NEED ADVICE: should we get a wheelchair?

[JaneSparrow]

Traveling to WDW 7/2 to 7/9 with 86 yo grandma, DH who had knee surgery and 2yo DS.

Both spouse and grandma are able to walk BUT I am worried about grandma as I think it would be too much walking for her. She doesn't have a wheelchair and refused to use one at the airport until she fell out of balance (long distance between terminals of connecting flights).

I want to get her one due to heat and so she can rest. She complains of knee pains sometimes too.

What do you think? Where can I rent one?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, especially Post #2 which deals with mobility/stamina situations.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[bopper]

Seems to me the answer is "If you have to ask if you need one, you need one." I don't know how many stories I have read on the DIS about "My dad has bad knees/back and always had to sit down/go back to the hotel because of pain. This year we made him get an ECV/wheelchair and he says it was the best thing and should have done it years ago."

Here are top 5 Reasons that people think they shouldn't get an ECV when they should.

I can't drive one. Go to your local Costco/Walmart/Target or other large store. They probably have an electric cart type thing that you could use while shopping. Try it out. I bet you can drive it.

People might think I don't really need it because I can walk. Are these people going to share the pain with you at the end of the day? Do you care what they think? Save your walking energy between rides and use it for lines or getting on the rides. Enjoy your family and your vacation.

It will slow my family down. No, actually it will speed your family up. No more rests because dad/DH is tired. No more going back to the hotel because grandpa is in pain. No more cranky mommy because she tried to walk miles and miles in Disney instead of renting an ECV. You are completely mobile on your own (nobody pushing you in a wheelchair). What's the slow down here?

It's expensive. Um, how much are you spending on this vacation? Don't you want to enjoy it? If money is that tight, take a day off of your trip and spend that money on the ECV so you can enjoy it!

I don't want my kids/family to think I am disabled. You are either temporarily or permanently disabled in some way if you are even asking about this issue...once again, why not make it a better vacation by saving yourself from pain? Nobody is saying you have to confine yourself to a wheelchair permanently or you should not stop trying to get better. If somebody told you to go walk 4 miles, you would think they are crazy. But you are paying for the privilige when you go to Disney to do just that...why not use an ECV to make your family's vacation better?

 

[Bete]

This is about the same age we started going to Disney with my mom. Not only will she enjoy it more in the wheelchair you will, too if you use a wheelchair. It will be faster with the wheelchair even though someone has to push it. Besides, it will be whole lot safer, too. If she is struggling to walk she is not as interested in seeing the sights. The goal for her becomes where can I sit next to rest and the park becomes secondary. It could affect her going on rides, too. Save her energy for getting in and out of the rides and don't let her walk. If she wants to walk here and there the wheelchair can be used as a walker to a certain degree.

Another alternative is getting her a scooter if she would work one. It is more expensive, but this would give her more independence. You can always practice using a scooter in a local store to see if she likes it. You can rent a scooter in the park or get an outside rental company for one. My mom never drove and she did very little bike riding; so, I would never consider a scooter for her. She has Alzheimer's and I don't think she could handle one, either. For preparation I always advise someone to try a scooter at a local zoo if it's their first time using one.

 

[Forevryoung]

I think we should introduce our awesome Grandmas! We will be there 7/2-7/8 also

My Grandma is ONLY going to be 2 weeks shy of 81 and this is her first Disney trip

Like you, I'm thinking that at some point she might need the wheelchair and I will have to fight her to get into it. Her balance has been off, she's dragging her foot and she needs a railing to do stairs now. Just like you, I think that between the heat and everything, it would be a great place for her to just rest.

I'll also have my 7 year old cousin with me and it would be nice to be able to corral one of them (Grandma wanders )

On funny note, I think my sister convinced Grandma that if my cousin will ride Splash Mountain and Space Mountain that Grandma should ride them both too

 

[buzz2400]

I am only middle aged and I just had a lot of trouble walking in May. We were there for 7 days and on the 6th day, I could barely walk and on the 7th day, forget it. My son made me leave the park because I was in so much pain. Anyway we are going in January and I am currently thinking of buying a wheelchair. I am pricing them at walmart for about $100 and also looking at 1800wheelchair.com. You might want to just buy one because they are very expensive to rent. My son wants me to get a scooter but that won't be convenient because "how do you get it in the car" issue. Anyway that is my 2 cents.

 

[mecllap]

This sounds extra complicated since you're also contending with a stroller. Can DHS push that, while you're pushing GM in the wheelchair? It takes strong arms that are used to handling a chair for the occupant to manage it. You might need one ECV and one wheelchair -- which will get expensive at the parks. A lot of reading of several threads on this board would be good. Definitely get something for GM --she probably has no idea how big the parks actually are, how much walking is required, how hot it will be, and what it's like to contend with the crowds. On my last trip with my DD, she really wanted me to get an ECV, which I don't need yet, but I think I may get a Rollator for the upcoming trip with DGS. It doesn't sound like a rollator would work for your situation, tho.

Good luck -- hope you get it worked out and are able to have a really fun time (get lots of Photopass pics of all of you together).

 

[StarrKC]

I tend to agree with the poster that said if you have to ask if you need one, you probably do. We are going in March for our honeymoon and I will be taking my chair. I can walk, I can stand, but I have knee, foot, ankle, and back pain and I know that I can't do all that walking for 7 days. Best to be safe, happy, and have fun- than to be miserable the entire time.

