DME and Wheelchair About This Page:

[sunshinetaradise]

So I'll be going to WDW June 24th-30th. I have spina bifida and use a wheelchair full time. I've never used DME before and was wondering if anyone had any tips or is there anything different I need to do after getting off the plane. I'm a very experienced traveler so I'm not worried about the traveling issue. I'm just kinda clueless as to what will happen. Do i ride the bus like everyone else or is there a van or what? Thanks for anyone's input!!

[Eeyore Tattoo]

Hi, Welcome!
Yes, you will ride the bus with everyone. When you make your DME reservation remember to tell them you travel with a wheelchair.
They have buses with lifts. I travel with a scooter &it is stowed under the bus. If you stay in your chair they will use the lift to get you on board.. No Worries!
Just call them in advance & maybe a few days before the trip as a reminder call ..
Enjoy your trip..

[mechurchlady]

I use a small scooter on my trip. The DME has lifts on the buses that will raise you up so you can enter the bus. Staff should be around to help you get where you are going. I did not have my paperwork so someone took me to various places to get the paperwork then to the waiting area then excorted outside then shown where the bus was at. You will need to note that you need a lift bus. Overall it was totally confusing for me but they made it seem so easy that I recommend DME. Very helpful people.

I watched them use the lift for a lady who could not do stairs. I would not worry about DME as long as you have your note about a lift.

[sunshinetaradise]

Awesome! Thank you!! I was getting kinda bummed that I wouldn't have the whole DME experience if I was gonna have to ride in a van or something. I'm getting more and more excited now!!


---
I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?35wr5y

[Eeyore Tattoo]

Glad we could help., Have a Magical Trip!

[mechurchlady]

I still have a headache so cannot remember the passporter name for the guide but do get Open Mouse or whatever the WDW disabled guide is. WDW is doing everything they can to make all guests have the same experience. You will get to experience lines even if you cannot ride and be able to ride the Great Movie ride. I promise that you will have a great time except for the cobblestones and other rought areas. I am about ready to chuck my scooter for an ATV, lol.

Your tapatalk in your signature gives your location a wee bit too specific.
Have fun planning and if you need anything holler. There are so many things for disabled travelers from rooms to restaurants to rides.
waves
off to find aspirin
Laurie

Sue in MN is the expert if you need anything.

[sunshinetaradise]

I've been to WDW 13 times or so, so I know what to expect as far as the parks and all that goes but I've never used DME so I was a little unsure what to expect.

Yeah I just now figured out how to turn off the setting that shows where I am with that link. I use my phone a lot to access the boards through the tapatalk app.

[SueM loves WDW]

(Wave at mechurchlady)

The DME buses are different than the buses used to go from park to park. The DME buses are large touring buses, with compartments for luggage storage underneath.
Not all of th have lifts, so they say it will be a shorter wait if you prearranged for the lift bus when making your DME reservations. We have found it can be a pretty long wait even when we did prearrange it. When you are leaving the airport, it's not vital to make arrangements ahead of time,. When you are coming home, it's very important. If they send a bus without a lift, the time to send another one may make it tight to make your flight.

Because of the buses being tour buses, it is a loooooong way up to the seating area, so be prepared for a pretty high ride up on the lift.
Here is a picture of the DME bus lift in its highest position:


The driver will load you in your wheelchair onto the lift and then send you up to the seating area of the bus. The back few seats by that back door are movable and will be slid out of the way to make space for your wheelchair.

They will use tieddown hooks to secure your wheelchair to the bus floor.
If your wheelchair came with a transport option with tiedown loops, you are all set. If it didn't ( like my daughter's manual wheelchair), it will save time and make it easier if you premark safe tiedown spots on the wheelchair. These are basically sturdy parts of the wheelchair frame - pieces that are not bolted or strapped on. We mark them with bright colored duct tape to make them easy to notice. It is very easy to tell bus drivers to just look for the hot pink tape.

The buses that go between the parks and resorts are much easier. Most of them have ramps (a few of the very old ones with lifts are still left, but they are lifting you up only about 24 inches, not way up in the air).

[sunshinetaradise]

Thank you for the pic!! I've used the resort buses numerous times so I know what to expect with them. I know the right spots for tie downs so I'll have no issues with showing them where. I have a TiLite lightweight titanium manual chair that I paid out of pocket for so I don't want to put duct tape on it.

[SueM loves WDW]

Originally Posted by sunshinetaradise

Thank you for the pic!! I've used the resort buses numerous times so I know what to expect with them. I know the right spots for tie downs so I'll have no issues with showing them where. I have a TiLite lightweight titanium manual chair that I paid out of pocket for so I don't want to put duct tape on it.

We used ribbon before, but switched to duct tape because it helps prevent any scratching from the tiedown hooks.
We are more careful when tieing our daughter's chair down in our own van, but some of the drivers are hurrying and scratches do happen.
Duct tape does remove pretty cleanly though from metal without much trouble or residue.

Electrical tape also works well and doesn't have much stick if you do decide you want to try something.