The Frog Family has visited Disneyland with friends and family members who use a wheelchair. We also have a friend who sometimes uses a walker for short intervals, and other times requires a wheelchair for more strenuous activities. We knew she needed a wheelchair to make it through the rigor of a day at the Disneyland Resort, and we had questions about the best place to park, how to rent a wheelchair (in her case, an electric conveyance vehicle, or ECV) and how to access rides and shows (as well as keep her safe and comfortable). Many other families have these questions as well, so we’ve compiled this easy guide for using a wheelchair at Disneyland!
There is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to using a wheelchair, so everyone’s needs and experience may vary slightly. If someone in your party has physical or other health-related limitations, you might be worried about using a wheelchair at Disneyland. We know you have sooooo many questions about this.
We have another friend who brings her own scooter. It's smaller and has better maneuverability than the larger ECVs, but it's also lower and harder to see, so people walk into and over her a lot. Traveling with friends with disabilities really helps us understand some of the issues or challenges that go along with using a wheelchair at Disneyland.
Whether your family member has a temporary injury, needs a chair for longer excursions or uses a wheelchair full time or cannot transfer, our guide to using a wheelchair at Disneyland should cover all the bases.
If you have a party member who is older, overcoming a major illness or maybe facing (or recovering from) an upcoming knee or hip replacement, walking around Disneyland may be too much for them. A wheelchair or ECV can really make a difference in being part of the hoppy family memories without overdoing it.
When Grandpa Frog (who has joint pain) joins us, we know that renting an ECV helps him to rest and allows us to get a lot more mileage out of him than if he had to hop around all day. Having a safe place to ride and sit can prevent falls and keep him safe.
Answers to Common Questions About Using a Wheelchair at Disneyland
Where Can I Find a Disneyland Wheelchair Rental?
If you want to rent, Disneyland rents regular manual wheelchairs you can push yourself or have someone else push for you. They also offer electric conveyance vehicles (ECVs). You cannot reserve any Disneyland wheelchair rentals in advance, so it’s best to arrive in the morning, because they can run out on busy days. Rent and pick them up just outside of Disneyland Park gates at the stroller rental kiosk, located on the right side when facing the entrance. You can also leave walkers there for storage.
Manual wheelchairs (max weight 350 pounds) run $15 per day. The ECV rentals (max weight 450 pounds) cost $60 plus tax. Both have an additional refundable $20 deposit (no tax on that) with a wheelchair return. Guests must be 18 years or older and present a photo ID to rent a wheelchair. You can also rent manual wheelchairs at select Disneyland Resort hotels.
You can take these wheelchairs and ECVs between the parks and around Downtown Disney. However, you cannot take Disneyland wheelchair rentals outside security. If you want a wheelchair to take to your hotel, you should rent one off-site.
Renting Wheelchairs, Scooters and ECVs Off-site
If you need a wheelchair for more than just use at the Disneyland Resort, you can rent ECVs and wheelchairs from other off-site locations. There are rental locations just across from Disneyland. Some services offer delivery to your hotel or even the theme park itself. Their prices may be less than the theme parks’ prices and may work better for multi-day rentals or for use outside the parks. Ask about the price range if you need it for several days. Depending on your hotel, you may need to be present for drop-off and pick-up.
ScooterBug is Disneyland's preferred site for wheelchair and ECV deliveries (and strollers) if you are staying on-site. It's a matter of convenience for you. ScooterBug can leave it at the hotel for you. If you use a different rental service, you'll have to meet the company for drop-off and pick-up. ScooterBug rents pediatric wheelchairs.
You'll find a few rental locations located just across the street from Disneyland. One Stop Mobility is near the Tropicana Inn & Suites. Select Mobility is located at the Best Western Park Place Inn. Dekert Surgical Supply will deliver to your hotel.
Where Should I Park?
The Toy Story Lot has disabled parking and uses accessible city buses to transport guests to Disneyland. Accessible parking is close to the bus area. The parking structures have disabled parking, as well as wheelchair-accessible parking trams.
