1st time w/ wheelchair questions

[DisneyDreamer2]

This will be my first time with a wheelchair at WDW. I am bringing my mom who is one year cancer free but is still extremely weak. She refuses to let me rent one for the entire trip, but since this is her first visit she has no idea how big WDW is. we are staying at the Poly to make transportation easier and I plan to rent a wheelchair in the parks each day. This site and its threads have been AMAZING! Thank you! I have just a few more questions:

1. I understand that there is a 100.00 credit card hold to ensure the wheelchair is returned each time. Do they stamp my reciept? Is there usually a long line to return at the end of the day? i plan on getting a length of stay wheelchair reciept and just want to know how it works so i have proof it gets returned each time so i dont get charged.

2. What about attractions where my mother would rather transfer than remain in the wheelchair- like small world or Jungle cruise? Can i just tell them she can transfer and leave the wheelchair there? i assume it is easier than loading and securing the wheelchair. And what about Nemo? If she wanted to transfer that wpuld leave the wheelchair at the ride entrance not exit, wouldn't it?

3. Has anyone ever had a rental wheelchair stolen while riding the rides? I plan on putting a little tag with our name on it. i always have to worry about something. I was hoping to leave it like with stroller parking at the safari ride (like i said she would rather transfer than stay in the wheelchair on rides.)


Thanks for all your help. I want to make this trip as special and stress free as posiible for my mom.

 

[mechurchlady]

2. For the rides you leave the item on the loading dock.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
That is the FAQs for this board and has a ton of information.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plain-text/
Taht is the official Disney site.

3. Take the wheelchair as far as you can in lines as some lines can be a long long walk. You can leave the chair on the dock if you do that. Do make th chair unique and a tag is not as good as a cushion or towel to show ownership. People are more likely to grab a plain chair. If your item is stolen/taken/lost then go to a designated area in the park or to the front rental area to get a replacement. Just show them the receipt.

 

[toocherie]

This will be my first time with a wheelchair at WDW. I am bringing my mom who is one year cancer free but is still extremely weak. She refuses to let me rent one for the entire trip, but since this is her first visit she has no idea how big WDW is. we are staying at the Poly to make transportation easier and I plan to rent a wheelchair in the parks each day. This site and its threads have been AMAZING! Thank you! I have just a few more questions:

1. I understand that there is a 100.00 credit card hold to ensure the wheelchair is returned each time. Do they stamp my reciept? Is there usually a long line to return at the end of the day? i plan on getting a length of stay wheelchair reciept and just want to know how it works so i have proof it gets returned each time so i dont get charged.

2. What about attractions where my mother would rather transfer than remain in the wheelchair- like small world or Jungle cruise? Can i just tell them she can transfer and leave the wheelchair there? i assume it is easier than loading and securing the wheelchair. And what about Nemo? If she wanted to transfer that wpuld leave the wheelchair at the ride entrance not exit, wouldn't it?

3. Has anyone ever had a rental wheelchair stolen while riding the rides? I plan on putting a little tag with our name on it. i always have to worry about something. I was hoping to leave it like with stroller parking at the safari ride (like i said she would rather transfer than stay in the wheelchair on rides.)


Thanks for all your help. I want to make this trip as special and stress free as posiible for my mom.

First, I would really encourage her to let you rent a wheelchair or an ECV offsite. Since she hasn't been there--she doesn't know that even walking around the resorts and from transportation to and from the parks can be long walks. I would really encourage an ECV--even now it is very warm and humid and it will be hard on you or whoever is pushing the wheelchair--there are lots of hills in WDW! The ECV will give her a lot more independence--she won't need you or someone else in her party to push her--she could go where she wants--even apart from you if you wanted to go on a ride and she wanted to go explore. She can park the ECV (or wheelchair) in any stroller area and walk around. I can't encourage off-park rentals enough--especially since depending on what time you get to a park they might be out of wheelchairs/ECVs --and then what do you do? You are assured of having it if you rent off-park. I haven't rented from a park so can't answer your specific inquiries in question #1.

On #2 almost all rides have areas to park a wheelchair or ECV where you get on. If the exit is in a different place, they will move it to the exit so it is there waiting when you get off. (It's like magic.! )

On #3, personalizing the wheelchair (especially if you rent a park wheelchair) is a great idea. Also, think about bringing a bag to put on the back of the wheelchair/ECV to carry jackets and other items in. However, keep in mind that if it is not somehow secured to the wheelchair and somehow locked that items might be stolen from it--so don't leave something very expensive or irreplaceable.

Have a great trip with your Mom!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

This will be my first time with a wheelchair at WDW. I am bringing my mom who is one year cancer free but is still extremely weak. She refuses to let me rent one for the entire trip, but since this is her first visit she has no idea how big WDW is. we are staying at the Poly to make transportation easier and I plan to rent a wheelchair in the parks each day. This site and its threads have been AMAZING! Thank you! I have just a few more questions:

In the FAQs thread, there is a link to a thread where people estimated their typical distance walked each day. Estimates vary, but most people walk at least 3-5 miles per day and many walk farther.
To help her see that she will need an ECV or wheelchair, pick out a place that is familiar to her that is at least a mile away and ask if she can walk there. If she says she can, ask if she could walk there and back every day several times, because that is what a WDW trip would be like.
Just to go around the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot is 1.1 to 1.3 miles depending on whether you walk close to the water (a smaller circle) or closer to the buildings (a bigger circle). And, you have to walk about that far just to get to the lake from the park entrance.

