Advice/Feedback about WC vs large stroller

[TeddiBarra]

Hi Disboarders,

I could use some help/feedback in planning for our first trip to WDW in Sept '12. I realize I have a lot of time, but we just got back from a trip to DLand and I wanted to start addressing issues while they are fresh in my mind.

About us: Me, DH, twin daughters ages 6 1/2 (turning 7 in Dec), and son 11. On this past trip, I took the kids solo (DH had to work). One of my daughters has hemiparesis (form of CP) and is impaired on her right side, wears leg brace/strap etc. Overall, she's doing great- and she continues to improve as she grows and does her PT/OT. She is ambulatory, and in day to day life, things are pretty normal. It's in the water, long days, more challenging physical things that her "deficits" show. I talked to my kids ahead of time, and let them know on this past trip that we would get a stroller at the parks, that it was exclusively for DD with CP, and her sister would only be allowed a couple of short rests if her sister was up to walking.

I was a little surprised the extent she had issues this trip. She's made alot of proress in PT since start of school year so I was hopeful things would be different since our last trip (july last year) By day three, and having a BAD parking spot in the DLand structure (its huge) she was in pain and having to go slow/not able to walk normal just in the to/from the parks (unlike at WDW you can exit the parks w/the strollers but they have to be left in the center esplanade area. the walk from the esplanade to the tram stop is very close. the walk from tram to car, can be as much as a half a mile away). We tried a few of the normal lines the first night.. the first 15 mins for MH, followed by 25 mins for Nemo subs..and she was toasted by the 2nd line, asking me to hold her/sitting on the ground. So, yes, she really does need a stroller/wheelchair to be able to navigate the parks for fulldays.

Originally I was planning to not take a stroller but rent one at WDW. She is a petitite for her age- just over 42 inches tall and just under 40 lbs. So even in a year from now, she should be well under 50 lbs and would fit in the standard strollers. But now I am thinking that the getting to/from the parks and buses could end up wearing her out/causes spasms like she experienced this past week. As it stands now, we are looking to stay three days at the AKL and then 5 nights either at the Cabins or a 2BR villas. It's my understanding that those locations are pretty large and spread out and could involve alot of walking to get to to/from pools/restaurants.

It seems like just a stroller at the park may really not meet her needs.

The only strollers we have left are two standard umbrellas but the weight limit for those is 40 lbs, DH doesn't like them (handles to low for him) so I think it's time to graduate beyond those

So, to the point of my post: are there any pros/cons to special needs stroller/vs child wheelchair? She clearly doesn't need a powerchair, and she also wouldn't need a chair that she can manually push (plus her rt arm is also affected). I've seen the kind that look like "push" chairs- that look easy to get in/out from, which would be good for easy transferring. Also, are either of these light/easy to push? I have chronic back/knee/foot issues of my own and I'd like something that pushes very easily/navigates well.
Are both pretty comfortable for the child to sit in?
For getting a child wheelchair, are they sized/fitted? (seems like they are?)
Would I be best off starting at her pediatrician (as in, is an Rx needed for the smaller chairs) if we opted to get a chair?
I have no idea how flying with a stroller/wheelchair works? Is it just subject to a baggage charge?

 

[jmartinez1895]

A stroller would be great for her and is you can buy a larger jogger style that your DH can handle better then it will be much less than a special needs stroller or a wheelchair. Don't forget to go by guest services and get your GAC so that you can keep the stroller line with you at WDW. As for flying ( we go with south west so it may be different for some carriers) we go to the ticket counter when we get the air port and let them know we are using a stroller as a mobility aid. They give us a tag so we can gate check it. There is no charge for this. We keep the stroller until we get to the door of the plane and then when we land they bring it back to the door and it is there when we get off.

 

[deakam]

The Disney strollers are very low to the ground and hard as a rock. She might have trouble getting in and out. We also have a DS with cp his is severe, so there is no choice. He is 15 but is not comfortable in a wheelchair for long periods of time. We have an adult size umbrella stroller that is very comfy and it is clearly for mobility issues.