If you are not staying on-site or at a nearby hotel, you’ll want to park in the easiest lot to access the front gates and wheelchair rental area if needed. Even though both the Mickey and Friends Structure and the Toy Story Lot offer disabled parking, the easiest lot when dealing with disabilities is the Toy Story Lot. This is especially important if you are not arriving in your own wheelchair and can only walk short distances, especially with a cane or walker. The disabled parking is very close to the buses. If you do not have a placard, we have found that the preferred parking usually has a much shorter walk in the Toy Story Lot than the structure lots. Security lines are usually shorter at the Toy Story Lot.
There are dedicated buses with ramps and disabled seating to transport you to the security checkpoint just outside of the front gates on the Harbor Boulevard side of the parks. Wheelchairs will need to be secured. Once you get through security, it's a short walk or roll to the ticket windows, the wheelchair rental area and park entrances. Security is usually at Harbor, but in the morning you can go through security at the lot itself. That gets you to Disneyland quicker! There are new bathrooms in the nearby Bullseye section of the lot. What a relief!
If you are using a walker or cane or have any difficulty moving, the Toy Story Lot offers you the shortest walk. There is a shaded area with benches to wait for the bus. There is a dedicated bus loading area for people with disabilities, and that translates to a shorter wait and fewer steps.
The Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals structures have plenty of accessible parking and vans/parking shuttles. You may encounter a longer walk between steps (and sometimes long lines for elevators), so using Toy Story is our best tip for people needing to rent a wheelchair and for those who need the shortest walk or traveling distance possible. There are some courtesy wheelchairs to get guests between the Downtown Disney tram and the Main Entrance/Esplanade, but they may not be used to enter the park.
How Does Using a Wheelchair at Disneyland Affect Rides?
One of the biggest questions may be how using a wheelchair affects access to rides and lines. It’s confusing because there is no single answer! Each ride is different, and even the parks are different in how someone using a wheelchair might access them. Plus, policies change all the time. Many attractions at Disneyland Park were built a long time ago and have tiny, twisting spaces for their queues and cannot accommodate wheelchairs. You may access those rides via the exit or a separate, wheelchair-accessible entrance. Some rides in Disneyland Park and all in Disney California Adventure have accessible queues, so you'll use the regular line.
When you arrive at any park, stop by Accessibility Services windows, or any Information kiosk or at City Hall or Chamber of Commerce. You can ask for a Guide for Guests with Disabilities. The Guide includes a park map (each park has its own guide and map). A cast member will circle any ride for which you can collect a Location Return Time.
To collect a return time, you’ll speak to a cast member at the attraction. You'll collect a digital ride return time in the Disneyland app that matches the current wait time. The cast member will scan the wheelchair user's park ticket, as well as the other party members who wish to ride with them. (Make sure everyone's tickets are linked to one account.) You’ll still wait the same amount of time as other guests. But you will be free to try some tasty treats, enjoy another attraction, use the restroom or relax in the shade until your return time. We always love people-watching at Disneyland (especially while enjoying a favorite snack)! When it's time to ride, you'll enter the auxiliary entry location that the cast member told you to go and show your park tickets.
You can collect a location return time directly from these specific rides in Disneyland Park (Disney California Adventure does not offer this service because the queues are newer and accessible):
- Alice in Wonderland
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- Chip ‘n’ Dales GADGETcoaster
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Jungle Cruise
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- Toad’s Wild Ride
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Space Mountain
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
Once your wait time is up, follow the signs for the wheelchair-accessible entrance. The cast member there will scan the person using the wheelchair’s park ticket first, followed by the other party members. Once you have scanned your ticket and ridden, you can go collect a new wait time for your next ride. At some rides, you may receive a card to hand to the cast member when you use a separate line.
At Disney California Adventure, the ride queues are ADA-compliant, so for the most part, you will enter the normal line with other guests and wait in the standard queue. You might get diverted to separate loading areas when it is time to board.
If this does not work for your party (say someone in your party has autism or a related cognitive disability and cannot wait in a standard line), talk to a cast member at an Accessibility Services kisok, which is now located in the Esplanade between the theme parks. Visit the booth before entering a park. Guests whose disabilities prevent them from waiting in a normal line due to autism or related cognitive disabilities may qualify for Disability Access Service (DAS). Talking to a cast member is the best way to assess the options available to meet your needs.
