AK- Trails with a wheelchair?

[crazymomof4]

Hi!
In 3 weeks I will be taking my mom to WDW. She will be in a wheelchair because she cannot walk more than about 50 feet w/o pain from her arthritic hip. So, she can walk, but not far.

In previous trips we've not spent much time in the AK so I've never been on:
~Pangani Trail
~Flights of Wonder
~Maharajah Trek

Are these "trails" manageable in a wheelchair? I am a tiny person and will be pushing mom, so if there is a lot of gravel, roots or other natural obstacles, I will have a hard time of it.

Thanks in advance.
I'm sure I will be posting more questions about doing WDW with a wheelchair. Even though I try to convince her otherwise, Mom feels badly about "slowing us down" -so if I can make everything go smoothly then she will not feel as if she is a burden.

 

[bopper]

I am sure there are many here who will tell you to have your mom consider an "ECV" (Electric Convenience Vehicle, AKA scooter) so you are not doing all the work. There is much info about them in a sticky post at the top. This way you are not tired out, your mom is in control, she won't be "slowing you down"....win-win! If she feels uncomfortable about "driving" them, usually your local wal-mart/target/costco has one that she could practice on while shopping.

 

[BillSears]

There are some medium sized hills but no gravel, roots etc... I think the hils on these trails are about the same dificulty as the hill you go up when entering AK. I'm a full time wheelchair user who always pushes himself around and I had no problems at all with the trails,

 

[Cheshire Figment]

These are all paved.

And I agree with bopper's post, that an ECV should be considered. Check the 'disABILITIES! FAQ" for more information. Actually she might even feel more useful; the ECVs all have baskets in fron, and bags can be draped from the handlebars or put on the floor.

I find that when I am with a group and there is a need to get something from across the park I can go as it is much faster on my ECV than for the group to walk.

 

[shovan]

All of these "trails" are paved, but are bumpy and made to look like dirt/rocks. My DH now uses a power chair, but I don't think I'd be up to pushing him at AK in a manual chair. I guess it depends on your age & health. But if you are smaller, you really might want to consider renting a scooter.

 

[Mason7AK]

I find the trails in AK to be VERY bumpy! So much so, that last time we took our DD, then 4 yrs old, in her manual chair, the bumpiness of the grounds sent her into seizures!
Because of this, we are spending minimum time at AK on our upcoming trip. We will go over to the new Nemo show, maybe to the Lion King show, and then park hop somewhere else. We will only be able to do this because she has a new chair with much better suspension.
I also found it tiring to push her chair at AK, even though I am used to pushing her most everywhere.
I agree with the idea to get a scooter!
Angela

 

[OneLittleSpark]

It's not just the trails in AK that are bumpy. A lot of the paving is textured to make it look more like natural rough flooring, but it also makes for a rougher ride (especially when you're in a WDW bog standard rental chair with joint problems that are aggravated by the bumps!).

The ECV might be the best option for you guys; not only will it let you keep your energy up, it'll mean that your mother can decide where she wants to go, not feel guilty if she wants to look at a shop / display / other thing, and will also mean you can go along together, rather than one behind the other.

Have a great time

 

[crazymomof4]

it'll mean that your mother can decide where she wants to go, not feel guilty if she wants to look at a shop / display / other thing, and will also mean you can go along together, rather than one behind the other.

Have a great time

Good points that I hadn't thought of.
I have to think of a tactful way to broach the subject of renting the ECV.
I know she will balk at it, fearful that she will not be able to learn to drive it.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Bopper's suggestion of trying out the customer ECVs at a local store is a good one, and often used on these boards. Try to go at a quieter time to begin with, so you don't have to worry about crowds so much. The ones they have at supermarkets (or at least the ones I've seen) are rather large, clunky things, so I reckon if she can drive that, she can drive anything! Also, apparently the ECVs rented from off site companies are smaller and easier to drive than the WDW rentals.