I don't know where you could rent one of these but a medical supply place may offer this. I would actually call disney's guest services. They may know of something available in the orlando area. There are several stroller rental companies but I can not find one that rents larger strollers.

If you are driving and have a handicapped parking sticker you will be given priority parking. It is much closer to the gates. It used to be that if you had mobility issues you used a separate entrance for rides. This past Dec I noticed that ECV's and wheelchairs along with some strollers were allowed in some of the Queues and at a point near the entrance to the ride they were moved to an alternate entrance with cm to assist them.

We are taking our DS this Sept. I guess it will be a learning experience. I will report on any difficulties we have.

 

[deakam]

Ok. I was just doing some research and the Orlando Stroller company advertised on this website has a larger stroller for disabled folks--weight limit 100 pounds. They will deliver it to your resort and then pick it up when you are finished. It is about 120 bucks for the week.

 

[TeddiBarra]

Thanks Deakam/Jm.

I too think that the strollers might be more physically comfortable. I looked at the thread re:strollers and they are totally different from the DLR strollers (which are single only and are jogging style) Those were actually perfectly comfy for her, but you're right that the WDW might be hard getting into/out of.

We do the DL most of the time, but I am thinking I'm better off to buy either option to have with us at home for a trip to the Zoo, trying out other theme parks closer to home (here we have three close to us, but haven't been to one in a while) or other special event. We visit Yosemite a couple times a year and it'd be nice to have something that can do trails/light hiking.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

On a side note, check out the California Motor Vehicles Department for getting a disabled parking hang tag for her. In most states a person does not have to be legal to drive to get a parking tag. The only requirement for its use is that the person with the disability will be leaving the car when it is parked.

For a link to that part of the DMV site click here.

 

[minnie mouse ears]

At the suggestion of other people on the Dis board, I just purchased a McClaren Volo Stroller for my son last night. He is 4, weighs about 38/39 lbs and is almost 42 inches tall. This stroller is an umbrella style and goes up to 55 lbs. I found mine, brand new on ebay, with the hinge covers for the hinge recall for $59. The cheapest I saw them from a regular store was Albee baby and they varied in price from $79 to well over $100. I also went to the Albee baby site and purchased the kidopatomus shade cover to offer more shade from the sun. It was almost $20 with the 15% off they are offering on the site.

We were going to rent a stroller inside the park but found it was cheaper to buy and then resell a stroller. In addition, I was very worried about my son being able to walk thru the parking lots by himself. (He has a blood disorder and gets really tired). Purchasing a stroller will save my back/arms from carrying him all the time, time in the park for rentals and money. Now his older sisters might be mad about walking but if they get too tired, we will leave the park for a rest and come back in the evening. A double stroller would have cost almost $200 for the week.

 

[staceyhzoo]

I would also look into a jogger type stroller. DD is 5 and we got the Baby Jogger Summit. It has a weight limit of 75lb and dd is very tall she's 45in and around 42lbs. She's very comfortable in it and I can push it with one hand. DH is over 6' and complains a little about the handle not being adjustable but I think it's more his wrist issue. We haven't taken it to WDW yet but we've made local trips to zoos and such and had no complaints. She seems to get in and out without any issues. She doesn't have CP, but has low muscle tone.

Last Oct I bought a Maclaren for dd. She was very attached to her Chicco stroller so we took it too. The first day the Maclaren rubbed a sore on her leg and the frame bent. I was so disappointed since everyone seems to love them, but their customer service was awful. I trashed a $100 stroller since the company wanted me to mail it from NC to NY at my cost and they would fix it and ship it back (also at my cost). So not worth it, dd was very uncomfortable. I put ds (2 at the time and he's a little guy) in it and he complained it was 'pokey' which is ds for uncomfortable.

Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

So, to the point of my post: are there any pros/cons to special needs stroller/vs child wheelchair?

One of the biggest pros and cons may be how your daughter feels about it.
Some children that age would not have a problem/opinion about being pushed in a special needs chair or large size stroller.

