New to disability

[MilwaukeeMom]

Husband has end stage cancer that was diagnosed in October. He finished his 6 chemo treatments and has had brain radiation twice. This is pretty overwhelming for me and I have specific questions. We head for Disney on 3/26. He is walking with a walker and/or cane and I’ve rented a mobility scooter which will be delivered to the hotel. I’m wondering about these things:
1 - wheelchair availability at the airports. Do I request one in advance? Do I contact Southwest airlines or the airport? He will not be able to walk more than 300 feet.
2 - Will I need to contact MCO for a wheelchair upon arrival or do I contact Southwest airlines?
3 - He doesn’t want to ride any rides, but we are going into the parks with family. Is there any other reason to have DAS?
4 - We are traveling as a group of 19. Some families at Poly and some at Beach Club. What would be the easiest way to travel between those two hotels with a mobility scooter?
I think those are my only questions. We’ve been going almost every year to Disney since 1979. It’s heartbreaking to know this will be his last trip and I want to make it as smooth as possible. Thank you for any advice

 

[Simba's Mom]

Fortunately (IMO), Southwest is super! When you make your flight reservations (if you haven't yet) add your need for a wheelchair on the last page. Otherwise, just tell them when you check in at the airport that you'll need wheelchair assistance "all the way thru" (both ends and if you have to connect). The person pushing the wheelchair usually takes you through a special, shorter line at security. They'll then take you to a special, pre-board area at the gate to get on the airplane. Be sure to let a Southwest attendant take your DH down the jetway to the airplane-it's something about Insurance. You walk ahead of them so that when you reach the plane, you can help your DH off the chair and into the plane. Southwest will be sure to have a wheelchair and attendant when you get to MCO, and they'll get you to baggage claim. Have a safe trip!

 

[gap2368]

for the DAS it is too wait outside the lines for those that can not handle the standby line if a wheelchair ECV accommodates your needs then there is no resin for a DAS pass, if he has other needs that a wheelchair ECV does not help with then the DAS might be the answer. The DAS holder must ride and it is good for the DAS holder +5

 

[lanejudy]

1 - wheelchair availability at the airports. Do I request one in advance? Do I contact Southwest airlines or the airport? He will not be able to walk more than 300 feet.
2 - Will I need to contact MCO for a wheelchair upon arrival or do I contact Southwest airlines?
3 - He doesn’t want to ride any rides, but we are going into the parks with family. Is there any other reason to have DAS?
4 - We are traveling as a group of 19. Some families at Poly and some at Beach Club. What would be the easiest way to travel between those two hotels with a mobility scooter?

For #1 and #2 - contact your airline (Southwest) to arrange for assistance at both your home airport and MCO, for BOTH flights (to FL and the return home).

#3 - the DAS holder must ride, so if he isn't riding the DAS can't be used by others in the party. That said, will he do any shows or non-rides? As PP says, if the wheelchair/ECV solves his needs then a DAS will not be needed or issued. If he has other needs related to being in a standard queue environment, you may want to consider DAS if he will do any non-ride attraction. However your entire party will not be able to join him, only 5.

#4 - the accessible Minnie Vans, if you don't mind spending $$. If you have PH, you can use the monorail. I'd suggest the others come to him more often than making him travel to the other resort.

And one other thought... is he driving at home? You mention renting him a scooter, but would he be better with a wheelchair and someone pushing so he doesn't fatigue as quickly? It can be exhausting to stay alert to the crowds all around a scooter while driving. With 19 others in the extended group, presumably they can take turns pushing and give him some special 1:1 time with each. Just a thought...

 

[lpereira]

Just a heads up. You won't be visiting with each other at the pools of those two resorts.

 

[MilwaukeeMom]

For #1 and #2 - contact your airline (Southwest) to arrange for assistance at both your home airport and MCO, for BOTH flights (to FL and the return home).

#3 - the DAS holder must ride, so if he isn't riding the DAS can't be used by others in the party. That said, will he do any shows or non-rides? As PP says, if the wheelchair/ECV solves his needs then a DAS will not be needed or issued. If he has other needs related to being in a standard queue environment, you may want to consider DAS if he will do any non-ride attraction. However your entire party will not be able to join him, only 5.

#4 - the accessible Minnie Vans, if you don't mind spending $$. If you have PH, you can use the monorail. I'd suggest the others come to him more often than making him travel to the other resort.

And one other thought... is he driving at home? You mention renting him a scooter, but would he be better with a wheelchair and someone pushing so he doesn't fatigue as quickly? It can be exhausting to stay alert to the crowds all around a scooter while driving. With 19 others in the extended group, presumably they can take turns pushing and give him some special 1:1 time with each. Just a thought...

Is a Minnie Van capable of transporting a scooter? Thanks for your help

 

[MilwaukeeMom]

Just a heads up. You won't be visiting with each other at the pools of those two resorts.

Thanks being a DVC member I tot understand about the pools We’re meeting for dining reservations.

 

[MilwaukeeMom]

Fortunately (IMO), Southwest is super! When you make your flight reservations (if you haven't yet) add your need for a wheelchair on the last page. Otherwise, just tell them when you check in at the airport that you'll need wheelchair assistance "all the way thru" (both ends and if you have to connect). The person pushing the wheelchair usually takes you through a special, shorter line at security. They'll then take you to a special, pre-board area at the gate to get on the airplane. Be sure to let a Southwest attendant take your DH down the jetway to the airplane-it's something about Insurance. You walk ahead of them so that when you reach the plane, you can help your DH off the chair and into the plane. Southwest will be sure to have a wheelchair and attendant when you get to MCO, and they'll get you to baggage claim. Have a safe trip!

