Availability of wheelchairs? Running out?

[jjan]

My family is going to WDW Dec. 3-the 12th. My problem is my husband has a injured ankle (partially severed Achilles tendon) and shouldn't be walking 6+ miles a day. He is being rather stubborn and doesn't want to admit that he will need to use a w/c... he was hoping it would be better by now. He walks with a cane and takes a huge amount of pain killers just to get around. Since the w/c are 1st come, 1st served, I am wondering if he waits until he really needs one like in the afternoon, what are the chances that there will be any left. What has your experiences during this time of year been for availability? Thanks for any help.

 

[SueM in MN]

We don't rent a wheelchair since DD has her own, so I can't give you personal experience. But, I can tell you what I know from other people's experiences.
hopefully, some people with personal experience will share.

If you are going at the super-busy times (like Christmas or Spring break), you may not be able to get a wheelchair later in the day. But, if you are going during non-peak time, you should be able to get a wheelchair. The problem would be if you wanted an ecv, which are more limited in number.
Dec 3-12 would normally be non-peak time, so you shouldn't have a problem.
You might want to take along the phone numbers of some of the off-site rental places so that if you do have problems getting one, you could call.

 

[jjan]

Thank you very much for the tips. Hopefully they will have them when he needs one.

 

[DebWills]

I've noticed over the last year or so that the number of wheelchairs have increased so it's not *quite* the problem it was.

Except during the most busy times, the non-motorized wheelchairs are typically available in the afternoons.

The ECVs (motorized) are another story. They can be harder to come by in the afternoons or evenings. Not all the time, but can be. When they are returned, they usually have to be recharged and so can't always be put right back in the queue for someone to use.

If you are staying at a Disney resort, they all offer wheelchairs (a few per resort) at no charge to their guests.

Deb
Co-Author Passporter WDW for Your Special Needs

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs at the top of this board, you will find information about the different ways to obtain a wheelchair or ecv at WDW. It includes kind of the pluses and minuses of each.

 

[vonpluto]

Here's some info about the Resort wheelchairs the Deb mentioned.
We stayed at OKW from 10/17 to 10/29.
We requested the chair at checkin. A cable lock comes with the chair. We used it everywhere, on and off property and turned it in at checkout. They run off a credit card slip as a deposit. ($315).

Frank