Percentage of Accessible Buses

[Syndrome]

I'm working on a magazine article (in one of my various "other lives" I am a freelance writer), and I have a quick bus question that I hope y'all can help me out (especially certain "y'alls). I know that many of the WDW buses are the new accessible style. Overall, what is the rough percentage of accessible buses? Are there still times when wheelchair guests have to wait till the next one because some are not accessible or are already at their wheelchair capacity? Now that we live nearby, we never take the buses anymore so I'm a bit clueless where they are concerned. Thanks in advance!

[Cheshire Figment]

All the buses are supposed to be fully accessible.

The oldest, being phased out, have a lift.

The middle-aged ones have a ramp.

The newest both have a ramp and kneel, so the ramp angle is very low.

However all only have tiedown space for two wheelchairs or ECVs. So if a bus arrives with a person already using one of the spots arrives only one person can get on. And if there are more than two people with chairs to get on a bus the later ones will have to wait.

However, if the driver knows what he is doing, he will place a call to dispatch to get an extra bus sent out right away.

[Syndrome]

Perfect...just what I needed. Thanks!

[Shorty82]

Also, my understanding is that there is one special bus with more tiedown spots than the norm. It isn't normally used but is pulled out when someone calls in a need for it, such as for a group of handicapped people.

[Cranbiz]

All WDW buses are accessable.

The breakdown is this:

126 RTS - High floor with HC lift. All of these units have 2 tie downs.

71 Nova - Low floor with ramp. All except 1 have 2 tie downs, 1 unit 4815 has 4 tie downs. It is in service every day as a normal bus but is available for special call for parties of more than 2 wheel chairs.

93 Gillig - Low floor with ramp. All have 2 tie downs.

All of the low floor buses (Nova and Gillig) kneel. The older Novas have an extending ramp which, like the RTS will put the bus out of service when it fails, the newer Novas and all the Gilligs have a flip out style ramp which can be deployed manually if the lift motor fails.

Yes, there are times a w/c guest will have to wait, This will be when the bus already has 2 chairs in the tie downs. This is no different from a normal guest waiting because the bus is full. The difference is, every effort is made to immedately replace that bus with a new one to accomodate the guests in the w/c where a normal full bus will take more time.
HTH

[mechurchlady]

Busses and monorails have only so many spaces allotted for ECVs and Wheelchairs. Sometimes guests will have to wait a while because that allotment is used up. Especially like at closing time with parks. Guests are guaranteed access but not guaranteed instant access as they must wait like regular guests who get in line for a full bus.

[Big Wallaby]

Cranbiz's post was almost perfect, but let me translate older and newer. Older means they haven't been converted to the new Gillig ramp yet. It is my understanding that eventually they will all have the Gillig ramp. Of course, this is me not holding my breath. They have more important things to spend money on in buses, like attempting to make a certain computer system that I will not name here work.

[Syndrome]

Perfect! I already sent the article before I saw that the 4-tie bus is regularly in service, but since there is only one I don't think it will make a big difference. Since most are two, it will let people know what to expect most of the time.