Wheelchair and busses ?

[mommy2allgirls]

I will be taking my wheelchair to WDW with us in 3 weeks,, and wanted to know if it is ok if I fold it up on the buses instead of sitting in it. I don't want to have to take time on the buses and make others wait and I can sit and do that amount of walking with no problem plus I think it would embarrass/ or upset the people I am with if I had to make them wait, there are 17 of us going and not all are the easiest group to get along with. This is my first time bringing my own wheelchair instead of renting there so I am new to the transportation side of WDW with a wheelchair

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Casey; do not worry about what others think. As one dutch song goes; "even if they haven't got an opinion, they'll give you that as an opinion".

With regards to your group; expect to be split up. You can use the wheelchair line and as such be loaded first and leave last. With this, they set a limit as to how many can accompany the person with a wheelchair/ECV to a max. Don't know the exact number (think it's 5?), but no way 17 people will be allowed to board with you. And for good reason, really. You get boarded first since there is only so much space for these aids and for the loading to be as safe as possible for both you and others. If you board first, maybe a second wheelchairparty or not and then have your party board, the bus is pretty much full with regards to the seat. Not really fair or great for those that've been standing in line, perhaps cranky and tired, seeing you roll up later and the party taking up the whole bus. Has nothing to do with YOU needing the service offered, so don't worry about that.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the other poster and there is a section in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about buses that you should read. There is a link in my signature to the FAQs thread or you will find it toward the top of this board.

You can fold the wheelchair on the bus, but you should still use the back door to enter using the lift or ramp. Even folded, wheelchairs are heavy and bulky so getting in the front and carrying it on would be difficult to do without bumping people. Let the bus driver know that you intend to fold it and you will be shown where to sit and hold it.

Disney considers a maximum of 5 people plus the person with a wheelchair to be a 'wheelchair party'. Even when we have a bigger party, we seldom have more than 2-3 people board with DD in her wheelchair and the rest of us get into the line.

We have traveled with a group as large as 16. My advice would be NOT to try to stay together. We had some activities where we had Fastpasses and were all going on together. Trying to keep that many people going in the same direction at the same speed was like herding cats. Someone was always straying off to look at something we passed for a few seconds, someone needed a drink, use the bathroom, etc and got separated from the 'herd'. If you decide to stay together, I would suggest you have a designated leader of the group who knows where you are going and knows the park well ( or at least has good map reading skills). There also should be a designated last person in the group (also with park knowledge or map reading skills) who can 'round up the strays' and keep everyone following the leader. I was the end person and it was sometimes frantic to keep everyone going in the same direction. It was also helpful to have cell phones. If someone got totally lost (or if the group was not behind the leader, leader was too fast,etc) a phone call took care of that.
Our group decided that it was actually much more fun to split up - we split in different ways on different days. It was fun to meet up with someone unexpectedly and we had a lot more to talk about when we were together later in the day than the days where everyone did the same thing together all day.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Hi there, Casey! Firstly, yes you can choose to fold you're wheelchair instead of sitting in it - I did this for my first few trips on wheels. A few points to consider, though:

Even the lightest of folding chairs still has quite a bit of weight and bulk to it. If you are trying to get on one of the older buses, you will have to carry the chair up three (I think) steep steps, navigate it around a reasonably tight corner, then find somewhere to put it down without crushing anyone's toes. Also, you may have to do this with impatient people pushing from behind (yup, some people are morons )

You will have to be resonsible for holding on to that chair, no matter what happens. If the bus has to stop suddenly, you need to be holding it tightly enough that it doesn't go flying into anyone. Though the brakes may help a little, they won't be enough to stop the chair 'escaping'. On a crowded bus, this task becomes even more 'fun', as you will have people pushing into, leaning on, or occasionally even sitting on, the folded wheelchair. I can't count the number of times I got whacked in the leg with my own chair, trapped a finger in the folding mechanism, or otherwise got injured because somebody shoved roughly into my chair.

