Traveling with wheelchair - please help!

[Julylady]

We will be spending 10 days at WDW in early April. My Mom has recently purchased a "companion" wheelchair and would like to take it along. She is pretty mobile overall, but cannot walk or stand for more than about 5-7 minutes.
I have some questions!
Flight - What happens to the wheelchair on the flight? We are connecting through Detroit. Do we gate check it like a stroller and do they bring it to the gate when we land? Do we then wait for it at the gate after we land in Orlando?
Magical Express - Will they store the wheelchair under the Magical Express bus?
Disney busses - My Mom does NOT want to be loaded in the bus using the wheelchair line. Can we wiat in the regular line and then collapse the wheelchair as the bus approaches? Can we carry it on using the front door of the bus and then hold it in front of us as we sit (or stand)?

 

[ErinTwinmom]

Flight, you gate check, you will get on first but don't be in to big of a hurry the get off the plane, they will need a min to pull it back up for you. The rest idk, my moms chair doesn't fold.

 

[minnie mum]

You can find some excellent info by looking at some of the recent threads on this forum, but in brief:

- Flight. Call and notify the airline that you are bringing a personal wheelchair. Also let them know whether or not she will need the aisle chair to board or deplane. Arrive early- security may take longer. At the gate, let the gate attendants know that you will be gate checking the chair. The airline may require an attendant (not you) push the chair to the door of the plane.

She will likely board first and deplane last. They will have the chair at the door on arrival, but need a few minutes to retrieve it.

Provided your mother can climb the steps on the ME bus, they will store the chair under the bus.

Policy is for all wheelchair guests to board only through the back door, even if they walk on and sit in a seat with the chair folded and held in front of them ( which is what I do). There are several reasons for this. First, the rear door has much easier access, with a ramp and a wide opening. The front door opening is shallower, requiring a hard left turn that makes manoeuvering even a folded chair difficult. Secondly, wheelchair (and ecv) guests need to be boarded first as a safety measure for all guests, and to ensure that these guests have a seat if they aren't remaining in their device. And thirdly, if your mother can't stand for more than a few minutes, she will need to remain in her chair until the bus arrives. The bus drivers will automatically open the rear door and deploy the ramp when they see a guest in a chair. Arguing with them about using the front door just unnecessarily prolongs the loading process for everyone else who is waiting to board. Hopefully if you explain these things, she will accept the need to use the rear door.

 

[Julylady]

Thank you! I have read several threads regarding wheelchairs. I will chat with my mom regarding boarding the Disney busses. That may be a deal breaker.

 

[disney david]

Thank you! I have read several threads regarding wheelchairs. I will chat with my mom regarding boarding the Disney busses. That may be a deal breaker.

The buses are very easy to use the drivers are very nice and helpfully I hope you all go and have fun. It just safer to go through the back door the drivers are quick so it won't take that long and then you can transfer to a seat and fold it or if she wants she can stay in it and be tied down. She has every right to board and ride the bus safely so she shouldn't worry about it the buses will be such a small part of your vacation it shouldn't ruin it or make it so you don't go.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

most chairs will not fold enough to make the turn as you board in the front. even if she goes though regular line she will not be allowed to board with one of you carrying the chair. plus loading by front door could mean standing for her and no room for her chair. I have to use ECV and will mention if she has that much against buses how she going to handle lines for rides as lines can take awhile to walk with no place to sit and rest. there are rides that even with FP you are going to have to wait because of rules for wheelchairs/ ECVs. if I remember correctly Small World is one because of limited area to store chairs and I can not stand for long enough to make it through the line with parking in stroller area. another thing to talk with her about

 

[Coloradomom]

We have traveled with my transport wheelchair for the last 7 years, about 15 trips. We gate check it like a stroller and Magical Express is very easy, it just goes under the bus. On the Disney buses, we fold it up, wait in the regular line, and carry it on like a stroller. It weighs about 19 lbs and my husband easily carries it on. We have never had a driver ask us to use the lift. Now, you have to decide if you can carry it on the bus or not. If not the lift might work better for you. One more tip- tie something to the handles that makes it stands out as yours. That works well for us so that no one walks off with it. We have never had an issue. Good luck!

 

[disney david]

I answer it technically yes you can fold it and carry it through the front door.

1. The gillig and nova are built to load it through the front door for public transit Disney pays extra to have the ramp at the back door.

