First time going to WDW with Mother in wheelchair

[brymolmom]

Hi all! Hoping for some guidance as I embark on a big family trip in January!

My mother has MS (and heart issues too). She can walk from point A to B at home (as long as A and B are not too far away) and does not use a walker, cane in day to day life. Her mobility is deteriorating. A year ago she could go to the Mall with me as long as we stayed in one or two stores near each other. Today she has a tough time doing more than a quick errand to pick up one item.

She DOES own a wheelchair (manual) that we purchased from Craigslist several years ago. About the only time we use it regularly is for the annual charity walk for MS when the rest of the family walks 5 miles and she rides along with us.

We are heading for a week-long trip in January. Mom and stepdad will be coming along with me, dh and our 2 kids and my sister and her family. We will be staying for a week, likely at POP Century.
Now for some specific questions:
1) Are we 'allowed' to fold up her wheelchair and have her board a bus thru the regular line with the rest of us? She IS able to stand and board and the group of us is too large to all get on with her and I'm afraid we'll be separated that way. So is it possible to treat the wheelchair like a stroller and just fold it up, have one of the guys carry it on and just let her walk on and get a seat?
2) I am likely going to pursue purchasing a new wheelchair for her before then - the one we have does not fit her well - it is too big and she is tiny - I am afraid it will be too uncomfortable for spending that much time in it for a week. Does anyone have any opinion on this? Am I right to think a better-fitted wheelchair will be more comfortable for her or is it basically the same?
3) Do any handicapped accessible rooms at POP have connecting doors to another room?
4) Are there 2 bed accessible rooms at POP or only king?

I think that's all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll have more as we go along.

TIA!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Hi all! Hoping for some guidance as I embark on a big family trip in January!

My mother has MS (and heart issues too). She can walk from point A to B at home (as long as A and B are not too far away) and does not use a walker, cane in day to day life. Her mobility is deteriorating. A year ago she could go to the Mall with me as long as we stayed in one or two stores near each other. Today she has a tough time doing more than a quick errand to pick up one item.

She DOES own a wheelchair (manual) that we purchased from Craigslist several years ago. About the only time we use it regularly is for the annual charity walk for MS when the rest of the family walks 5 miles and she rides along with us.

We are heading for a week-long trip in January. Mom and stepdad will be coming along with me, dh and our 2 kids and my sister and her family. We will be staying for a week, likely at POP Century.
Now for some specific questions:
1) Are we 'allowed' to fold up her wheelchair and have her board a bus thru the regular line with the rest of us? She IS able to stand and board and the group of us is too large to all get on with her and I'm afraid we'll be separated that way. So is it possible to treat the wheelchair like a stroller and just fold it up, have one of the guys carry it on and just let her walk on and get a seat?
2) I am likely going to pursue purchasing a new wheelchair for her before then - the one we have does not fit her well - it is too big and she is tiny - I am afraid it will be too uncomfortable for spending that much time in it for a week. Does anyone have any opinion on this? Am I right to think a better-fitted wheelchair will be more comfortable for her or is it basically the same?
3) Do any handicapped accessible rooms at POP have connecting doors to another room?
4) Are there 2 bed accessible rooms at POP or only king?

I think that's all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll have more as we go along.

TIA!

My concern would be whether or not she can handle the stairs on the bus. They're rather steep.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

1. This is allowed. However, depending on the bus, the stairs may be steep.

2. Definitely worthy the investment. Not only will a chair where she fits be more comfortable for her, but it also may be easier to push.

3. Yes. Each of the resorts has rooms which can open directly into each other. The correct term for these is "connecting rooms". "Adjoining" rooms are only next to each other, but you have to go outside or into a corridor to get from one to the other.

4. Note there are two "levels" of accessible rooms. Both have a raised toilet with grab bars. One will have a tub with grab bars and the other has a roll-in shower. All room doors are 36 inches, so there is never a problem getting a wheelchair into a room. So if you request an accessible room you should specify if a roll-in shower is necessary or not. Also, Mousekeeping will bring a shower chair if requested. Some of the accessible rooms have two doubles, they will set you up with what you need; just be sure to be able to explain the needs when making the reservation.

