Wheelchair at the Airport About This Page:

[beksy]

I hope I'm posting this in the right spot. We are taking my mom on a trip to WDW in 3 days! She has several medical problems, including RA. This means that walking and standing are issues. We rented an ECV to use at the parks so she won't need to bring her personal (manual) wheelchair for that but we are new to flying and aren't sure about the airport. We are flying Southwest and I checked the box saying she would need to borrow a chair to get from check-in to the gate. Do they also have chairs that she could borrow to get to magical express in MCO or should we bring her wheelchair? I hate to take it just for that small part of the trip but I don't know that she could make the walk from the gate to the buses. Thanks for any help!

[Ceara's mawmaw]

If you notify the airline they should offer assistance at the gate when you land. Northwest did with my husband. You may have to wait a few mins while they page someone with a chair to come assist or they may be able to call ahead but shouldn't be necessary to bring her chair just for that little way. Northwest took care of all of that for us. ECV was a great idea, manual wheelchair at WDW is doable but not much fun for anyone. Just remember to tip the transport person that comes with the chair they will make sure you get where you are going and with us have always been very friendly.

[mechurchlady]

The wheelchair does not count as luggage nor does other medical items such as medicine, machines, aids, special foods and even special bedding.

Sometimes you have to be aggressive to get a wheelchair especially at off times. Yes, they will take her to the curb but she would have to climb into the bus or stand on the lift and it can be very scary and high up. She would have to find a bench to set on until you get her scooter or she would have to walk to the lobby. The scooter will be delivered to the lobby usually. Also you could ask the hotel for a wheelchair loaner to get her from the bus to the lobby.

I feel it would be much easier on her to take her chair and have it gate checked. It would be there when she is ready to leave the plane and she could use a lift to get her onto the bus. I believe the hotel will store the wheelchair for you.

Airlines have aisle chairs if she needs to be pushed into the plane and to her seat. Quality of wheelchair service depends on how aggressive the person is and time of day. I arrived at LAX at 4 am and nobody would help me. San Antonio in the afternoon was no problem.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Good advice! I'd call ahead, get the name of the person you spoke to and call back again to confirm that you'll need a chair at the gate. Make sure to get that person's name also.

Then, when you board the flight, remind the person at the desk, making sure to ask their name as well.

I've never needed a chair, but, when speaking to people who do, this seems to be your best bet. It is also good if you want to thank someone for having a chair right there for you!

Hope your trip is magical.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

The airlines have special people that will set everything up for you.. When I booked our flight & told them I was traveling with my scooter they noted it on my reservation. The week before our flight I got a call from the "special needs" person who set everything up for me & besides some mashed baskets on the scooter everything went smoothly. The scooter was waiting for me at the gate when I deplaned.. They got it there really fast! There is no extra charge for any medical equipment, my DH brought his CPAP machine as a carry-on too..