back to your resort.

As far as why some bus drivers asked for my moms rollator to be folded and some didn't, I really have no idea about that. I think it would be easiest for me to stay in the wheelchair on a bus but if it's necessary I can transfer with help (from those in my party). Transferring to a seat and folding the wheelchair could get pretty old for my family though, that means I have to take my bag off the back, drinks out of the cup holders and my seat cushion out of the chair and hold on to those things along with any other bags we might have, sounds like a hassle! I think staying in the chair and letting the bus driver strap it down sounds like the easiest idea!

Given what you have written, I would suggest just staying in your wheelchair for the trip.

 

[mamabunny]

Like we have reservations one night for dinner at ft.wilderness and I thought we could get there by boat, but possible not if it's by small boat.

You can always hop the Monorail at GF, and then take the boat to FW from the Magic Kingdom docks. They run the bigger boats to FW & WL from there; when we stay at WL, every other boat that arrives at the dock there is accessible, until pretty late in the evening. I've noticed that sometimes after about 8:00 pm, it seems to be all of the smaller boats you have to step down into - but not always! LOL

Anyway, there's still lots of other great boats to ride at WDW that are fully accessible - and it could give you a great theme for the trip: How many different boats did we ride? LOL

Have fun!

 

[BabyFu18]

Thanks guys, lots of useful info! Glad to know some of the boats are accessible and we will be fine working around any that aren't with other types of transportation. Anything that keeps us from having to get out our car will be helpful for us.

Are the boats at Disney Springs accessible? We were thinking of riding them over to POR and OKW one night while at Disney Springs. I love to go to all the different resorts and just look around, take photos, shop, etc.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks guys, lots of useful info! Glad to know some of the boats are accessible and we will be fine working around any that aren't with other types of transportation. Anything that keeps us from having to get out our car will be helpful for us.

Are the boats at Disney Springs accessible? We were thinking of riding them over to POR and OKW one night while at Disney Springs. I love to go to all the different resorts and just look around, take photos, shop, etc.

Yes.

There are pictures of them in a post on page 1 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find it near he top of this board or follow the link in my signature.

 

[BabyFu18]

Okay thanks I will check out that thread!