I'd love some advice!

We're hoping to take my grandparents to Disneyland in January, when the crowds are light. They used to take us a lot when we were little, and they love the park. But now they're in their 90's and can't get around very easily. They'd love to go once with their little great-grandson, and get to see the park one last time. (Which is kind of sad, but realistically, it would almost certainly be their last time.)

We will plan to rent electric wheelchairs. They don't usually use wheelchairs, since they can walk short distances (it's largely a pride thing), but they understand the only way it would be possible would be in wheelchairs. I've never been with people with mobility issues, so it'll be a bit of an adventure. Here are some of my questions:

- How do we get them from the handicapped parking area to the wheelchairs? I really can't see them managing the trek from Mickey & Friends via the tram to the park entrance. But so far, my only idea is to take them to the 15-minute dropoff zone, go and rent the wheelchairs while they wait in the car, bring them the wheelchairs, then go and park the car while they head for the entrance. But are you allowed to take the wheelchairs that far out of the park? Is there a better way I don't know about?

- Related to the above, can I rent the wheelchairs for them even though I'm fine and healthy? Or would they need to go up to the counter to demonstrate the fact that they really need wheelchairs?

- Do we need to get any kind of assistance pass? Or will their age make it obvious that they can't get around very easily?

- Can you take your wheelchair with you if you want to park-hop? We may just stick to Disneyland, but they might want to see the new park. So we haven't decided yet.

And thanks for any other suggestions you have! We'll probably make it a very relaxed day, focusing more on the park and the atmosphere than the rides - we'll just do whatever they feel like. And of course we'll take them to lunch at the Blue Bayou!

They will need to walk as far as the security tents. You can take the chairs to the tents and meet them. No problem on the renting though. And you can park hop, but can't go to DTD.

As far as a pass, the wheelchair is the pass. You will need to use the handicap entrance. Note that the wait can be longer in the HA entrance due to limitations as to how many wheelchairs can be on the ride at one time. Also, if you use the HA, they will have to ride the ride.

There are wheelchair areas for the parade you may want to check out.

MousePlanet has a trip guide (http://www.mouseplanet.com/tag/tag030625sl.htm) for seniors at DCA.

I need to update it (Millionaire is not there anymore/ TOT and Monsters are), but it should give you some idea.

They will need to walk as far as the security tents. You can take the chairs to the tents and meet them. No problem on the renting though. And you can park hop, but can't go to DTD.

Clarification -- Mostly Anonymous, you said you're renting ELECTRIC Wheelchairs - do you mean that you want to rent the ECV's for them? If so, you may not be able to rent the ECV 'for' them. It has been an issue in the past that the person picking up the ECV should be the person using it. It seems to be a don't ask don't tell policy or it could be one of those infamous "It depends on the CM" issues.

One time I did get an ECV for someone. The CM didn't ask me if I was the one who was going to use the ECV and I did not volunteer that I wasn't. I just said "Hi, I need to rent an ECV", rented it, and rode it out to the security tent to meet the rest of my group.

Adrienne

We will plan to rent electric wheelchairs. They don't usually use wheelchairs, since they can walk short distances (it's largely a pride thing), but they understand the only way it would be possible would be in wheelchairs.


If you are staying in a hotel on Harbor that is across the street then I would rent the ECV off site. The cost is about the same and they don't have to do any walking. Also take lots of rest breaks. They may not be using their legs, but their arms and hands will get tired. You may be wondering why I said hands. On the ECV the operator has to hold down the go button the entire time the unit is going forward or reverse. This puts a strain on the thumb muscles.
Next the seats will become uncomfortable after a few hours. You will also have to let them know that other guests will look them right in the eye and step in front of them anyway. There will be others who will think that they can walk faster than the ECV ( which they can't ) and again step in front of them.

The ECV can be slightly challenging, but I am sure that they will have a wonderful time.

^^^ Is SO TRUE! If dexterity is an issue, they may have problems with teh ECV.

Thank you everyone for the tips! It will be a big challenge trying to take a 2-year old and two 90+ year olds to Disneyland all on the same day. But we've been AP'ers for a while and know the park well, and I think we'll manage as long as we go on a really quiet day.

The emptiest I've ever seen Disneyland was a Wednesday at the end of January, so we'll probably try to repeat that success. Small crowds will help a lot with maneuvering the ECVs.

It sounds like getting from parking to wheelchair rental will be the biggest challenge. I may have to stick with the idea of using the 15-minute dropoff lot. They can use walkers to get to the wheelchairs, and I can then run the walkers back to the car. Maybe I'll let Dad take the toddler off for a quick ride on the Matterhorn while I'm dealing with all the logistics with his great-grandparents.

