IIf you go to guest services and explain your needs they give you a GAC (guest assistance pass) based on your needs and a guide re accessibity of rides
As long as mobility and/or stamina are the problem (which it does sound like) a guest at WDW or DL does not need a GAC. A GAC is nothing more than an information sheet to provide CM's working a ride information about nonvisable disabilities. Using a mobility aid is very visable, well at least for the CM's.
Have you had a look over on the DISabilities forum - lots of advice on there.
Agree, best place for info.
You will not need to bring any kind of 'proof'. The main difference between WDW and DLRP is that WDW has to deal with the ADA, thus having them rethink accessibility. DLRP is cr*p on that departmant imho. Segregation still is way too basic practice instead of integration. At WDW integration is rule of thumb. You'll find a list about each accessibility detail of each ride in the stickies on the disABILITIES forum, but you can basically count on at least 95% of the rides and shows to have such an accessibility level, there will be no other treatment or access as you would've gotten walking onto a ride. Most of the rides that will have a stair in them (a few only) will have clear procedures for 'picking you out of line' at that moment and divert your line. You still wait. On some rides you'll have a bit shorter wait, but not many. Other rides will increase your wait time, especially if anybody has to use an accessible ride vehicle. Rides very known for this are Kilamanjaro Safari's at AK, Jungle Cruise at MK, Toy Story Mania at DHS etc.
If they can transfer, it does give them more room to work with at certain rides (not needing to wait for accessible vehicle) and shows. There are only so many wheelchairspots in each theater. If it's full, you'll need to wait for the next show if you want/need to use them. However if you can transfer, you're more than welcome to use a regular seat and have a family member or CM move the
ECV/wheelchair out of the way for during the show. ECV/wheelchair will be brought back again afterwards.
Have you considered which form of transportation you'll want to use? Using 2 mobility aids can be a bit of a pain sometimes when using disney transportation. Most busses only have 2 tie down places, so if anybody is at a busstop before you with an ECV or wheelchair or already on the bus, you'll need to split up. If you're prepared for it, it's not bad IMHO, but folks that aren't prepared tend to be in for a surprise. ALWAYS have them transfer out of the ECV when using a bus!! They are NOT designed to be used during transport, can easily tip over, even if a turn is taken a certain way and can result in them being injured. Don't have them worry about "taking up another spot", just transfer onto one of the available seat. Officially it's even WDW policy (for obvious reasons!), but not all busdrivers enforce it or seem to be aware of the risks.
Rental of ECV is somewhere about $50,- a day when using disney rental. Plus; no taking it along on transportation. Cons; expensive, they can run out, no taking it along on transportation, they are not the easiest to drive ECV's out there etc. There also are many companies offsite that rent ECV's, all kinds of types and shapes, which will be delivered to your resort. Prices are cheaper than WDW, check out the disABILITIE board for prices and info on reliable companies.
And PLEASE! Have them try out one at home or at a very quite place at WDW for having them go into the parks with them. They take about a couple of minutes to get the hang off, assuming they'll be savvy enough to operate a powerdriven vehicle in a crowd. In a park crowd, it is draining on energy to be on a constant look out for folks that stop walking all of a sudden (disney awe), dash right in front of the ECV, young kids that are not aware of the risks yet running around etc. It still is for many that use a mobility aid 24/7, so you can certainly expect your parents to experience it taking up some energy. Most important thing to be aware of is that an ECV does NOT stop on the dime. You let go of the control, but the ECV will still roll along for a short distance. If you're not aware of it and thus keeping a safe distance, it's going to be a rotten experience soon enough.
So basically as a daugther, you'll want to make them aware of those things and be on the look out yourself if they're able to navigate an ECV through the parks safely or not. Most folks are, but some elderly simply can not get comfortable with the combination of not stopping on a dime and the crowds.
With regards to taking it on transportation; monorail is driving up straight ahead and off backwards. Boats; same drill basically. Busses will mean having to parrallel park the ECV to the left (or if you get one of the very few busses with 3 spots, one of them is to the right). Easiest spot is the one on the "back" of the 2 spots, which thus gets used first if there is only 1 mobility aid at that busstop. It's basically right across from the ramp of the newer busses (most by now), so straight on, turn right and if you're in control of the ECV enough; you're in your spot. If not, it can be quite an enjoyable dance to front and back before somebody is in place. Space in front of that is a 100% parrallel park. Busses that still use lifts are a bit more challenging as they'll sometimes require getting on the lift backwards (depening on lift and specific mobility aid). That now leaves them with a backwards ECV needing to be parrallel parked. If they find it difficult; they can get off, walk onto the bus and have you park them. Sometimes a busdriver will help out (a bit of kindness mixed with too much experience of "this will most likely prevent my bus from getting wrecked"
) but it definately is not something you should or could depend on.
