Cost is adding up...is there any help?

[Mauldita]

Hello! - We are booked for October 3-10 2009 at CSR.
Traveling are ME and DH, DS4 and DS2, DMOM(57) & DDAD(62).
Here is the issue....My dad has MAC (non-contagious tuberculosis) and COPD.
So this means 24 hour oxygen and mobility issues - cannot walk for a long time. We have a chair we could take, but no lift van. It is too heavy to lift in and out of the SUV. Oxygen producer (not portable) is also bulky and difficult to travel with. We have looked into renting - scooter and portable oxygen generator, ramps etc....it is all adding up -
If you rented - Did insurance or Medicaid/Medicare pay for the majority of cost? We can not get straight answers when we call! Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions?!! Is there any organization that assists with the costs? I understand that a vacation is a luxury, but I would really like to get some help for my parents with the cost so they will not be quite so burdened with the cost of enjoying a vacation with thier Gsons.
Thank you in advance for kind answers!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

For the oxygen, contact your current supplier. They will make all the arrangements needed with a supplier down here and so that it will be seamless. This will include dealing with insurance and Medicare.

When you talk about a chair are you talking about a standard wheelchair, a power chair, or an ECV. A standard wheelchair is not a problem. If it is an ECV, it shoud be able to be broken down into about five or six pieces and fit in a van or car. Only for a power chair will you need a special van.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #2 deals with mobility and recommended local vendors. Post #3 has many topics with information and links; scroll down to oxygen. Those two should be able to provide you with a lot of assistance.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Puget Peach]

Are you staying on property? We generally use all Disney transportation to avoid the hassles of loading and unloading the power chair.

What sort of chair does he have? We travel with a Hoveround and have put it in a mid size rental trunk. The seat comes off and folds down, the batteries come off, and the base is a separate piece. The seat and base are easiest as a two person lift.

We have also done what I call a hybrid plan, where the chair and passenger with some of the party uses Magical Express and someone else picks up the rental can/van and with a manual chair in the trunk. We use Disney Transportaion for all Disney trips, and the rental car with manual chair for dinner off site, etc.

There is a company that rents acccessible vans, be we have found them to be to too expensive for us. Mears has accessible taxis (vans), but we have found their lift van service to be a bit spotty and undependable. Hope this helps! Hoping you have a great trip!

 

[dclfun]

If you're not staying on property then you might want to consider it. It may cost a bit more than an offsite property but then you'd have complimentary transportation from the airport using DME with their lift motorcoaches. Once you're on property, then all transportation is w/c accessible. I agree that renting a lift van is cost prohibitive. The other alternative is if your Dad is signed up with Paratransit in their community, it is reciprocal in other places. Access Lynx operates paratransit in Orlando. You can visit their website- all they require to provide door-to-door transportation is a copy of your parents paratransit eligiblity card. Last year I signed up with paratransit JUST to get transportation when I visited my Mom in Nevada. It was an easy process and I was able to be picked up at the airport and brought directly to my desired location. During the trip I used the service also-it only cost $1.00 for each ride, but I have no idea what the costs are here in Orlando. Typically though it is nominal. Oxygen usage would be covered by Medicare/Medicaid, but scooter rental would not be covered. Perhaps his physician would prescribe one though and thus have the cost covered, then you could bring it with you. Otherwise renting a scooter would be less costly if rented from an outside vendor vs. at the parks on a daily basis.---Kathy

 

[LauraVV]

You know, I purchased a scooter a year and a half ago for our Disney trip. It cost about $800 (on sale), just twice what it would have cost to rent one for the week. I've seen them clearanced out since then. Do you have a Farm and Fleet nearby? Mine is a Cosco 4 wheeled scooter. It can be broken down and easily transported.

 

[Puget Peach]

You can get information and apply for a visitor Access Link approval here:
http://www.golynx.com/?id=1155583
This will only work if he has already qualified for para transit service in his home location. We are going to try this for our trip in September for the day we go to Sea World.

Also, there are several public bus lines, all of which are accessible, that serve Disney World, especially at Down Town Disney and the Ticket and Transportation Center. There is a direct bus from the airport to Disney. You can get schedules and route maps at www.golynx.com . There is further information about the public bus routes on the transportation board.

 

[Mauldita]

We are staying on property and we'll look into the suggestions.
My Dad just recently bought an O2 converter that will make transport alot easier, but we will continue to explore possibilities! Thanks again for all you guys help, appreciate you!