For some rides, you can stay in your wheelchair or ECV. For others, you can ride in a wheelchair but not an ECV (Disney will supply a wheelchair for transferring). Many rides require you to transfer from the chair to the ride seat. You can park fairly close to the ride to transfer.
How Do I Find Out About Ride Accessibility?
There are several ways to find out how you can access rides and if you need to transfer. The Guides for Guests With Disabilities list all the attractions and their accessibility, as well as which ride entrance to use. Some rides allow you to remain in a wheelchair or EVC, but for some, you have to transfer from an ECV to a manual wheelchair. For others, you have to transfer to walking. Some rides have a transfer seat or vehicle to assist.
There is a free service called Disney Genie in the Disneyland app. When you set up your day and select the rides you are interested in, it provides a suggested itinerary for your day. You can select to see accessibility options for each attraction at the end of set-up so you'll know what to expect at each attraction. Find out more in our guide to Genie at Disneyland.
How Hard Is It to Transfer?
That really depends on the individual and ride; however, the Disney cast members are incredibly patient and kind with people transferring from wheelchairs to rides. If there is a conveyor belt-type walkway (such as for The Haunted Mansion, The Little Mermaid or Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters), you can have them slow or even stop it to make it easier to get in or out.
Some rides, such as Radiator Springs Racers and Toy Story Midway Mania, have separate loading and unloading areas, so you can take all the time you need. But you do need to be able to step in and out of the ride and remain upright. Cast members cannot lift you in or out. You will need to transfer by yourself or with help from someone in your party. Some rides offer tools, such as a transfer device, which can be used as a portable bench or similar device to assist guests with mobility disabilities when transferring from a wheelchair or ECV to a ride. Rides with transfer devices include:
- Autopia
- Mad Tea Party (as well as a Transfer Access Vehicle)
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain (available at designated transfer and load area)
- Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
Transfer Access Vehicles are unique vehicles in the attraction that assist guests with mobility disabilities in transferring from the ECV or wheelchair to the ride. Rides that offer Transfer Access Vehicles include:
- Alice in Wonderland
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Golden Zephyr
- Goofy's How-to-Play Yard
- Haunted Mansion
- Incredicoaster
- Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
- Mad Tea Party (as well as a transfer device)
- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Radiator Springs Racers (designated transfer and load area)
- Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
- Star Tours — The Adventure Continues
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Can I Stay in My Wheelchair if I Cannot Transfer?
There are a few rides in which you can stay in a standard wheelchair without transferring, but some do not accommodate ECVs or larger ECVs (it depends on the size). You can consult the listed attractions on the park maps to see icons that depict whether you need to transfer to the ride seat or can ride in a wheelchair/ECV. The wheelchair icon means you can stay in an ECV or wheelchair. There is another icon that shows whether you must transfer from an ECV to a park-supplied standard wheelchair for rides in which you can stay in a wheelchair. Rides that can accommodate wheelchairs include:
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- “it’s a small world” (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- Jungle Cruise
- Disneyland Railroad (ECVs are accommodated in the last train via a ramp)
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (alternate experience)
- Disneyland Monorail
- Red Car Trolley (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- Toy Story Midway Mania! (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- Pixar Pal-A-Round (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- Jessie’s Critter Carousel
- The Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
- WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure (must transfer from ECV to standard wheelchair)
Is It Safe to Leave My Wheelchair at Disneyland While I Ride?
Your wheelchair is most likely safe. You should, however, take extra steps to secure your belongings and the chair by removing the key from ECVs and taking valuables with you. (The Disneyland ECV keys come with a bracelet.) You can fold the seat back down when parking the ECV. That way the sun does not make your seat too hot. Keep your receipt with you just in case. Only park in designated areas or Disney employees may move your wheelchair. Chances are they will move it even if you do, but most of the time it is to move it closer to you so it is there for you when you exit the ride.
How do Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass Work When Using a Wheelchair at Disneyland?
Remember how we mentioned the free Genie service? Well, there are also optional paid services you can use in the Disneyland app to skip the standard queue for select rides. Everyone, including people collecting Location Return Times for disabilities, can opt to pay for Lightning Lane Multi Pass (formerly Genie+) or Lightning Lane Single Pass selections to use the Lightning Lane instead of the standard queue. (It's a lot to process, so read up on these new services in our Disneyland Lightning Lane Multi Pass FAQ.)
The Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass selections use a separate system from the disability return times, so they do not affect one another. You can use both at the same time. Using both will really help you maximize your time and skip the lines. You can use a Lightning Lane for a ride or two while you are waiting for your disability return time to become active.
We recommend paying for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, especially to shorten the wait at Disney California Adventure since that park does not have Location Return Times. For an additional fee per day, you can make ride reservations for select rides from your smartphone wherever you are. Throwing a mobility issue into the mix and trying to maneuver a wheelchair through crowds makes Lightning Lane Multi Pass well worth the price of saving time and the hassle of collecting a return time. Plus, it comes with unlimited PhotoPass downloads! We have hopping good news! We now sell discounted multi-day Disneyland Resort tickets loaded with Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you'll be ready to go as soon as you enter the park!
Keep in mind that Lightning Lane selections are one-hour return windows and you can only arrive up to 15 minutes late, whereas the disability return time does not expire until you use it or the park closes, offering more flexibility. The disability return times can be used for any ride in the park (including those with Lightning Lane entrances), but only select rides are offered on Lightning Lane Multi Pass or as Lightning Lane Single Pass. Knowing that may help you to manage your selections by using Lightning Lane Multi Pass for rides with a Lightning Lane and your disability return time for rides without a Lightning Lane. You can only hold one disability return time at a time, so it’s smart to use both services when using a wheelchair.
How Does Using a Wheelchair at Disneyland Affect Shows?
Each show may have different policies, so it’s always a good idea to ask cast members in advance. For the most part, cast members usually let people with disabilities get seated and settled in designated areas first before letting in other guests. That way, the guests can either stay in their chairs and sit in designated areas with a companion or transfer to a theater seat. Depending on the situation, you may take the wheelchair to the seat, transfer and have a party member park the wheelchair, or you can park outside and walk to your seat.
For Fantasmic! and World of Color, there are designated wheelchair viewing areas. At World of Color, they are at the back or on the right-hand side near Golden Zephyr. For Fantasmic! you'll find a viewing area at either side of the main viewing areas.
If you are approaching the show from Bayou Country, use the viewing area that is the lowest dining deck of Pelican Landing (below Harbour Galley). If you are approaching from Frontierland, use the viewing area near the petrified tree (but that fills in early). Or find your own viewing behind a railing early. If you purchase a dining package, you can bring your wheelchair or ECV to the viewing area and sit at the back. Everyone is seated on the ground in front of you, so you can see really well from your chair. That offers the most central and unobstructive viewing.
Some shows have areas with companion seats where people can view the show from their wheelchairs if that is a better option for them. For example, benches at the Royal Theatre do not have backs or arms. So a person who needs more support might find a wheelchair or ECV to be more comfortable.
The following shows and theaters can accommodate wheelchairs:
- Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Fantasmic! (to the sides of the viewing areas and at the back of dining package viewing)
- Royal Theatre shows
- Shows at Fantasyland Theatre (when offered)
- Disney Junior Dance Party
- Mickey's PhilharMagic at Sunset Showcase Theater
- Shows at The Hyperion (when offered)
- World of Color (There is disability viewing near the back, and people in wheelchairs who have joined the virtual queue can also enter the Yellow area.)
What About Viewing Parades and Fireworks?
People using wheelchairs can watch parades and nighttime shows in any common viewing area. There may be some wheelchair viewing areas for parades. They are first-come, first-served, and you are not limited to using them. The disadvantage to sitting down in a chair is that it can be hard to see over people standing around you. So if you want the unobstructed view, you might choose to camp out early for that perfect front-row spot.
For fireworks, the back of Main Street, U.S.A. (closer to the train station but in front of the trees) is less crowded than the areas closer to the castle. You can still get that iconic castle view, along with any show elements that may occur on Main Street (for certain shows). A great location to see projections and fireworks without the crowds is near “it’s a small world.” You can also view fireworks from the viewing areas at Rivers of America (stay in place after the 9 p.m. Fantasmic!). The projections are on water screens, and you can still hear the music.
How Do I Use the Restroom with a Wheelchair?
