MVMCP Free Strollers = Free Wheelchairs?

[degrapevine]

Hi, all! ... I posted this over on the Theme Park Attractions Forum, but thought someone here may have an answer.

We're just doing some last minute planning for our annual MVMCP trip. We leave Thursday November 30 for the party that night and will be staying at the Fort Wilderness Cabins through Saturday December 2.

My parents are coming along this year (which we are thrilled about) and my mom has MS. She has good and bad days and never knows until she wakes up in the morning how she's going to feel. She doesn't have a wheelchair, but we can borrow one from our church if necessary, although that would mean a lot less room for luggage in the van!

I was wondering ... maybe MK offers free wheelchair rentals (The regular type, not the electric scooters - My mom would be scary on one of those!), since they already offer free stroller rentals during the parties? Has anyone ever asked about this to see if they would waive the rental fee? It would make things a lot easier.

My mom can walk short distances in small amounts when she's not feeling well. She'll be fine from the car to the tram and the tram to the entrance, but will definitely not be able to walk around the parks.

Just wondering if maybe I'm not the first to ask this question and another DIS'er will have the answer. Thanks in advance!

Rose

 

[dclfun]

Rose- that's a good question...but I'm not sure of the answer. Perhaps calling DRC could get you an answer. The other option for you is to request the use of a wheelchair at the resort. While they don't have unlimited supplies and it's "first come, first served" they do provide complimentary wheelchairs you can use for your length of stay. You may also want to request an accessible cabin if you think she might need the ramp vs. stairs or the larger bathroom. Have fun at the party!---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

There is information on the disABILITIES FAQs thread about how to get wheelchairs.
I think I have read that strollers and wheelchairs are free for those parties, but I don't know for sure and would hate for you to get there and find that it is not that way or that they have changed things.

Kathy also brought up a good point about the stairs to get into the FW cabins. I don't know how many steps there are to get in and that information is not listed in the Passporter's WDW for your Special Needs book. But, the steps might prove an obstacle for her at the end of the day if she is not having a good day. If she has a few steps to get into her house at home and doesn't have a problem, that might not be a problem at WDW< but it's good to think about.

 

[elastigirl]

For MNSSHP, stroller and manual wheelchair rentals were complimentary with your wristband. There are no discounts offered on ECVs. I would imagine the same is true for MVMCP.

 

[degrapevine]

Thanks so much, everyone, for your great replies and advice!

I will call WDW Reservations tomorrow to request an "accessible" cabin so if my Mom needs to use a wheelchair, we can just roll it on in. We stayed at the cabins last year, but didn't bring my parents with us, so I didn't consider the added "obstacle" of the stairs ... thank you for reminding me of that!

We'll probably just borrow a wheelchair from church to bring along since we'll be back before Sunday to return it, but it's good to know that they are available at MVMCP if we didn't have one to bring along. Great advice, too, about the complimentary ones at the resorts. We probably will be driving to all the parks, rather than having to deal with the buses and lifts and such (although I understand the drivers are well trained in using the lifts, since we'll have a car, we'll just drive and avoid all that).

Thanks again ... As usual, it's the DIS'ers that are in "the know"!
Rose

 

[Michigan]

I would take the bus anytime going to MK the ramp up to the monorail is very steep and will require someone with great arms and legs to get your Mother both up the ramp going and holding her and the chair back on the way down the ramp on the return trip.