Where to get strollers, EWC and GAC in the MK?

[annabelle]

We're going with a large group to the MK. One person will need an electric wheel chair, our family will need strollers and some of us will need guest assistance cards.

Anyway, we plan on having tickets in hand before getting there... but after that, where do we go for these other things? Do we need to divide up for everything? Or are they in the same general vicinity? If we all stay together, to accomplish everything, in what order should we do these things to get them done the quickest?

(We only have ONE day at the MK some time is precious!)

Thanks!!

 

[Figment1964]

We're going with a large group to the MK. One person will need an electric wheel chair, our family will need strollers and some of us will need guest assistance cards.

Anyway, we plan on having tickets in hand before getting there... but after that, where do we go for these other things? Do we need to divide up for everything? Or are they in the same general vicinity? If we all stay together, to accomplish everything, in what order should we do these things to get them done the quickest?

(We only have ONE day at the MK some time is precious!)

Thanks!!

I can help with the locations to get strollers and GAC's. I don't know for sure about the wheelchair, I'm thinking I remember it being where you rent the strollers, though. The stroller rental location is just past the gates to get into the park, on the right.

You can request a GAC at Guest Relations which is just to the left side of main street after you've gone under the railroad tracks. Who ever is needing the GAC must be present when it is requested and it typically good for a limited number of guests (usually 5 plus the disabled person).

As far as order, I'd do stroller/wheelchair and then GAC.

 

[McDisney]

First a question for you, are you staying multiple days and plan go to the parks those days? If so I may suggest getting the multiple day stroller rental as it's much quicker in the long run (dunno if they do that with the EWC or not). If my memory is working correctly I think they do the EWC's in the same place as the strollers (right inside the park gates under the train station on the right hand side).
You may try the disABILITIES board for more detailed info.http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=20

Good luck and have a fun trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

Just wanted to clarify, you can't rent electric wheelchairs (those are the power wheelchairs that are steered with a joystick). What you can rent are ECVs (electric convenience vehicles). They drive with a yoke, more like steering a bike. Just wanted to make that distinction because if you ask for an electric wheelchair at the parks, some people have been told they don't rent them and they didn't know to ask for an ecv (also called scooter).

ECVs area available for rent at the same place as strollers are. There are limited numbers of them and no guarantee that one will be available when you arrive. If they don't have one, you would be able to rent a manual (push) wheelchair. There are usually plenty of those. If you want to make sure to get an ECV, the only way is to rent from one of the off-site places. There is a disABILITIES FAQs thread on the disABILITIES Board with information on where to rent.

For GAC (Guest Assistance Card), as was already mentioned, you can inquire about those at Guest Relations/Services in the park. The GAC is issued to the person with a disability, for use on rides/attractions they will be going on. That person must be present to request the GAC and the GAC is limited to 6 (5 plus the person with a disability). People using wheelchairs/ecvs don't need a GAC to use accessible lines; in most cases, the lines are accessible and they will just wait in the regular line. If the regular line or boarding area is not accessible, the CMs can see the wheelchair/ecv and will route the person to the correct place.
The GAC is a tool to give CMs information about accomidations needed by people with invisible disabilities.
If you want to stay together as a group, using Fastpass is your best option because you can all enter the line at once and have a short (10-15 minute) wait. You can send one or 2 members of your party ahead to the the fastpass machine with all the park passes. They can get Fastpasses for everyone in your party and then the whole group would go to the area when it's time to use the fastpasses.