Need to know everything about wheel chairs!

[kjs1976]

My DM, 62, is in dire need of a knee replacement, but she is not quite there yet in terms of planning the actual surgery. It has been very difficult for her to walk long distances this summer. Last summer, she'd have good and bad days, but so far I've just seen her limp and be stiff legged all summer.

Anyway, we're going to WDW next week and staying at POFQ. I'm very concerned w/her and all the walking. Could you give me some info on wheel chairs there? I actually think walking from the bus to EPCOT entrance will be the toughest along with all the walking at EPCOT. Can you rent a wheel chair from the resort and take it with you? I know for sure she wouldn't use it all day, but I know she will be super slow with 5 of us who go pretty fast. We aren't doing that much at HS and if she pushes DD in her stroller she says it actually feels better. MK could pose some issues, but we can also take the WDW-RR and will be doing less walking all at once.

Thanks for your help! If I can present her w/as much info as possible, then maybe she'll consider it. I know she'll be a much happy camper if we can help her with this, especially if she can swallow her pride and let us.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Several suggestions.

First, pick a place that is about a mile from your mother's house. Ask her if she could walk there? If she says yes, then ask "And back?" and, after a short pause, say "Three times in a row?!" Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is over 1.25 miles, and that's without going into anything.

Most people walk 8-12 miles per day at WDW.

Think about renting an ECV for her from an off-site company. The distance may be quite a b it from your room to the bus stop, and the distance from the Epcot and AK bus stations to the Park gates is quite far. With an ECV not only will she not be a "burden" on anyone, but she will be the one to run errands (make herself useful).

And last, please ask her the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!