It might sound a bit negative; it isn't. WDW is great when it comes to having a disability, including a mobility one. It's one of the biggest reason I keep going back. I use a powerchair when out and about at WDW and a manual chair around the room/home. Am a 24/7 mobility aid user. I'm just zooming in a bit on the possible pitfalls and things folks do not always know, to have you be on the look out for them. Preparing is about 90% of the recepy for succes and fun on a trip. If you know what to expect, you'll easier tackle those little tresholds and be on your merry way enjoying WDW. One way or another, your parents are going to need a mobility aid to get around, so definately get them one! It'll make or break the trip for all of you. Only your family will know which ones will work best for your parents. If you do find yourself in a situation of one of them being better of with a wheelchair instead of ECV; be aware of not being allowed to have a child on the lap of the ECV user. It is not safe either, so not something you'll want to do. No prob. to do so in a wheelchair, but might not always be as comfy for both. In such a case you'll want to think about how to deal with that combo before going.
Have you considered how to do the airport? Can your parents navigate the amount of distance covered at the home airport? Can they navigate the distance covered at MCO? If you are using DME for transportation; can parents climb up into a coach style bus? Those are the types of bus used by DME. Those using a wheelchair or ECV while using DME can use a lift (which needs to be asked for prior to flying out). This lift however can not be used for guests standing on them. In the case of not having a mobility aid of their own/rented in the UK with them, you'ld need to use an airport wheelchair for boarding using the lift if they can not deal with the stairs. Both the EU and USA have good legislation when it comes to flying with a mobility disability, so if need be you can get things put in order. While the UK officially isn't a 100% EU member, as far as I know they do follow with those EU legislation regarding flying with a mobility disability. In the case one of them or both need a mobility aid basically as soon as you're out the door, it could be worth looking into rental at the UK. They can take the aids along on the flight free of charge. Does need to be talked over with the airline in advance, it does take some extra arranging, but it is free and pretty straigth forward and easy for a very basic not custom fit aid, IMHO. Benefit; own aid for where ever they are. Be aware that some airports in Europe will want them to check in an ECV at check in and use a manual wheelchair to the gate. You can use airport chairs for that, but is something you'll want to know in case of 2 wheelchairs needed and young child. In which case you'ld probably want to ask for airport assistance, who will be available to push a wheelchair if there are more in one travelparty than those capable of pushing etc. No such thing needed in the US; can drive an ECV right upto the gate. Assistance is also offered in the US, but be aware that tipping for that is pretty basic in the US (though a heated debate). If you fly in on a connecting flight; powerdriven aids might not always be able to be brought up to you for the transfer. It's easier to use airport wheelchairs (or own/rental manual wheelchair) for that, as it allows the folks down on the tarmac with the time needed to get the aid from one flight onto the next.
If you do bring any own or rental aids on the flight; look into insurance! If the airline goes "oops" and totals an aid, it can become nasty. Airlines only have to cover an x-amount of money per kilo/pound of baggage. That amount in NO way will a proper mobility aid. Rollator; maybe, beyond that; forget it. Travel insurances tend to exclude powerdriven anythings (includes ECV's) and have the tendency to only cover the value of the aid at said moment. Sounds nice and all, but not enough if the rental company sticks you with the bill for a new chair/ECV (which is after all what they'll need to buy if one gets totalled). Depending on type of chair and ECV that amount can be steep. There are ECV's for as little as a couple of hundred euros (not from the UK, so not totally into the UK prices, just euro, sorry), but there also are those well over a 1.000,-. You'll want to discuss this subject with the rental company and insurance company if you do go down the road of renting at home and bringing it along. (by the way this also applies to all of those bringing along their own aids on a flight!)
Hmm, think I need to start shutting up before making your head spin so hard you're starting to think "what did I get myself into!?". Really is no biggie, it's just a lot of new info if you've never done it before. To give you something to compare; I fly solo regularly with 2 wheelchairs (manual and powerchair) with no ability to walk, very specific adjustments on chairs, very specific needs when it comes to flying, how assistance is provided etc and still go on my merry way as always. Aint half that bad.
with one pair of hands lol.