 

[canopynut66]

Hi all! Hoping for some guidance as I embark on a big family trip in January!

My mother has MS (and heart issues too). She can walk from point A to B at home (as long as A and B are not too far away) and does not use a walker, cane in day to day life. Her mobility is deteriorating. A year ago she could go to the Mall with me as long as we stayed in one or two stores near each other. Today she has a tough time doing more than a quick errand to pick up one item.

She DOES own a wheelchair (manual) that we purchased from Craigslist several years ago. About the only time we use it regularly is for the annual charity walk for MS when the rest of the family walks 5 miles and she rides along with us.

We are heading for a week-long trip in January. Mom and stepdad will be coming along with me, dh and our 2 kids and my sister and her family. We will be staying for a week, likely at POP Century.
Now for some specific questions:
1) Are we 'allowed' to fold up her wheelchair and have her board a bus thru the regular line with the rest of us? She IS able to stand and board and the group of us is too large to all get on with her and I'm afraid we'll be separated that way. So is it possible to treat the wheelchair like a stroller and just fold it up, have one of the guys carry it on and just let her walk on and get a seat?
2) I am likely going to pursue purchasing a new wheelchair for her before then - the one we have does not fit her well - it is too big and she is tiny - I am afraid it will be too uncomfortable for spending that much time in it for a week. Does anyone have any opinion on this? Am I right to think a better-fitted wheelchair will be more comfortable for her or is it basically the same?
3) Do any handicapped accessible rooms at POP have connecting doors to another room?
4) Are there 2 bed accessible rooms at POP or only king?

I think that's all I have for now, but I'm sure I'll have more as we go along.

TIA!

we always just got connecting rooms when my Mother went with us and she could not walk from a spine injury she was 75 when she first went and we rented a scooter from walkers and they had it at resort when we arrived and then she had it the whole time we there.. we had started having her drive the scooters in the grocery and wal mart to learn how to drive these.. and the ones you rent they ask height and weight as she also was tiny woman...she drove her scooter at WDW until she was 87 years old and loved it.. she even learned to park it on the buses herself. my sister and I used to say NO way will we ever drive a scooter...well now years later I am on a scooter myself and also rent from walkers. the first year my friend pushed me all over WDW in a wheelchair and my hips were so sore I had like bed sores and I had padded it with pillows as well and my friend was down in her back for a week after she got home so has been a scooter since then for me...it is a long walk from buses into any park so is good to have scooter from bus to parks. You can rent scooters at each park for use only in the park but I need all the time and this is best for me.. just talked to sam there yesterday to get mine set up for our trip in 9 days

 

[brymolmom]

Thanks for the responses. I'm getting so excited for the trip. Good to know about the different types of showers...I will know which to request.

OK - thought of a couple more questions if you could be so kind again:
1) On the rides where she cannot go through the regular queue (like Toy Story Mania because of the stairs), should we prepare to split up and send like 2 - 4 of us with her and the rest of the group through the regular line. Is there a limit to how many family she brings in the wheelchair line with her? We will have a group of about 14 and I just can't imagine all of us going in that way. On the other hand - would they be able to 'hold' her in that line until the rest of us are in front - so that we can all go on at that same time?
2) Similar question on fireworks/Illuminations viewing. I know there are wheelchair areas setup, but doubting all of us would be able to be in there with her. I know in MK for the parade - we could just get a spot on Mainstreet with her wheelchair and she can just sit with the rest of us, right? But I am a bit worried about Illuminations and finding a place where she could actually see from her chair.

I just want to plan how often we're going to have to separate for this type of thing.

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[peemagg]

For those lines that aren't mainstreamed, they will allow 5 of you plus her to go thru the other line together. The rest of you will go thru the regular line.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As far as TSM is concerned, the normal ride vehicle can only hold eight people, while the accessible vehicles only hold six. So your group would be split anyway. You can go through the queue together; the stairs are close to the end to the queue and then you will be split up. More than likely both parts of the group will be actually riding at close to the same time.