Need help with mobility issues

[Disco]

OK,
I need some help. We're having a big family gathering at WDW and my mother is being stubborn. I took her on an easy two mile walk to gauge her fitness level and she wasn't even able to make it a (almost did) mile with a lunch stop half way...
One of her knees is basically ruined by antibiotics which also limits her being able to use stairs. She can do a few steps slowly so I think she'll be OK getting on of busses and rides.
However she looked exhausted after the almost mile walk and there is no way she can spend any quality time in the park. She keeps telling me she's not worried about it and laughs off any suggestions that we get an electric scooter or wheelchair.
I'm afraid she is going to pull the martyr act and stay behind at the hotel or just plop down in the park and not move again. This is senseless as there is no reason she couldn't have a full and fun day if we were to rent a scooter. Should I just ignore her protests (if she does) and just get one?
I know it is cheaper to rent a scooter ahead of time but you can also just rent them in the parks as well, correct? I would think that this would be far more convenient as you don't have to lug it around to the hotel (staying on site) or on and off the busses.
Is the price difference that much or is some other factor I'm not getting? We'll be there almost two weeks in November 13-24th when it is pretty slow. Will there be much of a problem getting a scooter at the gate during the slower time of the year?
Also, do scooters/wheelchairs suffer from the stroller problem of being stolen if she decides to walk on a ride instead of riding it through the queue?
Thanks ahead for any help...

 

[Mrsjvb]

yes they are cheaper off site but she needs to PRACTICE using one or she will be a hazard to herself and everyone else

Disney is NOT the place to start using one for the first time

 

[minnie mum]

If she's being that stubborn, you'll probably have to let her experience the first day of walking the park for reality to bite her. I'd carry a list of recommended ECV providers. My bet is by the afternoon of the first day she will have changed her mind. You could then call the vendor and have one delivered that day or the next morning. She would need to practice driving at the resort before being unleashed on the unsuspecting public in the parks. Off site rentals are considerably less expensive than renting daily in the parks. Theft isn't a problem - you take the key out of it when you aren't riding it.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

OK,
I ne
I'm afraid she is going to pull the martyr act and stay behind at the hotel or just plop down in the park and not move again. This is senseless as there is no reason she couldn't have a full and fun day if we were to rent a scooter. Should I just ignore her protests (if she does) and just get one? .

Couple of things; if she makes a decision that works for her, having her deal with the consequences of her choice, it is not martyship. You might not like it, but you also dont base all your decisions onze others opinions. Now if she makes a choice but does not want the consequences that come with it? Tough luck, her choice, at any time she can still decide to rent more expensively onsite (consequences risk of running out, aids of lessen quality etc). She can try martyship, but YOU decide whether or not you accept her behaviour negatively impact you. Silly, but it is just like a toddler tantrum. Tough love does help best and most loving but can sting at the moment.

If she is a stubborn type; deciding for her is digging your and her grave. Most of us stubborn types will decide "over my dead body I will socalled give in now". Requires very thick skin to deal with and not helping you in your goal.

Give her the options. Give her the facts as in distances, options and lack of sitting options. Ben open about your hopes and fears but also respectful in how she makes her won decisions. Pull u some topics here about experimenten using aids in alike situations. From there on; her decision incl consequences. Can feel harsh but you help her best by making and holding her responsible for her own part.

And indien, WDW is NOT the place for untrained ecv users. Not safe. Either she practices beforehand and got it down or stick to a wheelchair or perhaps rollator if that does the trick (if so and seat not needed, she could theoretically kid herself by using a stroller as a rollator instead).

 

[bidnow5]

Tell her renting a wheel chair or an ECV isn't really for her but is for the rest of you. Most of us tried not to rent them but after giving in and renting wish we had done it long before. It was by far the best thing I did to make my families vacation better and more fun. Waiting for me all the time then me being in pain every night was not fun

 

[Disco]

Disney is NOT the place to start using one for the first time

Really, even when it is the slow time of the year? I think we're looking at 3's for most days and a 4 later in the week. Are we talking a couple hours of practice or a day or two to get proficient enough?
I guess I don't mind pushing a wheelchair if need be. Probably a lot cheaper.
Not sure I love the idea of pre-renting an ECV anywho as I guess you'd have to store in your hotel room every night?
Of course, from our walk, just getting to and on/off busses might do her in...

 

[Hopefully]

Couple of things; if she makes a decision that works for her, having her deal with the consequences of her choice, it is not martyship. You might not like it, but you also dont base all your decisions onze others opinions. Now if she makes a choice but does not want the consequences that come with it? Tough luck, her choice, at any time she can still decide to rent more expensively onsite (consequences risk of running out, aids of lessen quality etc). She can try martyship, but YOU decide whether or not you accept her behaviour negatively impact you. Silly, but it is just like a toddler tantrum. Tough love does help best and most loving but can sting at the moment.