2 it is a tight turn that one reason Disney dose not like using the front door.

3. It will be safer for her to board through the back door because she have a ramp and level walk way and you won't have to lift the chair up or down.

4. So yes you technically can board through he front door with it folded but most drivers will insist on suing the back door for safety and if they do you have to.

5. The drivers are very nice and helpful and will do everything hey can to load you safely and quickly. And make sure you have a great experience on the bus.

So please don't worry have fun if heir any other question about the buses please feel free to ask. Again the bus ride will be such a small part of your day it shouldn't ruin your vacation or make it so you don't go.

 

[I Love Pluto]

My daughter took the chair on the ME bus for me. I went up the stairs. Don't worry!!!

 

[Julylady]

Thanks, everybody. I really appreciate the insight! I spoke to her this morning and told her she has to decide whether she wants to 1) bring her own wheelchair, 2) rent a chair from an off site company, or 3) rent a chair from Disney on a day by day basis. Until about a year ago she would rent an ECV from an off site provider. She refused to take it on a bus though. Since we normally stay at an EPCOT resort that wasn't too much of an issue. My Mom has some social anxiety issues and doesn't like being the center of attention. It freaks her out to think about navigating a scooter or wheelchair on to the bus with all the passengers waiting to board watching (and judging) her. She said the last time she tried to board a bus with one she saw stars and thought she was going to pass out. Last trip she rented a wheelchair daily from WDW. We both really liked the wheelchair over the ECV. She could relax and enjoy the trip since I was the one "driving" the chair, not her. And honestly, I didn't mind pushing it at all (she's a lightweight!). The problem was the one you'all mentioned. Sometimes she had to stand at the bus stop either going to or coming from the parks. For the most part, she looks like she needs a seat (elderly and quite frail looking) so someone almost always offers her a seat (which she takes but it embarrases her). She just recently purchased the companion wheelchair from the family of a friend who had passed away. Its much smaller and lighter than traditional wheelchairs, so I am thinking we could give it a try. Last, on this trip we are traveling with another adult who has said she would assist with pushing the chair as well.

 

[disney david]

Thanks, everybody. I really appreciate the insight! I spoke to her this morning and told her she has to decide whether she wants to 1) bring her own wheelchair, 2) rent a chair from an off site company, or 3) rent a chair from Disney on a day by day basis. Until about a year ago she would rent an ECV from an off site provider. She refused to take it on a bus though. Since we normally stay at an EPCOT resort that wasn't too much of an issue. My Mom has some social anxiety issues and doesn't like being the center of attention. It freaks her out to think about navigating a scooter or wheelchair on to the bus with all the passengers waiting to board watching (and judging) her. She said the last time she tried to board a bus with one she saw stars and thought she was going to pass out. Last trip she rented a wheelchair daily from WDW. We both really liked the wheelchair over the ECV. She could relax and enjoy the trip since I was the one "driving" the chair, not her. And honestly, I didn't mind pushing it at all (she's a lightweight!). The problem was the one you'all mentioned. Sometimes she had to stand at the bus stop either going to or coming from the parks. For the most part, she looks like she needs a seat (elderly and quite frail looking) so someone almost always offers her a seat (which she takes but it embarrases her). She just recently purchased the companion wheelchair from the family of a friend who had passed away. Its much smaller and lighter than traditional wheelchairs, so I am thinking we could give it a try. Last, on this trip we are traveling with another adult who has said she would assist with pushing the chair as well.

Not to try an upset her but they have brand new buses with no stairs to board. Could she board through the front door and one of you take the wheelchair or ecv through the back door for her. I understand what she thinking but if she hunks of it as she never see anyone one again so she shouldn't worry what anyone thinks as long as she has a safe way to board and having fun. Well I guess she knows best and maybe she try the bus if needed the drivers are great and will make sure they load her without drawing to much attention.

 

[Bearshouse]

My son who like to know if your mom wants to borrow his cloak of invisibility? (it is what we have always said when we are out with him in his chair. Stand next to the chair noone sees you, move outside its circle and wham people are all smiles but dont see him) In all seriousness though we stopped worrying about what other people think a long time ago. Here's hoping your mom and you have the most amazing trip, Disney is really magical.

 

[Julylady]

Thanks again for all your support. I like the idea of her boarding the bus with my nieces and I take the chair thru the back door!