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Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair

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Since Disneyland is supposed to be The Happiest Place on Earth, everyone should be able to visit. Whether you have mobility restrictions or not, here are as many tips as possible for families traveling to Disneyland.

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair

Going on that dream vacation can sometimes seem impossible, especially when it comes to going to Disneyland. For many, disabilities and health problems plague our ability to do what we would like and actually enjoy it. While my health problems are not nearly as bad as some, I have experienced this myself several times.

When my entire family booked a trip to Disneyland in 2015, I couldn’t have been more excited! It wasn’t our first time, though it would be the first with both of my kids old enough to fully enjoy the experience. Any time I get to go to Disneyland is a dream! On our first day, we opted to visit California Adventure. Things started out okay but, by mid-day, I was hurting. I took the smallest dose of my pain medication and hoped it would be enough to off set the pain I was experiencing. However, by evening, while waiting for the show to begin, I couldn’t stand any longer. I had taken another dose of pain medication but it was too late; I had overdone it.

It was difficult to hide my tears but I confided in my husband who did his best to find me a good spot to sit down. I actually missed most of the show since we were in a standing area. At this point, I didn’t care and I was heartbroken. I always want to get everything I can out of experiences with my family and I hated that I felt this way. I was in my favorite place in the world but in too much pain to enjoy it.

If you have followed me for awhile, you may remember that I have some chronic health conditions that cause me daily pain. The main culprit is endometriosis, though the veins in my leg and pelvis are also a contributing factor when it comes to walking and standing for long periods of time. Unfortunately, we have yet to find a cure or aid in helping with the symptoms but I’ve learned how to deal with it.

And that includes getting a wheelchair when visiting big theme parks. I haven’t had to do this every time, it just depends on how I control the symptoms, but on the trip I mentioned, we did rent a scooter on our second day at Disneyland. And it was lifesaver! We would have used a wheelchair but my family waited in line some of the time while I sat and then joined them later on. On another trip before that, my younger sister had to use a wheelchair as well.

Navigating Disneyland in a wheelchair doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I’ve partnered with the travel experts at Get Away Today to get a look at experiencing Disneyland in a wheelchair. It is definitely possible to enjoy Disneyland, whether you are walking, riding on a scooter, or in a wheelchair.

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Rentals

This is what we ended up doing on our trip. My husband insisted we do it in order to help me have a better day and avoid the pain of the day before. It was really easy to do and they were so helpful. As I mentioned, we chose to get an ECV to help me avoid having to walk everywhere.

Guests who would like to rent a wheelchair or electric conveyance vehicle (ECV) in Disneyland must be 18 years of age or older, and present valid ID. Rentals can be requested outside the Disneyland Resort gates, or at select hotels near Disneyland. Disneyland offers daily rentals, so wheelchairs and ECVs will need to be returned each day. There is not a way to make reservations, so it’s best to arrive early at the Disneyland Resort to increase your chances of securing either a wheelchair or ECV for the day.

Other vendors near Disneyland offer wheelchair and ECV rentals, so check places like Anaheim Medical Supplies, One Stop Mobility or Cloud of Goods Anaheim Scooter Rentals. These options may offer long-term rentals, allowing you access to the wheelchair or ECV for the duration of your vacation.

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Parking

If you can, stay on property at a Disneyland Resort Hotel, or in other hotels near Disneyland to make transportation to and from the Resort easier. If driving to the Resort is your best option, some of the very best parking when doing Disneyland in a wheelchair can be found in the Toy Story Lot. From the Toy Story Lot you can take a bus with convenient disability access to head to the Disneyland Resort security checkpoint before entering the Resort. There is also ADA parking available at the Mickey and Friends structure, but the distance to the buses is farther. If you’ve arrived with the expectation to rent a wheelchair or ECV from Disney, it’s a short distance from the security checkpoint to the rentals within the Resort.

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Lines

While there are a number of rides in Disneyland that accommodate guests in wheelchairs, some of the lines themselves don’t. Thankfully, Disney has an answer for that! Guests who need or prefer to stay in their wheelchair or ECV can request a ride return time. This will allow guests to wait out of the actual line, and have access to the ride based on current wait times. You’ll wait the same amount of time, just not in the queue where a wheelchair or ECV doesn’t have adequate access. You can spend your wait time nearby enjoying some shade or a snack until it’s time to use the accessible entrance to the ride.

In Disney California Adventure, all lines should be wheelchair accessible, so it’ll be a little more straightforward to wait for a turn to ride.

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – MaxPass

One of the best tools for making Disneyland in a wheelchair a little easier is MaxPass. For $15 per person per day, this optional service allows guests to request FastPasses from anywhere in the Disneyland Resort. You won’t have to try to navigate Disneyland in a wheelchair to get a FastPass before they run out. Simply use your mobile device to do so from wherever you are! FastPasses, combined with ride return time requests, make it so much easier to squeeze in the most rides when visiting Disneyland in a wheelchair.

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Attractions that Require Walking

Navigating Disneyland in a wheelchair doesn’t have to limit all the fun! However, there are some attractions that do require the ability to walk, whether on one’s own or with assistance. To avoid being turned away and disappointed, here is a list of rides to steer clear of if you or a member of your party needs to remain in a wheelchair or ECV:

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Rides that Require Guests to Get Out of Their ECV and into a Wheelchair

I had to do this on a couple of rides myself. If you have questions, ask any of cast member and they will help. They are so kind!

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Rides that Allow Guests to Remain in ECV or Wheelchair During the Attraction:

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Rides that Require Guests to Transfer out of ECV or Wheelchair and into a Seat for the Attraction:

Navigating Disneyland in a Wheelchair – Book Your Trip Today!

If you’re ready to experience Disneyland in a wheelchair, book Disneyland tickets with Get Away Today. They currently offer the best prices on tickets, as well as hotels near Disneyland. For travel between now and May 23, 2019, you can save up to $111 per ticket with Get Away Today. If you travel May 24 through December 31, 2019, take advantage of their exclusive 5th day free special. For the first time ever, this discount is available for 1-Park per Day Tickets as well as Park Hopper Tickets for five days. Having more time at Disneyland in a wheelchair will make it so much more enjoyable! Check out Get Away Today’s savings on 5 days for the price of 4 tickets at www.getawaytoday.com, or call 855-GET-AWAY to speak to a helpful agent. Let them know Your Everyday Family sent you, and use promo code EverydayFamily for $10 in additional savings.

Here are some other travel tips for visiting Disneyland including how to use a layaway plan and traveling with boys:

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