Ambulatory but Needs Frequent Breaks

[KNMinnie]

We have a member of our party that is ambulatory but needs frequent breaks to rest due to old knee, hip and ankle injuries. If she doesn't need a wheelchair, scooter or walker but would benefit from being able to sit while waiting for a ride, does Disney allow telescopic stools or anything like that for use in queues?

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We have a member of our party that is ambulatory but needs frequent breaks to rest due to old knee, hip and ankle injuries. If she doesn't need a wheelchair, scooter or walker but would benefit from being able to sit while waiting for a ride, does Disney allow telescopic stools or anything like that for use in queues?

not allowed as they could be tipped over when bumped. only things allowed in queues are wheelchairs or ECVs or walkers. I would go with walker with a seat

 

[Narcoossee11]

No .
REALLY think a wheelchair or at least a roller is needed.
Parks have very limited benches.
Your guest will be standing for HOURS each day.

 

[loves to dive]

I'd go with either a wheelchair or a walker with seat. Some walkers with seats have little baskets so that would work for some storage as well. They fold up smallish so when not needed they can just be pushed when folded up (if nothing is in the basket). They can push a wheelchair if they don't want to sit in it, again good for storage and when tired just take a seat. Be aware, some lines you can't take a wheelchair all the way through but you can an EVC. I wouldn't go for an EVC unless absolutely needed, those things can get cumbersome. A wheelchair can also be folded up fairly compact for buses.

 

[gap2368]

I agree with other your want something like a wheelchair or roller disney dose not allow sets of any kind in the park and I do not think they would help you as much as you think they will

 

[anonymousegirl]

There's ambulatory and then there's able to walk 5-10 miles a day ambulatory. And stand for hours as well. Please consider a rollator at the minimum. I'm a reasonable fit 60 year old and some days I am longing for a seat just for a brief respite while waiting for an attraction!

 

[Her Dotness]

I agree with anonymousegirl. This does not sound like a person up for 5 miles+ per day.

From the main Epcot gate to World Showcase is at least 1-1.5 miles, and it's another mile or more around the WS loop.

Please look into options suggested above or be prepared to try arranging an urgent scooter rental.

Honestly, a scooter seems a more reasonable choice to me.

 

[DisneyOma]

I'd go with either a wheelchair or a walker with seat. Some walkers with seats have little baskets so that would work for some storage as well. They fold up smallish so when not needed they can just be pushed when folded up (if nothing is in the basket). They can push a wheelchair if they don't want to sit in it, again good for storage and when tired just take a seat. Be aware, some lines you can't take a wheelchair all the way through but you can an EVC. I wouldn't go for an EVC unless absolutely needed, those things can get cumbersome. A wheelchair can also be folded up fairly compact for buses.

Did you mean some lines you can take a wheelchair though but not an ECV?

 

[elvispursley]

Heck! I'm 45 with an old back injury and walking for me isn't the issue. It's the hours of standing that kill my back! I'm debating taking the rollator we kept from when my grandfather used it it just so I can sit when I need to. Even when using DAS, for unrelated issue, standing at WDW is something I just don't look forward to.

 

[elvispursley]

Did you mean some lines you can take a wheelchair though but not an ECV?

Wondered about that, too as I think DH has pushed me through all the queues with a manual w/c (or gone to alternate loading area when we couldn't, like HM).

 

[loves to dive]

Did you mean some lines you can take a wheelchair though but not an ECV?

Nope the opposite. Most rides you can ride the EVC all the way through but some of them are going to ask you to park the wheel chair if you can walk.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Did you mean some lines you can take a wheelchair though but not an ECV?

There are a few exceptions-For Pirates, guests need to transfer to a narrower, manual wheelchair. The PeopleMover's steep moving ramps prohibits scooters and wheelchairs (not sure about Rollators). Peter Pan is a no go for all three aids, unless you are the first guest of the morning or last guest at night (too dangerous to other passengers if they have to stop the moving walkway to allow boarding). Spaceship Earth boards from the exit (due to the moving walkway). There is a paper guide (or there used to be) that shows how to board specific attractions if using a mobility device.

