Foldable Wheelchair on transportation

[SunMonkeyAZ]

We are regulars at DL and have our first trip to WDW planned. Our 15 year old daughter broke her leg last week. Fortunately no surgery and doctor said she’ll be in a cast for 3 weeks or so and then a walking boot. From the time of the break to our trip will be 6 weeks so she’ll be in the boot for our trip. Doing 2 weeks at Pop and 8 days in the parks. 2 days at each. We are going to rent a wheelchair for the duration since it will be a lot for her to walk on the boot.
My question is if it will be easy for us with a foldable wheelchair on transportation? We’ll be resort hopping in our non-park days and have ADRs in various resorts. We’ll be using all forms of transportation. Being that she will be mobile we don’t want to take up the designated spots for those who require them so we are planning to do general boarding and fold up the wheelchair. Are there any transportation vehicles that that would get in the way and we wouldn’t be allowed to do that?
Thanks for any help you all can give. We were worried when she first broke it if it would cause problems with our trip but things looked better after seeing the doctor and we’re getting excited.

 

[mamabunny]

We are regulars at DL and have our first trip to WDW planned. Our 15 year old daughter broke her leg last week. Fortunately no surgery and doctor said she’ll be in a cast for 3 weeks or so and then a walking boot. From the time of the break to our trip will be 6 weeks so she’ll be in the boot for our trip. Doing 2 weeks at Pop and 8 days in the parks. 2 days at each. We are going to rent a wheelchair for the duration since it will be a lot for her to walk on the boot.
My question is if it will be easy for us with a foldable wheelchair on transportation? We’ll be resort hopping in our non-park days and have ADRs in various resorts. We’ll be using all forms of transportation. Being that she will be mobile we don’t want to take up the designated spots for those who require them so we are planning to do general boarding and fold up the wheelchair. Are there any transportation vehicles that that would get in the way and we wouldn’t be allowed to do that?
Thanks for any help you all can give. We were worried when she first broke it if it would cause problems with our trip but things looked better after seeing the doctor and we’re getting excited.

Dang, Sorry to hear about the accident - but it's good to know she won't need surgery!

Main thing to know about using a wheelchair on Disney Transportation is that the drivers/captains/CMs most likely *will* want you to push the chair up the ramp, even if you have it folded. It's been our experience that they don't really want you to carry that on to transportation.

Virtually every single form of Disney Transportation is accessible; the only boats that you might struggle with a bit are the smaller boats that run between Poly and MK, and that same size boat from WL/FW to MK. Everything else should be easy-peasy lemon squeezy!

Any time you have questions about where to go, just ask the nearest Cast Member, boat Captain, or Driver. Let them know your family has never traveled with a wheelchair, and they will be glad to help.

One other tip: You might want to bring along a beach towel, or a couple of fun Disney shirts to cover the seat back and seat cushion - those standard black rental chairs can get pretty hot while left sitting in the Florida sunshine! Also, some fun grosgrain ribbons in bright colors, or a colorful bandana (or two, no judgement here!) to help your plain rental chair stand out in a sea of similar chairs will be helpful. Your daughter might have ideas or color preferences; the main thing is that while y'all are riding a ride, or watching a show, or having a meal... the CMs outside are often moving strollers, ECVs and yes, wheelchairs around to help keep walkways clear and fill in gaps. When you come out afterwards, and are looking for your wheelchair, it will help if you can tell the CM that your chair has the bright green and pink ribbons on the handles, or it has a bright yellow t-shirt over the seat back (you get the idea).

Remember if she has an air cast, or air bladders in her walking boot, during flight those can inflate with cabin pressure and become extremely painful.

I hope y'all have a lovely trip - and that your daughter heals completely and swiftly

 

[DisneyOma]

We had a friend with a broken foot with us on our trip this summer - she actually got around quite nicely on a knee scooter. Easy to use on buses and the Skyliner as well. If your daughter is otherwise physically fit, this could be an option.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I took my parents in wheelchairs. My dad we rolled onto the bus and he stayed in it. My mom walked up the ramp and sat in a seat and my daughter pushed her empty chair up the ramp and folded it and we sat and held it beside my mom. I recommend you just go to the wheel chair spot and push her up the ramp and tell the driver she will sit in a regular seat with it folded. She can also walk up the ramp and you can push the empty chair up and still go to the wheel chair loading area. Many times the driver checked with us first about how we were going to ride and then set the bus accordingly. I do not recommend taking the wheelchair up in the regular loading area through the front doors. You will need to have a spot in the front of the bus with it anyway. It should be first on and last off with the chair open or folded. (Well you would get on after any people who are staying in the chairs load the bus and usually off before they get off)

 

[RoseGold]

It will be smaller than a lot of the strollers on the bus, you will be fine.

 

[SueM in MN]

It will be smaller than a lot of the strollers on the bus, you will be fine.

Agree.
Some of the folded strollers are bigger than my daughter’s wheelchair with her sitting in it!

I agree with the advice to use the back door, even if you are folding it. The average rental wheelchair is around 40-50 pounds, which is pretty awkward to carry up the front steps and get past the tight front area of the bus.