Stroller as wheelchair but what about when on bus?

[The Real Cinderella]

We have a double stroller for our two girls (one aged 3.5years and the other will be just over 1)

My second daughter is evolving Cerebral Palsy and I'm wanting to get a GAC card so she can be comfortable in her stroller while we are there, so that she doesn't have to be held and lifted in uncomfortable positions etc to get on to rides/see shows etc

Given that we only have the double stroller will this be allowed on the disney buses with my baby girls in it or will they force us to collapse it and hold/carry her?

 

[IrishIz]

You will be forced to fold it up. The only way to avoid folding it is if it's the stroller type that can be hooked in...a normal stroller can't. We have a special needs Maclaren and we have to fold it up.

Not only will you be forced to fold it...we have NEVER been given any consideration for having a handicap child. Once the only seats left were the ones that fold up for wheelchairs and scooters. So we were on the bus, it got to a stop and we were forced to move because somebody with a scooter showed up...so we had to stand because the bus was full. We took these seats because they were the only ones available. It didn't matter that our daughter was disabled...we had to move because the other disabled person took priority. I can't stand when this happens but it does.

We have learned to not expect anything on the bus. I am tempted that if we are told to move in the future to just flat out refuse and tell them we aren't moving our disabled daughter for another disabled person to take priority. We won't have this issue on our next visit because we are staying at Give Kids The World but I know we will be there again and staying on property.

 

[Mary976]

Strollers have to be folded for safety reasons. Even some special needs strollers aren't designed to be used on a bus. My DD uses a manual wheelchair so is allowed to remain in her chair while riding the bus, but even then she could be injured and/or the chair damaged if they tried to tie the chair down in the wrong spot.

As far as seating, if you go to and from the parks during less busy times during the day, you might find that the buses are less crowded. What time of year is your visit? That can influence how crowded the buses are as well.

Mary

 

[SueM in MN]

We have a double stroller for our two girls (one aged 3.5years and the other will be just over 1)

My second daughter is evolving Cerebral Palsy and I'm wanting to get a GAC card so she can be comfortable in her stroller while we are there, so that she doesn't have to be held and lifted in uncomfortable positions etc to get on to rides/see shows etc

Given that we only have the double stroller will this be allowed on the disney buses with my baby girls in it or will they force us to collapse it and hold/carry her?

As was already mentioned, children must be out of strollers and the stroller must be folded on the bus, even if it is being used as a wheelchair. This is for safety because a stroller could be bent or broken and the child injured in an accident or even in a sudden stop.
Some special needs strollers have been designed with what is called a transport option. Those strollers have specially strengthened places on the frame for tie down straps to be attached and the can be tied down. Attaching a special needs stroller with the bus tiedowns if the stroller does not have a tiedown option can cause damage. I know of someone whose special needs stroller had the frame bent just by attaching the tiedown straps.

For shows, you will be able to bring a stroller with a wheelchair tag right into the theater. Because children in strollers sit relatively low to the ground, she probably will not be able to see over the people in front of you if she stays in the stroller. You will probably need to park the stroller next to the seat and hold your daughter on your lap during the show.
As you enter the attraction, CMs will direct you where to go.

For rides, many require a transfer to a ride car. With a stroller as wheelchair, you will be able to bring the stroller to the boarding area and then will need to transfer your daughter out of the stroller and into the ride car. Most parents of 15 months old have their small children sit on their laps.
How close you are able to bring the stroller to the ride car will depend on exactly how big your stroller is.

There are some ride cars that are wheelchair accessible and allow a wheelchair to be loaded onto the ride car. Those ride cars are not designed for/accessible for strollers, so you will need to park the stroller and she will need to sit on your lap.

 

[GrumpyMom25]

Not sure if they are still allowing this or not but a few years ago when our youngest was still in the stroller with his brother with special needs we were allowed to have their double stroller loaded onto the bus with the lift but then had to remove both the boys, fold their stroller and hold them at seats. This did make it a lot easier than having to fold the stroller and carry them both onto the bus. We did have a GAC card with we would show as the bus was pulling up. Of course you have to be prepared for the comments about not being in the right line while you're waiting for the bus.

 

[SueM in MN]

Not sure if they are still allowing this or not but a few years ago when our youngest was still in the stroller with his brother with special needs we were allowed to have their double stroller loaded onto the bus with the lift but then had to remove both the boys, fold their stroller and hold them at seats. This did make it a lot easier than having to fold the stroller and carry them both onto the bus. We did have a GAC card with we would show as the bus was pulling up. Of course you have to be prepared for the comments about not being in the right line while you're waiting for the bus.

They are now using a big bright sticker that indicates a stroller is being used as a wheelchair. Make sure that is visible to the bus driver. Although GACs are only used in the parks, most bus drivers will allow boarding thru the back door of the bus for guests using strollers as wheelchairs if they can see the tag.

You will still need to take the children out of the stroller and fold it, but should be able to use the back door to get on. Bus lifts are only 30 inches wide and 48 inches long, so if your stroller is longer than that, it will not fit on the lift. Those are the older buses; newer buses have ramps or low entry if the driver does not open the ramp for you.