Are there enough wheelchairs?

[Punchy]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie here to DIS. I love it so far, though it is a bit like slow torture as I still have 2 months before my trip!

I have mild multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and heat and long walks are my greatest enemies, so I am considering getting a wheelchair while in the parks.
It's just my husband and I so he can push me along.

I read somewhere that ECVs and wheelchairs can run out quickly, however. Does anyone have any experience with this? We plan to take midday breaks to go back to our hotel, and I worry that when we come back all the chairs will be gone.

Also, how comfortable are the chairs? I rented a cheapie for our local MS Walk last Spring and it was so umcomfortable I think almost would prefer the pain of walking!

 

[Mrsjvb]

your best bet would most likely be renting one from offsite. the walks from the park entrances to transportation can be huge treks by themselves.

and no, they aren't the most comfy things on the planet. Next time I will bring a cushion or something...

 

[KPeveler]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie here to DIS. I love it so far, though it is a bit like slow torture as I still have 2 months before my trip!

I have mild multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and heat and long walks are my greatest enemies, so I am considering getting a wheelchair while in the parks.
It's just my husband and I so he can push me along.

I read somewhere that ECVs and wheelchairs can run out quickly, however. Does anyone have any experience with this? We plan to take midday breaks to go back to our hotel, and I worry that when we come back all the chairs will be gone.

Also, how comfortable are the chairs? I rented a cheapie for our local MS Walk last Spring and it was so umcomfortable I think almost would prefer the pain of walking!

we think I have MS, so I know what you mean about heat and walking setting you off...

i am not sure about them running out, but about the comfort - they are probably MORE uncomfortable than your local cheapie... they cannot be adjusted at all, and last time i was in a 16 in wide chair, which only just fits me, with arm rests up to my armpits (literally) - so i couldnt push it at all, and footrests WAY too high up, so my knees were very high. it actually hurt me...

my suggestion if you dont want to use a scooter from offsite, so you never have to worry about running out, is renting a wheelchair from off site so you can be sure it is in good condition and fitted to you...

also, speaking from personal experience, at AK and MK, walking from car to tram to monorail/boat to gate to wheelchair rental can be almost an hour of walking or standing. i almost didnt make it once and my mom did NOT make it, we had to bring a wc back to her... get one from off site so you dont have to worry...

i bought my own off ebay after much research... i hate to say it but with MS, you may need one in the future again, and this may be money-saving in hte long run. plus, if it is your own, you can put sitckers or cushions or lights on it!

 

[Punchy]

KPeveler, I am sorry to hear that you are stuck in MS limbo. As much as I wouldn't wish this on anyone, I hope that you are able to get a definitive diagnosis (or spontaneous a cure!) so you can at least absorb it and move ahead with treatment. If you ever have any questions I am happy to address them as best I can

An outside wheelchair sounds like a good idea, however we won't have access to a car (we don't even drive, actually). So I am not sure of the logistics to that. We are arriving via Magical Express.

Funny that you mention buying, as I was thinking about this just the other day. It makes a lot of sense, but it's a self-admission that I don't think I'm quite ready to make yet.

Thanks for the input!

 

[SueM in MN]

An outside wheelchair sounds like a good idea, however we won't have access to a car (we don't even drive, actually). So I am not sure of the logistics to that. We are arriving via Magical Express.

Funny that you mention buying, as I was thinking about this just the other day. It makes a lot of sense, but it's a self-admission that I don't think I'm quite ready to make yet.

Thanks for the input!

THe wheelchairs and scooters (also called ECVs) rented from off-site companies are delivered to your resort and picked up again when you leave. Delivery and pick up are at no extra charge.
Once you have it, you can use WDW transportation to get it from place to place. Buses, monorails and most of the boats are wheelchair and ECV accessible. There is more information about buses in post #4 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread and more about boats and monorails in post #8 of that thread.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie here to DIS. I love it so far, though it is a bit like slow torture as I still have 2 months before my trip!

I have mild multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and heat and long walks are my greatest enemies, so I am considering getting a wheelchair while in the parks.
It's just my husband and I so he can push me along.

I read somewhere that ECVs and wheelchairs can run out quickly, however. Does anyone have any experience with this? We plan to take midday breaks to go back to our hotel, and I worry that when we come back all the chairs will be gone.

Also, how comfortable are the chairs? I rented a cheapie for our local MS Walk last Spring and it was so umcomfortable I think almost would prefer the pain of walking!

On our last trip down there three years ago, we did encounter the wheelchairs being out at Epcot. Luckily, it was just for one day, and since we were park hopping from the MK to Epcot that day about midday I really wasn't surprised. We were lucky enough to send our DS around to the World Showcase to find one there for our DD.
The rest of the time down there we didnt have any problem with the park hopping. (Also didn't do it much either lol)

I would point out that at Epcot it would be a long walk around to the world showcase entrance though if there were no chairs since you do have MS.

You definitely may want to think about off site rental like the other posters have mentioned.

Also, have a great trip!
Kim

 

[KPeveler]

I love my personal chair - i only take it out every 1-2 months, but i paid about $100 on ebay for a $2000 chair, so I got lucky. I can push myself a good amount in it, so that gives me a measure of independence, however, pushing myself outdoors or uphill or in the heat stinks... but i can push myself around a store, which is nice...

one thing to consider about ECVs is how good your hand control is. my problem in my latest flare (something that hasnt faded yet) is that i can clench my fist very hard, but i get shaky when i try to tense a muscle just a little... this means i can fly down main street, but i cant go slowly through a store. if you have good control, then a scooter is definitely an option, but i have poor hand control, so for me it is just dangerous. i also cant hold my arm out in front of me the whole time, and i am so tiny the scooters cant adjust enough for me...

if you are unsure about a scooter (especially if you are a very small person) try one at walmart or target, or do what i did and rent one at your local zoo or something. i discovered that i am just not a very good driver, and i prefer my own manual wheelchair. however, some people swear by their scooters, so definitely check out both...

I understand about getting a personal chair - it is scary... i had mine for months before i used it. however, i put sparkly paint on it, with a mickey mouse patch on the back, and that seemed to make it easier. i have another condition co-existing with the maybe-MS, so I think my hand was forced a little sooner.

Check out websites like spinlife and sportaid (just google them) - they have some basic wheelchairs that will be in better shape than the WDW ones, plus some fancier ones.

For magical express, if you bring your own, just call them and tell them you have a chair.

The nice thing about a personal chair is that you can cushion it as much as you want - something the park chairs lack entirely (there is NO padding, just a mesh sling)

 

[blondietink]

My vote is for either getting your own chair to take and customize it to your needs, or rent one to be delivered to your resort from an outside agency. When we were in MK in early December, we ran into people who had to wait over 2 hours for a wheelchair or scooter ... they were not fussy. They were like 120th on the waiting list.

 

[NavyMomX2]

A gentle hug for you, dear. I know just what you mean when you said that you "weren't quite to the point of admission yet". I fly out for my WDW trip tomorrow evening. I'm having an ECV delivered to my hotel at Disney. After reading some nice reviews, I chose Randy's 321-281-6603. Just yesterday, I went to DMV and got my handicapped hanging tag for my car. I used handicapped parking for the first time yesterday......this is a huge adjustment for me, but I'm trying to make the most of my trip and I've decided to go with a positive attitude. Though, I wish the ECV came with a horn. (Oh, it does come with a canopy! Just $15.00 extra for the week.) My best to you and I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[KPeveler]

actually a lot of ECVs DO come with a horn, and if you dont have a horn, you can always get a bicycle bell