If she is a stubborn type; deciding for her is digging your and her grave. Most of us stubborn types will decide "over my dead body I will socalled give in now". Requires very thick skin to deal with and not helping you in your goal.

Give her the options. Give her the facts as in distances, options and lack of sitting options. Ben open about your hopes and fears but also respectful in how she makes her won decisions. Pull u some topics here about experimenten using aids in alike situations. From there on; her decision incl consequences. Can feel harsh but you help her best by making and holding her responsible for her own part.

And indien, WDW is NOT the place for untrained ecv users. Not safe. Either she practices beforehand and got it down or stick to a wheelchair or perhaps rollator if that does the trick (if so and seat not needed, she could theoretically kid herself by using a stroller as a rollator instead).

OP, I read your question yesterday and I have to say, I had basically the same reaction, but didn't post. You need to let your mother make her own decisions, unless you are saying she is incompetent. I say that from the position of "the mother". I have personally come to the decision that I need help on this trip., But I had to make that decision. And if pushed before I was ready, I would have gotten my dander up and become stubborn.
Support her, help her to see where it will help everyone and be there for her, as I know you are.
Good Luck

 

[charmed59]

I know people believe Disney is close to running a marathon, but it isn't. If one were to start at the monorail, walk all the way around MK hitting all the major attractions, and walk back to the monorail, it's two miles. The six miles comes in from criss crossing back and forth and the walk from the room to the elevator across the resort to transportation. All of those have a rest built in.

Someone who always shops through Target or Walmart or the local shopping mall without renting a wheelchair or ECV often doesn't need an ECV preordered for a week. Especially if they don't want one.

I'd say let her try out Disney. She might like to see the kids ride a few rides, then sit and have an ice tea and watch people for awhile until her crowd stops by again. Maybe she'd be up to being pushed around in a wheel chair a day or two. She may have no intention of trying to keep up with the children, but just wants to have meals with them.

Disney for her, and Disney for you don't have to be the same type of touring plan. It's a big family reunion, you don't all have to be together all the time.

 

[ttintagel]

Is the price difference that much or is some other factor I'm not getting?

Disney can run out of rental ECV's failry early in the day.

One of the major advantages off offsite rental, even for people who don't need one outside the parks*, is that you can count on having one. If you go to the rental office at the park and they've rented all theirs, you're out of luck.

if she absolutely won't budge, I would carry a list of phone numbers with me of rental companies. If Day one goes badly, they can probably get a wheelchair to her by Day Two.

*I'm not sure what your hotel/transportation plans are, but staying at a Disney resort and taking the buses requires A LOT of walking. The end of a long day in the parks is when she may find herself needing help the most.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Really, even when it is the slow time of the year? I think we're looking at 3's for most days and a 4 later in the week. Are we talking a couple hours of practice or a day or two to get proficient enough?
I guess I don't mind pushing a wheelchair if need be. Probably a lot cheaper.
Not sure I love the idea of pre-renting an ECV anywho as I guess you'd have to store in your hotel room every night?
Of course, from our walk, just getting to and on/off busses might do her in...

Yes, even during a slow time.

I have used scooters at various stores. But nothing was like Disney. People walking right in front of your moving scooter, people stopping without warning, again right in front of you. And we were there in September; a slow time.

So yes, she should learn the basics at a store or at the resort. That way, when she uses one at a park, she knows the basics and can learn "advanced scooter driving" while there.

Oh, and the cost? I paid $50 per day at the park. Three days at the park would have been $150. I am getting a scooter from Walker for $120 for four days.

 

[catra121]

I would say respect her decision but be prepared to leave her behind and not feel bad if she can't keep up. I like the idea of having the rental company phone #s with you...but even if they run out of ECVs at the park they WILL have manual wheelchairs available for rent. A manual wheelchair might even work out better for her in the sense that when she feels like walking she can push the empty chair herself but have it to sit as needed.

The hardest part about that will be on your end being prepared to leave her behind and not feeling bad about it. It may seem silly for her to miss out on so much just because she doesn't want to use the options available...but it IS her decision and you don't get to make it for her. YOUR decision is how you deal with that. Don't beg her to come along, don't tell her she's stupid for not getting an ECV, and don't make a big deal about it. Hopefully she will have access to a phone and you can give her your schedule. Maybe she meets up with you guys at meals or for certain things she is interested in (shows, rides, etc)...there are lots of options.

One day in she may change her mind about the ECV/wheelchair rental...or she might not. Everyone is different. But just remember that it is her decision. Good luck!

