A few questions about renting wheelchairs in the parks:

[KarenP64]

Hi, My situation is that I have degenerative disc disease as well as plantar fasciitis, so I'll probably be using a wheelchair for our upcoming trip. I have a few questions I hope you can help me with:

1) If I have my own (cheap) wheelchair I bring from home & use it for getting around our resort & at Disney Springs & to get to the parks' main gates, could I then park my own wheelchair at the wheelchair rental area for the day & use the park's nicer wheelchair for the day? Do they allow you to keep one there? There would be so much walking from our car to the main gate & then standing there for rope drop would really take its toll on me, so it would be nice to use mine to get to the gate & then use their better one for our day visit at the park.

2) Are the park wheelchairs sanitized each time someone turns them in or do I need to bring chlorox wipes or sanitizer to wipe it down myself? (My husband is a transplant patient & we don't want to take any chances!)

3) Where is the best place to see fireworks at Magic Kingdom in a wheelchair? Is there plenty of room or is it so crowded these days that it's dangerous to try to move around in one?

4) If we have an 8 am Be Our Guest reservation, are the wheelchair rentals open before 8 am?

Thanks so much for your assistance!

 

[Mrsjvb]

1 your personal chair may still be better than the park rentals, but yes you can leave it at the Kiosk. in fact I can almost guarantee yours will be preferable all day. If you don’t already have one, get a good quality gel cushion 3-5 inches high. Your butt will thank you

2 I have never seen them do anything other than fold them up and put them back into the corral During the day. Doesn’t mean it isn’t done, just that I have never personally seen it

3 there are a few area that are FCFS for parades and fireworks. Doesn’t meant that at the last minute people will stand in front of you. I no longer bother to do them because of this.

4 I wanna say yes. But since I long ago decided my thrift store WC far exceeded Disney’s in quality and comfort, I could be wrong

 

[KarenP64]

1 your personal chair may still be better than the park rentals

That's interesting! I used the parks' wheelchairs in 2014 & just assumed with the big rubber tires they would be easier to push around than the basic ones on my wheelchair. Now I'm thinking I might experiment one day, use mine to see how it does & maybe not even rent Disney's. Thanks so much for that insight!

 

[gap2368]

That's interesting! I used the parks' wheelchairs in 2014 & just assumed with the big rubber tires they would be easier to push around than the basic ones on my wheelchair. Now I'm thinking I might experiment one day, use mine to see how it does & maybe not even rent Disney's. Thanks so much for that insight!

is your chair a transport one ( with 4 small tiers) or a wheelchair with the back tiers big so you can self push if need too. if a wheelchair your Willmore then likely be just as good if not better then the park ones if a transport one the parks might better

to answer some of your other question

there is an area ( two) for fireworks at the MK I think they are pretty good they let anyone with a disability in the area not just wheelchair ECV, but most of the time wheelchair ECV are in the front there is a small wall infant of you so no one can stand infant of you, depending on how crowded it is 30-45 minutes early should be fine if fireworks are a top priority get there earlier then that. then stay there for a few minutes after let the crowds die down before you leave

 

[lanejudy]

The wheelchair/ECV rental is open as soon as anyone is allowed into the park.

If you have a "transport chair" with 4 small wheels, that may not be comfortable all day, though a cushion would certainly help. The parks offer a regular manual wheelchair (with 2 large back wheels) that may or not be more comfortable. You can try it out. They will hold/store your device while using a rental.

I haven't seen any particular cleaning process, though that doesn't mean they don't have one. If you are concerned, I would plan to bring wipes. There will be lots of germy areas throughout the parks -- doors/door knobs, ropes, railings, ride vehicles, restaurant tables and chairs, etc.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have seen something being spray washed, but it was probably the plastic strollers.

 

[KarenP64]

The wheelchair/ECV rental is open as soon as anyone is allowed into the park.

If you have a "transport chair" with 4 small wheels, that may not be comfortable all day, though a cushion would certainly help. The parks offer a regular manual wheelchair (with 2 large back wheels) that may or not be more comfortable. You can try it out. They will hold/store your device while using a rental.

