Alamo at MCO will take seats out of mini-vans!

[lcjones70]

I am taking my parents to Disney next month (all most exactly 20 years ago from the last family trip we took all together) and I am learning so much! My Mom will be in an ECV full-time, my Sister and my Dad will be in ECVs to get around, but can transfer to manual wheelchairs when needed and walk into restaurants. My Dad's scooter is very light and can be broken completely down. However, it would be too much for me to break down my Mom's and Sister's ECVs. I was going to rent a wheelchair accessible van for about $750.00, but it was really bothering me because we use a manual ramp for my parents mini-van, at home, and I just couldn't see why the rental car companies won't take the seats out so we could use a manual ramp. Before signing the contract for the wheelchair accessible mini-van, something told me to try the rental car companies again. I went on to Alamo.com and found their ADA page which includes a dedicated telephone line for disabled customers. I called and to my delight, I was informed that they will take the seats out! I had a choice of them taking the middle seats or back seat out, and they also gave me two numbers of companies that rent the manual ramps. When all was said and done, the minivan is going to cost $252 and the ramp is $10/day, so I saved $300.00! Alamo's ADA page is at http://www.alamo.com/index.do?&hdmem=072507&action=/itemCategories.do and it includes the telephone number. I hope this helps anyone else trying to find affordable transportation!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the information.
It's possible, that they will just make sure that you are assigned a Chrysler van that has "Stow and Go" seats. Those seats are designed to be folded into a compartment in the floor of the van. When they are folded in, the floor is flat. We have had one of those vans the last 3 or so times that we rented a van. Very convenient.

 

[lcjones70]

That would be even better!!!!

 

[dj2]

from whom are you renting the ramp please?

 

[SueM in MN]

Note from Moderator: Mickiethepooh meant for this reply to go on this thread.

I can't find the post now but somewhere yesterday I saw a post about renting a van to transport scooter. We will have two scooters to transport. I had an SUV reserved at a good rate and was hoping I could fit them in, in pieces, but was concerned.

After seeing this post I called the special services number at Alamo and they were able to change me to a minivan with rear seat removed and while it was $72. more for the change to a minivan, it was worth it. They called back today to verify and tell me they are trying to change the fleet over to stow and go seating Minivans and if they have one by Nov when I arrive they will reserve that for me otherwise they will have one with the rear seat removed.

This will be a big help and I am grateful for the info.

 

[lcjones70]

from whom are you renting the ramp please?

I am renting the ramp from:

http://www.medicaltravel.org/scooter/portable_ramps.html

They charge $100.00/week and will prorate additional days.

 

[lcjones70]

Alamo called me a couple of weeks ago and we got a stow and go. My Mom is thrilled!! Unfortunately, we leave this Sunday, and I'm recovering from double pnuemonia and a massive asthma attack, but we will just take things slow. I'm determined to make sure they have a nice vacation.

 

[SueM in MN]

sorry you've been sick.
take it easy and have a great time.

 

[dj2]

I am renting the ramp from:

http://www.medicaltravel.org/scooter/portable_ramps.html

They charge $100.00/week and will prorate additional days.

thanks for the link. it's a good option.

i hope you're feeling much better. just being at wdw will help a lot.

sorry to bother you with so many questions, but do you know how much seating remains once the seats are stowed? also, is the ramp company delivering the ramp to the rental car place (wouldn't that be great!), or will you be disassembling scooters for that first ride from the airport?

 

[SueM in MN]

thanks for the link. it's a good option.

i hope you're feeling much better. just being at wdw will help a lot.

sorry to bother you with so many questions, but do you know how much seating remains once the seats are stowed? also, is the ramp company delivering the ramp to the rental car place (wouldn't that be great!), or will you be disassembling scooters for that first ride from the airport?

With the rear seat folded down, it would seat 4.

The rear seat is a bench seat that 3 can sit on. That would usually be the one folded down to make more room in the back. The middle may have a bench seat that seats 2 or 2 captains chairs. Those seats can also be folded down into a Stow N Go space.

Here's a link to the Dodge website that shows the Stow N Go seating. The video shows the middle seat, but the back seats work the same way. The Dodge and Chrysler vans are pretty much the same.

 

[zumbergc]

Question about the manual ramp. If your in an ecv, is someone able to sit in the ecv, and drive up the ramp into the mini-van without whacking their head on the top of the door, or do you put the ecv in manual, and roll it up the ramp?

I'm going to be traveling w. 2 ecvs, 4 adults total. It would be easier if we didn't have to take the ecv's apart so much. My mom wants to goto sea world 2 days so, not having to take apart, and re-assemble will be nice.

Is alamo the only rental company that will do this? Will national rental do it?
We have full size suv reserved, maybe it would be better to switch over to alamo.

Thanks

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Question about the manual ramp. If your in an ecv, is someone able to sit in the ecv, and drive up the ramp into the mini-van without whacking their head on the top of the door, or do you put the ecv in manual, and roll it up the ramp?

I'm going to be traveling w. 2 ecvs, 4 adults total. It would be easier if we didn't have to take the ecv's apart so much. My mom wants to goto sea world 2 days so, not having to take apart, and re-assemble will be nice.

Is alamo the only rental company that will do this? Will national rental do it?
We have full size suv reserved, maybe it would be better to switch over to alamo.

Thanks

You cannot ride the ECV into a non accomodated van. you would have to have someone using the power on it by hand steer it up the ramp be sure it is in SLOW MODE. this is tricky till you get the hang and backing it down is worse.
I recommend you do switch to alamo but be sure to call the special dept to reserve a Stow and Go van.

 

[zumbergc]

Thanks Mickiethepooh for the info, good to know.

Connie

 

[dj2]

With the rear seat folded down, it would seat 4.

thanks, and thanks for the link.
dj