Using Magical Express if Disabled

[seagull1968]

My wife is currently planning a trip for her parents to WDW. They will be staying at Saratoga Springs using our DVD points. My father in law is disabled, and uses either a manual or electric wheelchair to get around. We want the trip and particularly the journeys to and from the airport to be as stress-free as possible. Has anybody who is disabled used Magical Express? Can you give me some feedback on your experience?

I understand that the buses offer disabled access, but can they all accomodate disabled travellers, or are only some of the buses converted for somebody disabled?

What is the process for getting those in wheelchairs onto the buses? Is there some help available to help the disabled and carer with luggage, and getting on the bus? etc

Can electric wheelchairs be accomodated or just manual wheelchairs?

Also does anybody know the other stops for the Saratoga Springs Bus.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Julian

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

Many of the buses have wheelchair lifts. These can handle power chairs and most ECVs as well as manual chairs. It would not hurt to let the ME people know in advance about needing a lift bus. Of course at the ME check-in desk at the airport they also should be notified.

If arrival is before 10:00 pm, as long as the ME luggage tags are on the luggage they do not have to go to baggage claim; the luggage will magically appear in their room.

If using a manual chair the airline will arrange for a person to be able to push the chair all the way from the aircraft through baggage claim (if needed) and all the way to the bus. Tipping for these people is expected.

There is only one stop for the ME bus at SSR. Whether the bus from the airport will make other stops bnefore SSR is a variable depending on such things as the phase of the Moon.

 

[SueM in MN]

Follow the link in my signature to tne disABILITIES FAQs thread and you will find lots to answer your questions ( including pictures).

There us an index in post #1 of that thread that will tell you which post contains the information you are looking for.

Magical Express can accommodate either manual or power wheelchairs. Not all the buses ate equipped with lifts, so it is best toentiom you need one when making your reservation. They will accommodate you of you don't arrange ahead of time, it just may mean an added wait for the bus to arrive. There is a post in the FAQs thread with pictures of the DME bus lift.
The driver will help you to load and does take care of tying down the wheelchair. They will also load your bags.

The buses that go between resorts and parks are all accessible for both power and manual wheelchairs. Again, there us a specific post in the FAQs about buses.

We have been traveling to WDW for more than 20 years with someone in a wheelchair. It is very accessible over all and easy to get around.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I'm happy that the other posters where able to answer your question because we have never had to use a lift on the ME busses before. I just wanted to pipe in and let you know that all of our experiences with the ME have been great. The drivers seemed to be trained very well. Our son uses a stroller for a wheel chair and even though they load the strollers under the bus behind lugage and you get it when they get to it, we told them it was speical needs and they always take it out when they put more lugage in to make sure it is the firs thing that comes out whne we get to our stop. Also our son gets a little motion sick and every time we just let them know and htey give him a seat up front and a bag ( just in case). Anyway, I just wanted to try and reasure you that the drivers will do evything they can to make the trip safe and comfortable for them. They are great.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

I'm sure I have answered you already on another forum so won't repeat that here. Just to say you will have all the help you need with Magical Express, don't worry. Just make sure they know you need an accessible coach when you make the reservation.

 

[Bete]

If you take certain meds you will need to have those items in a carry on; don't have it with the other luggage.

I'm not sure about timeshares or foreign travel, but if you arrange for Magical Express here in the US you should get luggage tags pre-printed that you put on your luggage at home. These special ME luggage tags come from Disney. They explain what Disney hotel they go to, etc. Once you reach Orlando those specially marked tags will help to get your luggage to your room without you lifting a finger. It's the way you should go, if you can. Again, keep your carry on with you at all times whether on the plane or bus.

You do have the option of picking up your luggage at baggage claim, but most will not to do it this way. They let Disney handle it, if possible.

With being disabled you should be able to secure a helper at the Orlando airport if you need to get your luggage. A gratuity/tip would be in order if you go this way.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

I think OP is from the UK so just to note that Disney do not post luggage tags to the UK any more. You can still give them details of your luggage and they will reclaim it for you and deliver to your room or you can reclaim it yourself and take it along on the coach.

 

[clkelley]

Just a note if you do need a wheelchair bus for the ride back to the airport do the following!!

When you make your reservation tell them you need a wheelchair bus. When your DME documents arrive, call the number for DME directly and tell them you need a wheelchair bus.

When you arrive at the DME desk remind them you need a wheelchair bus, also schedule your pickup for 4 hours ahead instead of 3 hours ahead.

When your DME pickup time arrives on your door, call DME again and tell them you need a wheelchair bus and make sure your pickup is 4 hours ahead.

Then when you get to your pickup location on your checkout day and a non-wheelchair bus shows up. (I've seen it happen more than once). Then they have an extra hour to get a wheelchair bus or one of their accessible vans to your location.

This is not critical for the ride to your resort, as many buses are coming to the airport and they can just assign the next wheelchair bus that shows up to your line and if you are a few minutes later getting to your resort, it's not a big deal.

However, for the trip home the buses are all dispatched on a schedule and it may take some time for them to get a wheelchair bus to you, and being late for your flight IS NOT an option.

 

[seagull1968]

Thanks for all of your advice, it has been very helpful.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

Iam not sure if its the Same for the UK as canada but we have to claim our luggage and go through customs with it and take it to ME

 

[clkelley]

Iam not sure if its the Same for the UK as canada but we have to claim our luggage and go through customs with it and take it to ME

Yes, if you are clearing customs in Orlando you do have to claim your luggage at customs, but THEN you have the option of placing your luggage on a conveyer after customs and the airport will transport your luggage to the main terminal. You don't have to lug it yourself. You can go to DME as normal and give them your claim checks and description of your luggage and they will transport it on the DME trucks. Your luggage will still arrive in your room.

 

[WLodgeLizard]

Couple of recommendations on ME

1. You will need to request a bus with a lift. Usually they have told us to wait in a different section (not in the resort line). I would recommend waiting as close to the ME podium as you can. Otherwise, they tend to forget that you are there.

2. Be patient, patient, patient. Many times we have encountered broken lifts and drivers that did not know how to operate the lifts. We were a little nervous about missing our flight back home on our last trip. The first bus that came had a broken lift. They sent a second bus, but to the wrong resort. Our resort was just about to call a cab for us when the ME bus showed up.