I had heard they were testing out a new procedure where all wheels would have separate lines and had prepared my family to scout for where that might be when we got to security for Pres Day weekend. They were not separating out wheels at all. So it was all lines go to all destinations.
The way that security was setup when we went (it can change so not sure if it will still be the same when you go) was that lines were setup in compartments with two tables on either end of each compartment, manned with a security guard and with each their own metal detecctor and then in between was space where the wheels would go down (strollers or EVCs/wheelchairs). There were some lines that had a pole supporting the security roof infastructure that landed between, but slightly in front of the metal detectors. It did make it a tighter squeeze for the double stroller to navigate through, but not impossible and certainly easier than the park entry gates.
The taps were completely updated since we last went. They widened every single entry and now you tap/scan yourself (instead of an a CM’s device) smile for the camera (either to take a picture for Facial ID or to verify the facial ID) and then frosted swinging gates open up giving you the full space to get though. And you weren’t having to brush up against any CMs sitting space (the old setup had them sitting in that space and it was always a tight squeeze even to get wheels that were less than their stroller requirements through that space). So you should be able to go to any line (you could before too, but now it’s even easier to navigate- the CM’s are now further back manning their device on the other end of the gates, away from the space where you wheel through).
For all rides in DCA all lines are ADA compliant and she can take them up to boarding area where they can take it at boarding & reunite her with it at the end of the ride. If she wants to park it before the line, you can park it around any stroller parking. In DL if the line is newer (so like MMRR, RotR, MF or even the newly redone HM, those will be ADAD compliant, and she can again take it with her through the line. If the line is not a recently build or refurbished queue or has stairs, she will need to park it. I would very much approach each ride in DL and inquire what they suggest and also, if there are stairs ask about how she can avoid them - the lines with stairs off the top of my head in DL will be: Jungle Cruise (if longer than 10 min), Indy, Tiana’s Bayou, Big Thunder, and Space Mtn. There will also be stairs involved in loading into Nemo Subs and to exit (but not load onto) it’s a small world. Not sure if she wants to avoid stairs, but I have had my knee go completely out of whack once at DLR and I was unable to do stairs at all because of it.
As for eating, both Carthay and Carnation should have a place for you to park the EVC nearby so when you check-in, they can direct to it specifically.
The rides that come to mind where they care more about lose items are: Goofy’s, Gadget’s, MMRR, Big Thunder, possibly Indy, Incredicoaster, Guardians & Space. In all cases though they’d likely have a CM hold it for you at boarding to be available again upon exiting.
Very mugh agree no Matterhorn. Probably also not Space Mtn or Goofy’s Sky School because those can be jerky. Indy might be iffy too. But you can ask to sit in the front row, especially if she is on the inside, there is less motion felt there (and some of my kids would only ride it if we asked to sit there when they were first tall enough for it, so they are used to the request, but might have you wait just a little longer for it). Also, thinking again of climbing in and out of things, I would avoid doing Autopia and Astro Orbiter since those can be tricky and require more agility than what she might feel if she’s still ginger. And the Nemo Subs I would highlight again here too. I do not like the subs for many reasons and the whole getting & getting out of them (as well as being cramped in such small quarters with so many other people for the length of the loading process, the ride & unloading proces) is why.
Not sure if it is still there (or if it’s any good), but there is a place at the ground level of the Camelot Inn & Suites (the sister property of and just one driveway over from the Tropicana) that does scooter rentals. But if you like the place you’ve found on Harbor and they deliver, then you don’t necessarily need to consider one that’s very close to the hotel.
That is a good close one. You will pass in front of a couple of small hotels and 2 businesses that are squeezed in between the Tropicana and pedestrian entrance, but it’s very short, like a quarter of a block. She will have to navigate around the public bus stop and to get to the pedestrian light there is one small crossing (the light to turn into the Best Western’s lot with the Calaca Mama’s Cantina restaurant on the other side of it - the green line in the below is the crossing I’m talking about - before the main crossing across Harbor to enter DLR & walk under the sign).
To cross there, only one of the sections of pavement is a ramp & people aren’t very well aware that wheels need that so they tend to block it without thinking or try to beat you as a wheeled driver to the ramp (rather than just walk off the curb). And that’s made more difficult by very fat round poles that act as a barrier from any high speed or out of control cars making their way up onto that very busy curb) so there’s only specific spots you can walk right there. Another visual to show what I mean. The green box is where she needs to wheel, the red x is where this a curb and she can’t.
When you move to cross Harbor though, all the sections between those green poles that face towards DL have ramp between them so she can navigate between any of those to get across the busier street.
Definitely request ground floor. The elevators at the Tropicana are at the very back corner and very old/original( or at least feel like it) to the building so you’ll be dealing with those older elevator issues @SirGreggLadyV mentioned. We dealt with them a couple of trips with a double stroller where we didn’t get a ground floor room as requested (usually happened when we booked closer to leaving like the week of or even day before leaving, so if you’ve been booked already for awhile you should be in better shape).
Ok, and I think that’s all I have for now. But definitely ask! I’m a lot more fresh than I’ve been with my DLR knowledge since we just got back after a hiatus in 2025.
