Special Needs Stroller and Buses?

[kknpj]

We will be going to Disney in June - and we are super excited! We have been there many times, but this is the first time we have been since our daughter was born. She is 10 years old and has a genetic disorder that has caused her severe delays, seizures, etc. She cannot walk and we will be using her Liberty Special Needs Stroller. We are driving and will have a car. The other members in our group will be using the buses.

My question is, if we wanted to use the bus instead of driving for a day or two, how difficult is it? Would she have to use the lift to get on the bus? Or would we have to remove her from the stroller? It is a larger stroller, and does not fold up easily. I hate the thought of depending on the bus and having it be full, or everyone staring while she is loaded. Can anyone share their experiences?

In the past we have stayed at a monorail resort. This time we are staying at CSR. Thanks for your help!!!!

 

[peemagg]

You would leave her in the stroller and use the ramp. Line up where the others with wheelchairs and scooters line up. Once on the bus, you would need to move her to a seat and then fold up the stroller. Unless the stroller has special tie down spots on it, it can be damaged by the tie downs on the bus.

You might want to look at the FAQ's section at the start of this forum. There is a lot of info in there that you might find interesting.

 

[mumto2]

Our DD has a Maclaren special needs stroller. I have used the busses a few times without a problem. Once we let her stay in it and they tied it down. It was fine, but she felt more comfortable sitting down in the regular bus seat. We kept the stroller with us, not exactly folded, but not fully open either. We used the lift.

Have a great trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

The bus drivers will generally take your word on whether or not your special needs stroller can be tied down with the wheelchair tie down straps or not.
But, if it was not designed to be tied down for transport, it is not safe and it should be folded while on the bus.
I do know of one person whose special needs stroller got the frame bent from using the tie down straps. Wheelchairs and ECVs have stronger frames and can be tied down without damage.
Some special needs strollers are designed for transport with strengthened frames and a place to hook the tiedown straps. Those are OK for tiedown and are safe for the child to stay in during the bus ride.

For other special needs strollers, you can choose to have the child ride in it to get onto the bus, then transfer to a bus seat, fold the stroller and hold it.

You can get a sticker from Guest Services at the parks for the stroller that identifies it as a stroller being used as a wheelchair (there is more information about this in the disABILITIES FAQs thread in post #6 - you can find the thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature).
The sticker makes it easier for the bus driver and other CMs to see that the stroller is being used as a wheelchair.

 

[kknpj]

I don't think our Liberty stroller has tie-downs. I will have to check. Our daughter could sit on my lap on the bus ride - but not too well in a seat on her own. We'll probably drive most of the time, but am glad to know the info regarding the buses if we decide to use them.

Thanks so much to everyone!

 

[Bete]

but if there is a wheelchair that would work for her, I think that's the way I would go for the trip. You can rent them there. It would make it better for all on the Disney buses and the rides. I want to key into the rides factor; because, the wheelchair can be tied down on a lot rides. She could stay in the wheelchair and access a lot of rides that way. It would afford your daughter a greater experience at Disney in my opinion.

 

[christymarie]

Just a note that the Maclaren Major is not transport capable. It does fold really flat and really easy so it's not a big deal to take it down.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I also have the liberty and just returned from WDW for 10 days. I had DH with us and had to be the "man" by folding it up and carrying it up the steps and lugging down the center.

He learned that on single door busses they had to open the back door and he would then carry through the back door.

If I had been by myself I would have had them lift the stroller from the back and then have said child sit in the seat. I would have folded the stroller just to make room for others.

The liberty is not rated to be tied down. At the cost of the stroller I would hate to have it tied down and get ruined.

One other thing is that the bus drivers told us they didn't notice that the liberty was a SN stroller. I would definitely make eye contact and hold up the stroller as wheel chair tag so they will see you when they pull in.

Have a magical trip and good luck. We love our liberty and many folks remarks that it was a stroller on steroids.

