Help: Wheelchair Questions

[Spacemonkaay]

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[peemagg]

Maybe due to his pride, he might go for a ECV before a wheelchair. With a wheelchair you are kind of at the mercy of others and can't do too much alone. With a ECV he would have independence to go and look at things more or go where he needs to go without issue.

If you rent from an off-side company, be sure to get one that is classified as a travel scooter. They are usually a bit smaller and can be broke down easily for transport and he would have it where ever you went. Being a fighter pilot he might find the ECV fun to drive.

With a wheelchair or ECV you don't need a GAC, unless there are issues that a scooter or wheelchair don't cover.

 

[sharig5576]

We went 2 years ago with my mom, who was dying of kidney cancer. She was in a wheelchair the whole time.

1-We were never asked why she was in a wheelchair by any castmember, so I think you'd be fine.

2-I think if he gets winded easily, the wheelchair will speed you up, not slow you down. For most of the rides, I felt that we had a much shorter wait time in the wheelchair. They let everyone in your party go with the person in the wheelchair and most times, the waiting was minimal. The only two rides we waited longer were the Safari in AK (had to get a separate vehicle in the wheelchair entrance) and Spaceship Earth in Epcot (separate waiting area and longer wait).

3-We brought a chair from home and it broke. We were staying at AS Movies and the castmembers were so nice and gracious that they gave us one of their wheelchairs to use for free.

4-My mom was not a small woman, and we did fine pushing her. I had two young kids in a double stroller and pushing her wasn't any more difficult that pushing the kids. The only difficulty was at AK with the stone paths, so we just avoided them.

Hope this helps!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Please ask him the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[Momelie]

Wow - If I wasn't an only child I'd think you were talking about my father! Well except for the fact that it was Agent Orange and the shrapnel is in his back, LOL. He even lives in Tennessee - East TN, that is. Did your wife spend a lot of time at Edwards AFB growing up? I split between there and McDill, in fact that's how I became a Disney fan - growing up at the two Disney bases!

Anyway, I highly recommend you consider renting an offsite ECV. He will need it to get around your resort, and the freedom it will give him is more valuable than you can imagine! He will be in control of his movements and he won't have to depend on you to push him where he wants to go, not to mention the wear and tear on your back. If needed they have heavy duty, if he is over 250 pounds. This way, he can keep up with you, conserve his energy as best he can, and get the maximum out of each day. The pilot in him will be able to drive it very well, don't worry about that - my dad mastered it in about 30 seconds, and wanted one of his own!

I would also go ahead and get a GAC, for heat issues, stair issues, and standing for long periods of time, etc. They don't necessarily go together in the Mouse's eyes, but for your purposes, I think you should do both, since you have more than mobility issues.

Oh, and congrats to your wife! I used to work for Baker, Donelson back when it was Baker, Worthington. She's accomplished a great achievement and deserves her R&R, hope you all have a great time!

 

[Bete]

It sounds like he's a perfect candidate for a scooter. They are treated as handicap vehicles, too at Disney. For someone who may be reluntant to use either a wheelchair or a scooter my best suggestion is to go to a local zoo or similar where there is enough walking to do in a day. See how it goes with it. I would say 9 out 10 fail the zoo test and need assistance. Also, 1 day doesn't compare to day in, day out at Disney World. By the way, you can rent scooters at most zoos, too. It would be great practice for the Disney trip. You can always get a scooter at the zoo even after a couple hours of walking if your FIL needs one. Furthermore, if the wheelchair is the way you want to go you can practice with the wheechair with him at the zoo. Then you will know exactly how you will feel and how it helps or not with your day there. A wheelchair definitely slows you down in my opinion. I would have a hard time keeping up with a scooter all day.

Anyway, you can practice a scooter free at most, larger, grocery stores and some, larger, retail chains. Some people may be scared to use one at first; so, this is a great way to get introduced to one. I'm sure a test pilot can handle one. If he makes friends with the scooter your problem is solved. You can rent from Disney in the parks (around $50/day) or get an outside rental one delivered to your resort for as little as $150/week which divided by 5 days is $30/day. There are a few outside places who will give you a daily charge, but it will probably be $30/day or more.

With scooters at Disney you will have to still get on the rides yourself. but you can take them through the ride queues and park them near the ride. Some leave the scooter near the ride (like by the strollers) and walk the queues. This may make him feel less conscious of using one.

It is a little tricky to ride a scooter through the parks. Almost no one will give you the right of way with a scooter. You have to sometimes suddenly stop or you will hurt someone. Children get caught in the excitement and will dart out in front of a scooter. Most people do seem kinder with the wheelchair.

There are rental travel scooters that can go in and out of a car. This would really help with Universal/IOA and Disney depending if you want to use your car to get back and forth from the parks. Using Disney's bus transportation a scooter is treated the same way as a wheelchair. You stand in the handicap line to board the buses.

There are lightweight wheelchairs you can buy that are called transport wheelchairs. They can range from $100 to $200. We have one that weighs under 15 pounds. I'm overweight and over 55 and I push one for my mom for 14 days sometimes at Disney World. Now, my mom is petite; so, you can't compare it to your FIL. You may be able to ret a lightweight model. There are wheelchairs that can go 40 pounds. I find those heavier ones to be hard for me to push. My hubby uses a travel scooter, but he helps with the wheelchair to and from the parks, but not in the parks. I ride the scooter until we get to the park.

You do not need a GAC for a wheelchair or a scooter; unless, there other circumstances that come into play like you can't be in the sun too long, etc. It just depends on your other needs as to whether one would help or not.

Again, whether you use a wheelchair or a scooter you will have designated areas for veiwing shows, parades, fireworks, etc. in the parks.

Do not expect to go commando style with either choice of vehicle. And by no means show your frustrations (if any) to your FIL when using a wheelchair for him. This is why it would be good for all of you to practice with the wheelchair at a zoo if that's your only option. At first, for me it was a little hard, but after a few days it seemed okay. Getting a wheelchair on and off the buses (or cars), etc. needs some time to get use to doing it.

 

[bidnow5]

Many of us were reluctant to go the wheel chair ECV route I for one couldn't stand the thought then one year as I struggled to keep up and slowed every one down I gave in and rented an ECV.
That changed our vacations forever I was able to keep up and even do things I never would have thought of before. I went with ECV because I still had control and in a wheel chair you lose that.
Do what ever you can to try to convince him it will make everyone's trip so much better

 

[Deesknee]

I don't have any advise, but I wanted to pipe up and say thank you for his sacrifice, and to all of you who love him. My dad is a disabled american vet (WWII), and I know it is a family sacrifice. As a grateful American....thank you. AND...have a wonderul trip!