I can't walk far, how to get from airport to/from rental car?

[JudyS]

Hi, all! I am preparing for an upcoming Disney trip but am worried about some of the details, mostly ones having to do with transportation. I can walk, but tire after very short distances (like 100 feet or so.)

One problem area is getting around at the Orlando airport. For the first part of my trip I will be with a friend, and we will fly in together. Then for the last few days I will be solo, so I will need to get myself to the airport.

When I get to Orlando, I plan to request wheelchair assistance from the arrival gate to the baggage claim, but I'm not sure how to get from the baggage claim to the rental car. I've never asked a skycap to wait around until the baggage arrives, and then push me to the rental car counter, wait around while I sign the rental car papers, and then push me from the rental counter to the actual rental car. It seems like this would take an awful lot of their time--will a skycap do this? If not, how do people in wheelchairs get to their rental cars?

I'm even more worried about returning the rental car. I don't expect that there will be anyone at the rental car area who can get me a wheelchair or help me get to the terminal. I was thinking of dropping my rental car at a location near my hotel and taking a shuttle or rental car to the airport, but the rental car companies I have checked with want a LOT more money for returning the car to a location different from the one I rented from.

I'm staying offsite, so Disney Magical Express isn't an option.

Any suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[peemagg]

Do you by any chance have your own scooter? If so travel with it. It is easy to fly with, just needs a bit more time to get through airport security, but it is not bad.

Another idea would be to rent a ECV from a company in Orlando and ask that they pick up and drop it off at the airport. If they met you say at baggage claim with it, then you could just get a skycap to push you to there and take the scooter the rest of the way.

I don't know why though that a skycap wouldn't be able to push you all the way to the car rental counter.

 

[JudyS]

Thanks for the suggestion, Peemagg! I don't own a scooter, but I could call some of the rental companies and see if they could meet me at the airport. I'm not sure how I would manage my luggage while on a scooter, though.

I could ask the skycap to take me to the car rental counter -- I'm more worried about getting from the car rental counter to where the actual cars are parked. That is often a long walk. I'm also worried about how to get from the parking area to a skycap when I come back.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

How do you get around things like malls or any place that requires more than 100 ft of walking when you're at home? Do you own a wheelchair that you could bring with you? How are you planning on getting around the parks?

 

[peemagg]

Thanks for the suggestion, Peemagg! I don't own a scooter, but I could call some of the rental companies and see if they could meet me at the airport. I'm not sure how I would manage my luggage while on a scooter, though.

I can even help with that. My mother and I have this down to a science up to 4 bags. You can place a backpack on the back of the seat, one bag or small suitcase on the deck of the scooter under your feet, and you can place a small bag with a neat little thing called a "bag bungee" on top of a larger suitcase and pull that behind you. I would suggest getting a handle to make the pulling easier, but not an ergonomic handle. They will kill your hands. Go for one that fastens easily to the handle of your suitcase and has the ability to turn 360 for comfort.

If you need an idea as to where to find the bag bungee and handle, just PM me for an address.

 

[honeydiane1953]

The airport will promptly bring u a WC. Then when at WDW call and "they" will deliver it to your resort within 45 min. Apple scooters r greaaaat. I would then use MK transportation as trying and rebuilding the scooter everytime is ridiculous.

 

[7165red]

call your car rental and explain your problem, they maybe able to help you if not call air line carrier and again explain your problem. I'm sure they have had to assist people with all kinds of problems. I wish you good luck and a pleasant trip, stress free.

 

[JudyS]

Thanks to everyone who posted!

How do you get around things like malls or any place that requires more than 100 ft of walking when you're at home? Do you own a wheelchair that you could bring with you? How are you planning on getting around the parks?

I'm recovering from a long illness and until recently, I didn't leave the house much. When I did go anywhere, it was either somewhere like a restaurant where my husband could drop me right off at the door, or a place like a grocery store that provided ECVs.

I'm still adjusting to my disability and trying to figure out how to do things. I planned on renting an ECV while in Orlando, but I hadn't thought about the possibility of being able to use it while at the airport. Peemagg has convinced me that it would be great to have my own ECV that I could take with me when traveling. I will definitely look into that.

I can even help with that. My mother and I have this down to a science up to 4 bags. You can place a backpack on the back of the seat, one bag or small suitcase on the deck of the scooter under your feet, and you can place a small bag with a neat little thing called a "bag bungee" on top of a larger suitcase and pull that behind you. I would suggest getting a handle to make the pulling easier, but not an ergonomic handle. They will kill your hands. Go for one that fastens easily to the handle of your suitcase and has the ability to turn 360 for comfort.

If you need an idea as to where to find the bag bungee and handle, just PM me for an address.

Great suggestions, thank you! I will PM you.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Even if you don't buy an ECV, you might want to look into renting one local to home that way you have it all through the airport. I'm not sure any of the rental places in Orlando would definitely drop off and pick up at the airport because it would be harder to find a secure place where they could leave it.

 

[notaprincess]

Have you looked into "car on the drive"??? They do pick up/ drop off with a driver in your rental car

 

[JudyS]

Even if you don't buy an ECV, you might want to look into renting one local to home that way you have it all through the airport. I'm not sure any of the rental places in Orlando would definitely drop off and pick up at the airport because it would be harder to find a secure place where they could leave it.

Good point! Thanks for the suggestion. WheeledTraveler, do you ever fly with an ECV or wheelchair? (I'm just wondering because of your user ID.) Do you ever travel solo, and if so, how do you manage things like luggage?

Have you looked into "car on the drive"??? They do pick up/ drop off with a driver in your rental car

I hadn't heard of it before, but it also sounds like a good possibility. I will look into that company. Thank you!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Yep, I've done quite a bit of solo-travel with a manual wheelchair both within the US and in Europe. (I can't use an ECV and I have no way to get my powerchair to the airport to fly with it so I have less experience with powered mobility devices and travel)

I trying to pack relatively lightly. I use a duffel bag that can rest on my lap (with the strap around my neck) for my checked luggage. Then I use a large backpack for my laptop and anything else as my carry-on. I generally also carry a purse. Depending on which of my manual chairs I have, I sometimes bring a bag to carry removable parts from the wheelchair (only one of my chairs has them). Medical supplies cannot be counted against your bag limit/weight as long as they're in their own separate bag.

I'm not sure how well all of these things would work with a scooter, but peemag has had some excellent suggestions and I know there are several users here (including peemag) who have traveled solo with scooters.

 

[JudyS]

Opps, sorry, duplicate post!

 

[ratlenhum]

Rent from Dollar. It is literally right across the street from where you get your luggage.

 

[JudyS]

WheeledTraveler, thanks for your very detailed reply. You must have good upper body strength!

Ratlenhum, is Dollar any closer to the terminal than National/Alamo? I rented once from Alamo, and tried walking from the terminal to the car (with DH carrying my bags) and really regretted it. It was just too far for me.

I was just looking on Alamo's site, and it does seem that they will help disabled travellers get from the terminal to their cars, at least if arranged it in advance. About half-way down the page, it says, all on one row:
* home|
* travel partners|
* travel agents|
* contact us|
* site map|
* privacy policy|
* terms of use|
* customers with disabilities

It's all in very small type, and I hadn't noticed it before, but it looks like they do have procedures in place. So, maybe other car places do, too.

Still, just having my own ECV, or using Car On The Drive, might be easier than calling to set up assistance and hoping it's in place when I get there.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!