Scooter/wheelchair switch

[toodycat]

We are taking my mobility challenged parents to WDW in less than a month. I have been trying to put together an itinerary for them, noting which attractions might be accessible and which might be challenging. The disabilities sticky states that scooter riders must transfer to a wheelchair. I just called WDW to confirm how that worked and a representative told me that there are NO wheelchairs at the attractions and that my folks would have to get wheelchairs when the park opened, so that they could have their own wheelchairs to transfer to. This seemed strange, so I called back and asked another CM who told me that there will be wheelchairs for them to transfer into at each attraction. Please confirm for me that this is accurate information. Many thanks!

 

[I Love Pluto]

There WILL be wheelchairs to use at each attraction. You drive your ECV up to a certain point, then a CM instructs you where to park your ECV & transfer to a wheelchair. They are VERY helpful.

 

[Talking Hands]

We are taking my mobility challenged parents to WDW in less than a month. I have been trying to put together an itinerary for them, noting which attractions might be accessible and which might be challenging. The disabilities sticky states that scooter riders must transfer to a wheelchair. I just called WDW to confirm how that worked and a representative told me that there are NO wheelchairs at the attractions and that my folks would have to get wheelchairs when the park opened, so that they could have their own wheelchairs to transfer to. This seemed strange, so I called back and asked another CM who told me that there will be wheelchairs for them to transfer into at each attraction. Please confirm for me that this is accurate information. Many thanks!

The only attraction I have had to transfer to a manual wheelchair has been Pirates of the Caribbean. They did have wheelchairs available for transfer. I do not use a scooter but a powered wheelchair so most of the lines I am allowed to remain in my PWC through the ride and then transfer to the ride vehicle if necessary.

 

[toodycat]

Thank you so much! I was totally freaking out picturing a caravan of wheelchairs and scooters that we would be responsible for.

 

[SueM in MN]

We are taking my mobility challenged parents to WDW in less than a month. I have been trying to put together an itinerary for them, noting which attractions might be accessible and which might be challenging. The disabilities sticky states that scooter riders must transfer to a wheelchair. I just called WDW to confirm how that worked and a representative told me that there are NO wheelchairs at the attractions and that my folks would have to get wheelchairs when the park opened, so that they could have their own wheelchairs to transfer to. This seemed strange, so I called back and asked another CM who told me that there will be wheelchairs for them to transfer into at each attraction. Please confirm for me that this is accurate information. Many thanks!

That is the problem with calling WDW.
You are getting a call center, where the CMs are not at WDW and may or may not answer correctly. In addition, the first one may have misinterpreted your question and thought you wanted loaner wheelchairs for the whole day at the park or something.

The information in the Sticky is verified by me, by other posters' experience and by helpful people (like Cheshire Figment, for example), who work at the parks.

Here is how it works.
For those attractions which are not accessible to ECVs, guests are told where to park their ECV. Some people assume that means they will need to walk in line, but those attractions have wheelchairs.
You may have to make it clear to the CM at the entrance that you needs to borrow a wheelchair. Since most guests using rented ECVs can walk for some distance, if you don't say anything, CMs may assume you prefer/plan to walk in line.

Also, even though those attractions have wheelchairs to loan for the attraction, all of their wheelchairs might possibly be in use when you arrive, so there may be a slight wait or one to become available.

 

[toodycat]

SueM---I agree. The info one gets from the WDW call center is weak sometimes. The CM I spoke to the second time said that she had visited WDW with a friend in a wheelchair, so she spoke from experience. The first CM, not so much.

 

[peemagg]

Two other attractions that I can think of where they would have to switch to a wheelchair is Ellen Degenerous ride, and the Winnie the Pooh ride. Other than that most everything else is ECV friendly.

 

[Michigan]

Buzz Lightyear is another one that she will have to transfer for and those transfer chairs are across from the ride.