Just want to report on my trip and wheelchair incident...

[plummer925]

Hi all!

Just got back from a week trip at WDW...stayed at POR and it was very nice.

Before I left I asked you all a bunch of questions regarding electronic scooters/Wheelchairs. Decided that I wouldn't react unless my knee acted up...

Sure enough on the 24th it acted up and I was going to rent a scooter from Disney - but $40 compared to $8 (okay - $30 compared to $7 after deposits returned!) made me decide to go with a wheelchair.

MOST things went okay - though I am large (240 lbs) and my DH had a hard time pushing me up some of the slopes at EPCOT...My arms aren't quite strong enough to get up myself...

Ice Station Cool has a VERY steep ramp to get out of - my DH was paying for a souvenier and I tried to wheel myself up the ramp - ended up rolling backwards!!!! YIKES!!!! So, I grabbed the railing and pulled myself up that way....took me a few minutes - I think that was designed terrible.

Hopped over to the Magic Kingdom - I had a few souveniers that I hadn't sent back to my room since EPCOT chairs had a "pocket" in the back - I was dismayed to find the MK wheelchairs did not, so I ended up with things in my lap.

Did get to get up close to the Cinderella show and got to by-pass most of the line for Haunted Mansion....

When leaving MK, I had to walk to the busses - I think they need to set something else up for that - that was VERY hard for me. Wouldn't you know it - my bus was full and I ended up having to STAND on the bus...ouch.

Next day I was going to borrow one of POR wheelchairs - all they had was the "wide" ones left - borrowed it to find that I couldn't get through some doors at the resort....which proved I wouldn't be able to at Animal Kingdom (as I had a hard time shopping in MK with the "normal" sized wheelchairs).

I think Disney needs to consider the larger wheelchairs when designing some of their doors and aisles....also the wide chairs should be a bit smaller as I (at 240 pounds) had at least a foot of room around me - I felt very small in them - and I also wasn't able to even REACH the wheels to move myself....

Ended up returning the wide chair to POR and just taking it easy at AK that day...which worked out for the best as it eased my knee back into walking....

I DID notice that Castmembers were VERY attentitive to those of us in chairs!! And very nice too!!!

Just wanted to share....

Crystal

 

[Talking Hands]

Your experience with the lack of a pouch on the back of the wheelchairs is precisely why most of us use a bookbag on the back.
The fact you can't take the wheelchairs to the bus area is one reason for renting offsite which I believe was recommended by most of us. Also you would have had a seat on the bus that way. Since you were walking there was no way for people to know your needs.
When did Haunted mansion reopen? It was closed Monday and has been for a few weeks. Is it back running. I was at MK on Monday and HM was not open.
You are lucky that the aisles are at least designed for a standadrd wheelchair. Many places are not. Disney is probably one of the best places for wheelchairs I have ever been.

 

[plummer925]

Hi Talking Heads!

Yes, you all DID recommend getting one offsite. I know I came off as "complaining" but I really wasn't... Just trying to let people know my experiences so they don't have to experience it themselves.

Had I realized I was going to have a chair that day, I definitely would have brought a pack into the park...we actually didn't bring ANY bags into the park except the first day (when we realized how much of a pain bringing bags were when we had to carry them!)

Haunted Mansion opened on the 24th I believe...which probably accounted for the long lines

Crystal

 

[mhopset]

That is one heck of a ramp at Ice Station Cool. I had to chuckle a little bit about your trying to go up the ramp. I can just picture it. I am sure at the time it wasn't funny. Sounds like you had a great time. I am working on my trip for December now. I do hope my new scooter gets on the bus lifts with no problem. That worries me a little bit. Gald you had a safe trip

T.

 

[plummer925]

Actually, I was in a VERY good mood that day and I, too, laughed about it - even as it was happening!

I just feel badly for everyone who MUST use wheelchairs and scooters all the time...not just for one day...I definitely have a different attitude than before (not that I was anything less than polite before, but it sure helps to walk...err..wheel...in anothers shoes for awhile!!!)

I'm sure you'll have no problems with the scooter onto the bus. When everyone described the busses, I got very confused until I saw them - they are NEAT...of course you can always do what I saw others do - get off the scooters and get aboard the bus then get back on (IF you are able to of course!!).

Have fun!!!

Crystal

 

[SueM in MN]

Sounds like you had a good time and learned some lessons for next time.
One of the things that might be a good idea for someone who is undecided on using a wheelchair or ecv is to take along the phone numbers for the outside places that do rentals so you can call once you are at WDW. I don't know how much notice they need for arranging a rental, so this may not work, but at least it might be an option.
I agree about that ramp at Ice Station Cool. I have to really push to get DD's wheelchair up it and she's not very heavy.
mhopset, I don't think you'll have a problem with your "new wheels" if it's a standard size scooter. You could try sending a PM to Chip'N Dale Express to ease your mind. He's a WDW transportation CM and usually hangs out on the Transportation Board.

 

[Talking Hands]

Plummer I am Talking Hands not Talking Heads.

 

[plummer925]

Talking Hands;

So sorry about that - typo on my part!! Absolutely no offence intended at all!!

Crystal

 

[clkelley]

One day when a member of my group rented a wheelchair in December 2000, when we left Animal Kingdom the folks at wheelchair return offered to push our friend in the wheelchair out to the bus and then took the wheelchair and put it away. It was a really nice touch!!

We then got one of the free wheelchairs from All-Stars for the rest of the trip.

That was a godsend!!

 

[SueM in MN]

One day when a member of my group rented a wheelchair in December 2000, when we left Animal Kingdom the folks at wheelchair return offered to push our friend in the wheelchair out to the bus and then took the wheelchair and put it away. It was a really nice touch!!

That was nice. I imagine that they are only able to do that when they are not busy and there is a CM free who can do it (since other people have reported asking if it was possible and were told no). It is a nice touch of magic when it can happen though.

 

[mamajoan]

HI!
I have only been to WDW one time back in 2000. But I remember the WIDE w/c offered at CBR were not reg. standard wide w/c's.
They were a fine mesh type extra wide w/c .. I am guessing the seat width was btwn 23-24 inches or more.

Standard w/c seats are 18 inches
Wide w/c seats are 20 inches
Extra wide w/c seats are 22 inches
Disney was extra generous to offer extra large wide seating.

Wide w/c are very difficult for anyone to self propel even on level surfaces.. ( poor dear.. I can imagine you rolling backwards down that hill.. Yikes..) Standard door widths will not accomodate a wide w/c either. It's something they just forget about.

Hope you have a better trip next time.... Scooter ON!!
Joan