Our family is going to Disney World for Christmas...we are super excited. The kids don't know yet, it will be a surprise. Our extended family is going too so it should make for great memories! The kids ages range from 2 to 11. We will also have with us one person who is 76 and one adult who is in a wheelchair. There will be challenges, we know. My question is we really want to do 1 maybe 2 character meals for the kids. For those of you who usually answer the many Disney questions...logistically will we have trouble entering/exiting etc ? Woud there be any you would definitely avoid due to the wheelchair? I guess I should really re-phrase it, he is always in a wheelchair at home, but we've decided to rent one of those scooters that you see on tv for him during the vacation. We really need to decide which character meals and make the reservations this week. I've heard that many require 6 months advance reservations..and we will be there in just 4 short months, so I've got to get on this ASAP! Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer! -J.
Thanks for the answers, suggestions, etc that I've received so far....we've NEVER been to Disney World, so any and all advice is most appreciated. Keep it coming :)
A big company like Disney should have accommodations everywhere. Go to their website and see if you can find anything. Any of the character meals should be fine...people have strollers everywhere too...no problem.
We just went for the first time, and I'll tell you -- my thought multiple times during the week was "Wow, I'm quite impressed with the access that the handicap have!" Truly -- I thought that many times. Go with the two character meals -- those were the best ways to get autographs & pictures without lines!! :)
my fav is cinderella's happily ever after dinner at 1900 park faire at the Grand Floridian hotel. let the agent you are making your reservations with know that you need an accessable table and the will help you out. If you can't get a reservation somewhere keep trying. There are always cancellations. I usually do last minute deals for World so that means we only actually book our trip about a month out (we always "know" we are going around that time but just wait for a deal). I have never had issues getting reservations for the places I want although it has not been Christmas time so that may be the difference. Have a great trip!
All of the character meals that I can think of are buffets so that may be a bit of a hassle. You should tell them when making your reservation so they seat you in a convenient location though. FYI... I like Chef Micky's at the Contemporary the best out of all the character meals.
Have a fabulous time!!
As far as a wheelchair, several years ago my daughter went to Disney World with our church youth group... and went through the park with another youth that is always in a wheelchair... (and that other girl's mother).....
They got REALLY great treatment.... they were able to go to the front of the lines on just about any ride the other girl wanted to go on!
I'm not sure what all your adult in the wheelchair will be wanting to do, but it shouldn't hinder the ride factor too much.
While I have not been to Disney World yet, we go to Disneyland all the time (we are annual pass holders).
I would call Disney Guest Services and talk with them. Explain the situations of your party and ask for suggestions. They are the absolute best at helping you make the best of your trip and work to accomodate as much as they possibly can.
Renting a scooter from an outside company is better than renting one from the parks if you are there for more than just the day. You can not take them off grounds. We had to rent a wheelchair for my son once when he had a leg cast and we found ourselves putting him in his sisters stroller or my husband had to piggy back him to get to and from the car and tram and such. It was a walking cast so no crutches but it was raining and wet.
Places like this are required by law to be handicap accessible. I would contact the park and ask them these questions. I'm sure they've dealt with it a thousand times and can give you tips to make your trip easier.
I suggest doing either : the breakfast at ohana in the polynesian which is a homestyle setup where they bring the table a skillet of eggs, waffles, potatoes and bacon. They also have a fabulous breadbasket filled with yummy stuff like pineapple bread. Lilo and Stich are the headliners but every time I have gone there were several main characters there dressed in hawaiin shirts.
i would also suggest Ohana for dinner as it is a really good and different meal. It centers around skewers-steak, chicken and shrimp-done on a huge open fire. You can have as many as you like and they are really good. They bring you all the sides to your table. The show is fun with the characters really engaging the kids doing htings like a conga line.
Besides being good these 2 meals are not buffet. I would think a buffet would be really h*** o* a wheel chair. If you DO decide on a buffet I would do Crystal Palace in the MK. ITs a huge space with ample room to move around.
Everyone will suggest Chef Mickeys but I would think their setup would be terrible. I have never been there when it wasn't jam packed (and I go in Feb). The tables are tight and the room is not huge. It would probably be pretty hard to manage around the buffet.
So thats all I know....but if you ask your question on one of the big Disney sites you will get a ton of help. Thats where I went to plan my trips.
The breakfast with Cinderella in the castle would be the only one I could think of that would be an issue. It's somewhat close quarters navigating through there. Renting the scooter is a GREAT idea.
I would suppose the parks would be very accommodating.
You will be fine almost anywhere, but you MUST remind them when you check in that it is a large scooter if he plans to stay in it.
The castle has an elevator. Anyplace will work, sometimes you have to wait on a table not with stairs(Coral Seas, Mexican San Angel Inn, Jiko).
They are all really accessible . Where are you staying ? I agree that 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian is great Cinderella,Prince,Stepmother and Stepsisters are funny not scary.It is on the monorail line so it is easy to get to the park from there. So is the Contemporary where Chef mickeys is located. Its the Fab Five - Mickey,Minnie,Donald,Goofy,Pluto. It is very wide open there .
Akershus in Norway at Epcot is fun too . You get free pictures usually with Belle before you enter the castle. We have only been there for breakfast (yummy) check out the menu for dinner its a little less child friendly(Norwegian food). You can go to the allears website and read the menus . It will tell you all kinds of info about the character meals and wheelchair accessible tips . Dont worry Disney is VERY helpful with every need. If you have anyone with food allergies tell them when you book the reservation and when you arrive at the restaurant. The chef will come out and go over what you can /cant have . Have a Magical Trip !!!!!
Places to avoid would be Garden Grill at Epcot, it is a revolving restaurant, stairs, etc. There is a ramp, but you may find it a hastle.
Ohana's breakfast and Tusker House- big favs
Everywhere in all the Disney parks and restaurants will accommodate someone with a disability. Even at Cinderella’s Royal Table (I am sure they have an elevator). They will have to transfer off the scooter to go on rides and most rides will allow you to ride the scooter to where you get on the ride.
The only problem with renting a scooter at the parks is that the person using it will have to walk to get to the rental counter (they are just inside the entrance gates) and they are first come first serve. The week before Christmas through to New Year’s Day is the busiest time here, more than the summer. I would start calling different companies outside the park and rent one that way, the prices are much cheaper for a weekly rental and they will deliver it to your hotel.
Make sure you check out the Christmas lights at Hollywood Studios.
