What's the policy for those with mobility issues?

[mikana876]

My parents weren't sure if they could join us next month, but they just bought their tickets and booked their hotel room, so they WILL be coming! Yay!

My dad is in need of knee replacements and has trouble getting around sometimes. My mom is worried about him getting around the parks. She asked me if I knew anything about getting an ECV at the parks. I don't know anything about having an ECV at the parks! So here are some Q's off the top of my head:

1)The Disneyland website says ECVs are available to rent, but that there are a limited quantity. Is there a trick to making sure my dad gets one? We are rope drop people. How much does it cost?

2)How does it work having an ECV and waiting in line? Can the lines accommodate the size of the ECV? I'm trying to remember... I know I've seen people with ECVs in the walkways, but I can't ever remember seeing one in line. Where do we leave the ECV when he's actually on the ride?

3)What about restaurants?

Sorry, my dad hasn't been with us to Disneyland since our 1993 trip, and his mobility has changed a lot since then.

 

[bumbershoot]

If they will need them the whole trip, call Deckert's mobility (or something like that, you can google the phone info). Offsite, cheaper, and delivered to your hotel.

 

[mikana876]

I will look into that company, thank you!

Have you had any personal experience with an ECV at the parks?

 

[Eeee-va]

My mom has hip problems and other medical conditions, so she uses an ECV to get around the parks. She rents from Deckert's as well (nothing but great experiences with them), so she can take it from the hotel to the parks. (Walking from the hotel to the parks is too much for her--it can be a half-mile walk just to get from some walking-distance hotels to the gates!--and taking the shuttle system, ART, eats up a lot of time.) We always stay within walking distance.

In DCA, I believe one can use the ECV through the lines if they want, no problem. (She did that for Single Rider in Radiator Springs Racers, and good thing since the ride broke down so we waited more than an hour! The other lines were short enough that she just stood in them.)

We didn't use any alternate access at Disneyland (except for Captain EO, which was not exactly high-demand ). She would just park the ECV outside a ride, usually near or in stroller parking sections, do the ride, then come out and get right back on the ECV. It's worked very easily for us. I think she parked it outside of restaurants, too (we mostly do Quick Service though).

Have a great trip!

 

[mikana876]

My mom has hip problems and other medical conditions, so she uses an ECV to get around the parks. She rents from Deckert's as well (nothing but great experiences with them), so she can take it from the hotel to the parks. (Walking from the hotel to the parks is too much for her--it can be a half-mile walk just to get from some walking-distance hotels to the gates!--and taking the shuttle system, ART, eats up a lot of time.) We always stay within walking distance.

In DCA, I believe one can use the ECV through the lines if they want, no problem. (She did that for Single Rider in Radiator Springs Racers, and good thing since the ride broke down so we waited more than an hour! The other lines were short enough that she just stood in them.)

We didn't use any alternate access at Disneyland (except for Captain EO, which was not exactly high-demand ). She would just park the ECV outside a ride, usually near or in stroller parking sections, do the ride, then come out and get right back on the ECV. It's worked very easily for us. I think she parked it outside of restaurants, too (we mostly do Quick Service though).

Have a great trip!

What is alternate access? Sorry if that's a dumb question.. mobility has never really been an issue anyone in my family has had to deal with. We've always been a very active, fast-moving family at the Disney parks. It makes me sad that I even have to ask these kinds of questions. I hate that my parents are getting older

 

[Eeee-va]

By alternate access, I mean like if your father needed to stay in his ECV while waiting in line, at Disneyland he would probably wait at the exit, since the line is probably not wheelchair-accessible. I don't know if Disney has a specific word for that besides alternate access, disabled access, etc.

If you exit Space Mountain and see a lot of people waiting to the left of the exit (as you're coming out), those are the people in the "alternate" queue. Often those alternate lines can be as long as standby lines! The lines of people in wheelchairs/ECVs coming in through the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean is another example.

I forgot that we used the disabled access for Space Mountain once as well, 2 or 3 trips ago. My mom can walk OK, but at Space Mountain there is a steep walk up a few ramps (and you're a bit rushed because people are trying to get up quickly). Then they rush you to climb into your car so the ride doesn't back up and shut down (which is what will happen if the cars get too far backed up). So I think she is better off using the disabled access. Thanks for reminding me to look into it before our trip! Space Mountain and rides with stairs (which she also has trouble with) are the only ones I can think of where she'd need to not go through anything besides the main queue at Disneyland.

(I'm not sure how they handle disabled access at Disneyland with Fastpasses now. I don't THINK your father will need a disabled pass with his ECV but I'm not certain how that all works...again, I'll need to look into it myself, just in case.)

You can still have a great time even if it's at a little different pace! If your parents can get up and moving early and beat the crowds, they should be able to get a lot in early in the morning, with or without mobility concerns. Even if they can't/won't get up early (like my mom), you can all still have fun. (I hit the parks early solo now and do as much as I can/want to and then meet up with my mom and take it leisurely, and that works great for me. Yes, I'd rather she didn't have those health concerns, but I find Disney is one of the most accommodating places for disabilities like hers, and it is super-easy to split up if she needs to go back to the hotel to rest or whatever. That is one of the reasons I love going there with her so much versus other vacation destinations. )

 

[nikkislaght]

Straight from Disney's website : https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/
As for the Disability Access Service Card or DAS. if you are in a wheel chair, or ECV you will not need a card.. if how ever you cant walk for long periods of time,, and ask for a card they will advise you to get a wheel chair.. and most likely not give you the card.. The card is more for people who can walk, but cant do long lines for different reasons or stairs..

