Motorized wheelchair help,please....

[snowgooseltd]

My husband is having hip replacement surgery one month prior to our annual holiday trip. We're staying off property, in our timeshare, and I wondered if it is possible to reserve a motorized wheelchair at Epcot. We hope we'll be able to see the Candlelight Processional but I don't want to chance getting to the park and not having one available. Can anyone help me with this or point me in the direction where I can find the answer?? Thanks so much......

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

They are only available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Your best bet is to rent one from an off-site company if you want to ensure availability. You can check the DISabilities board for more information on that.

Good luck,
NED

 

[kaytieeldr]

First, NewEnglandDisney is right - you can get a lot of information from just the FAQs on the disABILITIES board, and everybody there is really helpful.

Now, first, you don't want (and probably wouldn't be allowed to reserve) a motorized, aka electric, wheelchair, as these are operated with a joy stick and are extremely customized to the user. You seem to want an ECV, or electric convenience vehicle. These CAN be rented easily from a number of offsite companies - all of which will deliver directly to your resort. The advantage is, you've got it available all the time, not just in one park.
ECVs (and wheelchairs) can NOT be reserved at the parks, although your Disney resort may be able to loan you a wheelchair for your stay, supplies are limited, first-come first-serve. Plus, there's no guarantee any will be available when you get to the park unless you're there within an hour or so of park opening - earlier at busy times.

 

[Flora Fan]

My dad had knee replacement surgery and required an ECV when we were in the World last February. We rented one for a week from CARE Medical. They will deliver an ECV to the resorts, but I am not sure about an off property time share. You may be able to pick it up. They are in the Orlando area.

I was really impressed with the company. They did not charge me until the evening before the rental was to begin. Answered every question that I asked...and I had a few. When my dad thought that the cart was acting a little funny, they came right out and switched out the cart with no questions asked.

It was wonderful to be able to take the cart to DTD and to have it at the resort as well.

I hope that this information helps.

 

[snowgooseltd]

It sounds like we'll have to reserve one from an off-site company before we arrive. How easily do these fit into a rental car? Are they light enough for a woman to lift it into the back of a Jeep? Thanks for all your answers....

 

[Flora Fan]

I had to lift ours into a minivan. The batteries are removable which makes it easier to deal with. Although the are not light...I found that the bulkiness was the worst part.

 

[mrmagicmph]

It sounds like we'll have to reserve one from an off-site company before we arrive. How easily do these fit into a rental car? Are they light enough for a woman to lift it into the back of a Jeep? Thanks for all your answers....

Funny you should ask that, since we just got back from spending last week at WDW with me in an ECV 95% of the time. We didn't use ME (mostly because we planned to spend 1 day at SeaWorld... but let's not talk about that here), so we rented a car. Specifically, from Dollar we rented a Chrysler Pacifica. If you're not familiar with it, think of it as 1/2 way between a minivan & an SUV (they consider it to be a CUV, Crossover Utility Vehicle, I believe).

A few things you should know. #1: if you're staying at a hotel that has valet parking, it is free if you have (& hang up) a handicap parking permit (they know that the handicap spots fill fast, so they park it for you, but don't charge you for it). Just be sure to remember to tip! Also, if you are using valet parking service, most of the parking guys will help you lift the ECV into the car or help you take it out. My ECV (rented from Walker) fit into the Pacifica without requiring any disassembly. The only time that my wife & I had to load/unload it ourselves was when we went to SeaWorld. Was it VERY easy? No; but it was not all that tough, batteries and all, for the two of us to do.

Any questions, ask away!

 

[SueM in MN]

As was already mentioned, there is a lot of information about ECVs on the disABILITIES Board. The disABILITIES FAQs thread has information about all the places to rent ECVs and links to off-site rental places (like Care) that DIS poster have used a lot and recommended. There is also information in that thread about ECVs on buses and about taking apart ECVs to put them into cars/vans.
If you do plan to lift it yourself, ask for one that does break apart for transport (not all do). Generally, the heaviest part will be 40 pounds or less. As someone else mentioned, some of the parts are kind of bulky.