Mobility question

[Mom949499]

We're going on a Land/Sea cruise August 1-8. We're travelling with my 72 year old mother who has circulatory problems that make walking distances very painful. In the past when we've traveled to Disney we've rented an electric scooter for the time we're there. What are our options this time? Do they allow the electric scooters on the cruise? Is there room in the cabin (Cat 10) for them? (this is our first cruise). Also, she owns her own scooter, does anyone know whether they can be transported on the plane? Thanks for any info. anyone can provide.

Mom949499

 

[CGC33A]

I have seen people use the scooters on board. Depending on the configuration of the room, there may be space, but unlikely. Do you have a handicap cabin? (call DCL, they should be able to tell you) I have seen them left in the elevator lobby when not in use. Don't know if you can fly with one, but it might be easier to rent one to be delivered to the pier or WDW (especially if yours is large & she will fit on a smaller one). You can always request wheelchair assistance in the airport, so that part is easy. There is another page on the Disboards for this topic. I think it is DISabilities.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

My Mom had a stroke and now is not able to use the right side of her body. The first time we cruised DCL we took her wheelchair, the second time she had received her scooter and progressed well in PT so she could operate it. It gave her more freedom and confidence. We also rented a collapsible wheelchair in the event she needed it.

We are crusing again on the Magic in October and are using All Seasons and have faced her Disney Medical Form to DCL and All Seasons confirmed within one hour that she was again in a handicap cabin and such.

Last year this became a HUGE issue trying to find out if she could take her scooter, where could she park it and charge it etc. My Dad and I called DCL and our former travel agency numerous time and were given incorrect, wrong and misleading information everytime. Bottom line is no one knew BUT if you call DCL and have them mail or fax the form to you it will have the contact info for the DCL Medical Coordinator on the bottom.

Call her asap and explain your situation, last year it came down to the wire for us as our TA was not helpful in explaining the handicap rooms and information to us even though they knew we were traveling with a disabled family member.

Bottom line, the regular cabins are very, very nice but it would be very hard to get a scooter in there and then charge it. Options:

1. Keep your cabin and contact the DCL Medical Coordinator explain the situation and what is needed.
2. Find out where you can store and charge the scooter while not in use. We were told a number of different things, like storing it in the CM area behind the doors beside the elevator and charging it there and then told no. But we were told each time the scooter could not be left in the hallways of the ship. Which we knew and agree with. The hallways are very narrow and you will see these people who park tandum strollers in outside of their cabin which is a safety issue and just rude.
3. See if you can get a handicap cabin. There are handicap cabins in category 10 but no 9 and there are category 8.

Hope this helps but save yourself the time and mis-information and get on the phone to the DCL Medical Coordiantor with DCL. I believe her name was Susan and she was great!

 

[tkd lisa]

We have a cruisers on our 12/18 Christmas cruise who is in a scooter. She cruised this spring, and would have lots of info for you. I'll drop her a pm and have her contact you.

Lisa

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by Mom949499
We're going on a Land/Sea cruise August 1-8. We're travelling with my 72 year old mother who has circulatory problems that make walking distances very painful. Also, she owns her own scooter, does anyone know whether they can be transported on the plane? Thanks for any info. anyone can provide.

Mom949499

I sent you a Private Message (click on User CP at the top of this page to access it) with some hints...
Feel free to ask if you have more....

 

[goofyforus]

We just got back from our cruise on the Magic for 7 days. My daughter has CP and uses a motorized wheelchair. We had a wheelchair cabin (medical forms from Disney) and also Disney provided a lift-equiped bus to transport us to the port from the airport Hyatt.
Our stateroom had plenty of room (there were 4 of us) the roll-in shower in the bathroom was just fine for us all. You get an extra big bathroom with the handicapped rooms.
I called ahead several times to make sure they knew we were coming. Also at the airport we made sure they knew we were traveling with a motorized chair. They are concerned about the battery type, dry or liquid cell. Ours was dry and we also had the battery charger with us. On the Boeing plane transfers there was no problem getting the chair on the plane. They took it from the walkway and delivered it back there. On the MD80's planes the cargo door was too small so the chair had to be broken down. Again no problem we taped instructions onto the chair so they could reassemble it. Make sure you know how to remove parts to make it as small as possible.
Everything on our trip went just fine. I booked thru Disney and they took real good care of us.