Acceptable wheelchair use?

[tmfranlk]

I don't want to offend anyone and I also don't want to start a heated debate. I was hoping to get some advice from those of you who have to live with a wheelchair everyday (whether yours or a family member's).

I am taking my mom (1st trip in 15 years), grandma (75yo newbie), sister (6yo veteran) and cousin (6yo newbie) to WDW in mid-December. We will be getting a wheelchair for my grandma as her hip and back will not be able to handle walking all day. However, she has said that she would like to be up and walking off and on during the day. I will be 6+ months pregnant at the time of our trip. I plan to take it easy for all of our sakes, but I am sure there will be times that I will get tired.

My question is this...

If my grandma decides that she wants to be up and walking for a little while, would it be acceptable for me to use her wheelchair during that time if I feel like I need it?

I don't want to abuse the use of a wheelchair, but at the same time I don't want to slow the others (partiularly the kids) down. Since I am paying for most of the trip, I know they won't be too keen on doing things without me.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

 

[Talking Hands]

Perfectly acceptible. At 6mo PG you will need a rest.

 

[Nanajo1]

I don't think anyone should judge another's situation. Those who abuse the h/p system know who they are and nothing anyone says will change their behavior. Your situation doesn't fall into abuse. You both need to use the w/c so use it. Don't let anyone discourage you. People who think a w/c chair gets them an extra edge don't know the reality. Most lines are mainstreamed so everyone uses the same line. MK has the most attractions that use an alternative entrance. I often say use what you need to make your trip enjoyable for your entire family. Have a wonderful trip and congrats on the new baby.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the others and actually have suggested just what you are doing to people in similar situations.

Other people might judge, but you can't do anything about that. You know what they needs are, they don't. No one can see what someone else's need is, but some people judge without any knowledge. We've heard people question my DD's use of a wheelchair because they saw her sitting on a bench, swinging her legs. Well, she can't stand up without someone completely supporting her and she had to be lifted out of the wheelchair and placed on the bench. I even have to cross her legs for her, but from seeing her sitting on a bench, we've had people think we are "cheating".

As Nanajo pointed out, most people who think there is an advantage to using a wheelchair in the parks have never used one. In most cases, you will be in the same lines with everyone else anyway, waiting as long as they are.
Go and have a good time.

 

[flagal]

Nice to see this discussion conducted with such a giving spirit. I have a similar issue, and would appreciate any help in answering all my dumb questions.

We're veteran WDW visitors but have no experience using wheelchairs. In Nov., I will be travelling to WDW with my two school-aged children and my aunt, who's mobile, but can't walk for long periods. She has an especially hard time bending and standing still. She has been reluctant to go to WDW before but has just hit a milestone birthday and wants to visit. She hasn't been there since Epcot opened!

I was thinking of suggesting we rent a wheelchair for her to use in the theme parks only, especially for EPCOT. I expect to wait on whatever lines we usually have to wait on (and we wait on few, thanks to the fabulous FASTPASS), but I want to give her the option of sitting somewhere, either the wheelchair or the bench, as we wait. Is this possible? Is there a guide or a website I can access that lists how we should handle each attraction?

I, too, don't want to be seen as "abusing" the system, but I want to do everything possible to assure my aunt's comfort and I, too, don't want to slow the kids down.

Thanks so much for any help and/or advice.

 

[SueM in MN]

I can't post any links for you from the computer I am at right now, but I think it's an excellent idea to rent a wheelchair for her, especially at Epcot. THere is a link to a page about touring with disabilities on the main DIS site and the official Disney site has links to the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. These are also available at the parks. I'll post links later if no one else does.

In general, you will just bring the wheelchair into the regular line with you. At Epcot, the one exception is Spaceship Earth. There is a separate entrance for wheelchair users to that ride. The CMs will generally see you and route you somewhere else if that is approriate. There are very few waiting lines or arears that have any type of bench, so having a wheelchair is a good idea for someone who needs to sit. A few attractions, like the American Adventure and the movie in France have a few benches in the waiting area, but they are not reserved, so you may not have a seat when you get there.
She might find that she likes the independence of having a power scooter (also called an ecv). They do rent these at the parks, but the number is limited and you can't reserve one ahead of time.

 

[cupcake]

Sue has a great collection of information to directly answer your question. I just had to chime in, as someone with an "invisible" problem (extra bones in my feet, which means I can't walk that much, esp on pavement, and have trouble standing).

I have used a w/c many, many times at WDW and will be using a ECV for my upcoming trip. Yes, I still feel funny about it at times, like when I get up out of the w/c and walk to the restroom or a table (not the case outside WDW, where w/cs aren't readily available). But my feet are what they are. Slogging around for 2 hours as they get worse and worse and then getting benched for the rest of the day in pain isn't a good idea. If people think I am using a w/c and doing the other things I do to accommodate my feet bc it's so great, they should (literally!) walk in my dorky orthopedic shoes.

I like to believe that some people are just clueless bc they view the world totally thru the lens of their own personal experience. Illustration: I was in the elevator by my pharmacy, which has a lot of cancer patients who have a separate desk. These two women were talking about a woman who had picked up a big bag of meds. They said they did not appreciate having to wait in line while she got her meds immediately from the other desk. HAH. You can bet I said "excuse me for listening, but that is the cancer medication desk and I am sure we all wish her the best." Yes, they did look very embarrassed! Not an exact parallel bc w/cs generally are mainstream access, but still a good story, I think. You are your own special person and you need to do what you need to do regardless of what you think others may be thinking or what they are in fact thinking.

So if you need to use the wheelchair, please go ahead and have a great vacation!!! And congrats to the mom-to-be who posted above! Have a great trip as well!!!

Cupcake
leaving for WDW/Disney Cruise next Friday!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Ok, I'm finally back (had to let the kids have the computer last night for homework).
Anyway, here's the first link - the DIS page about touring with mobility disabilities. This page includes info about renting wheelchairs and scooters at the parks. If you scroll down, you will find a list of which rides have "Mainstream Access", where wheelchair users wait in the same line with everyone else. There is also a list of rides that someone can stay in the wheelchair for the whole ride if needed. For many rides, you need to be able to get out of the wheelchair and into a ride car. The wheelchair still comes into the line with you, the CM moves it out of the way when you board and the wheelchair will be waiting for you when you get off.
Here's another helpful link that was put together by a DISer. It has a lot of links to information, including to the Guidebooks for Guest with Disabilities that I mentioned above.
Here are the places that DIS posters have reported renting wheelchairs and scooters from off-site:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html