Following our recent post about accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities travelling from the UK to Disneyland Paris, Imali is sharing her thoughts on hiring a vehicle from Allied Mobility.
The Backstory:
Hi! I’m Imali, and some of you may know me from my blog, Mali & Me, or from Inkfire.
Like many, I’ve dreamed of visiting Disneyland Paris, but navigating such a trip with a disability always seemed daunting. It wasn’t until I connected with Access Your Life and saw their content that I realised it was possible. Fast forward to collaborating on their website relaunch, and I eventually found myself planning a group trip along with Chronically Jenni!
The Dilemma:
It was initially challenging to select a vehicle due to the wide range of options, including manual or automatic transmission and various seating layouts. However, their dedicated rental team was incredibly helpful in guiding us to the best vehicle for our specific needs, carefully considering luggage capacity, wheelchair space, and seating requirements.
We previously struggled to find a rental company that could provide a suitable vehicle, facilitate travel outside the UK, or offer convenient collection and drop-off locations. Allied Mobility truly stood out by offering delivery and collection of our chosen vehicle anywhere in mainland UK, either at our home or another specified location.
We opted to have our vehicle delivered two days before our trip to Disney. This allowed us ample time to familiarise ourselves with it and left us with one less thing to worry about before departure. The Allied Mobility team arrived precisely at our chosen time, provided a thorough vehicle walkthrough, efficiently handled all the necessary paperwork, and answered all our questions. It was also reassuring to know that their aftercare team is available seven days a week for customer support, should we forget anything or have further questions.
The Journey:
We set off from Essex and journeyed to Paris in around six hours, including a quick stop at services and queuing for Le Shuttle, which was running late. But this gave us enough time to sit and watch a movie in the vehicle while parked.
Inside, the van felt spacious and comfortable, which made a big difference on a long drive. There was enough room for everyone to sit with plenty of space, so we didn’t feel squashed, overheated, or on edge – just excited and full of that Disney magic! Best of all, we were confident that all our luggage was secure and safe in the back. The ramp meant no one had to worry about lifting equipment, and the sliding doors made getting in and out of the passenger seats super easy.
The vehicle handled the miles like a champ throughout the journey, even with the air conditioning blasting and our questionable Disney karaoke. There’s something about arriving together in one vehicle that starts the holiday on the right foot – no faffing with multiple taxis or wondering if everyone’s gear made it in one piece. We simply rolled up to our hotel, excited about the days ahead, knowing we had everything we needed.
The Return:
It was tough to leave Disneyland Paris, but knowing we had a comfortable vehicle with plenty of space for our Disney goodies made the journey back to the UK much easier. Once we were safely home, the Allied Mobility team came to pick up the WAV, quickly processing the return, and checking the vehicle to ensure we hadn’t left anything behind!
Overall, Allied Mobility made this journey a pleasure, and I wholeheartedly recommend hiring one of their wheelchair-accessible vehicles if you’re planning a trip.
Check out Chronically Jenni’s corresponding video and stay tuned for the next instalment in our Disney travel tips series! We’ll be sharing why we chose to stay off-site instead of a Disneyland Paris hotel.
