How to travel with pregnancy, 1 in wheelchair, 2 in scooters?

6forDisney · #1 06-20-2007, 05:04 PM

We are heading back to Disney in September. We have the six of us in my immediate family plus my parents (ages 65 & 68) and my mom's brother (75) and sister (81).

It will be my aunt and uncle's first trip to Disneyworld. They have both decided to rent scooters from an outside agency so they will need to take them back and forth on the buses.

My mom will be in a wheelchair (back injury) but can walk.

I will be six months pregnant along with my other young children and (luckily) very healthy husband.

Any suggestions on how to make this 12-day trip a success?

I'm already dreading using the transportation to and from the parks (we're at Port Orleans) because of the scooters, the wheelchair and two strollers and my size and because I also have had problems in the past carrying a stroller and two sleeping children onto the bus and sitting on the FLOOR while many very able bodied people sat on the seats. (Husband was also holding sleepers and stroller.)

Also, how to make it through the crowds. I have actually had to have a wheel of a stroller fixed before because someone cut in front of me while walking and they stepped ON the wheel of the stroller.

I love Disney and very much look forward to this trip, but it is beginning to become overwhelming as I remember past experiences.

HELP!!!!!!

kakn7294 · #2 06-20-2007, 05:14 PM

I don't know if you've looked into providing your own transportation - you can rent handicapped accessible vans. Otherwise, you might want to consider traveling at times when others are not - that is, wait a bit after park opening and leave before park closing. With 2 ECVs and a WC, I'm not sure you can all get on the same bus. As far as the crowds, just take your time which you will need to do anyway. Fortunately, September usually has lower crowd levels so that will help you out. It may also help to make sure that everyone in your group knows where you are going so you can separate to navigate the crowds as necessary and rejoin at your destination rather than trying to all travel together.

snifflesmcg · #3 06-20-2007, 05:23 PM

I was going to say the same thing.....how about renting a van for the trip. Last year I remember seeing a family that had a man in a scooter and yelled at the bus driver because they had been there for over an hour and there was no room on the bus for them. The buses had already been filled to capacity and only had room for a few adults on seats and the rest standing. The area was only big enough for those scooters for maybe two. With 2 scooters, a wheelchair and strollers, you are going to be at the bus stop forever, not to mention, you will probably never get to go on the same bus. Even with September being low attendance, busses still get very full.

Marilyn Michetti · #4 06-20-2007, 05:34 PM

As Kathy, (kakn7294) already mentioned, you're going at a "low" time, crowd wise. Unfortunately, the Disney busses only can accomodate two ECV's. WC's and strollers can be stowed underneath. Some of the busses are easy to board, and some aren't. It's frustrating at best, a sheer terror at times. Twice on our last trip, my ECV wasn't secured properly, and broke loose. One time I was on it when it fell over, as it rolled backwards. I wasn't hurt, but can you imagine if the bus was standing room only.

I like the suggestion of renting a van, and the next time I'll look into it.

Good luck to all of you. You're troopers from the sounds of it, so take it easy, stay loose, and have a ball !

AuntDJ · #5 06-20-2007, 06:03 PM

I agree with all posted..the busses can only accommodate 2 ECV's the wheelchair can be folded but on an already crowded bus it will be difficult to say the least...

On an up note...you will be Disney and you seem to have a long enough trip that you should be able to do things at a slower pace!

HAVE FUN! and GOOD LUCK!

DJ

sleepingbooty · #6 06-20-2007, 08:59 PM

You mentioned that you are staying at Port Orleans, but you didn't say French Quarter or Riverside?

I ask because last year we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter, and while we shared busses with Riverside, they ALWAYS stopped at French Quarter first. Therefore, when we got to the Riverside stops, the bus was usually at least half full already. I'm hoping for your sake you are at French Quarter, but if you're at Riverside then I'd advise going to the main bus stop.