THE INSIDER S GUIDE TO SCOOTING THROUGH THE DISNEY PARKS WALKERMOBILITY.COM
After more than 30 years personally working with customers onsite at the Disney World Theme Parks, the Walker Mobility team knows every nook and cranny of the parks walkways and waterways. We know which rides, attractions, dining and even the restrooms are the most scooter, stroller and wheelchair-friendly. And we want to share our expert knowledge with you. This guide details the easiest way to park, ride, eat and shop on a scooter making it easier than ever to enjoy your vacation. Ride the Disney World parks like an insider on your vacation! Our first insider tips to smooth scootering through the Disney World parks begin before you even enter the magical world of Mickey Mouse. First, you must learn to navigate the parking lot. Scooter-Friendly Parking Imagine a place that entertains more than 50,000 visitors each day. On average, that s the amount of people who enter each Disney World park, each day. Now imagine how big the parking lot must be! While parking at the Disney World seems intimidating at first, we ll make your experience easy and convenient with these simple scooter parking tips: Courtesy Tram Only a short walk from your parking spot to the tram loading area, guests without a valid Disability Parking Pass can access the courtesy tram from the main parking lots of the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney-Hollywood Studios, or Disney s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Be aware, the tram requires guests step up into the vehicle. Disability Parking With a valid Disability Parking Permit, guests can park in the lot adjacent to the entrance complex at each of the four parks and at designated parking areas throughout the property. This is the best option for guests traveling with Walker Mobility wheelchairs and scooters. For detailed directions to the parks disability parking, ask for directions as you pay for parking at the Auto Plaza before entering the parking lot. Disney Transportation For guests staying on Disney World property, Disney s bus system, monorail and ferries are wheelchair and scooter-friendly. Here are a few things to remember: Bus To board the Disney Bus System, wheelchairs and scooters must fit the lift space of 32 x40 without being forced. Walker Mobility Scooter and Wheelchair rentals fit these dimensions. Once you board, you will be fastened in with wheelchair restraints for your safety. Monorail Disney s Monorail System is accessible by both entrance ramps at all locations, and elevators at Epcot, Disney s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney s Polynesian Resort. Boat-To coast in on Disney s boats and watercrafts, be sure to consult your Dock Host or Hostess first. Due to safety concerns, your ability to ride may vary depending on the weather and water conditions. Now that you know how to get to the parks, we ll reveal our secrets for making your time inside the park easy and carefree! 1
Easily Maneuverable Restrooms Perhaps one of the most important pieces of information in this report, we know where to find the scooter and wheelchair-friendly restrooms on Disney Property. Save yourself a bit of stress later by knowing which restrooms are the easiest to maneuver in a wheelchair or scooter, and are companion assisted. Luckily, most restrooms at Walt Disney World have wheelchair access, but for added convenience, the Companion assisted restrooms can be located here: All Park First Aid locations Magic Kingdom - The lower level of Cinderella s Royal Table - Pirates of the Caribbean - Splash Mountain - Restrooms at the Pinocchio Village Haus - The restrooms near Space Mountain - Mickey's Toontown Fair - Ticket and Transportation Center East Gate Epcot - Restrooms Near Canada - Restrooms Near Morocco - Restrooms Near Germany - Restrooms Near Norway opposite the Viking ship - Future World West Block Restrooms, opposite The Land - Future World East Block Restrooms, opposite Test Track - Restrooms on the east side of Spaceship Earth Disney-MGM Studios - Restrooms opposite Star Tours, - Soundstage 3 Restrooms - Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Restrooms - Restrooms opposite The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Fantasmic! Restrooms Animal Kingdom - Discovery Island Restrooms, opposite the Flame Tree Barbecue - Harambe Village Restrooms in the Mombasa Marketplace - Conservation Station Restrooms at Rafiki's Planet Watch - Asia Restrooms near Maharajah Jungle Trek - Restrooms at Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland U.S.A. Blizzard Beach - On the north side of Main Change to the rear of the locker room Typhoon Lagoon - Near Guest Services With easy and convenient locations throughout the parks, scooter-friendly restrooms make your trip carefree! Next, we ll give you tips on the most scooter-friendly dining spots in each park. 2