You would have to do all of the above, no matter how tired or sore you were. You'd also risk having people banging into you, potentially flaring up any joint problems you may have (not sure of your condition, but I know this was one of the big things that made me change my mind).

And now for the alternative!

If you use the lift / ramp, you will have the space and time you need to get yourself on, with as little pain and energy as possible.

You won't have to carry your chair on, thus avoiding the risk of pulling a muscle, injuring yourself or others, or falling on the stairs.

If you stay in your chair on the bus you will be assured a seat, as you're bringing it yourself, so you can save your strength and keep you pain levels as low as possible.

You won't have to hang onto it, as it will be safely strapped down - no sore arms, shins, wrists or toes, and no risk of it getting away from you and hitting someone in an emegency stop.


I understand you not wanting to draw attention to yourself, or cause anyone any hassle, but it's actually better for everyone if you follow the reccomended Disney procedure. Loading and strapping down a manual chair doesn't take too long, especially if you're good at parking, and know where your safe tie-down points are. Even if you decide not to strap the chair down, please use the lift or ramp, so you don't risk hurting yourself.

As Goofy's Sis said, you may have to split your group up if the buses are busy, but you can arrange to meet in the Main Street bakery (or wherever suits you), and the first ones there can enjoy a piece of cake while they wait!

As for the people in your group being embarressed? I've got a few choice words I could say to that, but I'll keep things clean. As you have your own chair, I'm guessing that you have a long term disability. I'm also guessing that everyone you're travelling with, knows this. Why on Earth should they be embarressed that someone in their party is disabled, and is using the assistance provided by Disney, to make life easier and safer for everyone? Honey, I say you go and enjoy your holiday, using whatever you need to in order to get the most out of it, and never mind anyone who thinks you should limit your fun to save face. You'll probably find that hardly anyone notices you loading anyway - there are so many wheelchair and ECV users at Disney, that everyone will be used to the boarding procedure after the first day!

Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[mommy2allgirls]

Thanks for the advice. I guess it would be best for everyone else on the bus if I tied down, I never thought of the aspect of it possibly hurting others. I plan on us having to get split up we are expecting that and in all honesty I am ok with it. 17 people is a lot and maybe a little time apart is for the best, shhh don't tell them that I said that!

In regards to them and being embarrassed about the chair. They don't really get it. This past summer the first time I had to use my wheelchair when my brother in law saw me he laughed. They don't understand the pain I am in and think I am a wimp for not handling it better. They have always felt this way about me since I was a kid, it is frustrating.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Thanks for the advice. I guess it would be best for everyone else on the bus if I tied down, I never thought of the aspect of it possibly hurting others. I plan on us having to get split up we are expecting that and in all honesty I am ok with it. 17 people is a lot and maybe a little time apart is for the best, shhh don't tell them that I said that!

Don't worry, I won't tell

In regards to them and being embarrassed about the chair. They don't really get it. This past summer the first time I had to use my wheelchair when my brother in law saw me he laughed. They don't understand the pain I am in and think I am a wimp for not handling it better. They have always felt this way about me since I was a kid, it is frustrating.

Oh honey, you really don't have to be dealing with this . I've got Fibromyalgia, so have had far too much of this myself. I'm so sorry you have to get this from your own family. Sometimes I feel like running people over repeatedly in my wheelchair, then telling them that it doesn't really hurt and to stop making such a fuss. Yup, I'm an evil wheelchair user

!

But seriously, if they can't be bothered to even try and understand what you're going through, they don't deserve your time. I say you use your wheelchair on the trip, you smile the whole way round the World (well, how could you not?!), and don't give a flying **** what anyone else thinks!

Oh, and you should decorate up your wheelchair! I always do this for Disney, with beads, ribbons, lights, anything I can wrap around the frame or wheel spokes. Have fun! You never know, maybe it will do your family some good to see you having fun, despite your disability, wheeling around Disney in style.

Huge hugs, and have a wonderful trip!