value resorts and buses and assistance chairs

[hsmamato2]

I have a question, traveling next year with my Dad, who has knee replacements,and will need at a minimum a wheelchair for getting around, possibly a scooter,which we would rent/have with us to get around the hotel also. I have been thinking about the buses for this setup,and I haven't ever traveled with Dad to consider this. We are planning to stay at All star Movies, would Pop be a better choice, bus wise? It seems that b/c it has it's own bus, getting a wheelchair or scooter on the bus would be simpler at Pop, vs. wondering about already full/inaccessible buses at ASMO.
And if he has the chair only, he could likely fold it,and walk on the bus(he just has no stamina for more than 10 minutes of walking) - if that were the case, would it be a different scenario than waiting for an empty bus/loading an actual scooter? In past experience of watching it seems that scooters get loaded first,and once other people are on, no scooters can go on.
thanks for any tips or advice!

 

[JennyDrake]

I would not change resorts.

What I WOULD do, HANDS DOWN is rent an ECV from an off site vendor (I adore Walker Mobility!) to have it for full time use. I've been 3x as a traveling companion to a senior w/ mobility issues and I've been once in a wc for myself.

Don't fret about the bus stop. All Stars MAY share buses at times, but they also have dedicated buses at others. I stay at the AS at least 2x each year and I find the whole bus sharing thing to be way over ranted.

 

[lizard1]

I would stay where you want to stay.

It is true that once they start loading others, they will usually not load any more wheelchairs or ECVs. The reason is that they need room to postition them and it wouldn't be safe if the bus is too full. Also, there are only 2 or sometimes 3 spots on a bus that a wheelchair or ECV can take so you are limited in that way as well.

However, it isn't as if they are going to let you stay at the bus stop all day if all of the busses that come are either too full or have the WC/ECV spots full. From my experience, if they are unable to take you on a bus, they will call to inform them that they were unable to take you and they will send another bus for you, so you will be guaranteed to get on. Also, like the other poster said, they do not combine the bussing for all of the All Stars all of the time.

 

[disney david]

I have a question, traveling next year with my Dad, who has knee replacements,and will need at a minimum a wheelchair for getting around, possibly a scooter,which we would rent/have with us to get around the hotel also. I have been thinking about the buses for this setup,and I haven't ever traveled with Dad to consider this. We are planning to stay at All star Movies, would Pop be a better choice, bus wise? It seems that b/c it has it's own bus, getting a wheelchair or scooter on the bus would be simpler at Pop, vs. wondering about already full/inaccessible buses at ASMO.
And if he has the chair only, he could likely fold it,and walk on the bus(he just has no stamina for more than 10 minutes of walking) - if that were the case, would it be a different scenario than waiting for an empty bus/loading an actual scooter? In past experience of watching it seems that scooters get loaded first,and once other people are on, no scooters can go on.
thanks for any tips or advice!

Ecv and wheelchairs get loaded first if their at stop first for safety reasons. If you come after loading starts then it be up to the driver if it be safe to load you. They have final say as they have to operate the bus in a safe manor by federal dot laws. if is full their really nothing the driver can do if five guest board and no one else is boarding then they should load you. If they can't load you they will call for another bus so your not waiting as long for the next bus and so your be first for hat bus and if other guest come they have to wait. If you have a wheelchair I go through your options below.

These are your options that will be up to you and how you want to board.

Option 1 using the back door ramp staying on in his wheelchair or ecv

Have him stay in the wheelchair and be tied down and enjoy his safe and fun ride on the bus. If you rent a ecv in is suggested and signs posted and the drivers will ask for him to transfer to a seat for his safety.

Option 2 using back door with wheelchair but transferring to a seat.

He stay in his wheelchair at the stop untill bus gets their use the back door then transfer to a seat then fold the wheelchair and put on front of you.

Option 3 using the front door with folded wheelchair

He stays in untill the bus pulls up then he gets up and you fold it and he walks on to a seat and you carry it on like a stroller through the front door.

All these options depend on open seats if their none and no one offers to give up their seats. The driver will call for another bus so an empty bus comes and then you can choose which option best for you. Using he back will be the best because the wheelchair can be heavy to lift through the front door.

 

[hsmamato2]

Thank You for the helpful advice!!! This helps to ease my mind, as the family really loves the buses(I know,but they do) and we want Grampa to have fun too- I guess I could add that we are going at a less crowded time of year, which might help also- thanks!

 

[disney david]

Thank You for the helpful advice!!! This helps to ease my mind, as the family really loves the buses(I know,but they do) and we want Grampa to have fun too- I guess I could add that we are going at a less crowded time of year, which might help also- thanks!

It okay to love the buses many people do your gramps will have a lot of fun and will love the bus to. Have a great trip hope all goes great and have a blast on the buses.

 

[txnana]

I, too, love the buses. My friend and I both travel with scooters and have stayed at AS Movies and at AOA. There is a place at the bus stop to wait on the mobility scooter, and If a bus arrives that is already loaded it will take those who are in line not on scooters and call for an empty bus for scooter folks and their parties. We never had to wait more than a few minutes for an empty bus to arrive. The scooters have made our trips so enjoyable. I can spend all day with my grandsons at the parks and still have oomph left at the end of the day. That was not true before I discovered renting a scooter!

 

[disney david]

Only difference for pop and soon if not already for aoa for the mk route. Is they using their new work horse articulated bus that can hold double the amount of a regular bus but still only hold two guest in a ecv. Soon they will expand them once they make changes to bus stops at resorts and entrances so it might be awhile. Also their expensive buses so Disney might not want to buy that many right now their rumored to have bought 10-12 but if they can handle double the load it leaves two more empty bus free that Disney can use to back up a route or use on a route do it could mean even quicker service. I know they want to get away from using outside company when very buses due to them using tour bus style buses and not being able to handle ecv. Because then Disney has to send a bus so it defeats the purpose of having them help out.

 

[LisaBi]

I have been staying at All Star movies once or twice a year for over 10 years with DS who uses a wheelchair. Only two times that I can ever remember did we have to wait because the the bus was too full from the other resorts. And unless we are traveling at slower times of day, the All Stars really don't share busses that much.

 

[hsmamato2]

this is all great info-thanks!