Mobility scooter and magical express

Does anybody know how magical express handles someone with ecv or wheelchair I cannot do stairs but haven't seen wheelchair access on the buses?

I think many of the magical express buses have lifts, but not all. Best call ahead and be sure they know you will have a wheelchair.

There is a post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread that discusses this. I copied and pasted it here for you:
There are DME -Disney Magical Express - buses available with lifts to lift a wheelchair into the bus. It is recommended that you request a lift bus when making your DME reservations if you will need one.
If you didn't prearrange it for your trip from the airport to your resort, they will still provide one, but your wait may be longer. If you need one when returning to the airport from your resort, it is vital to prearrange getting one. If you don't, you might risk getting to the airport on time. My family usually asks to leave for the resort extra early to allow for any issues - like a wheelchair bus not coming or the equipment not working.

Here is a picture of the DME bus lift in its highest position:


DME Bus steps


Someone using a wheelchair or ECV can ride it up the lift and then the wheelchair will be fastened down to the floor of the bus.
A wheelchair or ECV can also be placed underneath the bus in the luggage storage compartment, but the person will need to climb the steps.
People have posted before that they were allowed to stand on the lift and ride it up for boarding because they were unable to climb the steps. This is no longer allowed for safety reasons after 2008, but you may see older posts saying they did this.
Only a person seated in a wheelchair, ECV or other mobility device is allowed on the lift. Manual devices need brakes locked. Power devices must be turned off.
No one may stand on the lift or sit on the floor of the lift platform.

If you have mobility problems or other disability, but can climb the stairs, the first row of seats is reserved for guests with disabilities.

If you feel you can't climb the steps, let the CM know when you are making your reservations for DME and again when you check in. They will need to come up with some alternative for you.
I have seen people using an airport wheelchair to ride up the lift, get out of the wheelchair to sit in a seat and then borrow a wheelchair at the resort to get out.
On our trips in the last 4 years, I noticed that there were 2 wheelchairs in the under bus storage area. Since we were the first on, the wheelchairs were on before the bus arrived at the stop.

Thank you

We did have one trip where we waited at the airport for what seemed like forever for a lift equipped ME bus. Finally, we were called over to a wheelchair accessible van that they had called for us. Our party of six was loaded on and got a ride straight to the resort with no other stops. Made the extra wait OK since it evened out in the end.

I will be arriving at the airport with a four wheeled walker. I didn't know DME wouldn't let me ride the lift. I'll have to find out if I can climb the stairs, even slowly. I use oxygen and get short of breath. Can they store my walker under the bus?

These little details are good to know ahead of time. Thanks for any information!

weetot said:

I will be arriving at the airport with a four wheeled walker. I didn't know DME wouldn't let me ride the lift. I'll have to find out if I can climb the stairs, even slowly. I use oxygen and get short of breath. Can they store my walker under the bus?

These little details are good to know ahead of time. Thanks for any information!

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They will store the walker under the bus.

If you tell them you need a lift bus, they should have a wheelchair you are able to use for the lift.
If your walker has a seat and brakes, they will probably let you ride it up the lift. Once you are on, you would transfer to a seat. I'm not sure if they would take it back down and store it underneath or let you fold it and keep it to inside the bus.

As far as finding out if you can climb the bus stairs, you could almost surely find some steps at or near home to practice on or to try out in advance.

Some years ago I read a sad story about someone who was disabled and tore his pants trying to get up the steps in an airplane (a 747) while holding the handle of a satchel between his teeth. Since he succeeded, I was thinking he could have made it up without tearing his pants and without putting dirty things in his mouth by consuming somewhat more time. Of course s bystander could intervene although that did not happen the first time. Not posted on a forum so I could not reply to him with these comments.

Thank you SueM in MN. I will call DME with the information. If I can't use my walker, then I'll have them bring a wheelchair.

SeashoreCM - I have a step to practice on, but I'm very slow and get out of breath. ALso, I have to consider I'll be carrying oxygen. I'm not sure the bus driver would want to wait that long for me to stop and go up the steps.

Don't worry about the driver wanting or be willing to wait. Very likely, the bus will not yet be ready to leave and will be waiting for additional guests.

weetot said:

Thank you SueM in MN. I will call DME with the information. If I can't use my walker, then I'll have them bring a wheelchair.

SeashoreCM - I have a step to practice on, but I'm very slow and get out of breath. ALso, I have to consider I'll be carrying oxygen. I'm not sure the bus driver would want to wait that long for me to stop and go up the steps.

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Don't worry - just like at WDW, you will typically board the bus first, and disembark last. So, take your time