 

[ncdj2013]

OK,
I need some help. We're having a big family gathering at WDW and my mother is being stubborn. I took her on an easy two mile walk to gauge her fitness level and she wasn't even able to make it a (almost did) mile with a lunch stop half way...
One of her knees is basically ruined by antibiotics which also limits her being able to use stairs. She can do a few steps slowly so I think she'll be OK getting on of busses and rides.
However she looked exhausted after the almost mile walk and there is no way she can spend any quality time in the park. She keeps telling me she's not worried about it and laughs off any suggestions that we get an electric scooter or wheelchair.
I'm afraid she is going to pull the martyr act and stay behind at the hotel or just plop down in the park and not move again. This is senseless as there is no reason she couldn't have a full and fun day if we were to rent a scooter. Should I just ignore her protests (if she does) and just get one?
I know it is cheaper to rent a scooter ahead of time but you can also just rent them in the parks as well, correct? I would think that this would be far more convenient as you don't have to lug it around to the hotel (staying on site) or on and off the busses.
Is the price difference that much or is some other factor I'm not getting? We'll be there almost two weeks in November 13-24th when it is pretty slow. Will there be much of a problem getting a scooter at the gate during the slower time of the year?
Also, do scooters/wheelchairs suffer from the stroller problem of being stolen if she decides to walk on a ride instead of riding it through the queue?
Thanks ahead for any help...

If your mother can't walk a mile I don't see how she can survive a day at Disney without a scooter. You could walk a mile just getting to bus and getting from bus into the park in some cases. We took a pedometer on our last trip and walked at least 4 miles a day and that was being as efficient as possible ( i had achilles tendonitis)

You have a little time before your trip . maybe you and your Mom could walk every day and try to build her stamina and if should become clear that won't happen maybe she will realize she needs the scooter.

 

[Bete]

Park tickets are not free and the whole idea of a trip to Disney World is to enjoy the parks. To be able to experience the parks without pain and/or tiredness is key to a good trip there. Getting good value out of your park tickets by lasting longer actually pays for a scooter when you think about it. Offsite scooter vendors typically charge half of the cost of a Disney park scooter. The average visitor goes 6 miles a day at a park. Now, this isn't continuous walking, but it's a lot of walking. Also, there is a lot of standing in line which can be tiring onto itself.

We have helped scooter newbies by driving the scooter on and off the bus for them. We do the same taking the scooter in and out of the resort room. If you need to get on the monorail then we would drive the scooter on and off. You get the idea. We take the hard part out for the beginner scooter person. We even park the scooter; so, the person can get closer to the restaurant or whatever. As they gain confidence and experience then they can try more on their own with a scooter. You can shield her from other guests darting out on her and so forth by surrounding her scooter and someone taking the lead in front of her. Make sure you don't go off a curb with the scooter. Use the handicap ramps where you can with the scooter.

You can always park the scooter for a while if she wants to walk at times. Someone else can drive it too for a while, too if she wants to walk some.

Keep in mind a Disney park scooter is rented on a first come first serve basis. You can't take them out of the park. Having a scooter at the resort is nice. You can probably order an offsite scooter when you get there if your mom wants to try and walk.

There are u tube videos that can show you what to do with charging the battery of a scooter rental.

I would go to a local zoo or a museum and see how she does in that situation and that could convince her to get a scooter at Disney. At most zoos you can rent a scooter and she could get good practice there before she goes to Disney.

If she truly wants to walk I would mix up the activities so she has the opportunity to rest. For example, do a ride and then a show, do a ride then a parade, do another ride and then get a snack and so forth. She may have to sit out some ride attractions and take a rest. Don't make her overdo. If she needs a rest back at the resort; so, be it.

If she is afraid of a scooter then a wheelchair is another option.

 

[ttintagel]

And, as a last resort, might she compromise on a rollator?

I mean, it sounds from your description like she absolutely needs a wheelchair or ECV. BUT, if after all your best efforts, and even after seeing how much not using the appropriate assistive device is putting a shadow over everyone's trip*, it might be better than nothing. At the very least, it will take some of the weight off her legs and provide an instant seat anywhere (benches get fewer and further between every year, and there's no place to sit in line).

*If she has grandkids going, that might be something that helps her see the need to rethink her stance. I'm sure they would rather remember a vacation where Grandma was able to keep up with them, enjoy attractions with them, and be happy together; rather than remember one where she was always away from them in the hotel or on a bench, or out of sorts from pain and exhaustion.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

*If she has grandkids going, that might be something that helps her see the need to rethink her stance. I'm sure they would rather remember a vacation where Grandma was able to keep up with them, enjoy attractions with them, and be happy together; rather than remember one where she was always away from them in the hotel or on a bench, or out of sorts from pain and exhaustion.

This may be the ticket.

The first time I rented a scooter was this past September. I really thought long and hard about it. I'm not old. Heck, I'm not even 50. But I have a disease that causes fatigue and low energy.

I figured I could walk for most of the day. Or even use my rollator. I figured I would be fine.

But my husband talked me into renting, from Disney, a scooter. And I did that for two of our park days. I used the rollator for one day. That one day, I left the park early. It was raining, I was tired, and I had simply had enough.

When we return in December? I am renting, offsite, for our entire trip. If we leave a park early, this trip? It won't be because of me.