Riding in style!
When planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth, logistics are everything, especially when it comes to navigating the parks with mobility devices. Whether you are bringing your own wheelchair or renting an Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV) for the day, Disneyland is incredibly accommodating.
If you or a family member are visiting the parks with a mobility device, here are the top tips and tricks you need to know for a seamless, magical day.
The Magic of Accessibility: Most Rides Are Ready for You!
One of the most amazing things about the Disneyland Resort is just how incredibly accessible it is. You might be surprised to learn that the vast majority of attractions, shops, and restaurants are completely wheelchair and ECV friendly!
Disney California Adventure, being the newer of the two parks, is a breeze to navigate. Every single standby queue in DCA is built to be fully accessible, meaning you can roll right through the regular lines with the rest of your party. Over at Disneyland Park, many of the newer or updated queues are also fully accessible. You can often stay in your wheelchair or ECV right up until the boarding area, and some attractions even feature specialized ride vehicles that allow you to roll directly on board without ever needing to transfer!
What to Do If a Ride is NOT Accessible
Because Disneyland Park opened back in 1955, a handful of the classic Fantasyland and Frontierland attractions have narrower, historic queues that cannot accommodate wheelchairs or ECVs. But don’t worry—Disney has a fantastic system in place to ensure you don’t miss out on the magic!
If you arrive at an attraction with an inaccessible queue (like Alice in Wonderland or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad), here is exactly what you need to do:
- Speak to a Cast Member: Head to the ride exit or the attraction greeting area and let the Cast Member know you are using a mobility device.
- Get a Location Return Time: Because you cannot wait in the physical line, the Cast Member will issue you a “Location Return Time.” They will scan your park ticket (and the tickets of everyone in your party who wants to ride with you) to assign a digital return time in your Disneyland app.
- Enjoy the Park: Your return time will match the current standby wait time. So, if the line is 45 minutes long, you’ll be given a time to return in 45 minutes. You are free to grab a Dole Whip, watch a parade, or use the restroom while you “wait” virtually!
- Return and Ride: When your time arrives, head back to the designated auxiliary entrance (usually the ride’s exit) to board.
A quick note on transferring: For many rides, you will eventually need to transfer from your wheelchair or ECV into the actual ride vehicle. If you are able to transfer, Cast Members will happily move your mobility device to the unload area so it is waiting for you the moment you step off the ride.
The Ultimate Pro-Tip: Charging Extra Batteries
Long days in the parks mean putting a lot of miles on your ECV or power chair. The last thing you want is a dead battery right before the nighttime spectaculars begin!
Here is one of our favorite lesser-known tips: You can charge extra batteries at the Stroller and Wheelchair Rental center! (always verify that policies haven’t changed beforehand) Located just outside the Disneyland Park main entrance (on the right-hand side before you go through the turnstiles), the rental center isn’t just for picking up Disney’s fleet of devices. If you brought your own personal ECV or power chair and have a spare battery, you can leave it at the rental center to charge while you enjoy the parks. Just drop it off, head in to ride Haunted Mansion, and swap it out later in the day when your main battery starts running low.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/guests-with-disabilities
