Toyko Disney with an ECV

[Tigrrtum]

Has anyone gone to Tokyo Disney Resort with an ECV, or have you noticed if the Resort has plenty of ECV friendly features? We would love to go to Tokyo and take our own Scooter if we could. How about Monorail Access, Tokyo Train System etc.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm afraid I've never done Tokyo, but I thought I'd put up a link to their disability pages, just in case you haven't seen them yet:

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/tdr/english/bfree/index.html

Sorry I can't do more, hopefully someone who has been will come along soon to help!

Hope you go for it and have a great time!

 

[Mrsjvb]

Just in case TokyoDisneyDad doesn't see this, I'll see if I can remember my travels to TD way back when in the early 2000's. If you are planning on taking the public Train system, you can run into issues, as there is a gap between the train and the platform, although all the trains and subways are accessible with elevators and whatnot. also, you will be most likely transferring at least once, as the line that services TD is one of the smaller off shoots( but man is the view wonderful as you ride so high in the air! To be honest, in three years of living there,I don't think I saw a single WC or ECV on the subway/train. that doesn't mean there isn't accommodations somewhere to get on the trains without falling into the gap because every single restroom had a wheelchair accessible stall. There ARE plenty of white gloved attendants on the platforms though, so I imagine if something was available, they'd be able to help out. and nearly every one speaks at least some English.

The park itself is no more or less accessible than WDW or DL, so I don't think that will be a huge issue. Now,like I said it has been over five years since I was there, so I don't know if all the lines are accessible and whatnot.

 

[tokyodisneydad]

I'll tell you what I can, but sorry it's not much. As for public transportation systems the train attendants do have ramps to help WCs get on the trains. Most stations have elevators although Japanese people are a little rude in how they use them. What I mean is there are not so many WCs so everyone crams into the elevator. Also some stations don't have elevators. Instead they have these machines that climb stairs. I've never seen them use one with a ECV.
About TDL I'm not sure how accessible the park is as far as attractions. The monorail and Maihama station seem to be WC accessible. Tokyo Disney SEA seems easy to get around by WC or ECV, but again I have no real experience in this area. I am going to Tokyo Disney Resort on Halloween I can try to get more info then.

 

[Tigrrtum]

I am going to Tokyo Disney Resort on Halloween I can try to get more info then.

KEWL!! Thanks! That would be so great if you could keep your antenna up while there and fill us in with any additional insights when you get back. I appreciate everyones input, every little bit helps! I am not surprised by the crowd eitquette in Japan, they have just so many people there. I have a friend who went to Okanowa and He said the trains are so punctual because you only have a VERY short amount of time to board and disembark, that is a bit of concern I have also. We are studying the possibility of staying in a downtown hotel for a while and then a hotel on resort property, so we want to be sure we can get to TD by rail. If the Resort Monorail is like WDW, we are not worried about that line. If anyone has anything else to share, let us know!

 

[Absimilliard]

Yes, it seemed like all the stations were accessible by either elevators, ramps or those stairs machines. As for ECV, I don't think they would fit on the stairs machines.

As for the theme parks, Tokyo Disneyland doesn't look too accessible... There are stairs at a lot of places.

Tokyo Disney Sea is newer and a little better, but there are still stairs for most attractions. Tower of Terror and Raging Spirits are accessible through. Raging Spirits uses a lift to bring you from the exit level down to the loading station.

I stayed at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay and it was awesome. Its either a 3 minutes walk to the monorail station or they have a mini bus to take you there. I'd suggest one of the 6 official resorts or the Disney hotels if you can afford them... they're all very expensive!

 

[Tigrrtum]

Thanks for your input Absimilliard, my wife doesn't do a lot of attractions, but then these are parks we have never been to, so we will have to take that into account. I really appreciate your input RE Sheraton as we have been seriously looking at the Sheraton or Hilton! The exterior of the Sharaton is much more attractive
How did you get from the airport to the sheraton?

 

[Absimilliard]

You use a service called "Limousine Bus" that picks you up from the airport and drop you off at your hotel in the Tokyo area. Its very easy: when you get out of the secure area, you'll see counters and one of them will be for Limousine buses. You tell them you need the Tokyo Disney Resort bus along with your hotel name. They'll sell you the tickets with the hotel name on it (2400 yens one way per person if I remember correctly?) and you head outside to the bus stop when its time for the bus. They'll take your luggages and its a large coach bus. Its around a 45 minutes drive to Tokyo Disney Resort and they drop you off at your hotel directly.

Its very easy!

One word of warning about the Sheraton... all the restaurants are horribly expensive. 25$ for the breakfast buffet, 52$ for the dinner buffet!

 

[Tigrrtum]

Thanks!, Sounds like the food budget will have to be $20 more meal! By the By, TokyoDisneyDad, when my wife saw your post in our thread, she got very excited, she had just finished your trip report and really enjoyed it!

 

[tokyodisneydad]

I hope your wife is reading the second half of my report now--We are on the ship. Food is a bit pricey in the parks but there are ways to get around that. When I go I budget for one nice meal but most of the other meals I spend less than 10$. Just call me--I can be hired for cheap as a tour guide and translator

 

[Tigrrtum]

LOL1 Arigato!!! We will take it into advisement! I have an associate in my office who is part japanese and she told me her sister has gone about four times to Japan and she was the first to encourage us to begin to study the cultural and language issues we may encounter. She also told us about the Deer Park where you can feed the deer by hand. Gotta hit the book store for a Frommers Guide or some such. Any reccomendations in that Dept?? I doubt if we will try very hard to go off resort, but to go so far and not see some other part of the greater Tokyo area would be a big shame. Have fun at the Halloween Party, I hear they really do a great job putting it on!

 

[Mrsjvb]

if you have the opportunity, do so. Ueno Park is a must see.. the Zoo as well as the myriad of Museums( my personal favorite being the Western Art Museum with it's multitude of Rodin Sculptures in the garden, including Gates of Hell but the Cultural museums are amazing, the kimonodisplay alone is worth it.

And of course, the Outer Garden of the palace....

If you wanted to be really adventurous I would suggest Day trips to Kamakura and Nikko.