Preferred Scooter and Wheelchair Disney Dining When it s time to take a break for something to eat, there are plenty of fine dining and casual choices available at Disney World and all are easily accessible to guests with scooters, but some are easier to navigate than others. Here are some tips to make it easier to scoot through any of Disney s dining options: If you find yourself struggling, ask for assistance from a Cast member. They will always be willing and ready to help. Some counter-service restaurants have narrow queues formed by railings, making it a little difficult to maneuver in a wheelchair or scooter. Rather than find a new dining choice, contact a host or hostess to help you. They can easily help you order or help a member of your party to order and transport the food. While Disney World is known for incredible dining, it s most known for their world-class rides and attractions. Next we ll reveal our best secrets on how to find the scooter-friendly Disney rides in each park. Disney s Scooter-Accessible Rides and Attractions Disney World makes it possible for guests with mobility limitations to get the most out of their day at the parks. Whether you re enjoying a famous attraction or waiting along a parade route, you will find areas designated for wheelchairs and scooters. Remember, these areas can fill up quickly, and if there are more than six people in your party, you may be required to split up and reunite after the performance. For more specifics, ask for the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities from any Guest Service location once you get to Disney Property. Like the walkways and waterways, most of their rides were built to accommodate guests using scooters and wheelchairs, but a few rides have restrictions for your safety. A few of the restrictions you may encounter: Mainstream Queue Narrow mainstream queues may make it difficult for motorized scooters and wheelchairs to wind along narrow paths. Ask a cast member for help accessing the auxiliary entrances for you and up to 5 companions. While these lines will not help you bypass a line, it makes your wait more comfortable Wheelchairs Only Some attractions require guests to transfer from a motorized scooter to a standard wheelchair. The standard wheelchair will be provided at the entrance to the ride. Ride-Specific Vehicles Rides that require guests to transfer from their wheelchair or scooter to a ride vehicle are the least accommodating for some guests with mobility limitations. Ask a cast member to determine the physical mobility required to access the ride vehicle before deciding to stand in line. Health, Age and Size These rides and attractions may be unsafe for those with specific health conditions, the elderly or young and for shorter guests. Specifics will be posted at the entrance to the ride queue. 3
Disney s Scooter-Accessible Rides and Attractions (continued) To ensure you have a smooth, carefree day at the parks, here s a list of the attractions and the ride limitations you will encounter at each. Use the Bolded codes above to determine which rides match your capabilities: Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions Jungle Cruise Main Street Vehicles The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Swiss Family Treehouse - Walking only Pirates of the Caribbean Shrunken Ned s Jungle Boats The Enchanted Tiki Room Splash Mountain Country Bear Jamboree Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Liberty Bell Riverboat The Hall of Presidents Fronteirland Shooting Arcade Mickey's PhilharMagic It s a Small World Castle Forecourt Stage Ariel's Grotto The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Tom Sawyer Island Toontown Hall of Fame The Haunted Mansion The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm Snow White s Scary Adventure Donald's Boat Mad Tea Party Walt Disney World Railroad Peter Pan s Flight Mickey's Country House Astro Orbiter Cinderella s Golden Carousel Judge's Tent Minnie's Country House Dumbo the Flying Elephant Tomorrowland Indy Speedway Tomorrowland Arcade Astro Orbiter Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Galaxy Palace Theater Stitch s Great Escape Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress - Open Seasonally Space Mountain 4
