First time with a wheel chair. Help with questions please.

[erin327]

We will be visiting in March with my in laws. My father in law can walk and stand but not for very long and not very far. We have rented a wheel chair for him from an outside company. Him driving a scooter is not an option. He doesn't drive a car any more either. We have 5 people plus him in the wheel chair in our party.

He can walk onto the bus and sit in the bus seat. He won't be able to stand while we are in line waiting for the bus. Can we wait in the regular line and then fold up and carry on the wheel chair just like we always have a stroller? Obviously if there are no seats available on a bus we will wait for the next one.

We would like to see both parades at the Magic Kingdom. Should we just find a place along the curb like we always have? Can we park the wheel chair anywhere we like at the curb along the parade route? How does the handicap viewing area work? Would he "qualify" to sit there? Could we all stay with him there? My mother in law will have a big of trouble with standing in one place too long or sitting on the curb I think. I think we will need to find somewhere as close to parade time as possible.

For restaurants, I was thinking we will leave the wheel chair in the stroller parking area and let him walk him? Is this a good plan? Or do restaurants have somewhere else inside to park his wheel chair while he is eating? Most restaurants will have seating available if we have to wait, right? He should do fine to sit on any restaurant chair during the meal.

How about attractions? If there are short lines, is it easiest to park the wheel chair in stroller parking and have him walk in? This would work for him as along as the line isn't too long. Or should we take the wheel chair in line with us?

Any other advice you can share?

Thanks!

 

[minnie mum]

Buses: there are designated wheelchair and ecv loading areas at each bus stop. Your father should just remain in his chair until he is ready to board. This is always done through the rear door of the bus, which has a ramp, even if he chooses to walk on and have someone fold the chair and carry it on board. Wheelchair and ecv guests are loaded first, so he will always have a seat.

There are Handicapped viewing areas for the parades, but they are small and fill up fast, so you need to get there early. He can certainly use these. Because of the small size, and the number of chairs and ecvs that need to be accommodated, it is likely that only one member of your party will be allowed to stay with him. The rest of your party can find a spot nearby. You can certainly watch from any other point along the parade route, but again, if you want to be at the front, so he can see, you will have to stake your spot quite early. If you must wait until close to parade, try down in Frontierland, closer to Pecos Bills. The crowds aren't quite as bad there. But don't leave it too late or you will be out of luck.

Restaurants have stroller parking outside. Most TS restaurants will also have a place inside where you can leave the wheelchair. Every TS restaurant has seating in the waiting area, but there's no guarantee that a seat will be available, so just let him stay in his chair until they are ready to seat you, and then have someone move his chair to the parking area.

Rides. Its up to him how he wants to do these. If you KNOW that the wait time is short, and the distance he has to walk is comfortable for him, then yes, park the chair and let him walk through the queue. But some queues are very long even if the wait time is short. Almost all queues are accessible by wheelchair. There is excellent information about ride accessibility in the FAQ sticky. Here's a link: http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...disabled-1st-trip-next-trip-wish-trip.595713/

Pay particular attention to post 11 and 18-21

Lastly, get a pair of padded gloves (cycling or weight lifting) with padded palms, for whoever will be pushing your father's chair.

HTH