Mobility Scooter hire and access

[arieliwish]

Hi all,

We've just returned from a weekend in DLP and found that mobility was a major problem for DH. He suffered a major stroke just over 9 years ago and he has communication and mobility problems, and although he has been on an even keel for many years we have recently noticed his mobility has deteriorated, so much so that this weekend just getting around was a major hassle and we kept having to stop to sit.

So, with WDW booked in August we have taken the decision to hire a mobility scooter. Now for the questions:

How easy is it to hire one for the duration of your stay?
Do they come apart easily to fit into a car boot?
Is there good access around the parks and shops and OKW?
Are there separate queues for the scooter? DH can walk slowly but standing for any length of time is a problem for him.
Can you use a blue badge for parking?

Is there anything else I should ask or know??

Ta!

 

[Jacqui8374]

Have you looked at the disabilities thread here on the boards? Lots of advice on renting scooters. If you need more I travel with my own prode go go elite traveller plus scooter which comes apart for the car. Apple scooters as an off site rental are well recommended on the boards here and do delier to the reort have a look at that board but if you have more questions post here.
Disney will accept a uk blue badge but if you want to aprk in handicapped spaces outside you need to get a temporary badge from florida the adice on how to do it is on that board. I dont bother as any space will do as the scooter comes out of the boot and that leaves the space for someone who needs it
Jacqui

 

[mackay_j]

Hi I rented one last summer for the duration of our trip - I have ms so there was no way I could do the parks without one.


The were easy to hire- delivered to hotel for collection. (a least was able to do this for okw disney). I used apple - and they were good scooter easy to use and easy to come appart for boot (but a little heavy my girls 19 and 15 struggled to lift in and out of car - DH found it ok) Price I think I paid £150 for 2 week (will check with dh when he home )


Easy to use - I was nervous about using as we were there over july 4th - but it was fine.
Also had heard soooo many horror staories about how others see you when you are getting off and on the scooter- could not have been further form reality - found most people very nice and some even helped me move about to be able to see the parades.

You can use your blue badge in dinsey to park at the disabled area at the parks and hotels - but these are not usable out side of the parks- do not use them to park in malls ect.


As for queues in parks - some are mainstreamed and no need to go to sep entrance - others you do use a diff entrance (sometimes they are faster other times this line takes much longer. Using a scooter or wheelchair does not get you in fast pass lines (the way other issues do ) -

Busch gardens have a diff system (used my wheelchair there at xmas) you get a ticket to use the chair when you go in park at customer services and then you show this at each ride where you are given a time to return and use sep enterence (equiv to queue time)- worked great and I thought it was very fair.



If you need any other info then just ask.

 

[arieliwish]

Thank you both, that's great advice.

I know I have plenty of time to research before our trip.

DH has always dismissed our suggestions of getting a scooter and has managed with his walking stick and many stops and slow pace, but I think this weekend away highlighted how difficult travelling distances on foot is for him now. We saw a few scooters in DLP, not as many as we saw at WDW last time we went, and he quickly came round to the idea of hiring one to help him.

If he has a day with a lot of walking then the next day he is wiped out and very tired, so this would help that also. We'd probably manage the normal ride queues if he hasn't been walking too much, but he can't stand for very long and would rather be walking slowly than standing. Hopefully the queues won't be too bad when we go and the kids know how to do the fastpass thing with all our tickets.

Thanks again.