 

[JaneSparrow]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I was not able to get a wheelchair prior to the trip (I was miserable with my morning sickness and low energy levels to plan it).

We stayed at SSR and got a wheelchair on our first night there. Luckily, it was free.

I have the phone numbers of all the wheelchair rental companies listed here but decided to check with the resort if they rent it out as well (I was being lazy). They have one available at the resort and they just let me borrow it. I didnt know about that. The Cast Member said that it's first-come first-served basis so if there aren't any available then you need to rent one from a third party. The wheelchair was in very good condition and we used it for our entire stay.

I am so glad we got it because I noticed that my 86-yr old grandmother was exhausted from the walk within the resort. It was really worth it even though she kept complaining about having people push her.

Thank you all again.

 

[Eeyore5]

I am only middle aged and I just had a lot of trouble walking in May. We were there for 7 days and on the 6th day, I could barely walk and on the 7th day, forget it. My son made me leave the park because I was in so much pain. Anyway we are going in January and I am currently thinking of buying a wheelchair. I am pricing them at walmart for about $100 and also looking at 1800wheelchair.com. You might want to just buy one because they are very expensive to rent. My son wants me to get a scooter but that won't be convenient because "how do you get it in the car" issue. Anyway that is my 2 cents.

Check with your doctor before buying one. Insurance might cover it and you might be able to gt a lighter weight one through a medical supply company. A physical therapist can evaluate you to let you know which one is the best. Know that you will need someone to push you in a wheelchair at Disney. As others have said, unless you are used to pushing yourself in a chair, your arms won't be able to handle it at Disney.

 

[babylisa4]

Things to consider

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There came a time when we had the same issues with my mom. And its funny - my boss is taking his dad to Hawaii tomorrow and just got his dad on board with a wheel chair last year. Something funny happens though- they do get more comfortable using a chair out of town(maybe it's easier not seeing everyone they know.) Helpful if you have a "grandkid" that might hop on their lap for a lift too.

Don't remember if you mentioned flying or not-but airports are big too- there are options to have help with an airport wheelchair too.

Other options- we ended up asking my mom's dr for a wheelchair prescription.
Depending on insurance, medicare etc, we did not have to pay anything. It takes about a month to get all of this done- so if you think you might want this option-just convince your dad to ask and you may end up using the wheelchair for other situations requiring long walks. The other option is you will just see your parent opting to stay home. The wheelchair was helpful in the airport. We used it in the airport and gate checked it- just like you would a stroller. (there are other options in the airport though too). When we gate checked, we removed the foot rests and carried them on the plane in a backpack. The first time we didn't do this and one had come off in the belly of the plane-they went back and found it but we just learned to take them off ourselves. If you gate check- they bring it back up right away as soon as you land if you have layovers and then you just gate check for next flight. We would walk up the plane to the front row of seats-and mom and I would sit back on that front row- the stewardess would give us the "hi" sign when she saw the wheelchair had been brought up and we were on our way. Very efficient.

Unexpected- my mom's neck was sore the first time we used the wheelchair in the park- she had never spent all day looking up before.

Also- IMPORTANT- learned the hard way- if you are taking pictures- have your dad stand up and leave the wheelchair to the side. My mom was noticebly sort of dismayed when seeing herself in every picture with the rest of us standing up around her. This got better where she didn't care anymore- but at first when they are getting used to the idea- keep in mind.

And for some reason- everyone assumes they can't hear and talk when they are sitting in the wheelchair- they would ask me- "can she walk? or can she stand?" I wanted to say- "why don't you ask her?" It made me think of things I'd never considered before. Important at the airport if you use a wheelchair- just have him stand up and get out and push the wheelchair through the security thing. (All of this is just if you know he is sensitive.)

Also if you dad swims- consider just having a noodle-or something that keeps him from having to use all of his strength/effort. It can be a subtle thing you take care of and he might use if you don't really make a big deal of it. Don't even act like its for him.

On rides where you have the moving walkway where you board and have to do it quickly- I'd just grab his arm if you notice he is a bit unsteady. And here too- I would just volunteer the info- that he is using the wheelchair for long distances - not because he can't walk at all. That way he can stay in the wheelchair during the line. There are some Disability entrances or methods for every ride and some sort of mainstream you through the regular line and some is different. Somewhere there is a Disability instructions for Disney officially from the park.

Sometimes my husband just folded the wheelchair- we could just pull up on the seat and it scrunched up and he just sort of held it near the back of the bus and my mom climbed on herself when she was able. Most of the busses either lowered or that first step was really low- not like older ones where you had a big step. That way they don't have to sit while the lift raises them up sitting in their wheelchair. All of this depends on if they are sensitive and if they don't really need that aspect of the wheelchair.

Good luck- pretty soon he'll think its the only way to go. And remember if he is content to go back to the room and rest- he might not even care about going from Dawn to Midnight. My mom was really encouraged that she could still go on vacation.

We never did the ECV thing- my mom wasn't a great driver.

 

[harrismargaret9]

It sounds like you might need to invest in a wheelchair. If she needs a chair to get from one terminal to another she probably needs one in daily life. Check medical supplies stores, you'll be surprised by how affordable some chairs are.