Walt Disney World Services for Guests with Mobility Disabilities

Posted on by Kenneth Reece, Agent of Modern Travel Professionals

Helpful services and access options are available throughout the Walt Disney World Resort for guests with mobility disabilities. For more information you can contact Disability Services at (407)560-2547 or email disability.services@disneyparks.com

Attraction Access Categories

Walt Disney World attractions offer access for Guests with mobility disabilities in the following categories:

  • Must transfer from wheelchair/ECV to ride vehicle
  • Must transfer from ECV to wheelchair
  • Must transfer from ECV to wheelchair, and from wheelchair to ride vehicle

May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV

These attractions allow Guests to remain in their wheelchair or Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV) during the experience.

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Jungle Cruise
  • Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
  • Country Bear Jamboree
  • Raft to Tom Sawyer Island
  • The Hall of Presidents
  • Liberty Square Riverboat
  • Mickey’s PhilharMagic®
  • Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
  • Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor®

Epcot

  • Advanced Training Lab
  • Innoventions
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends® (Turtle Talk with Crush and Bruce’s Shark World)
  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment
  • ImageWorks – The “What If” Labs
  • Mexico Folk Art Gallery
  • Stave Church Gallery
  • Reflections of China
  • House of Whispering Willows
  • The American Adventure
  • America Gardens Theatre
  • Bijutsu-kan Gallery
  • Gallery of Arts and History
  • Impressions de France
  • O Canada!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!
  • Muppet*Vision 3D
  • Walt Disney Presents
  • Voyage of the Little Mermaid
  • Disney Junior – Live on Stage!
  • Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
  • Fantasmic!
  • Star Wars Launch Bay

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

  • Tree of Life Garden
  • Discovery Island® Trails
  • It’s Tough to be a Bug!®
  • Festival of the Lion King
  • The Boneyard
  • Dino-Sue
  • Fossil Fun Games
  • Finding Nemo – The Musical
  • Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail
  • Wildlife Express Train
  • Maharajah Jungle Trek®
  • Conservation Station®
  • Rivers of Light

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

  • Tike’s Peak

Must Be Ambulatory

These attractions require Guests to walk by themselves or be assisted by members of their party.

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • Tom Sawyer Island
  • Peter Pan’s Flight®
  • Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

  • Summit Plummet
  • Downhill Double Dipper

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

  • Keelhaul Falls    
  • Mayday Falls
  • Gangplank Falls
  • Humunga Kowabunga
  • Storm Slides
  • Bay Slides

Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV to Ride Vehicle

These attractions require Guests to transfer from their wheelchair or ECV—by themselves or with assistance from their party—to a ride vehicle.

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Main Street Vehicles
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®
  • Splash Mountain® (transfer device also available)
  • Haunted Mansion®
  • The Barnstormer
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant®
  • Mad Tea Party (transfer device also available)
  • Astro Orbiter
  • Tomorrowland Speedway (transfer device also available)
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Epcot

  • Soarin’®
  • Mission: SPACE® (transfer device also available)
  • Test Track
  • Frozen Ever After

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Alien Swirling Saucers
  • Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

  • Kali River Rapids® (transfer device also available)
  • Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
  • Primeval Whirl
  • Na’vi River Journey (transfer device also available)
  • DINOSAUR

Blizzard Beach

  • Slush Gusher
  • Teamboat Springs
  • Toboggan Racers
  • Snow Stormers
  • Runoff Rapids
  • Cross Country Creek
  • Teamboat Springs

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Park

  • Castaway Creek
  • Crush ‘n’ Gusher
  • Miss Adventure Falls

Must Transfer from ECV to Wheelchair

Guests must transfer to a wheelchair provided at the attraction. At some attractions listed below, the transfer will occur at the entrance, while at other attractions, the transfer will occur within the building or queue.

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Walt Disney World Railroad
  • The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • “it’s a small world”®
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • Stitch’s Great Escape
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Epcot

  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends
  • Living with the Land
  • Behind the Seeds
  • Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Toy Story Mania!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

  • Affection Section
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris®
  • TriceraTop Spin

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Park

  • Chairlift
  • Melt-Away Bay
  • Ski Patrol Training Camp

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

  • Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool
  • Ketchakiddee Creek

Must Transfer from ECV to Wheelchair, and from Wheelchair to Ride Vehicle

The following attractions require Guests to transfer to an available wheelchair at the attraction, then to transfer from the wheelchair to the ride vehicle. At some attractions below, the transfer to an available wheelchair will occur at the entrance. At others, the transfer to an available wheelchair will occur within the building or queue.

Magic Kingdom Park

  • Pirates of the Caribbean®
  • Space Mountain®

Epcot

  • Spaceship Earth

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

  • Star Tours® – The Adventures Continue
  • Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith (transfer device also available)
  • Slinky Dog Dash

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

  • Avatar Flight of Passage (transfer device also available)

Wheelchair and ECV Accessibility with Walt Disney World Transportation

Most of the transportation systems at the Walt Disney World Resort are accessible to Guests with disabilities.

