I am visiting WDW in December and my mother has slight mobility issues. We are considering renting a wheelchair for her while there to help preserve some of her energy so she can enjoy herself.
Has anyone navigated WDW with a wheelchair? Any tips?
She will not have to be in it all the time, she can walk with a cane, she will be able to stand in line or shop without it, but for long term moving around the park it will help.
Any experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated.
2007-10-16 06:38:26 · 14 answers · asked by Monkey Queen 4 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Orlando
actually, being in a wheelchair no longer nets you front of the line privileges, nor do you get a separate entrance in many cases. the lines are mostly all accessible now and you go through it with every body else until the very end, where you may be directed to a different line or entrance.
wheelchairs are first come first served in the parks at ten dollars a day, or you can buy a multi day pass for $8/day. you CANNOT get an ECV on this multi day pass.
With the exception of EPCOT, the wheelchairs are past the main gates in Guest relations and that can be a hassle to get to. You do have the option of renting wheelchairs from off site locations at comparable pricing and they will deliver the WC directly to your hotel..on or off resort property.
Best decision we made last month was to get a WC for me. saved both of our sanities and made the parks much more enjoyable.
2007-10-16 12:53:41 · answer #1 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I visited with a scooter user who could transfer. The very first ride we went on was Spaceship Earth, and they instructed us to enter through a different door. Then you park the scooter and wait with a group of other people doing the same thing. At some point they stop the regular line and let that whole group get on. It did seem like the wait was probably shorter than the regular line, but I suppose if you were the first in a new group it might even take longer. But that was a rare experience. Many rides can accommodate wheelchairs through the regular line. If you're on a scooter, you will transfer to a loaner wheelchair for the line. Some have slopes, so you will want someone to push you. For other rides, you ask the cast member at the head of the line and they will give you a sort of "instant fastpass" - a fastpass for the current time plus the expected wait time for the normal line. Then you go in through the fastpass line. So in theory you get on at the same time anybody else would have. But it is nice you can go shop a little or have a snack. In short they are doing pretty much everything they can to make sure people in wheelchairs and the group they are with don't have any less wait than other people. Generally it is of course quite wheelchair-friendly. Almost all the transportation can accommodate scooters - I heard a few boats do not, but all we wanted to ride did. The buses can be a little bit of a problem. They can only accommodate two scooters, so if there are a lot of scooters trying to ride the same bus route at a time you might have to wait for the next bus, or the next. At times having a scooter meant you got to the front of the line for the bus, but at park closing the "no-cutting" policy was sometimes in effect. Scooter riders had to wait in the regular line to a point, and sometimes a bus would leave with no scooters on. At those times, though, there would usually be a busfull of people between you and the next scooter ahead of you, so you didn't miss the bus again when you were in front of the line because there were already two scooters on the bus. When it's busy, you might have to wait while several buses come and go _like everybody else_; when it's not busy, if you happen to arrive at the same time as two other scooter riders, you might have to wait while a bus comes and goes _unlike everybody else_. They make it as fair as they possibly can.
2016-05-22 23:12:24 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you may have discovered, clicking the link in the first answer does not answer your question.
The park has good access for disabled people. No one will give you grief about using a chair.
However, note that contrary to what some people are saying, people in wheelchairs do not get to cut to the front of the line; they are just provided with an easier access point to the ride when their time comes to get on.
They had to enact this ruling because too many people were pretending to be disabled just to get to the front of the line. Sad, isn't it?
Here's the info you want on the Guest Assistance Card:
http://pixiedustinn.com/disabilitiesfaq/GACFAQ.html
2007-10-16 06:58:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
People who are in wheelchairs actually have it better at WDW than those without. I know because 2 years ago, we went there on vacation. I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and couldn't walk around all day. My husband rented a wheelchair for me to use. There are separate entrances to rides and shows (without standing in line) for wheelchair bound patrons. I was eating that up for sure.
2007-10-16 06:43:59 · answer #4 · answered by veesmom 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's a BIIIIIIIIIG park.
Definitely rent the wheelchair - she will need it for waiting in lines and while shopping (people can easily bump into her if she is standing and can knock her over). Please note though, some people may get persnickety if they see her in the wheel chair but getting in and out of it constantly.
Contact their special services office - sometimes they have chairs there to rent/borrow. A day at the park can be totally exhausting, even for an able bodied person.
2007-10-16 06:46:34 · answer #5 · answered by Edith Anne 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WDW is very wheelchair friendly. Loads of wheelchairs and scooters are used by people with limited mobility there. It's great! You should have no problems there! :)
2007-10-16 06:48:11 · answer #6 · answered by Michelle D 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A few years ago we brought a friend who was wheel chair bound. It all went fine, the buses loaded and unloaded him first. He entered the ride via another line as we approached the ride and was able to transfer. When you enter the park the Map Will tell you which rides are transfer accessible and which are not. All the restaurants we went to were very accommodating as well as the hotel.
Go for it and have a great time.
2007-10-16 09:24:27 · answer #7 · answered by itchianna 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
just came back from wdw she wont have any problems what so ever. in fact they have a fleet of wheelchairs to rent out. the wheelchair people got treated way better then us walking people.
2007-10-16 15:07:34 · answer #8 · answered by Ida 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Every ride is wheelchair friendly. If u go to guest relations you get a pass to use the wheelchair entrance. It is easy to get around the parks as well.Have fun:)
2007-10-16 11:53:38 · answer #9 · answered by Hannah Montana 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you considered renting a ECV (Electronic Convenience Vehicle)? It is a lot easier because they're motorized so no one is pushing the wheel chair all around the parks. The Disney buses can accomodate ECVs easily.
http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/mobility.htm
http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/ecv_faq.htm
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ak/akjrms.htm
http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_dis.htm
http://www.mousesavers.com/otherdl.html#scooter
It will be better if you have a good touring plan that eliminates long lines and reduces that amount of time you mom will spend standing. http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/FullService.html
2007-10-16 07:45:51 · answer #10 · answered by buildabettermousetrip 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