Resort recommendations with ECV

[dawnball]

I've posted before about taking my MIL to WDW next January. She's independently mobile (usually with a cane) but will have an offsite ECV.

Normally we stay at Pop Century. I like the resort, the food court takes good care of our dietary needs, and generally, bus transportation is bus transportation. We'll probably do one day at each park, and MIL is likely to join us after rope drop (probably around lunch each day).

How much easier is transportation likely to be from a monorail or Boardwalk area resort? She doesn't normally use an ECV or drive much, so we suspect that driving/backing onto a bus may be difficult for her.

What do people think about other transportation options? Could a taxi load the ECV into the trunk? Would it be reasonably fast to get a taxi?

Other than transportation from the resort to the parks, are there ECV/ mobility impairment specific reasons to prefer one resort over another?

Thanks!

 

[mechurchlady]

Coronado Springs is the only resort I do not recommend to people with special dietary needs. The restaurants are not Disney owned or run.

Sue is busy at work and will be by tonight if she can. She is really good at this type of question.

The best is the Polynesian Resort for ease of getting around and it has a nice bridge from the hotel to the monorail. It is a short walk to the ferry to MK and the TTC. The chefs are really good with special dietary needs.

if you are doing buses then any resort will do of course but the recommendations i hear most are Poly. The others will be by later to chime in and Sue will be by eventually also.

 

[SueM in MN]

The Boardwalk is easy if you are planning to go to the Studio or Epcot. Actually, any of the Epcot area resorts are the same transporation.
There are walking (or ECVing) paths that go between the Epcot area resorts and those 2 parks. There are also boats that go between those 2 parks and the same resorts.
The boats are quite easy to get onto. A CM directs you, but you do have to be able to drive the ECV on.
Getting to MK or AK are more of a challenge, since the resorts in that area share buses. If she is going later in the day, she may not have as much problem with the ECV on the bus as at rope drop.
The Swan and Dolphin are in the Epcot area, but they are not owned or operated by Disney, so you may or may not find the food is a problem.

The monorail resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary) are the easiest access to MK and are pretty easy to Epcot. The monorail is very easy to drive on and off. There is also a walking path from Contemporary to MK that is accessible. (Just follow the monorail path above your head). For AK and the Studio, you will be using buses.

I can't help you with the taxi, but I'm sure someone else will be along who knows that for sure.

 

[cmesq61]

I can't speak to the dietary issues (but if in doubt I always follow SueM's advice on all things disability related).

I use an ECV at WDW and don't think I would stay anywhere not on the monorail, but that's just me and evryone is different.

I think the Poly is ideal for the reasons previously stated. I would, though, recommend you request a room in one of the long houses with the bigger rooms, like Tahiti. You can find out which long houses are older and thus have bigger rooms on the Poly Board. We really enjoyed that due to the slightly larger room size, parking & charging the ECV in the room did not crowd us. Also, the slightly larger bathroom gave me just a bit more maneuvering room on bad days when I needed my cane in the bathroom or assistance from DD or DBF in the bathroom. That being said, we are thinking of trying the Contemporary next trip just due to cost.

As to transportation, monorail super easy to use and CMs very helpful. Boats: The large paddle wheel ferry from the TTC to MK is awesome in an ECV? Other boats also pretty user friendly. The WL boat is a bit tight and I don't personally like where the ECV must park as it is cramped and hot and you can't see the view, but that is because I am afraid to get out and walk with my cane on a moving boat due to balance issues (afraid I'll fall). Busses: I must confess--I have never ridden one in my ECV. I have read horror stories about them and am just chicken, although we think we may give it a try this month--17 days YIPPEE-- to see for ourselves how the busses are.

Do practice on an ECV before you go. Have an awesome trip!!