Bus Access
All bus routes are serviced by buses equipped to accommodate various types of wheelchairs and ECVs/scooters within the following guidelines:

  • The mobility device must fit the lift without being forced.
  • The mobility device must be securely fastened in the onboard restraints.

Most buses can hold up to 2 mobility devices in the securement areas. It is recommended that Guests using an ECV/scooter transfer to a bus seat while onboard. Guests using canes, walkers, crutches or who have difficulty walking can board via the rear door. Guests should share their request to use the ramp or rear door with the bus driver before boarding.

Watercraft Access

Watercraft access varies depending on the type of watercraft and the existing water levels and conditions. Please contact a Disney Cast Member at the watercraft dock for information and assistance.

Monorail Access

Guests may access the Walt Disney World monorail system by using the elevators or ramps at the Transportation and Ticket Center, Magic Kingdom park, Epcot, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Disney’s Magical Express Access

Disney’s Magical Express motorcoaches accommodate most Guests in standard-size wheelchairs and ECVs. Please indicate if you will require a wheelchair lift to board the motorcoach when you book your Disney’s Magical Express reservation.

Disney’s Magical Express service will no longer be offered starting with arrivals January 1, 2022. The service will continue to operate for new and existing reservations made at Disney Resort hotels for arrivals throughout 2021.

Luggage delivery for those arriving to and departing from the airport and Resort Airline Check-In Service are no longer available. Guests who choose to use Disney’s Magical Express service will be responsible for picking up any of their checked luggage from the airport’s baggage claim area, so that it can be loaded onto the motorcoach to their Disney Resort hotel. Please know that your luggage will travel with you to your Disney Resort hotel.

Luggage assistance will be available at the front of your Disney Resort hotel, including luggage storage and/or transport to the room.

Wheelchair and ECV Rental

Wheelchairs and Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECVs) are available to rent throughout Walt Disney World Resort.

Parking

Parking for Guests with disabilities is available throughout Walt Disney World Resort. A valid disability parking permit is required and standard parking rates apply.

Theme Park Parking
Guests with the ability to walk short distances and step onto courtesy trams should park in the main parking lots of Magic Kingdom park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. If necessary, Guests may ask for a space at the end of a row closest to the courtesy tram pick-up/drop-off location. Courtesy trams will then transport Guests to each theme park’s Main Entrance.

Theme Park Disability Parking Lots
Guests with mobility disabilities—including those traveling with personal wheelchairs, electric scooters or other mobility devices—should park in our Disability Parking Lots, located a short distance from the main entrance to each of the 4 theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort. Courtesy trams do not stop at these locations.

For further directions on parking options, Guests should inquire at the theme park Auto Plaza (there’s an Auto Plaza at the entrance to each Walt Disney World theme park). Or, call Guest Services at (407) 824-2222. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

For up to the minute updates on Walt Disney World Mobility Disability Services, please click here.

Published by Kenneth Reece, Agent of Modern Travel Professionals

Hi! My name is Kenneth Reece, a native from Stockbridge, Georgia. I am a travel agent for Modern Travel Professionals. I opened Enchanted Gardens Florist & Gifts in 1986--when I was just 19. My love affair with Disney started in 1998 when I added Walt Disney collectibles to my merchandise displays. When I started to learn about the rich history of The Walt Disney Company, (which is required to successfully sell Walt Disney Animation Art) is when my store came alive. I've enjoyed hosting Disney Artists, Sculptors & Imagineers for in-store signing events, and was thrilled to tour the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank a few times as a guest of the company. One of my fondest Disney memories is that of holding one of Walt Disney's personal Academy Awards while visiting the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank, CA. As my love of Disney grew, I began planning trips to Disney for my clients at my store, which grew into a new career! After a few years of both running my retail store and planning travel, I closed my brick & mortar store, moved to Vero Beach, Fl where I've been planning travel full-time now for over five years. Vero Beach has small-town charm with world-class luxury. It's an incredible place to live. I help take care of my parents here, and travel extensively with them. Together, we visit Disneyland and The Walt Disney World Resort often. I've planned tours in England, Scotland, Paris, Greece, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, & France including Disneyland Paris. Living in Vero Beach, where retirees seem to outnumber all other age groups, I've become an expert on helping people travel who are "young at heart". Living a short road trip away from the Orlando area, I visit the theme parks at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando & Sea World often. Many times I'm there once a week! I've stayed at every Disney Resort in North America, toured every hotel at the Universal Resort, and have taken over 25 cruises, being a Platinum Castaway Cay member with Disney Cruise Line. I've cruised to the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Trans-Atlantic (East & Westbound), Mediterranean & Northern Europe. Also, if you need restaurant recommendations, I've personally ate at most of the restaurants at the Walt Disney World Resort & at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is my favorite Walt Disney World Resort, and Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa is my favorite resort at Disneyland. I've attended various events at Walt Disney World such as: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Star Wars Weekends, Disneyana Conventions, EPCOT's Food & Wine Festival, The Flower & Garden Festival and the new Festival of Arts. Contact me for personalized, concierge-level service. I'll help you as much (or as little) as you like, whatever your needs. I want to provide you with a worry free, incredible vacation, with memories that will last a life time.