I haven't seen any particular cleaning process, though that doesn't mean they don't have one. If you are concerned, I would plan to bring wipes. There will be lots of germy areas throughout the parks -- doors/door knobs, ropes, railings, ride vehicles, restaurant tables and chairs, etc.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks so much, everyone! I have a "drive" brand chair with the large wheels in the back & small in the front. I have a super-comfy cushion for it, so I think I'll just save the money & use it for the whole trip. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Staren]

It sounds like your personal chair might be equal to or better than you can rent in the parks. They rent what a lot of us call “hospital grade” wheelchairs. They get the job done, but are not designed for comfort. Check out what they have when you get there, but don’t be surprised if what you already have is better.

As for cleaning, I would recommend planning to bring wipes with you if you end up renting a chair in the park. I would not count on each chair being cleaned throughly after each use, though I’m sure they are cleaned regularly.

There are a couple of accessible viewing areas for parades and fireworks now. They do get changed up from time to time, so I would pick up an accessibility guide on your way in. They can usually be found with the other maps at the entrance to the parks, or you can pick one up from guest relations. It’s always recommended to arrive early as these areas can fill up.

 

[mamabunny]

@KarenP64 - Bring the wipes, regardless. There's a LOT to sanitize at WDW if your hubby needs to minimize the risk of infection.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, My situation is that I have degenerative disc disease as well as plantar fasciitis, so I'll probably be using a wheelchair for our upcoming trip. I have a few questions I hope you can help me with:

Hi, KarenP64.

1) If I have my own (cheap) wheelchair I bring from home & use it for getting around our resort & at Disney Springs & to get to the parks' main gates, could I then park my own wheelchair at the wheelchair rental area for the day & use the park's nicer wheelchair for the day? Do they allow you to keep one there? There would be so much walking from our car to the main gate & then standing there for rope drop would really take its toll on me, so it would be nice to use mine to get to the gate & then use their better one for our day visit at the park.

lanejudy's answer.

The wheelchair/ECV rental is open as soon as anyone is allowed into the park. They will hold/store your device while using a rental.

2) Are the park wheelchairs sanitized each time someone turns them in or do I need to bring Clorox wipes or sanitizer to wipe it down myself? (My husband is a transplant patient & we don't want to take any chances!)

As others have mentioned, I would bring your own travel portable package of wipes.

3) Where is the best place to see fireworks at the Magic Kingdom in a wheelchair? Is there plenty of room or is it so crowded these days that it's dangerous to try to move around in one?

In my signature, there is a link to MK handicap areas to watch fireworks and parades.

The three areas circled in RED are for viewing the parades and the two areas circled in BLACK are for viewing the fireworks. Each area is designated by WDW and will be roped off, and hopefully, will have cast members to assist you.

I did stay in this area. In the foreground, the grassy park area is used for the Dessert Party viewing and beyond that is a walkway in front of a fenced off garden and water fountain area. The area is not roped off yet but is you see the gentleman in the white shirt and dark shorts in the pathway that is where the roped area will be from the left column to the center column. It may not look like much space but they had a roped off area for three or four rows of wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

The photo is where I would have been sitting in front of my wheelchair in front of the fenced garden to watch the fireworks. A little too far to watch the stage show, but nice and relaxing for waiting for the fireworks. This photo is at the closing of the park so no guests. My favorite time.

4) If we have an 8 am Be Our Guest reservation, are the wheelchair rentals open before 8 am?

Thanks so much for your assistance!

lanejudy's answer.

They will hold/store your device while using a rental.

 

[KarenP64]

Hi, KarenP64.



lanejudy's answer.



As others have mentioned, I would bring your own travel portable package of wipes.



In my signature, there is a link to MK handicap areas to watch fireworks and parades.

The three areas circled in RED are for viewing the parades and the two areas circled in BLACK are for viewing the fireworks. Each area is designated by WDW and will be roped off, and hopefully, will have cast members to assist you.

I did stay in this area. In the foreground, the grassy park area is used for the Dessert Party viewing and beyond that is a walkway in front of a fenced off garden and water fountain area. The area is not roped off yet but is you see the gentleman in the white shirt and dark shorts in the pathway that is where the roped area will be from the left column to the center column. It may not look like much space but they had a roped off area for three or four rows of wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

The photo is where I would have been sitting in front of my wheelchair in front of the fenced garden to watch the fireworks. A little too far to watch the stage show, but nice and relaxing for waiting for the fireworks. This photo is at the closing of the park so no guests. My favorite time.



lanejudy's answer.

That is extremely helpful!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to help out!