Scooter and airlines

[Hunbun]

This comes under disabilities and transportation. We are considering purchasing an ECV and taking it with us to Disney. I don't know how this works with the airlines and ME.

I would want to use it to the gate, then check it, and then have it available to me upon unloading at Orlando. Is this possible?

Then I need to know if the scooter fits under the ME bus in the cargo dept so that I can use it after we get dropped off at our resort. Will this need a different luggage tag than my suitcases have so it doesn't get delivered to my room with the luggage?

We don't use an ECV at home (yet) but I have a really tough time navigating the airport. I know I( can have a porter (?) push me in a wheelchair, but that won't help once I get to the resort.

Thanks.

 

[krisnme]

No worries! you can gate check your ECV, and get it back right at the gate. lots of good info on that here, the ECV unless it is an unusually large one will fit on ME. you will get it back as you disembark no luggage tag needed. You need to let them know when booking. My Mom has brought 2 different ECV's on MANY trips and never had a problem. have a great trip!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I almost always check my ECV.

I will gate-check it.

If I have to change flights, I will consider both the airport and the time between flights. It is my choice, when gate-checking it, to have it at the intermediate airport or to have then transfer it directly between flights.

When I arrive at the destination airport they will bring the ECV to me. Usually I will walk up the jetway and sit in the boarding area, letting the person at the gate know about it. The exception is at Santa Ana where there is actually a lift on the outside stairs, so they bring it directly to the aircraft door instead of through an elevator in the terminal.

My ECV has the charging unit in a removable pack on the back of the seat. I will put that in the basket and then put both in a small tote bag (cloth grocery-type bag) and bring it aboard the aircraft.

As far as ME is concerned, I do not use it as I am local at Orlando. However, they do have buses with lifts. You do have to ask for one when you make your ME reservation. If you do not get a bus with a lift, the ECV will fit in the baggage compartments; you might have to lower the tiller. And it does take two people to safely get it in or out of the baggage compartment.

 

[peemagg]

With DME, my scooter just goes below in the luggage hold. They are always very careful about not packing it in with a whole bunch of luggage that might damage it (it is usually only mine and my families luggage in the section with my scooter.). I have done it 3 or 4 times now in the last several years with no problems at all.

 

[Hunbun]

Thanks to the three of you. One less thing to worry about. Now if I could only figure out how to get to the parks without taking the bus, I can really relax.

 

[popgfd]

the PP's are correct but if you need a lift you need to make a reservation as part of the process. Although DW has done so on every reservation (2x's per year) the DME CM's always are unprepared for us. make sure you tell people you need a lift (if you want to do so) when they ask for your hotel info. Almost all of the buses have lifts but finding a trained driver is a trick.

We are DVC and stay frequently at BWV. If you stay at any of the EP hotels you can ride the ECV to EP and DHS plus take the monorail to MK.
So you are left with only AK for the bus.

Enjoy

Pop

 

[Escape2Disney]

One other little tidbit I'd like to add...

If you are traveling on a warm day, be sure to ask them not to leave your scooter on the tarmac when gate checking. They can keep it in a covered spot until it's ready to load onto the plane. I've traveled many times with my own scooter, and the one time I didn't ask, it sat on the tarmac in the sun for too long - melted the battery. Making that one request can save you a couple hundred dollars.

 

[SueM in MN]

the PP's are correct but if you need a lift you need to make a reservation as part of the process. Although DW has done so on every reservation (2x's per year) the DME CM's always are unprepared for us. make sure you tell people you need a lift (if you want to do so) when they ask for your hotel info. Almost all of the buses have lifts but finding a trained driver is a trick.

We are DVC and stay frequently at BWV. If you stay at any of the EP hotels you can ride the ECV to EP and DHS plus take the monorail to MK.
So you are left with only AK for the bus.

Enjoy

Pop

There is more information about DME on the second page of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to get there.
The post about DME includes a picture of the lift in operation and a picture of the stairs to get into the bus.

If you are able to climb the stairs, you don't need a lift and can use any bus. The ECV would be placed into the storage area underneath the bus.

If you need a lift bus, it's not required that you arrange ahead of time, but your wait may be shorter if you do.

I don't know the proportion of buses with lifts compared to buses without lifts, but the majority of DME buses don't have lifts ( the back door on the outside looks different on the lift buses than the others and they have a wheelchair symbol on the outside). If I had to make a guess from seeing DME buses at the airport and resorts, I would guess that less than 30 to 40% of the DME buses have lifts.
So, if you arrive and the lift buses are already out on a run, you will need to wait for a bit.
That isn't much of a problem when you are leaving the airport, but it's very important when returning to the airport. So, it's very important to make the arrangement for a lift bus for your return trip. They will do that at the airport at the airport desk. They won't tell you the pick up time at that point. You will get a letter the day before you leave with the pick up time listed. When you receive the letter, make sure it says something about a lift or accessible bus.
If it doesn't, there is a number you can call to verify.

Another thing some people don't realize - the pick up time you are given is the time the DME bus is scheduled to leave the resort, so you need to be waiting at the pick up point at least 15 minutes ahead of that time.

The Disney resort buses that travel between the resorts and the parks/Downtown Disney are all accessible. The majority have ramps. A few older buses have lifts, but those are being phased out as buses are replaced.

 

[Hunbun]

Thanks to all of you! I am a huge worrier and your replies have really helped.