|
Doris Burns offers her experience and tips for touring Disney's Hollywood
Studios in an ECV. Readers are invited to send in your Epcot experiences
to share with others!
Email if you have any comments!
***************
MOBILITY
DO'S AND DON'TS for
users of wheelchairs (WCs) and Electric Controlled Vehicles (ECVs) at
the Disney's Hollywood Studios:
DO GO
even though you have never visited WDW or are unaware of Disney amenities!!
Disney has thought of almost everything conceivable that you might
encounter.
DO know
that the rental place for WCs and ECVs is just inside the entrance
and to the right. I always enjoy getting a WC there, as it is an old-fashioned
gas station with an old sedan parked In front. It reminds me of my
childhood, which is great because I feel like a child again at WDW.
DO stop
at Guest Relations as you enter to pick up a map and info on all of
the entertainment.
DO know
that WCs and ECVs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
DO keep
your receipts for WCs and ECVs. You may take your receipt to another
park and pick up another WC or ECV at no extra charge. Also, keep
your receipt for your ECV, as you will get $10 back upon its return.
DO realize
that your vehicles cannot be taken to another park. They are only
for the park in which they are rented, for that day only.
DO be
careful and keep a good distance between the person in front of you
as the ECVs do NOT stop on a dime. One of the things I am always amazed
at is that people will cut right in front of you and not consider
safety - yours or theirs.
DO know
you must be 18 years of age to rent an ECV.
DO know
that an ECV will be held for you if you plan to come back to that
park the same day.
DO be
aware that Disney does not allow a second person on an ECV.
DO know
that resorts may have a WC for you to rent. They don't have many,
so be sure to ask the CM at the front desk when you check in.
DO be
aware the parks have oversized WCs, but they are very limited.
DO know
that they have companion restrooms. I just discovered this on my last
trip a few months ago. They do not have them at all restroom areas,
but they have one at Fantasmic! and one near Tower of Terror. They
are very convenient and a welcome sight when you need one.
DO remember
that CMs are not allowed to personally help people in and out of WCs.
DO be
aware that at some attractions you will need to transfer to a ride
vehicle. You must be able to do that by yourself or have a member
of your family help you.
DON'T
stay home!!! Go and enjoy yourself and let the "kid" in you come out
and play.
ATTRACTION
TIPS
There
are warnings on thrill rides throughout the park that you should not
have back, neck or heart problems. Expectant ladies may not ride either.
FOR
MOST RIDES: Get in the regular line and a CM will direct you. Usually
the handicapped gate is to the left. If it is a ride with a handicapped
entrance, then up to five members of your family may go in with you.
If it is a theater presentation (and they are SUPER!), then your party
can sit with you or near you. Indiana Jones Spectacular is one of
my favorites. Park your vehicle at the very top row of the arena.
Your party has to sit on the stadium seating in front of you. We always
wait til the audience is nearly cleared out after the show ends to
start exiting, as it is "every man for himself" and, trust me, it
is better to wait until the crowd "thins out." You will have to back
up, and there are always a lot of people who try to "beat the rush
out." Consequently they are in your way.
FANTASMIC!
is a nice stadium-type show. Enter in the regular lines. Disney suggests
that you get there early. We did the last time, so I had to park at
the far end of the stadium, since they fill in the rows from there
first. Handicapped parking for the show is at the top of the stadium
like at Indiana Jones. This is a problem if you need to use the restroom
before the show starts -- I had to drive against traffic, so I navigated
toward the back wall to facilitate my travel. Well, it didn't! The
moral of this story is: use the restrooms as you enter (on your left),
as it will be quite a while until the show starts, and it is 25 minutes
long. By the way, a CM directing incoming people stopped "traffic"
for me to get to the wall and follow it. He was very nice, and even
made a young man stop who had tried to push in front of me. The CMs
are there to help you.
THE GREAT
MOVIE RIDE is another where you enter in the regular line. A CM will
direct you if you are in an ECV as you cannot go on the ride in one.
They will provide you with a wheelchair if you need.
STAR
TOURS is a very physical ride. I went on it when I did not need a
WC many years ago but I do know you cannot stay in your vehicle, as
you are strapped in a seat that moves as part of the show. You can
transfer to a seat to experience this attraction.
TWILIGHT
ZONE TOWER OF TERROR-- Go in the regular line and you will be directed
by a CM. This ride only lasts a few minutes. I won't go on it ever
as I am afraid of fast descents, but my husband goes on. While he
does, I park on the street leading to it, and enjoy watching people
go by. They also have some benches along the sidewalk if you prefer.
This is the same street which leads to Rock'n' Roller Coaster and
Fantasmic! (Sunset Blvd.).
THE
BACKLOT TOUR is another must-see attraction. It has a really neat
ride through studio backlots and some familiar sights and movie props
you might remember. Part of the tram is wheelchair accessible -- the
CM will direct you. Don't forget to sit on the left side if you don't
mind getting a little wet.
THEATER
PRESENTATIONS, such as Jim Henson's Muppet Vision 3D, Voyage of the
Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, are very well done. The costumes
and musical numbers and choreography are superb!! Try to see as many
as you can. Just stay in the main line and a CM will tell you where
to go.
RESTAURANTS
-- They are
all accessible, except that some have narrow lines. I recommend you
have someone order and pick up the food for you. These counter-service
restaurants are more reasonable and less time-consuming, if that matters
to you. The Backlot Express and others like it have many food offerings,
even dinner entrees. This type of eatery is good for lunch or snack,
but I still prefer sit-down restaurants for breakfast and dinner.
The
Brown Derby, Mama Melrose's, and '50s Prime Time Café are my personal
favorites. My husband and I don't go at prime dining times. We either
have a Preferred Seating time prearranged at mealtimes or we eat off
hours without a PS.
SHOPS
-- I find
it difficult sometimes to drive on the sidewalks as they are usually
crowded with lots of window shoppers. I almost always drive in the street,
and if I want to go into a particular shop, then I find a ramp and go
inside. The shops are accessible, but probably crowded.
|
Subscribe to AllEars®.Net's RSS feed