 

[kknpj]

We love our Liberty stroller also! Our daughter cannot sit for long periods of time in her regular wheelchair comfortably (which does have tie-downs), so that is why we got it. My husband will be with us to fold it down if we need to while I hold her on my lap. But most likely we'll drive instead of using the buses. Just sounds easier! I'll be sure to get the wheel chair tag, just in case.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

but if there is a wheelchair that would work for her, I think that's the way I would go for the trip. You can rent them there. It would make it better for all on the Disney buses and the rides. I want to key into the rides factor; because, the wheelchair can be tied down on a lot rides. She could stay in the wheelchair and access a lot of rides that way. It would afford your daughter a greater experience at Disney in my opinion.

Disney rents adult size chairs, they would be uncomfortable for a child. The rides that do have a "car' that wheelchairs can be put on usually only have one or two of those special cars, so your wait may be longer if the special car just went through before you get to the load area.

 

[Bete]

Disney rents adult size chairs, they would be uncomfortable for a child. The rides that do have a "car' that wheelchairs can be put on usually only have one or two of those special cars, so your wait may be longer if the special car just went through before you get to the load area.

an outside rental, not Disney to get a wheelchair that is appropiate. As far as the special wheelchair cars, you do gain time because you usually go to a special line where these cars are available which is shorter; so, the wait is not bad for a special car. We do it this way all the time and I find it a lot better for all.

I still think it would just be better to go by car if you want to stick with the special stroller. It's just that it won't give you access to the rides like a regular wheeelchair will do. I'm trying to make the experience better for the child by being able to enjoy more rides.

 

[kknpj]

I totally understand wanting to get your child on as many rides as possible - especially if that is important to her! But I think for my daughter, she would be happier being comfortable all day and going on fewer rides..... I really appreciate everyone's input. All of the different points of view really do help my planning! This group is great!

 

[GrumpyMom25]

Our 10 year old son uses a special needs chair that is bus transportable so we do use the wheelchair lift and his stroller is tied down. We'll be taking our 3rd trip in 3 years the end of next month. On our trip last year we planned late and decided on a hotel just off property. It was our first time driving to the parks with him. That being said ... we found it very easy to drive to HS, EPCOT and AK ... driving to MK was a nightmare. If you can take the bus to MK I would strongly recommend it. Getting into the park from the parking lot involves taking the monorail or boat across and the lines coming out at night were unbelievable. Trying to get through the crowds with a wheelchair was not enjoyable at all. We were also packed into the monorail car shoulder to shoulder. Not something I ever want to experience again. If you take the buses you will be left off right by the entrance to the park.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the advice to use the buses if you are staying on site and going to MK. That is the easiest way to do it, even if you plan to drive to all the other parks.

I would not count on a shorter wait for a wheelchair accessible car.
In our experience, many of the wheelchair pull off lines are at the point where the regular line is almost reaching the boarding area, so at those attractions, the wait will be longer when waiting for a wheelchair accessible car.
This is certainly the case at Imagination at Epcot and at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at MK.
At Imagination, the wheelchair pull off goes to a further down area of the same boarding area. We waited there earlier this week while about 4 minutes worth of people went by us and got on right away while we waited for the wheelchair car.
At Buzz Lightyear, the pull off point is about 4 feet from the regular boarding area and guests with wheelchairs follow a path that leads to the exit. If the wheelchair car has just left, we will see the people who were right ahead of us in line as they are getting off (they would have gotten on while we were walking thru the hallway to the boarding area).
At the Nemo ride in The Seas, the pull off point is right before the moving walkway for boarding begins and guests waiting for the wheelchair accessible car wait just behind the moving walkway. I once counted 125 guests who passed us to get on while we were waiting for the wheelchair car to come along.
The ride in Mexico has a different path from the ride entrance, but that ride is not usually busy and although we will reach the boarding area before most guests who are walking thru the regular line, they do end up boarding before us.