Disney s Scooter-Accessible Rides and Attractions (continued) EPCOT DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS Spaceship Earth Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 4D The Circle of Life in the Land Honey I Shrunk the Kids Maelstrom Movie Set Adventure The Great Movie Ride Imagination! Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Ellen s Energy Adventure Sounds Dangerous Universe of Energy The American Film Institute Showcase Star Tours The Seas with Nemo and Friends Living on the Land Studios Backlot Tour Behind the Seeds Walt Disney: One Man's Dream Test Track Voyage of the Little Mermaid Theater of the Stars Innoventions East Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage The Magic of Disney Animation Honey I Shrunk the Audience Innoventions West Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! Mission: SPACE Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Soarin The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Canada O Canada! Norway Maelstrom China Reflections of China Fantasmic! Mexico Gran Fiesta Tour Mexico Art of Mexico Norway Stave Church Gallery China Reflections of China America The American Adventure America The American Gardens Theater France Impressions de France FriendShip Boats DISNEY S ANIMAL KINGDOM It s Tough to be a Bug! Discovery Island Trails Wildlife Express Affection Section Rafiki s Planet Watch Lion King Theater: Festival of the Lion King Cretaceous Trail Kilimanjaro Safari Caravan Stage - Flights of Wonder Caravan Stage Flights of Wonder Maharajah Jungle Trek Kali River Rapids Conservation Station DINOSAUR The Boneyard Fossil Fun Games TriceraTop Spin Pangani Forest Exploration Trail Primeval Whirl Finding Nemo - The Musical As you can see, Disney World provides wheelchair and scooter access throughout the parks, but they also provide assistance throughout the property. Next, find out about the special services available to guests with disabilities. 5
Disney Special Services Department for Guests with Disabilities If you re enjoying your vacation in a Disney Resort, you must know that the Disney Special Services department was created especially to provide accommodations to you. If you need specific arrangements, Disney is there to help! All you need to do is ask by calling (714) 781-4569 to reach Disney Guest Information. Special Services Available on Disney Property Buses with wheelchair lifts Wider bathroom doors Roll-in showers Shower benches Hand-held shower heads Accessible vanities Portable Commodes Bathroom rails Bed rails Adjustable beds Lower beds Rubber bed pads Door knock and phone alerts Bed shaker alarm Text Typewriter (TTY) Strobe light fire alarm Phone amplifier Double door peep holes Closed captioned television Braille on signage and elevators Accessible parking Complimentary Valet parking (where this service is offered) Complimentary Package Pick-up/Shipping at Disney Parks While Disney World provides a very limited amount of rental wheelchairs and scooters to guests, they distribute rentals on a first come, first serve basis. Rent a wheelchair, scooter or stroller from an independent rental company before entering the park to ensure you have one available. Make sure the company is allowed on Disney property in case you have any problems. Here s a few things to remember before visiting the parks: Guests may bring their own wheelchairs and scooters. Wheelchair rentals are only available through Disney on a first-come, first-served basis. Disney Rental wheelchairs may NOT be transferred from Park to Park, but independent rental wheelchairs can travel wherever you go. A limited number of Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECVs) are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests must be 18 years of age or older to rent ECVs, and quantities are limited. NO RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED. Guests should plan to arrive early. - ECVs are available only on a same-day basis and may only be used in the Park where they are rented. ECVs will be held if Guests wish to leave and return to the same Park. It s Easy and Stress-free to Reserve Your Wheelchair or Scooter Early Walker Mobility offers a word of convenience to anyone who needs scooter or wheelchair assistance in the parks. We make it simple to enjoy your vacation without any unnecessary transportation stress. Reserve your scooter or wheelchair before your trip to Orlando so you won t have to worry about the availability at the parks. We deliver the rental to your hotel, and pick it up after your trip. Our wheelchairs and scooters are customized to fit your height and weight, so you get maximum comfort all day long, and are easily transferable from park to park. Get the most out of your trip to Orlando with the ease and comfort of a Walker Mobility scooter or wheelchair rental. Find out more online at WalkerMobility.com or by calling 1-888-SCOOTER (1-888-726-6837). 6