Wheelchairs at the parks About This Page:

[Pocahontas]

I'm totally new to the subject of wheelchairs. My parents will be going to WDW with us next month, [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] and my mom will need a wheelchair. She doesn't need one at home yet, but she takes perscription medicine daily for the pain and inflammation she has in her knees. So with all the walking involved during the 5 days we'll be there, I'm 99% sure she'll have to have one.

We plan on renting one at the parks. When it comes to getting in line, do we park it like we would our stroller? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] She is able to walk, just not for long periods without suffering.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to avoid any embarrassing blunders. [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img]

[ 04-18-2003, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: Pocahontas ]

[Jolin]

I think the CMs will park the wheelchairs after you get on the ride- they'll take care of the details especially if your mother can't walk too far

[Pocahontas]

Thank you for the advise. I'll be sure to look out for the larger size wheelchair. It's nice to know she'll have the option of being wheeled to the bus stop if she feels the need. Thanks for the warning about the EVC's. Mom hasn't had to resort to them yet. I hope this first visit to WDW with my parents will be the beginning of future trips. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[SleepingB]

Hi Pocahontas [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

I had to wheel DH around WDW last year when he hurt his knee while we were sprinting through the airport. The wheelchairs are pretty good and I had no problems.

All the CMs were just great. When you go to an attraction, they will tell you what needs to be done. Sometimes they will take the whole party with the wheelchair person to a special entrance to make it easier to get on and off the rides and so they will not have to wait in line. We had 13 in our group and with a few attraction, HM in particular they would only take six. Dh felt like such a fraud, but he could not walk those first few days. He didn't think a knee sprain deserved such special treatment when there are people that are truly handicapped. He tried to walk when he could(with the cane he bought in CHina) and when the lines were short.

Which resort are you staying at?? Some of them are very spread out and you may want to consider that when choosing a place.

SleepingB

[stonewall]

Hello Debbie-I wanted to take this opportunity to alert you to the "Vacationing Your Way: Your Special Needs" Forum which is now residing at the very bottom of the PassPorter Board until we get it fully functional.We deal with issues that may be of interest to you as you are planning your trip. If your mother is going to rent a wheelchair or ECV in the parks,she will need to bring along a note from her MD(just a few lines on a prescription pad will do) to support her need. If she "park hops", she can hang onto her receipt and pick up another chair in the second location without additional charge. Sometimes, the CM at the original rental location will call ahead to make sure that one is available in the other park, but it is basically first-come,first-served.You light want to condider renting a chair or ECV from one of the off-site locations if she must be assured of one. Ask us if you need addresses or web sites.
Usually, there is a CM around to help with "parking" issues, but sometimes you may have to go it alone.Tying a bandana or colorful scarf on the handlebars will make it easier to identify in the crush!

[Goofy62]

Hi Pocahontas: We have gone with my MIL twice now and she has the same problem. We rent a wheel chair at each park and I push her around (Imagine that I get to push my MIL around and she doesn't mind). Some rides you can stay on the chair, others you can transfer out and the CM will move the chair to the exit for you. The chairs are pretty comfortable according to my MIL but watch out if. My MIL is little on the big side and they do have two size chairs. WE got one once and it was a little too narrow and the wheels rubbed the side of the chair and the friction made the chair side really hot. Another note, At AK there are courtisy chairs at the parking lot to get you to the front gate (it is a long walk) and then you can rent once onside. Also at the other parks you may want to wheel your mom to the bus stop and then return the chair to the front gate, they will let you do this. If your mom thinks she would like to use the ECV (electric wheel chairs) have her practice at WalMart or your local grocery store first as they are not as easy to use at first as you think. My MIL tried it the first time out our last trip and darn near ran over a kid at the Indiana Jones Stunt Spactacular and felt so bad about it that she really did not enjoy the rest of the day. Also when you are pushing you can control the pace of the day, fast or slow depending on the situation. Good Luck and Remember the Magic and our troops. Jerry [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Pocahontas]

We'll be staying at CSR, so it is very spread out. My DH explained to the CM about my DM's knees when he made the reservations. He didn't specify a section, only that we'd like to be somewhere close to the dining area and bus stop. I hope this is good enough.

I wasn't aware of the "Special Needs" forum. I'll be sure and check it out. I didn't know about the doctors note either. I'll tell DM to be sure and get one before we leave in 2 weeks! We would have been in a fine predicament, you've saved us some frustration. We definitely plan on park hopping too. Our plans are to take a few hours break after lunch at the resort each day before heading back for the evening events and/or dining. If there aren't any wheelchairs in the afternoons at the parks, we'll do what she's able & head back to CSR. We may be doing a lot more playing in the pool than I had thought. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I'm sure that'll be fine with everyone. Our DS 17 & DD 3 1/2 just love the water. We actually choose CSR because of the slide. Maybe we should have requested being close to the main pool instead. Decisions, decisions.

Oh, I did know about tying something to help identify the chair because we have done that with our stroller. We had a hot pink bag hanging over our stroller's handles. It sure did help to have that eye catching color to look for. Thanks for the reminder.

Everyone has been very helpful and reassuring. I appreciate your taking the time to post.

[vickeymouse]

They can put your name on the chair - like if you rent a stroller there. I would recommend renting electric chair thingys in the larger/spread out parks i.e. Epcot & Animal Kingdom. AK has more up hill area than the other parks, and my mom enjoyed have some control and independence. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[homeschoolmom]

Perhaps the doctor's note thing is new? We have been to WDW twice in the past year and a half and rented chairs both trips--never needed a

[homeschoolmom]

Perhaps the doctor's note thing is new? We have been to WDW twice in the past year and a half and rented chairs both trips--never needed any kind of note or even an explanation.

You can get a wheelchair at your resort to keep for your length of stay with no fees. We did this at All Star Music our last trip and saved $96.00 over our 12 day trip.

I also need a wide chair, so I just say that when requesting one. At the parks, they have a tendency to keep them to the back in order to have them available for those who need them. I am sorry to say I saw families rent those wide chairs so 2-3 kids could ride at a time in the chair as they tired in the parks. That is unfortunate when there are people who truly need them and then cannot get them.

Anyway, WDW with a chair is not a problem at all (except for some hills and inclines as mentioned earlier). Thank goodness my husband was there to help me with that one. Good luck and great trip!!

[ripkensnana]

We just got back from WDW and had taken my Mom and her own wheelchair. We found the CM's to be extremely helpful...In some cases, the "rider" and her group can get into the Fastpass line, because on some rides, this is also the handicapped entrance. I'll admit, the wheelchair saved us some "standing in line" time. Also, if you have a wheelchair in your party, the CM's will usually let you get into the Fastpass line if the regular queue wait is posted at 15 minutes or less. Added note: My Mom didn't even have to be riding in the chair to be allowed to use the handicapped entrances - she's not really all that bad off - it's just her age that worried me (she's 85) and I was a bit concerned about her getting overly tired.