Resort Bus Accessibility Lane Question

fabfemmeboy

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 17, 2014
I'm at the World this week, using buses to get around as I usually do. While I don't have any problems standing or walking and therefore don't use a chair/scooter, I can't hold onto the poles and therefore need a seat. Does anyone else have experience with this type of situation? DH suggested that I stand in the accessibility/wheelchair lane, but I thought that might not be appropriate. Should I just take my chances in the main line? Ask people politely to move?
 
wait in the regular line. If there are no available seat (you can ask the driver before you get on) wait for the next bus. That's what we did before DH's back surgery and he could not stand on a bus.
 
Sometimes I use an ECV & sometimes I only have my rollator walker with me. When using the rollator, I wait in the regular line.

I simply tell the driver that I need to wait for the next bus so that I can sit. Every driver went back into the bus & asked if anyone would give up a seat for me. There was always a kind person who would help me out.

Of course - "thank you" was always the word to those extremely considerate people. I am grateful that Disney people as a whole are so caring & concerned! I think you will notice the same.

Enjoy your vacation!
 
As the others have said you will need to wait for a bus where a seat is available. The line you referenced is for for mobility devices that need loaded on the bus first.
 
1) There are seats on each bus designated for Handicap.
2) The driver can force someone to vacate a seat for you.

I don't believe the driver can actually "force" anyone to vacate a seat. They can ask, however if those seated also have a disability, visible or invisible, the driver cannot force them to give up the seat. There are only a handlful of seats on the bus where a sign above says they must be offered for those with disabilities, and even those may be occupied by folks who already boarded who have disabilities or have transferred from a mobility device already loaded onto the bus.

And drivers most certainly could not physically remove a passenger from a seat. Nor should it come to that. While it's probably a safe bet that, if asked to give up a seat for a passenger with a disability who needs one that someone would, I don't think it's a good idea to plan for that to be the case. The buses these days have fewer and fewer seats with each new model and those who absolutely need a seat on the bus should plan to wait for the next bus if there isn't a seat available so they can assure their own needs are met.
 


Also, at some of the parks (MK comes to mind) the queue is mainstream, and when someone with a need for the accessible ramp gets to the chained off section, then they get out of the queue and wait there. So there would be no 'waiting in the accessible queue' in the first place, unless you wanted to wait even longer for your turn to access the transportation through the ramp opening. That could take longer (an extra bus or two) than just waiting in the queue for a bus with seating available.
 
Also, at some of the parks (MK comes to mind) the queue is mainstream, and when someone with a need for the accessible ramp gets to the chained off section, then they get out of the queue and wait there. So there would be no 'waiting in the accessible queue' in the first place, unless you wanted to wait even longer for your turn to access the transportation through the ramp opening. That could take longer (an extra bus or two) than just waiting in the queue for a bus with seating available.

curious about the etiquette here. With a wheelchair I have always gone directly to the accessible queue and not followed the longer line. Was I wrong?
 
curious about the etiquette here. With a wheelchair I have always gone directly to the accessible queue and not followed the longer line. Was I wrong?
i would say your were fine going in the assessable line

1 busses can only ( for the most part) hold 2 ECV/ wheel chair so there may be time you have to wait longer then the other people or the other way around ( now you could look at the line and say that will take 3 or 4 busses to get on if I was the last person and wait a buses or two in the handicap line, but that would be up to you. as I do not think they would make you or if a gust complained which in all my time as disney I have never seen.

the only time I would not is when the park are closing and there are masses of people leaving then you will enter the regular line and near the front you will go off and be leaded first this happens a MK for sure not sure about the other parks and there are CM to help with this

this is what I would do ( and no I do not use a wheel chair/ecv I just go to disney a lot) unless there is a CM who tells you something different.
 
I don't believe the driver can actually "force" anyone to vacate a seat. They can ask, however if those seated also have a disability, visible or invisible, the driver cannot force them to give up the seat. There are only a handlful of seats on the bus where a sign above says they must be offered for those with disabilities, and even those may be occupied by folks who already boarded who have disabilities or have transferred from a mobility device already loaded onto the bus.

And drivers most certainly could not physically remove a passenger from a seat. Nor should it come to that. While it's probably a safe bet that, if asked to give up a seat for a passenger with a disability who needs one that someone would, I don't think it's a good idea to plan for that to be the case. The buses these days have fewer and fewer seats with each new model and those who absolutely need a seat on the bus should plan to wait for the next bus if there isn't a seat available so they can assure their own needs are met.

This is one of those things that they can do in theory (make a non-disabled person move to accommodate someone disabled) but in practice doesn't work. Because anyone that wouldn't get up when asked is certainly entitled enough to just lie and say they also have a disability that makes them unable to stand and hold on to the poles.
 
This is one of those things that they can do in theory (make a non-disabled person move to accommodate someone disabled) but in practice doesn't work. Because anyone that wouldn't get up when asked is certainly entitled enough to just lie and say they also have a disability that makes them unable to stand and hold on to the poles.

Exactly my point. The bus driver has no information and is not in a position to judge who is "truly" disabled and who might be just trying to keep a seat. So, all they can do is ask. Where it was implied they can force someone to give up a seat, I just wanted to point out that that's not as enforceable as it may seem.
 
curious about the etiquette here. With a wheelchair I have always gone directly to the accessible queue and not followed the longer line. Was I wrong?

If you are wondering about the examples given at MK ..... the new bus depot is fully accessible. Everyone, even ECV, can go through the regular line. When they are busy they will often follow the protocol that everyone gets in regular line and then close to the last turn the WC/ECV pulls out to the rear boarding lane. When they are doing this there will be a chain across the lane with a hanging banner that directs WC/ECV to the regular line. I saw a lady try to unhook it and go in and the transportation CMs stopped her and told her to just get in the regular line. It works out just fine because by time your bus would pull up you will be in the rear boarding lane.
 
When we were at MK in August, there was no way to get to the WC/ECV unless you went through the standard queue. We were staying at Pop Century, and had one of the new bus stops at MK. If you tried to get to the WC/ECV area without going through the queue, you'd end up at a dead end, chained area that got you to the curb, but not to the right area. You'd have to go in the bus lane (yikes!) to get over to the right area.

At less crowded times the chains were arranged for more direct access, but you had to enter the queue first.
 
Thanks, that makes sense. I never bus from MK, I just hope it is obvious what is the correct and polite way to go :)
 
Thanks, that makes sense. I never bus from MK, I just hope it is obvious what is the correct and polite way to go :)

Most of the time at the bus stops at the theme parks you will find drivers waiting to pick up their bus at each bus stop. You can always ask them and they will be more then happy to help you and show you where to go. As another poster has said is true it is Disney so don't worry have fun. You can even ask the driver that drops you off about reboarding and they also be more then happy to answer any question you may have.

have a great trip and have fun on he most magical and best form of transportation at Disney world the magic Disney buses.:):)
 
The only issue here - if the line is long & will take a while, I will have to wait at the side of the line. It is not possible for me to navigate twists & turns in a crowded line.

I assume it is ok for a family member to get on line for me?

Waiting for 3 more buses is not the problem. Physical issues are what stops me.

Thanks for your opinions!
 

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