UK Blue Badge holders

[donnalwat]

Hi All :wavey:

My husband is wheelchair bound (paralysed from chest down), we have hired a car to help with getting around but I have had a sudden thought about disabled parking! Will just taking his UK blue badges suffice or do I need to apply for something over there? Can anyone help?

[FRANTIC_FROG]

Your blue badge is sufficient for parking in the parks.
Flash it at the car park attendants and they will wave you on to the designated disabled parking.
I'm not really too sure about public parking like shops/restaurants etc, but without meaning to sound rude or insensitive, I would imagine that it was obvious looking at your husband that he is genuine and can't imagine you would have a problem with proof.
I have heard you can purchase a permit for $15 but I know very little about this and am sure someone will be along to give you more detail.
Have a great holiday

[Catherine]

yeah, our blue uk badge worked great for our son at all parks, shopping malls, walmart, Publx ect. No one said a thing. They are quite strict on their disabled parking too which is good to see, they seem to enforce it more. Could do with being a bit more like that over here in the UK>

[Carlmelia]

Hi,

If you carry out a search on Blue Badges there has been quite a few threads.

We had no problems with using a Blue badge last year. Best to hang it off the interior mirror as the Americans do, the police are considerate of the EU Blue Badges (not 100% sure if they are legally accepted though) but a lot of people in your situation have had no problems at all in fact the Car Park Attendants are very good at accomodating you when they see the badge.

Carl

[donnalwat]

Thanks all :thumbs-up , you have really put my mind at rest - Flying next Friday and had a sudden "Oh my God" moment!!!:spin:

[TinkTatoo]

The blue badge will be fine as it is now recognised in the parks and in Orlando.

When you go through the toll boths for parking show them your blue badge and they will direct you to the disabled parking area. We leave ours on the dashboard as they do in the UK but the Americans hang theirs off the rear view mirror.

[ali65]

Hi

Our 4 year old daughter has a blue badge so this is great news that we will be able to use it. I will check out other threads.

Thanks everyone


.:wave: :wave:

[forever florida]

We always use my Dad's blue badges everywhere we go and have never been questioned anywhere including beach parking, theme parks and supermarkets.

[loadsapixiedust]

The European Blue Badge is accepted in Orlando. The theme parks are all used to British visitors having them.
We use a poly pocket and a rubber band (very high tech ;) ) to hang ours from the rear view mirror. This is how the locals display theirs and it is easier for CMs to spot as you drive into the parking lots.
The disabled parking is well marked, Disney have a blue line on the road to follow.
Think about making a copy of your blue badge before you leave home if you are using a disabled space in the airport car park as obviously you will need to remove your badge.
We have found disabled parking much easier to find than at home. Every parking lot has disabled spaces and they do not seem to be subject to the same abuse as over here.
A word of caution for people with walking difficulties or stamina issues, but who don't travel with a wheelchair. At Magic Kingdom in particular the disabled parking is quite a long way from the point where you would be able to rent a wheelchair and the handicapped section is not served by the trams. There are sometimes courtesy wheelchairs there, but not always. Someone who cannot walk any distance might be better asking a CM to direct them to a space in the regular lot which is near to a tram stop. This would ensure the minimum of walking.

[forever florida]

Just a reminder, if you do take your own blue badges, remember to bring them back and not leave them in the hire vehicle like we did:blush:

[loadsapixiedust]

Just a reminder, if you do take your own blue badges, remember to bring them back and not leave them in the hire vehicle like we did:blush:

:blush: Glad I wasn't the only one! Did you meet the man with the big gun when you went back to collect it? :eek: It seems they don't like passengers going back landside once they have passed through airport security and they certainly don't like you being passed anything in a plain envelope! :omg:

[sixpence]

We photo copied and lamenated our blue badge then we stuck a shoe lace through it to fasten it to the rear view mirror.:grin:

We got told to do this by a friend because the friend had used his original badge when he was in America and when he got home he was having trouble with the local parking wardens saying it was a fake because the sun had faded his badge.:blush:

[cuteone]

Hey sixpence, or anyone else, if we photocop it though, wont we run the risk of getting into trouble? I mean a black and white piece of paper with some lamenate sounds great, but will it be accepted?

[sixpence]

It was a coloured copy. :)

I copied both sides then stuck them together then lamenated them.I still had the original in the car incase there was any questions asked by someone.