1. I understand that there is a 100.00 credit card hold to ensure the wheelchair is returned each time. Do they stamp my reciept? Is there usually a long line to return at the end of the day? i plan on getting a length of stay wheelchair reciept and just want to know how it works so i have proof it gets returned each time so i dont get charged.

Disney changed their website and the way it is organized is rather confusing. The $100 deposit they mention is for renting a wheelchair at Downtown Disney. Since it would be easy to remove a wheelchair from the area there, they charge a big deposit.
There is no deposit for wheelchairs rented from the parks. Wheelchair rental in the parks is $10 per day.
Renting an ECV (power mobility scooter) is $45.00 per day rental + $20.00 deposit.
They are pretty efficient with the wheelchair rental and return, and since there is no deposit, you can just bring it to the area and park it.

2. What about attractions where my mother would rather transfer than remain in the wheelchair- like small world or Jungle cruise? Can i just tell them she can transfer and leave the wheelchair there? i assume it is easier than loading and securing the wheelchair. And what about Nemo? If she wanted to transfer that wpuld leave the wheelchair at the ride entrance not exit, wouldn't it?

Small World has a wheelchair boat that is very quick to roll a wheelchair on. Here is a picture of it.

The wheelchair boat involves a longer wait.
If she chooses to transfer, I would suggest looking at the wait (the length of the wait should be posted) and the entire line is visible before you get into line. If the wait is short, she can park the wheelchair with the strollers and get into the regular line to board. If the wait is longer, she can bring the wheelchair to the boarding area - there is a gate marked with a wheelchair symbol partway down the line. Use the gate to get to the wheelchair boarding area, which is also the exit. The CM there will ask if she wants to stay in the wheelchair or transfer.

Jungle Cruise has a wheelchair accessible boat, but it is better for most people to transfer if they are able.
She will be able to bring the wheelchair into the line with her to the boarding area (see the CM at the ride entrance). If she transfers, the wheelchair would remain parked at the dock during your trip. The boat will return to the same dock and she can get back into it when the ride is over.

For the Nemo ride at Epcot, and really for any attractions where people with wheelchairs or ECVs board and exit at a different place, the CMs will take care of moving the wheelchair or ECV to the exit.

3. Has anyone ever had a rental wheelchair stolen while riding the rides? I plan on putting a little tag with our name on it. i always have to worry about something. I was hoping to leave it like with stroller parking at the safari ride (like i said she would rather transfer than stay in the wheelchair on rides.)

As was already mentioned, the wheelchair is not likely to be stolen. For the rental ones, it's more likely that someone would take it by mistake, thinking it was theirs. So, it's best to make your wheelchair look different and not leave anything of value on it.
If you bring it into lines, it will be in a less public area. The CMs don't really watch them, but most people don't even see the wheelchairs at the exit when they are leaving.
For the Safari, I would strongly suggest bringing it in unless she can walk quite a distance and the wait is short. That queue is a very long distance to walk (I don't know for sure, but I would estimate it to be at least 1/4 mile). There is a dedicated wheelchair/ECV/handicapped boarding area where they have a permanent ramp for boarding wheelchairs. Each tram can hold one wheelchair. Other guests would park their wheelchair/ECV and transfer to the ride tram. That tram will come back to the same area at the end of the ride so guests can get their wheelchairs/ECVs.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Point out to your mother that renting an ECV for the entire duration of the trip will be better for YOU than renting a wheelchair at the parks. If you rent a wheelchair at the park, YOU will be required to push her around all day which can be very tiring over the course of the trip. There's a lot of walking already and to have to do it pushing a wheelchair will be a lot of work for you.

Don't forget that you still have to get up and down that long ramp from the monorail to the gate of MK, from the bus stop to the entrance of the park at HS and AK and across the transportation center then from the monorail to the entrance of Epcot. This alone can be plenty of walking.

 

[DisneyDreamer2]

thank you all so very much for all of the wonderful information! the pictures were very helpful as well!

 

[dissybroad]

howdy! bless your heart for making it possible for mom. i'm doing the same from 5/18-5/22 plus taking 11 month old grandbaby in stroller and two adult daughters. we can take turns pushing, but, based on my last trip with mom two years ago, i've been in the gym walking on the treadmill at 15 degree incline and doing arm, shoulder, and chest weight training. there are bridges and ramps all over the place! i personally think the electric scooter will be too slow and difficult for her to maneuver in a crowd, so that's why we are using the wheelchair and we're taking our own. it's a "transfer" chair without the handrails on the wheels so it's slimmer and lighter. good luck and have a wonderful trip

 

[linda108]

Hi - We took my Grandmother last year at age 94 to the parks and pushed her in a reg. wc. IMHO I do not think a transfer chair is the way to go. I think these are better suited for short-term use - Not going the distance in WD. We rented her chair from a local drug store (this way she had it for the airport as well). It worked out just fine as we never had to worry about not getting a WC for her. We stayed at the Poly as well and it can be a long walk from your room to whatever transportation you plan on using.