Newbie question about wheelchair use

[Dizzie]

We are taking my 72yo dad to WDW for his first trip in 4 days. He has bad hips and has trouble walking long distances. He does not have a disability. Is it allowable and ethical to rent a wheelchair for him to make the trip less painful and more enjoyable for him?

Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This says it all: "He has bad hips and has trouble walking long distances." That clearly is a disability. Not only would he not be enjoying himself by being in pain, but it would ruin everyone else's enjoyment of the vacation because (a) he would be in pain, and (b) he (and the group) would have to stop often while he was resting.

An "invisible disability" is still a disability. He knows he has a problem, the others in your group know he has a problem. Whatever anyone else thinks does not matter.

You may be better off renting an ECV, as pushing a wheelchair can get very tiresome, especially if you are not used to it. There are hills which are not noticeable to people who are walking along, but definitely noticed by people in (or pushing) wheelchairs. Also it depends on the weight of the passenger and the condition of the pusher(s).

Renting from off-site guarantees you will have a wheelchair or ECV always available, and can be useful in the hotels and Downtown Disney as well as in the parks. Some information for off-site rentals are:

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

Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/
Phone (407) 856-2273, Toll Free U.S and Canada (800) 741-2282

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

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html
(800)747-0246!

I have used Walker a few times. They will ask for a credit card and charge it the day before arrival. They will deliver the ECV to your hotel bell services before your arrival and pick it up there after your departure. Their rates, especially for longer than a week, are much better than Disney's. Also, their scooters are much better.

You don't say if you are renting a car or what. If you are using a car for getting around, the ECVs break down into five pieces, the heaviest about 39 pounds. They take about a minute or so to take apart and about two minutes (once you are used to it) to put it together.

Another suggestion is find out your state's requirements for a temporary disabled hang tag and get the paper work and have your doctor sign off on it. The tag will allow you to use any of the handicap parking areas (which will be a necessity). Also, with the policy of charging for valet parking, with a handicap hang tag the fees will be waived. Also the valets will usually volunteer to assist in loading/unloading an ECV. In Virginia I printed the required form from the DMV website. When I took the completed form to the DMV Office it took less than 15 minutes from the time I walked in until I had my tag.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have been trying to get my father in law to rent an ecv for the last 6 or 7 years for just the same reason, so I agree with everything that Cheshire Figment wrote.
If it makes you feel any better, one of the reasons that people don't want to rent a wheelchair or ecv is that they think they will get a lot of special treatment or get to go to the front of lines. A lot of people have that perception, but that's not what happens in reality. Really the only perk you get from having a wheelchair or ecv is that you have a place to sit while you wait. There are some rides that have a wheelchair entrance, but you usually are waiting in line with everyone else until just before boarding. At that point, they route people with wheelchairs or ecvs to the exit. You won't get to ride any faster, they have you board at the exit so that the ecv or wheelchair is waiting there for you when you get off. Also, when you board at the exit, it allows a little extra time and space for boarding. plus the CM can control the moving walkway - slowing or even stopping it on most rides to help with boarding. Here's a link to a thread about boarding that explains it all.

So, rent the wheelchair or ecv and hope you all have a great time.