 

[lanejudy]

Nope the opposite. Most rides you can ride the EVC all the way through but some of them are going to ask you to park the wheel chair if you can walk.

Can you give examples? I’m not aware of any queue at WDW that allows an ECV all the way to boarding but does not allow a wheelchair. I think maybe you are getting something confused with “can you transfer” or “can you walk a short distance”

 

[loves to dive]

Not off the top of my head but I have seen evcs go all the way through and I know when we pushed my mom in a wheelchair there were times we had to park it near the stroller parking. They always asked if she could walk from that point. She had lupus so she could not walk long distances but could stand for a little and walk short distances.

 

[elaine amj]

At least get a walker/rollater. We’ve been using one for a while. At one point DH could still walk and maneuver through the parks pretty well with the walker for short periods of time so I’d sit and he’d push me around lol - sure was a nice break. Then when he’d get tired, we’d switch.

Now his vision issues has worsened so while he can still walk short distances, he can no longer push me around as I have to guide him. I miss those breaks lol!

Honestly though, the walker has made WDW doable. DH was reluctant at first and in the beginning would just lean on one of us the whole day. I’m used to it so didn’t notice anything but DD said that her shoulder would hurt by the end of the day. Now he uses the walker and appreciates the greater independence of movement he gets. Although I sometimes miss him leaning on me! Still, the seat is invaluable whenever he gets tired.

We might eventually graduate to a small wheelchair but DH loves the lightness and portability of the walker. (We did get one with nice big wheels).

 

[lanejudy]

Not off the top of my head but I have seen evcs go all the way through and I know when we pushed my mom in a wheelchair there were times we had to park it near the stroller parking. They always asked if she could walk from that point. She had lupus so she could not walk long distances but could stand for a little and walk short distances.

I’m really sorry that happened to you and your mom. Did you try answering “no, she can’t walk that far”? I think you would have been given different instructions for access other than park with the strollers and walk.

 

[SueM in MN]

Nope the opposite. Most rides you can ride the EVC all the way through but some of them are going to ask you to park the wheel chair if you can walk.

No.
it is the opposite. Some attractions have queues that are not ECV accessible and if the guest can’t walk the distance, they can transfer to an attraction wheelchair.
This is a link to the WDW website page about Mobility Disabilities. It lists the attractions and whether they are ECV accessible or not.

Not off the top of my head but I have seen evcs go all the way through and I know when we pushed my mom in a wheelchair there were times we had to park it near the stroller parking. They always asked if she could walk from that point. She had lupus so she could not walk long distances but could stand for a little and walk short distances.

I’m sorry that happened to you.
My youngest daughter is permanently disabled and uses a wheelchair because she is not able to walk. We have never been asked to park her wheelchair. The only time she’s been asked if she needs her OWN wheelchair was Pirates. Because the load area is down one floor and in a different building, they ask if guests can transfer to an attraction wheelchair if possible.

ALL lines are wheelchair accessible to the point of boarding except those that are listed as ‘must be ambulatory’. That includes Peoplemover, which has a steep moving ramp to get up & down to the load/unload area. Peter Pan requires at least a few steps.
Some attractions have an alternate wheelchair accessible entrance because the regular queue is not accessible. Examples are Small World, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Spaceship Earth

 

[SueM in MN]

Wondered about that, too as I think DH has pushed me through all the queues with a manual w/c (or gone to alternate loading area when we couldn't, like HM).

You are correct. Some queues are not ECV accessible, but all are wheelchair accessible except the few that are listed as ‘must be ambulatory’. Some have either an alternate accessible entry (Small World, Spaceship Earth and Big Thunder Mountain RR). Some have an alternate accessible loading area (Toy Story Mania, Haunted Mansion, Dinosaur)

 

[loves to dive]

I’m really sorry that happened to you and your mom. Did you try answering “no, she can’t walk that far”? I think you would have been given different instructions for access other than park with the strollers and walk.

It wasn't a problem she could walk just not for long pdistances.

 

[RoseGold]

This is where a wheelchair, as opposed to a big rental scooter, might really help. There are some lines that don't fit ECVs, but they always fit a manual wheelchair, which obviously, you can sit in during the queue.