Walking to the gate

[karynnix]

Does anyone know if it is less walking to park in a handicapped space at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT or to ride the bus? My father and brother will have handicapped parking permits, and we will be staying at POP Century. The last time we went to Magic Kingdom, we took the busses, but it seemed like an extremely long walk to the gate from the bus stop. Would we save some walking if we drove and parked in the handicapped parking?

Thanks!!

 

[LisaBi]

It's quite a walk from handicapped parking. Your shortest walk if you drive your own car is to park in the REGULAR lot - but in a handicapped space in that lot (i.e. at the end of the aisle, right by the tram stop.) I believe the tram drops you pretty close to the gate - but I'm not 100% certain it is any closer than the bus stops.

 

[teacherdan]

Thanks for thinking about me...it's nice to know someone cares.

 

[DisneyRN1]

Hi,
I have Fibromyalgia, so the walk was a big consideration for me. I got a temp. handicap sticker from my dr just for this trip b/c by the time I walked to the gate I would be miserable. We found that b/c EVERYONE has a parking sticked, you really couldn't always park very close. I almost think it is better to park in the main lot and try to talk to the CM and park close to the end where the tram would pick you up. They also have drop-off areas where you could leave the people who need it, and then someone could park the car. Good luck...Vicki

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At Epcot generally HP parking is closer than the bus stops. At DHS the bus stops sort of surround HP parking, so it is basically the same. For MK the bus stops are very close to the actual MK entrance, while it is a fair distance from TTC HP parking to the ferry or monorail. And I know that HP parking at AK is just a little further from the gates than the trams, and I have never seen where bus parking is.

 

[SueM in MN]

And I know that HP parking at AK is just a little further from the gates than the trams, and I have never seen where bus parking is.

The buses at AK are close to the same distance as the handicapped parking. They are just a different direction.

For the OP, the buses let you off at the gate.
If you park, you are not at the gate; you are at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) across the water from the gate.
You have to get from your car to the TTC and take either the monorail or boat to the gate area. The walk to the boat is a little farther, but the walk to the monorail includes walking up a long steep ramp to get to the monorail station, which is on the second floor. Once you get to the park, you have to walk down a similar ramp to get to the gates.

I have to second DisneyRN1; the handicapped parking lots are very large and you may end up parking at the farthest end of the lot. Since there are no trams, you can have a longer walk there than if you park in the regular lot and take the tram. We have also sometimes not been able to get a spot at Epcot and the Studio. Since our DD uses a wheelchair and can't take the tram, DH has to drop us off, park and then when we are finished, we have to wait for him to come pick us up.