It'll be a lot of effort, but I still remember how Disneyland would turn my grandpa into a little kid with stars in his eyes. He was the one who managed to talk me into riding Space Mountain and turned me into a roller-coaster fan. It would be so special to bring the magic back for him one more time.

So if you're there mid-week in January, watch out for a giddy old man zipping around on an ECV like a 5-year old with a new toy! :)

I'm not sure about DL, but at WDW if you rent an ECV and have either a personal wheelchair or a walker they will tag it and hod it for you at the rental location.

Between your own plan of action and the suggestions listed above it will work out fine. I give you a great big hug for doing this to for the grandparents that gave you the heart for Disneyland. I hope I am so lucky to be in the 90's and to have such a loving person to bring me to Disneyland for a last time. I so hope they can experience some of the originals I believe on the last visit I that I saw ecv's being driven right onto the Mark Twain how cool is that! and ISWA you go right onto the special boat with the wheel chair -ecv.Hopefully Peter Pan will work since you dont have to step down and get into a seat its really pretty level just a small step up . And being a slow day they Cm's should be most patient. Of course I am just on of those people that if you park me on a bench here and there, put some ears on my head , I would be in heaven just to be in DL. Too bad city hall didnt have some buttons special seniors at DL.

This is just a pie in the sky thought. But when my dd was prego and having early contractions when leaving the park we went to guest services in the kiosh in the espanade and explained the situation and they directed us to the handicaped shuttle area where we were met by a shuttle not like the tram but another vehicle that took us to the parking structure and delivered us to the car , so therefore my thought is that it could be done in reverse also. I wonder if you called guest services before the big day and if they could possibly offer some assistance by sending one of those golf cart type shuttles to meet you at the car and shuttle you into the security check point and the you could get the evcs and they could go in from there.Maybe if you called and explained the situation and their ages etc... play it up big.. that being off season and not a busy day that in the Disney way they could help out. I think it is certainly worth a try.

Thank you, DisneyJunkie! Now that you mention it, I seem to remember seeing special shuttles around the parking structure. I'll definitely call guest services before we go and they should have suggestions for what to do. We can't be the first guests who have had concerns about how to get from the parking lot to the wheelchair rentals!

Thank you, DisneyJunkie! Now that you mention it, I seem to remember seeing special shuttles around the parking structure. I'll definitely call guest services before we go and they should have suggestions for what to do. We can't be the first guests who have had concerns about how to get from the parking lot to the wheelchair rentals!

Yes, there's a shuttle from the parking lot to the main gate. It follows the same route as the tram.

There are some disadvantages to the shuttle:

1 - It's not always working and/or it can take a lot longer than the tram, depending on how crowded it is when you arrive and/or where the shuttle is when you want to use it. One time we waited for about 30 minutes in the shuttle loading area. Trams weren't very frequent at that time of the day and drivers kept passing us telling us it was on the way. Finally they passed us and said 'It's not coming! It's broken!" OOPS.

2 - Unless you have HCA parking, you'll still have to get from your car to the shuttle. Even if you do have HCA parking, you'll have to get from your car to the shuttle. ;)

3 - You will still have to get from the tram loading area to the main gate.

In other words: The shuttle is pretty much the same thing as taking the tram, just a little more comfortable once you're on board.

Adrienne

so, just a clarification, as we will be going on Sunday with my Mom (who has her own scooter). We will be parking at Mickey & Friends--and will be there early. There is a way to take the tram from the Mickey & Friends parking lot to the drop off? I recall seeing a ramp further away from the structure that accommodates handicapped and assumed that it was a way to get a wheelchair or ECV on the tram=--is this correct?

so, just a clarification, as we will be going on Sunday with my Mom (who has her own scooter). We will be parking at Mickey & Friends--and will be there early. There is a way to take the tram from the Mickey & Friends parking lot to the drop off? I recall seeing a ramp further away from the structure that accommodates handicapped and assumed that it was a way to get a wheelchair or ECV on the tram=--is this correct?

This is correct.

You'll notice that the regular tram loading area will have a long line of strollers waiting for that area. They get the "leftover" space AFTER people with wheelchairs and scooters.

If you have someone with a chair or scooter in your group, go to that further loading area, take the ramp up. The tram driver should see you waiting and stop to pick you up FIRST. Then you'll proceed to the regular loading area for everyone else to load. Ignore the glares from the people with strollers. The purpose of that section is for YOU not them. (Says a mom who's been hauling a stroller to the parks for almost 10 years now...)

Adrienne