DME and ECV

[breezy2]

Does Magical Express accomodate ECVs like the buses do or will we need to make other arrangements to get from airport to the hotel?

[clanmcculloch]

From what I've read on the DIS (the disABILITIES! board over there is generally one of the few friendly and supportive boards though there do seem to be a few haters popping in lately), some of the DME busses are accessible while others aren't. A person in an ECV can take DME but I believe it's best to inform the DME folks that you'll need an accessible bus so that they can plan for sending accessible ones to your resort's stop based on your flight arrival time. Worst case scenario is that you'll have to wait for another bus to be called.

Not sure if you remember, but when DD11 was in a wheelchair, we ended up on that style of bus with you heading to Epcot. Luckily she could hobble up the stairs and it was a foldable manual chair so the driver was able to stow the chair under the bus while she climbed up. If the person can't hobble up and the ECV can't be folded and picked up to be stowed underneath in a bus that isn't accessible (I'm assuming that a person who has his/her own ECV at the airport can't hobble onto the bus) then you'll have to wait for them to call for an accessible bus.

[breezy2]

Thanks Trudy. I did remember that actually, but wasn't sure if they had some accessible ones. It is my Mom that uses an ecv. She actually could get onto the bus with our assistance, if her ecv would be compact enough to fit in the undercarriage. No way could she walk through even an airpot though, which is why she is taking her own, rather than renting there. This will be their first time flying and they are 65 and 66. Except my father flew when he was in the navy in a cargo plane, which is why he refused to fly since. I told him it is nothing like flying in a cargo plane. LOL

[josh]

It's sort of like flying in a cargo plane...

[breezy2]

Well thank goodness my dad doesn't read forums then. LMBO

[blyday]

Thanks Trudy. I did remember that actually, but wasn't sure if they had some accessible ones. It is my Mom that uses an ecv. She actually could get onto the bus with our assistance, if her ecv would be compact enough to fit in the undercarriage. No way could she walk through even an airpot though, which is why she is taking her own, rather than renting there. This will be their first time flying and they are 65 and 66. Except my father flew when he was in the navy in a cargo plane, which is why he refused to fly since. I told him it is nothing like flying in a cargo plane. LOL


DMIL could absolutely not walk through the airport or take more then a couple of steps on our trip 2 years ago (she has since had knee surgery so can do some walking now.) The airport meet her right as she exited the plane with a wheel chair, wheeled her to DME. They were amazing at helping her on the bus and when they arrived at SSR where we were staying, the bus driver was so good at making sure that they had a wheelchair at the base of the bus stairs for her. Of course, DH and I were actually there with the ECV so we had them help her onto the ECV instead of on a wheelchair. They just took really, really good care of her helping her on the steps, etc. So......there is help to and from the plane to the resort if she decides to rent instead of taking her ECV with her on the plane. Just thought I'd let you know.

[breezy2]

Thanks Brenda. That is good to know. I know my dad bought her the ECV, because of all the rental costs being as much as to just buy one, so I am pretty sure she will still take her own. She already said, if they do fly, and DME doesn't offer it, she will pay for a shuttle for her and my dad. I know they have Taxis that can accomodate them. Not sure about shuttles, but we have lots of time to figure it out.

[txSherry]

My gut says they'll be able to put it underneath, because that's what happened at Marathon weekend with me in the non-park busses. But it wasn't ME.
407-939-6244 is the ME number in my phone.:RpS_wink: I'd just call and ask them directly!

[breezy2]

Thank you for that number Sherry. I will do that.