Disabled access to....the tram?

[Mac Daddy]

Sorry about yet another disabled thread, but I searched a bit and didn't find this anywhere.

We'll probably have access to a wheelchair in the next couple of weeks as my wife has been using a cane lately, but we don't have one yet. I was planning on parking in Mickey and Friends tomorrow in the Disabled parking area, but it involves a MAJOR hike the length of the ginormous hedge up to the crosswalk to the tram area. For those of us who can walk, complaining about the distance from handicapped parking to the tram must seem silly. But we're looking at maybe 200 something yards from the car to the tram, and my wife's pain has been pretty bad lately.

So here are my questions: For those individuals who are using a cane, crutches, or a walker, is there a CLOSER alternative to dropping them off by the wheelchair rental? If I can get my wife on the tram, I can rent the chair and take it to her at the tram drop off so she won't have to walk that far. Is Mickey and Friends my best bet? Will they let me drop her off at that crosswalk by the Mickey and Friends trams? Or would Timon be closer? Is Timon open, or did they close it recently?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Olympicnut]

Re: Disabled access to....the tram?

I know there's a small white airport-like tram that Crazy Legs uses. Not sure of the specifics though so ya might wanna PM her.

[Max Fischer]

Re: Disabled access to....the tram?

No need to apologize for asking a great question. I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I am sure some of our experts will hook you up.

Best of luck!

[CaptPhoebus]

Re: Disabled access to....the tram?

Ask the parking booth attendant to park in Pinocchio, if it's available. Just show the handicap placard and ask for Pinocchio (not Chip and Dale). Generally, the CM's at the booth will grant the request (blue P paper sign on dash, not the yellow A) as long as the lot is open to the structure (there are a few times when pinocchio will become DTD parking, but that's usually on Friday and Saturday evenings). Just drive out through the back of the structure and drive towards the tram crossing through the oversize parking. There is a smaller lot right by the trams. This will be the closest you can get to the Tram Stop. Do note that this is unshaded parking. If you need shaded parking, there is also handicap parking by the elevators on floors 2-6 (though 6 is unshaded as well). Hope this answers your question, and enjoy your trip to the park!

[DisneyGeek75]

Re: Disabled access to....the tram?

Ask the parking booth attendant to park in Pinocchio, if it's available. Just show the handicap placard and ask for Pinocchio (not Chip and Dale). Generally, the CM's at the booth will grant the request (blue P paper sign on dash, not the yellow A) as long as the lot is open to the structure (there are a few times when pinocchio will become DTD parking, but that's usually on Friday and Saturday evenings). Just drive out through the back of the structure and drive towards the tram crossing through the oversize parking. There is a smaller lot right by the trams. This will be the closest you can get to the Tram Stop. Do note that this is unshaded parking. If you need shaded parking, there is also handicap parking by the elevators on floors 2-6 (though 6 is unshaded as well). Hope this answers your question, and enjoy your trip to the park!

You beat me to it!! 100% correct!! I have never been denied parking in that lot and I am normally in the spots that are as close to the crossing to the tram area as you can get! Just make sure you ask at the booth and not wait until you get to the parking CMs that direct you to the structure because they will only send you where your paper sign says they are supposed to. Depending on how hot it will be just bring a sunshade for your car and you should be fine. Good Luck and have fun!!

[Wotan]

Re: Disabled access to....the tram?

If nothing else, I know that you could leave your wife in/at your car, go in and rent a wheelchair, and then come back and get her; I had to do that for my wife a few years ago when she blew out her knee on Jurassic Park at USH.

I bet you could also drop her off at GCH and meet her in the lobby and then make your way from there.

[Mac Daddy]

Re: Disabled access to....the tram?

Thanks for your help with this, folks! I did, in fact, ask for Pinocchio this morning and the very kind CM sent us to that lot. As it was VERY uncrowded today (it was us and three other people in NOS at about 10:15 am) we parked LITERALLY in front of the tram crossing walk. I looked back again at that distance they expect handicapped people to walk, and we're really looking at about 300 yards from the ground floor handicapped lot in Mickey and Friends. If there were a way to cut through by the elevators, it would cut the tip in half. In fact, my wife and I were noticing that if you park in handicapped parking in the upper levels you are actually MUCH closer than if you park on the ground level in M&F because you won't have to walk all the way AROUND the tram route. But Pinocchio is really the place to park.

In any case, we followed your advice, and it all worked out perfectly. Now...if we could just find a way to sneak into Pinocchio without having to do the 30 minute wait to get up to the parking booth. :bang: