kermit116
"Here you leave today and enter the world of yeste
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2010
We are working on planning a big family trip to WDW that will include DH's elderly grandma. While she is able to walk short distances, she is a little unstable on her feet, and she definitely will not be able to handle getting around the parks on foot.
Based on what I've heard on Podcasts, we're considering renting an ECV or wheelchair for her from an outside company so that we can have it with us in the hotel. We are more likely to get her a wheelchair than an ECV because she has never used an ECV and her eyesight is not wonderful (worried she would have trouble navigating crowds).
My questions are:
1. Will the outside companies that rent out ECVs also rent out standard wheelchairs? Will they deliver to your onsite hotel?
2. If we stay at Fort Wilderness cabin, I know the boats from MK are not all the same size and the smaller boats are not WC accessible. Will the smaller boats allow us on if we fold up her chair and carry it on with us? She'd be able to get on the boat with our assistance as she is still able to get up/down stairs and can walk short distances.
3. Would you recommend getting her a room at a monorail resort for easier accessibility/movement around property? It would be a stretch for our budget, which is why we were considering the Fort Wilderness cabin as an option so that she could have a kitchen and we could share the cabin with her to save some money on the trip.
4. If we are renting a car to avoid Disney bus transport, what would be our best option for hauling around a standard wheelchair? I'm guessing a mini-van would be best based on the wheelchair and size of our party. I'm also assuming that I'll need to reserve this pretty far in advance to make sure we get a vehicle that is large enough for all of us + folded up wheelchair.
5. If we decide not to rent a car, is it easier to get on a Disney bus with a fold-up wheelchair than an ECV? I'm assuming this would be somewhat like getting on with a folding stroller, but perhaps I'm incorrect.
This will be our first trip with someone with more serious mobility issues, although we did have one trip with a relative who required use of a wheelchair in the parks (but not getting to/from the car or on the bus). Any other tips you all can provide for our planning would be appreciated.
We really want to make this trip special for everyone, and want to make sure grandma is as comfortable as possible.
Based on what I've heard on Podcasts, we're considering renting an ECV or wheelchair for her from an outside company so that we can have it with us in the hotel. We are more likely to get her a wheelchair than an ECV because she has never used an ECV and her eyesight is not wonderful (worried she would have trouble navigating crowds).
My questions are:
1. Will the outside companies that rent out ECVs also rent out standard wheelchairs? Will they deliver to your onsite hotel?
2. If we stay at Fort Wilderness cabin, I know the boats from MK are not all the same size and the smaller boats are not WC accessible. Will the smaller boats allow us on if we fold up her chair and carry it on with us? She'd be able to get on the boat with our assistance as she is still able to get up/down stairs and can walk short distances.
3. Would you recommend getting her a room at a monorail resort for easier accessibility/movement around property? It would be a stretch for our budget, which is why we were considering the Fort Wilderness cabin as an option so that she could have a kitchen and we could share the cabin with her to save some money on the trip.
4. If we are renting a car to avoid Disney bus transport, what would be our best option for hauling around a standard wheelchair? I'm guessing a mini-van would be best based on the wheelchair and size of our party. I'm also assuming that I'll need to reserve this pretty far in advance to make sure we get a vehicle that is large enough for all of us + folded up wheelchair.
5. If we decide not to rent a car, is it easier to get on a Disney bus with a fold-up wheelchair than an ECV? I'm assuming this would be somewhat like getting on with a folding stroller, but perhaps I'm incorrect.
This will be our first trip with someone with more serious mobility issues, although we did have one trip with a relative who required use of a wheelchair in the parks (but not getting to/from the car or on the bus). Any other tips you all can provide for our planning would be appreciated.
We really want to make this trip special for everyone, and want to make sure grandma is as comfortable as possible.