Need Advice Re: Wheelchair

[ShirleyH]

We are going away for two weeks in September and will be taking my dad who can walk but only for short distances.

We were thinking about taking his wheelchair with us so that he would have it all the time (i.e. shopping trips, going to restaurants etc.) but after reading some of your posts I understand that we could hire one over there (or even an electric scooter).

Can anyone advise me where I would go to hire a wheelchair for the two weeks we are there.

Also, if we decide just to take his wheelchair but hire scooters at the parks, do you need to book them in advance, can you advise of cost etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

ShirleyH

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome todisABILITIES. I can't answer the cost part of your question (at least for renting from an off-site company) since my DD has her own wheelchair and we don't rent one.
CLICK HERE to get to the DIS page about touring with mobility disabilities. It has information about renting wheelchairs and scooters in the parks (including prices). You are not able to reserve one. Wheelchair availability is not usually a problem, but scooters can be in short supply and they may run out if you arrive later in the day or park hop.
Here are the off-site places that DIS poster have rented from and recommend:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

All of them rent both manual wheelchairs and scooters (ecvs). The price for scooters is quite a bit more than a manual wheelchair, but many people feel the increased independence is worth it.

I'd suggest you do seriously consider bringing his own manual wheelchair. If he can't walk far, you would need a wheelchair in the airport. You can gate check a wheelchair which means he can stay in the wheelchair until actually boarding the plane and then the wheelchair is waiting for him at the gate when he gets off. When you are checking in for your flight, let them know that you want to gate check the wheelchair. They may give you a gate check tag right then, or tell you to get one from the gate agent. If this is the case, ask as soon as the gate agent arrives - don't wait until they have begun boarding.

 

[Piper]

My last trip to WDW, I took my wc--which was great for the airport. I rented an ecv from Walker. It was waiting at the front desk when I checked in---then they stored my wc for me for no fee. I got it when I left and turned in the ecv. We stayed at Fort Wilderness in one of the disabled cabins--it was very nice.

 

[ShirleyH]

We are staying at a villa at Highland Reserve. Would we have to arrange to pick the ECV up from Walkers or could we arrange to have it delivered to our villa.

Thanks

ShirleyH

 

[Piper]

They should deliver it.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As long as there is an office, they can deliver it to be waiting for you at your arrival, and they will pick it up after your departure. They will charge your credit card the day prior to the rental. Since you will be using it for more than a week, there is a cap on the weekly charge, and then the daily rate goes down further.