Thanks so much! I’ll be sure to do this in advance!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

After his brain radiation, is he ok to drive a scooter safely? Just wondering if a wheelchair might be better for him, depending on his level of disability. We had our own wheelchair for my mother, and we all took turns pushing it, so it was good from our front door to front door and everything in between. It was made to be portable, so we could take it everywhere. Just a thought. Not sure how large your husband is, but if he’s on the smaller side, one of these might work pretty well. Sure sorry for what you’re going through, and wishing you a great trip.

 

[lanejudy]

Is a Minnie Van capable of transporting a scooter? Thanks for your help

Yes there are accessible Minnie Vans.

 

[Lilsia]

Your husband will still be immunocompromised for several months after chemo and radiation. Did his doctor give him the OK? The reason that I say this is because that is how my mom died. She was going through all of that and got sick just from going out to the grocery store. She was so compromised that even with their strongest antibiotics, her body could not fight it and shut down. Just something to think about.

 

[ttintagel]

The only thing DAS helps with is attraction queues.

 

[RoseGold]

You have to call the airline and arrange for wheelchair transport on both ends. My home airport is OK on stuff like this, but MCO as an airport is really struggling. You can see it in the TSA lines, ouch. I wouldn't want to be relying on either to make a flight.

I would rent a device at home and then take it with you. They gate check it, like a stroller. They gate check much more expensive and complicated wheelchairs than what you are considering.

You should be able to rent something much smaller/nicer than the Orlando rental scooters at a local mobility store. I've rented a Whill myself multiple times when we needed to send one for service, and I'm just an able-bodied person with a credit card. I find driving a chair like this to be easier than a huge rental scooter, though it does have some learning curve.

Take the Mears bus (Sunshine Flyer might also take chairs?) from MCO, and then take Disney transportation. The old Mears bus, when it was Disney ME, did fit the Whill underneath without using the lift. We have a child in a chair so were able to assist to get them to a seat. The Mears buses have a strap down seat for people who really can't get out of the chair.

Some of the Disney resorts are running in the mix Mears buses for the internal transportation, like AKL. The Whill would fit under these as well, as opposed to a rental scooter, if he could get up the stairs to a seat.

This isn't the fastest plan, but it has a lot less room for error than relying on airport staffing.

To travel Poly to BC, Poly, walk to TTC, big TTC boat to MK, MK bus to BC. Reverse. Or accessible Mears taxi.

DAS requires the DAS person to ride. I guess they could chicken out and leave, but the rule is they have to ride.

 

[MilwaukeeMom]

After his brain radiation, is he ok to drive a scooter safely? Just wondering if a wheelchair might be better for him, depending on his level of disability. We had our own wheelchair for my mother, and we all took turns pushing it, so it was good from our front door to front door and everything in between. It was made to be portable, so we could take it everywhere. Just a thought. Not sure how large your husband is, but if he’s on the smaller side, one of these might work pretty well. Sure sorry for what you’re going through, and wishing you a great trip.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention! I will be sure to have an answer before we go. He doesn’t seem to have a cognitive impairment and his doctor suggested a scooter. But I will make sure. A wheelchair would make sense as long as I’m not the one pushing

 

[MilwaukeeMom]

You have to call the airline and arrange for wheelchair transport on both ends. My home airport is OK on stuff like this, but MCO as an airport is really struggling. You can see it in the TSA lines, ouch. I wouldn't want to be relying on either to make a flight.

I would rent a device at home and then take it with you. They gate check it, like a stroller. They gate check much more expensive and complicated wheelchairs than what you are considering.

You should be able to rent something much smaller/nicer than the Orlando rental scooters at a local mobility store. I've rented a Whill myself multiple times when we needed to send one for service, and I'm just an able-bodied person with a credit card. I find driving a chair like this to be easier than a huge rental scooter, though it does have some learning curve.

Take the Mears bus (Sunshine Flyer might also take chairs?) from MCO, and then take Disney transportation. The old Mears bus, when it was Disney ME, did fit the Whill underneath without using the lift. We have a child in a chair so were able to assist to get them to a seat. The Mears buses have a strap down seat for people who really can't get out of the chair.

Some of the Disney resorts are running in the mix Mears buses for the internal transportation, like AKL. The Whill would fit under these as well, as opposed to a rental scooter, if he could get up the stairs to a seat.

This isn't the fastest plan, but it has a lot less room for error than relying on airport staffing.

To travel Poly to BC, Poly, walk to TTC, big TTC boat to MK, MK bus to BC. Reverse. Or accessible Mears taxi.

DAS requires the DAS person to ride. I guess they could chicken out and leave, but the rule is they have to ride.

Thank you for your response! A wheelchair sounds like a better idea.

 

[lanejudy]

He doesn’t seem to have a cognitive impairment and his doctor suggested a scooter.

As I mentioned above...driving a scooter all day at WDW can be exhausting so it's not necessarily a concern about "cognitive impairment" but from an exhaustion standpoint. In that regard, driving an ECV at WDW is not the same as driving one around your local grocery store/big box store/mall. When you speak with his doctor, liken it to driving on a 4-lane highway in a large metropolitan area during rush hour -- but all day is like that.

 

[RoseGold]

Thank you for your response! A wheelchair sounds like a better idea.

My family member uses a Whill, but you might be stunned at how many options there are. I would start by finding a Whill retailer, even if you don't want a Whill. That kind of local retailer is going to have many, many options.