There are larger disability stalls in each bathroom. You can also find companion restrooms with additional space and privacy. Use the Disneyland app to locate the nearest one. At Disneyland, you'll find them here:
- To the left of City Hall
- Main Street, U.S.A. First-Aid Station (this is a good place to change an adult)
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Fantasyland Theatre
- Toontown
- Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
At Disney California Adventure, you can find companion restrooms:
- Near the Chamber of Congress at the first Aid Station (this is a good place to change an adult)
- Avengers Campus
- Cars Land
- Pacific Wharf (near Baby Care Center)
- Across from The Little Mermaid — Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
The restrooms in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge are a favorite of a friend who uses a wheelchair. They are spacious and there is more room around the sinks. Hop over to our guide to the best bathrooms at Disneyland for more bathroom tips.
What if My Child Uses a Stroller as Their Wheelchair?
There are places you cannot take strollers, but you can definitely take wheelchairs in the parks. So, what happens when your child with disabilities uses a stroller as a wheelchair? There is a special tag that you can place on the stroller to indicate to cast members that that stroller is actually a wheelchair and can be allowed in restaurants and in lines for attractions or shows when other strollers have to be parked outside. You can get your stroller tagged at any of the guest relations umbrellas in the parks. The tag color changes every two months.
Tips for Using a Wheelchair at Disneyland
Here are a few tips for using a wheelchair at Disneyland:
- Try to plan your visit for a less-crowded time.
- Spring for the ECV to save your energy (and someone else from pushing you) over a standard wheelchair.
- Bring USB phone power cords — the ECVs have USB ports and they charge your phones!
- Arrive early to secure a chair — they can sell out!
- Plan air-conditioned shows and shade during the heat of the day.
- If you have people who are at risk of falling, unable to walk long distances or cannot stand for long, definitely rent a wheelchair.
- Make table-service restaurant reservations in advance and indicate a wheelchair-accessible table on the reservation.
- Be patient: It is definitely challenging to maneuver through crowds with a wheelchair with people stepping in front of you.
- Make yourself more visible. If you are new to using a wheelchair at Disneyland you'll find people's eyes are looking up instead of down. That means they might not see you right away. Wear light-up necklaces at night or string some battery-operated lights on your chair or ECV to stand out. Decorate the chair more Disney-like if you want to draw attention to it or attach a balloon or high flag to it.
- Consult park maps and the Disneyland app for companion restrooms and important attraction information.
- Consider using Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass as well as a Location Return Time.
- Send a party member who is more mobile to collect a return time for the party.
- Always present the person using the wheelchair’s park ticket first when redeeming a return time.
- Never be afraid to ask a cast member for help or information.
- View return times in the Disneyland Mobile app.
- Have a friend or family member wet some paper towels for washing hands or bring hand wipes. It can be challenging to access the crowded bathroom sinks from a wheelchair.
- Arrive early for shows to secure disabled seating.
- Plan breaks, and don’t overdo it!
- If you use a stroller for support due to your disability, you can get a wheelchair tag for it. That allows you to keep it with you in queues and other areas where strollers are generally not allowed.
- Get a stroller tag for strollers used as wheelchairs for children with disabilities.
- Consider renting off-site to save money and make arrival easier. Then you'll have the wheelchair to use for your time outside the theme parks.
Overall, our friend had an amazing day using a wheelchair at Disneyland. I mean, she had us frogs there to hop along to help her maximize her time, guide her toward gentle rides she could enjoy and set the perfect pace for her day. On top of that, everyone at Disneyland was helpful and kind. They never rushed her and encouraged her to take her time getting in and out of rides. Her safety and dignity were of the utmost importance to the cast members. That made a huge difference in the whole experience and made special memories for everyone.
She used Lightning Lane Multi Pass along with Location Return Times to accomplish everything she wanted to do. She scheduled shows and indoor meals during the heat of the day to keep cool, and we all took advantage of the USB ports on the ECV to keep our phones fully juiced! We frogs got to experience things we’ve never seen when rolling with her. It was hoppin’ fun for all!
Have you used a wheelchair in the parks? Tell us about your experience. Have questions about using a wheelchair at Disneyland? Share them in the comments below!
Related: Overview of Disneyland Disability Access Service (DAS)
Hoppy planning!