Again straight from their website :
The goal of the DAS Card is to accommodate Guests who aren’t able to wait in a conventional queue environment due to a disability. A Guest whose disability is based on the necessity to use a wheelchair or scooter does not need a DAS Card. Depending on the attraction, Guests utilizing a wheelchair or scooter will either wait in the standard queue or receive a return time at the attraction comparable to the current wait time.
If you have additional needs, please discuss them with Guest Relations.

In fantasy land you will use the exits for most of the rides..

In CA, most of the rides are Disability compliant , so even in a wheelchair you will wait in the reg lines , there will be some rides that you will branch off and get on the ride in a side part.. RSR and TSM are a couple that come to mind.. these to also are the rides that if you have the DAS because of no stairs , its important to tell them before you get on the ride, because if you go on the reg line when you get off you will have stair to navigate.. if they send you in via the wheelchair line , they bring you back to the same area and you just walk out that exit..

 

[CassieF]

Of note, you do not need, nor will they give you a DAS card for stairs. You just let the first CM you encounter know this limitation and they will either direct you to an alternate entrance or to tell another CM later in the queue so they can direct you to an alternate boarding area.

For your specific questions, my mom used an ECV last time she went and for disneyland, most rides will not accommodate it so you enter through an alternate entrance (usually the exit) after obtaining a return time. To get this return time you go to the alternate entrance and a CM will scan each ticket and give you a return window where they will again scan your ticket and then send you through to the ride. You may have to switch to a manual WC (they have them there) if he is unable to walk. DCA is more accessible as mentioned above but some rimes will still have you switch to a manual WC

For shows and parades there are designated areas for ECV/WC but not for fireworks

 

[phil1914]

The 5k and a full day at the parks flared up my DD9's foot issues causing her to limp badly so we rented a wheelchair for the day. Many of the rides accommodated the wheelchair throughout the entire line (Ariel's Under Sea, Monsters Inc). Others had you navigate the line but detour at some point for an alternate path to get onto the ride (CA Screamin', Grizzly River). Lastly there are others where you enter thru the exits (SM, BTMRR, Indiana Jones). These scanned your tickets and gave you a time to return like a FP but it was usu only 10-15 mins wait. I also noticed some rides had special cars in rotation for those with mobility issues and you may waiting longer for these to come around before getting on the ride. Not once were we ever asked for a card.

 

[lovebug33]

At Winnie the Pooh, you have to get out of the ECv. They will get you a wheelchair and even help push you though. All the rides at fantasy land we went in through the exit.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Another good place to rent is Scooter World. It's located right next to the Ramada Maingate on Harbor. You can pick up and return the scooter right there. It was very convenient for my dad when we stayed at the Ramada a few years ago. If you need to return the scooter after the store is closed, you can return it to the Ramada lobby before midnight and give the key to the desk attendant. They log in the return time so you don't get charged for another day.

 

[mikana876]

So I looked at Deckerts... But then it occurred to me, how would my parents get the ECV to Disneyland from their hotel room (which is not within walking distance)? I don't think it would fit in their car?

 

[disneychrista]

Of note, you do not need, nor will they give you a DAS card for stairs. You just let the first CM you encounter know this limitation and they will either direct you to an alternate entrance or to tell another CM later in the queue so they can direct you to an alternate boarding area.

Thank you for this information. I have a hip injury that is aggravated by stairs. I used to get a GAC to skip stairs and wasn't sure how they dealt with it now.

 

[Itinkso]

So I looked at Deckerts... But then it occurred to me, how would my parents get the ECV to Disneyland from their hotel room (which is not within walking distance)? I don't think it would fit in their car?

We always rented an ECV from Deckert's for my DD's friend who has ambulatory difficulties. Because we knew we would have an ECV with us, we always stayed on Harbor near the crosswalk to the entrance Plaza.

I believe the ART buses can transport ECV guests. An ECV cannot be lifted to fit into a car.

 

[CassieF]

Yeah, with the new system stairs are accommodated on request (usually, if they try to deny you be firm, but polite, and ask for a lead if necessary) and while there was some misunderstanding when it first switched things have been better since

 

[Eeee-va]

So I looked at Deckerts... But then it occurred to me, how would my parents get the ECV to Disneyland from their hotel room (which is not within walking distance)? I don't think it would fit in their car?

If the hotel is maybe a mile away or less, I imagine your dad would probably be able to drive his ECV to the park even if your mom has to drive/take mass transit. Or it sounds like ART would work.

Otherwise, it sounds like your parents may just have to rent from Disney. If they can get to the park early, and if walking from the parking space to the tram (parking garage) or bus (Toy Story lot), I imagine there shouldn't be a problem with availability, though cost is pretty steep.

 

[mikana876]

We are staying at the BWPPI, I wonder if Deckerts would deliver it to me at the BWPPI and I could drive it there for my dad?

 

[bumbershoot]

We are staying at the BWPPI, I wonder if Deckerts would deliver it to me at the BWPPI and I could drive it there for my dad?

Call them and see. I'm not sure what sort of contract they have, and if they can let someone else drive it.

That way you could take it all the way to where the bus or tram will drop them (depending on where they'll be parking and coming in) so he doesn't have to walk much.

 

[Itinkso]

We are staying at the BWPPI, I wonder if Deckerts would deliver it to me at the BWPPI and I could drive it there for my dad?

Yes. Deckert's will deliver it to wherever you request. The ECV was always delivered to me under my name but Deckert's always had DD's friend's info as the main rental info.

 

[mikana876]

Yes. Deckert's will deliver it to wherever you request. The ECV was always delivered to me under my name but Deckert's always had DD's friend's info as the main rental info.

Oh good! Thank you for the info!

What about returning the ECV?