Few ? about Wheelchair/ECV

[sohappy]

My mom had her patella removed a few weeks ago and is very worried about our upcoming trip. This isn't our first (and not likely our last) trip, so we have no intention of going commando. We are fine to relax and take it easy. That being said, I know she will not be up to all the walking necessary. We are debating whether to rent a wheelchair from a local medical supply company, or once we get to parks. My dad is even considering an ECV as he has bad knees and might not be up to pushing her all week. My mom is walking well, but I know she will get tired. She doesn't use anything to get around now, but she limits her activities and rests when she is tired. So, onto the questions:

1- how long is the process to rent a wheelchair or ECV once we are in the park?
2- I know you can't do length of stay for ECV, but do all the parks use the same form? Could we get several copies of the form the first day and already have them filled out to speed up the process (my mom really hates waiting, thus the Sept trip).
3- Would you recommend getting something from home or once we get to the parks. They def would not rent an ECV from home. They do not want to deal with the ECV/bus situation.
4- I have heard/read that some resorts have wheelchairs that guests can borrow. Is this true? We might want to hope for this, but be prepared to rent if necessary.

Thanks so much for your help. I really, really appreciate it.

 

[brekin67]

I never go commando at Disney.
I would recommend Walker's mobility or Randy's. Way cheaper than renting in the park.
1. Renting in the park may take about 15 minutes and they may run out before you get one.
2. Not sure.
3. Walkers or Randy's will bring the chair to your resort for free.
4. Resorts loan chairs to use within the resort area....I don't think you can take to the resort.

The ECV rental places are about $28-$35 per day.

 

[Chuck S]

The resorts do have a limited number of manual wheelchairs available for guests. You cn not reserve one, they are first come, first served. They also aren't always in the best of shape. We did use one at OKW when we flew down last December, it rolled well, but had obviously been left out in the rain and was not wiped down when the party that used returned to the room, the chrome has rusted badly, The seat material was also quite stretched out of shape and in need of replacement...but it served our needs. Mom is 85, and has had 3 hip surgeries, so is in a wheelchair for the parks, so all in all it worked OK and saved us from renting one. We've used a resort chair a few times over the years, and never were requested to not use it in the parks...in fact, they used to supply chains and locks for them to be locked when using them in the parks.