Some might have strong feelings that they want a wheelchair because it looks more ‘grown up.” She may also want to be able to have the option of propelling it herself, even for short distances.

She clearly doesn't need a powerchair, and she also wouldn't need a chair that she can manually push (plus her rt arm is also affected).

One thing you may not be aware of - there are ways that a manual wheelchair can be configured to be driven with one hand. They gear the wheels to be operated by one hand for people with hemiplegia.

I've seen the kind that look like "push" chairs- that look easy to get in/out from, which would be good for easy transferring. Also, are either of these light/easy to push? I have chronic back/knee/foot issues of my own and I'd like something that pushes very easily/navigates well.

A good site to look at pushchairs and compare them is adaptivemall:
http://www.adaptivemall.com/allstrolpus.html

Are both pretty comfortable for the child to sit in?
For getting a child wheelchair, are they sized/fitted? (seems like they are?)

There are some basic pediatric wheelchairs that require very basic fitting. Here are some on the adaptivemall site:
http://www.adaptivemall.com/concon.html

For more complicated seating needs or to get specialized features, like gearing for one hand use, she would have to get it fitted. Because she has hemiparesis, she might benefit from some special seating that would support her weaker side in a good position.
The fitting should be done by someone who is experienced in fitting children who will be able to tell what features would be helpful - if she is working with an OT or PT, you can start with them because they already know her.

Would I be best off starting at her pediatrician (as in, is an Rx needed for the smaller chairs) if we opted to get a chair?

If you plan to rent a special needs stroller, your insurance might cover the cost of renting (that would vary a lot from insurance company to insurance company). You would need a prescription from your doctor to cover it.

If you are planning to purchase a one for her, most insurance will pay for much of the cost. Look in your policy for “Durable Medical Equipment” because that is the category that equipment fits under. There is usually a deductible (the insurance paying 80% and the patient/family paying 20% is pretty common).
You would need a prescription from your doctor to get the fitting process started. This also is needed to bill the insurance for the cost of the fitting and the equipment itself. The doctor writes the order and then the therapist writes up the specifics for what equipment/features are recommended and the justification for why those things are needed (that is very important to the insurance company).

I have no idea how flying with a stroller/wheelchair works? Is it just subject to a baggage charge?

There is more information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. One of the posts is about air travel and includes a lot of specific information.
The quick answer is that you can keep the wheelchair/stroller with you until you load on the airplane. Then you can gatecheck the equipment and it will be delivered back to you at your arrival at the next airport.
There is not a baggage charge for mobility equipment and it does not count toward your baggage allowance.

 

[SueM in MN]

The Disney strollers are very low to the ground and hard as a rock. She might have trouble getting in and out. We also have a DS with cp his is severe, so there is no choice. He is 15 but is not comfortable in a wheelchair for long periods of time. We have an adult size umbrella stroller that is very comfy and it is clearly for mobility issues.

I don't know where you could rent one of these but a medical supply place may offer this. I would actually call disney's guest services. They may know of something available in the orlando area. There are several stroller rental companies but I can not find one that rents larger strollers.

If you are driving and have a handicapped parking sticker you will be given priority parking. It is much closer to the gates. It used to be that if you had mobility issues you used a separate entrance for rides. This past Dec I noticed that ECV's and wheelchairs along with some strollers were allowed in some of the Queues and at a point near the entrance to the ride they were moved to an alternate entrance with cm to assist them.

We are taking our DS this Sept. I guess it will be a learning experience. I will report on any difficulties we have.

All of the attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom were built with what are called Mainstream Lines, which means the lines are accessible and guests with mobility devices like wheelchairs, ECVs and strollers being used as wheelchairs wait in the same line with everyone else.
There are a few attractions in each of those parks which have an alternate boarding area, but guests usually all wait together until close to boarding, where guests with special needs will be sent some where else to board.

MK and Epcot were not built with Mainstream Lines, but they have added them whenever possible as they added or renovated attractions.

There is more information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about Mainstream Lines and boarding at WDW. You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature. There is also an Epcot FAQs thread near the top of the board which has pictures of most of th Epcot attractions.