bags on wheelchairs

[joanchris]

I've been reading in the general forums about bag check and how much more thorough they're being. We are going in Sept with my DD for her 21st bday. She uses a wheelchair, and we carry a lot of stuff in two bags that are attached to her chair. They do come off, but it's a pain to take the second off, the way the straps are attached (the kind of bag from the WC manufacturer, attached close to the back of the chair). I've rarely, if ever had to take both bags off the chair, they go through it on the chair.
Does anyone have experience with things lately like this? I know things could surely change by Sept, but the thought of taking the bags off every time we enter the parks (plus for TSM, as they insist it's a tipping hazzard) is stressing me out.
I've tried to use just one bag, that's easier to remove, but then we end up leaving things out of the bag that may be needed, and that stresses me out too!

 

[minnie mum]

They need to search ALL bags. Can you put the contents of the second 'problem' bag inside a shopping bag or something similar? Then you would be able to quickly pull it out of the wheelchair bag for inspection.

 

[loves to dive]

yep, they are going to search all the bags and are going to ask you to take the bag off the chair.

 

[gap2368]

they will look in all the bags as Minnie said can you put the things in the trubbleded bag in another bag, can some one carry one bag then when you get to the park you can put it on the WC, can some of the things ( and I do not know what you take) be left at first aid, you might get by with telling the officer that this bag is hard to take off and see if they can search it from the back of the WC ( I think I have seen them do this with ECV that have pouches in the back of them.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Put the stuff in the attached bag inside another bag before you put it in the attached bag (like a plastic grocery bag) and pull it out. Tell them the bag is part of the chair. You shouldn't have to take it off if it is what I am picturing.

 

[Bete]

Put the stuff in the attached bag inside another bag before you put it in the attached bag (like a plastic grocery bag) and pull it out. Tell them the bag is part of the chair. You shouldn't have to take it off if it is what I am picturing.

This is a great idea.

Another way is to buy a different bag for the wheelchair that would be easier.

 

[joanchris]

Put the stuff in the attached bag inside another bag before you put it in the attached bag (like a plastic grocery bag) and pull it out. Tell them the bag is part of the chair. You shouldn't have to take it off if it is what I am picturing.

This is an excellent idea! I love the bag as it is, since it sits so close to the back of the chair it's kind of unobtrusive. It's for the things we need to have but may not need immediately. The other bag has all the primary essentials--a system we've been using for so long (because it works) switching it up on vacation would be stressful. It's taken me long enough to train the husband where to find things so I don't have to do every.single.thing. for our daughter myself!

 

[ButterflyEffect]

We also have a lot attached to our dd's wheelchair. They rummaged through the equipment under her transport chair and on the back, but we're fine with us leaving it there. We had our other three bags with her enteral supplies, meds, diaper bag and feeding pump up off the chair. They were very friendly about it. One wasn't sure what her feeding pump was but once I explained it he let us through. This was in late Jan. they had the metal detectors going too. I wouldn't sweat it, they are very patient and friendly, as were the people around us.

 

[Bearshouse]

Whatever you do do NOT ever go through bag check without the person in the wheelchair. We have 4 bags in total and it was getting crowded so DH, DS(wheelchair user) and DD went though the no bags line at MK. They were trying to get through the turnstiles before the crush. I got the 3rd degree about every bag, and they were less then discreet with the incontinent supplies. Finally my DH turns around and yells everything okay and I said I guess I need DS.... The security guard turned around and looked at DH. After that they pretty much just closed up the bags and sent me on. So now we just make sure the DS goes through the bag check point it turns out to be faster.

 

[joanchris]

Whatever you do do NOT ever go through bag check without the person in the wheelchair.

LOL, not much chance of that! Made me chuckle though, picturing DH attempting to carry my 20 year old daughter more than a few feet!
I can totally see how they would see that as a problem though. Glad they calmed down once they realized you weren't attempting to bring a bomb or something in!

 

[MinnieMSue]

The security people should check it on the wheelchair. They don't check bags on people because of the risk of inappropriate touching or such accusations. They are reasonable and we found them very friendly. They will feel around the bag, peek in and pretty much let you through. Just tell them the bag doesn't come off and it will be fine.

 

[Lambiebell]

Trip February 2016 for our ECV we attach some bags (that don't really come off without a lot of work), and as long as you give the Security CM the chance to go through it, then it should be ok. The idea to be able to take the items out of the attached bag for them to search (in a plastic bag) though is a great idea that would probably make the search go as quickly and smoothly as possible.
I will also add that the bags we attach are partially mesh and/or see through so that it makes it easier for them to identify what is in there as well.

 

[SueM in MN]

My daughter has a bag under her wheelchair seat that is very difficult to remove - multiple clips and straps.
It contains her catheterization supplies. They have not made us remove it - I do open it and show them what is inside without pulling anything out. That was as recently as yesterday.

 

[RachelKS]

My daughter has a bag under her wheelchair seat that is very difficult to remove - multiple clips and straps.
It contains her catheterization supplies. They have not made us remove it - I do open it and show them what is inside without pulling anything out. That was as recently as yesterday.

I hadn't even thought about that bag! My husband will be mortified if he has to take those types of things out for inspection. Just when I thought I was relaxing about this trip! It is also attached under the front of his chair and would be really hard to take off and put back on. We do have a bag on the back of the chair but it really is only useful for me to use since he can't reach it. I hadn't really considered the possibility of having to take bags off the chair itself.

 

[SueM in MN]

I hadn't even thought about that bag! My husband will be mortified if he has to take those types of things out for inspection. Just when I thought I was relaxing about this trip! It is also attached under the front of his chair and would be really hard to take off and put back on. We do have a bag on the back of the chair but it really is only useful for me to use since he can't reach it. I hadn't really considered the possibility of having to take bags off the chair itself.

We've been at WDW a whole week now and have not been asked to take the bag off once.
I've just pointed it out and said, "she has a bag here underneath her chair that can't be removed".
Then I unzipped it and let them see inside. The items inside are are in clear bags, layered flat over the top of each other. In most cases, they have just had me lift each layer while they watched. In others, they did it.
I was not asked to remove anything from the bag.
Only one has asked what is in the bag so far and was satisfied with knowing it was one change of clothes and medical supplies.

This is a picture of her bag under her wheelchair.

 

[RachelKS]

Thanks for the information. I worry about everything.

 

[Mikey2016]

My daughter has a bag under her wheelchair seat that is very difficult to remove - multiple clips and straps.
It contains her catheterization supplies. They have not made us remove it - I do open it and show them what is inside without pulling anything out. That was as recently as yesterday.

I have a cath too (Superpubic) Cath and I use my bed side bag all the time so I hope the people there are nice to know ok this tube is coming from his bladder (belly) into a bag. If they want to look ok just would be uncool with millions of people! What do you think I can do? Oh and could be smelly.