Wheelchairs to/in MK questions

[2vets]

Hi, all -

DH and I are headed down to WDW this weekend, and it looks like my parents and a close friend of theirs are going to meet us for a few hours Saturday morning, as they will be in Orlando for an event that evening. Their friend is in a wheelchair (she has Lou Gehrig's disease and can not transfer out of her chair).

We were most interested in having them meet us in the MK at opening for 3 or so hours, as that fits best with everyone's plans, but I am a little concerned about parking and transfers for her - allears.net doesn't give specifics, but how difficult will the transport from the TTC to MK be without the ability to transfer in/out of a chair?

Is the MK too much of a nightmare on a Saturday? Would it be better to have them meet us at Epcot from a transportation and traffic standpoint? AK seems a bit hilly/rocky, and MGM is a no-go, as it is the EMH park (plus it's ESPN weekend).

Since we leave Friday morning, it might be difficult for us to get ahold of the Passporter for guests with disabilities before we go (we'll look in a local bookstore, but they may not carry ir, and it is too late to order one) - is there anywhere else that I can get some info before we leave?

Thanks so much - this woman is like my second mom, and it is very important to me to ensure that she is comfortable and has a great few hours!!

 

[Chuck S]

Both monorails and boats between the MK and TTC are wheelchair accessible. Personally, I'd recommend the boats, as the monorail ramps are pretty steep.

Also, unless it is a power chair, she may need your folks to help her with the chair from the handicap parking area to the TTC. There is a fairly steep walkway under a roadway between the TTC and the parking lot.

There is also a lot of info at the Disney website for Guests with Disabilities

 

[SusanWasHere]

getting to MK from TTC is very easy in a wheelchair. you can either roll right on and off of the ferry, or go to the monorail. they have a section you go into. the CM puts the ramp out and you wheel in. they call on their walkie-talkie to the other side and tell them there is a wheelchair coming. so when you arrive, the other CM knows to get the ramp. we were there over the xmas holiday with mom, it was very smooth transfers. some rides (if this is an interest of hers) do let you wheel right on. others, you would have to transfer out of the chair right into the ride car. def do not do AK. i called ahead to my dad and told him not to bring my mom as i had gone earlier to scope it out. way too hilly, bumpy terrain. my mom loved MK and epcot, but MGM was her fave. very flat riding. good luck, i'm sure you will have a great time. the CM were always very accomodating with my mom.

 

[grimley1968]

Indeed, the ferry boats and the direct monorail are both fine for wheelchairs.

If you wish to ride the monorail, I could be wrong, but I believe there are elevators for handicapped people at each station. So you should be able to avoid the ramp that way. I agree, though, that ramp IS steep, even for when I'm pushing my 30 pound kids in strollers.

For either mode of transportation on a Saturday, it may be best to let one or two boats/trains go by before you board, just so you can get in the front of the line and get decent seating for all of your party, with room to squeeze the wheelchair in comfortably.

 

[SusanWasHere]

oh yes, i forgot about the elevators. there are some leading up to the monorail loading deck. also, the handicapped parking is always right nearby, though on some crowded days we did have trouble finding spots. on one exceptionally packed day at epcot many people with the blue tags parked on the grass right by the entrance. no towing or tickets... but my dad was nervous all day, lol! i said "do you really think disney is going to tow 20 cars with handicapped tickets the week of christmas??????"

 

[Chuck S]

Unless they've been added recently there are no elevators for the monorails at TTC or MK, only at EPCOT. The area was going through a rehab when we were there in December, so they may have been added.

 

[grimley1968]

Unless they've been added recently there are no elevators for the monorails at TTC or MK, only at EPCOT. The area was going through a rehab when we were there in December, so they may have been added.

If they still do not have elevators at the TTC or MK, I would definitely opt for the ferry boat then. No steep ramps or anything like that for the ferry.

 

[2vets]

Thanks so much!! I realized this was perhaps better suited to the disABILITIES board and posted it there, also - we've already gotten some helpful info.

Sounds like the ferries to MK are the way to go, and I will also discuss the idea of Epcot with my mom...she seemed insistent that we not change our plans, though the truth is that we don't care where we go.

Thanks again!

 

[SueM in MN]

Unless they've been added recently there are no elevators for the monorails at TTC or MK, only at EPCOT. The area was going through a rehab when we were there in December, so they may have been added.

unless they added them recently, the only elevators are at Epcot.
The ones at Epcot are not necessarily easy to find, even if you are looking for them. It's best to ask a CM.

I posted a long response to the disABILITIES Board thread.

 

[Karnak]

If it's going to be crowded that day at the Magic Kingdom I would advise you to switch to Epcot.

Epcot is much more wheelchair and ECV friendly, while the Magic Kingdom is very tight and crowded in many places in the park.

Enjoy.

 

[grimley1968]

I'll add that I think EPCOT would actually be easier to get around on a Saturday than MK. For one, EPCOT has wider pedestrian areas, two: Saturday is MK's most crowded day, I would imagine and three: it sounds like you will be a group of adults, and EPCOT is definitely more of a park that appeals to all-adult groups than MK would be. If nothing else, you could start out your day at MK, do what you want there, then take the ferry to the TTC, then monorail over to EPCOT to finish the day (I'm assuming you wish to avoid buses this day).

I'm not in the least bit impaired from walking, so forgive my presumptuousness in this regard. But it's just always been my impression that EPCOT would be far easier to get around in any kind of wheeled vehicle than MK, even though it is a larger park than MK. My impression is based on pushing my DD's strollers around, so take it with a large grain of salt. It's the frustrated engineer in me that obsesses about this stuff. Of course, I find it ridiculous that the TTC and MK don't have elevators for their monorail platforms, how many years after ADA now? It's a real stretch to say those ramps are truly handicapped-accessible. I wouldn't attempt to wheel myself up one of those ramps, unless I had a powered type of wheelchair or ECV. You'd need Lou Ferrigno arms to haul yourself up those ramps, and you'd need an ABS braking system on the way down the ramps. If I offended anyone, I'm sorry. That was not my intent.

 

[grimley1968]

If it's going to be crowded that day at the Magic Kingdom I would advise you to switch to Epcot.

Epcot is much more wheelchair and ECV friendly, while the Magic Kingdom is very tight and crowded in many places in the park.

Enjoy.

WOW! Karnak divined my post and made it before I could type it, and in much more succinct fashion. Now that is magnificent!

 

[minnie61650]

..............).

Of course, I find it ridiculous that the TTC and MK don't have elevators for their monorail platforms, how many years after ADA now? It's a real stretch to say those ramps are truly handicapped-accessible. I wouldn't attempt to wheel myself up one of those ramps, unless I had a powered type of wheelchair or ECV. You'd need Lou Ferrigno arms to haul yourself up those ramps, and you'd need an ABS braking system on the way down the ramps. If I offended anyone, I'm sorry. That was not my intent.

I could not agree more.Since there is no elevator for
the MK monorail at the TTC I tried to drive my ECV up that steep ramp once. I made it but it was very scary as when the crowd stoped and I stopped my EVC my it (myEVC) wanted to slide back down. My DH had to stand behind and keep my EVC from crashing into others. I will never take my EVC on that ramp again!