No more Manual wheelchairs at Resorts

[KAT4DISNEY]

We were at the CR last week and had need to use a manual wheelchair for a bit. I was told that as of a week prior Disney had eliminated all loaner wheelchairs resort wide. I did not confirm anywhere else however.

 

[BillSears]

I guess that's a good thing. Every time I would see one of those they looked like they were falling apart. Plus I think the original idea was to loan them to people who had an emergency while traveling but they seemed to become a cheap way others used to get a wheelchair for the week even though they knew they would need them ahead of time.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, it is true, effective earlier this fall I believe. As PP mentions, the chairs available (when available) were not always in very good condition and often of an incorrect size for the guest. It's always been recommended to rent a chair from off-site if a guest knows one will be needed; they can also be rented within the parks but are not allowed to leave the park.

I hope you enjoy your vacation despite whatever situation caused you to need a wheelchair for part of it.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We did enjoy but it certainly wasn't without difficulties for my sister. She uses a power wheelchair but is going thru the (rather stupid and ridiculous committee) approval process for a new one as hers is several years old and well used. One thing is there is a power issue which is why we needed a manual wheelchair for a bit. Considering I have always touted how accommodating Disney is this was not the best example. The resorts are huge and the only recommendation was to rent at the parks. The problem was we weren't going to the parks. I'd assume one issue was people borrowing them for the stay but that could have been solved by having a time limit or charging for them just like the parks do. I'm very disappointed with the decision they made.

Then it was topped off when the one and only elevator at CR to the monorail went down late on our last night. My sister needed to get back to Poly and although per the front desk Transportation is supposed to provide a bus in that situation they would not. She was given a voucher for a taxi but it of course required a van capable of a power wheelchair. She sat waiting until 1:30am for the taxi. Luckily she's a night owl but it was again, not the best resolution, nor apparently even how Disney is supposed to handle it.

 

[Bete]

Good to know; thanks for posting.

 

[SueM in MN]

This was announced officially earlier this year.
It was hinted at in their printed materials for several years (suggesting renting from off-site).

 

[DisneyOma]

We did enjoy but it certainly wasn't without difficulties for my sister. She uses a power wheelchair but is going thru the (rather stupid and ridiculous committee) approval process for a new one as hers is several years old and well used. One thing is there is a power issue which is why we needed a manual wheelchair for a bit. Considering I have always touted how accommodating Disney is this was not the best example. The resorts are huge and the only recommendation was to rent at the parks. The problem was we weren't going to the parks. I'd assume one issue was people borrowing them for the stay but that could have been solved by having a time limit or charging for them just like the parks do. I'm very disappointed with the decision they made.

Then it was topped off when the one and only elevator at CR to the monorail went down late on our last night. My sister needed to get back to Poly and although per the front desk Transportation is supposed to provide a bus in that situation they would not. She was given a voucher for a taxi but it of course required a van capable of a power wheelchair. She sat waiting until 1:30am for the taxi. Luckily she's a night owl but it was again, not the best resolution, nor apparently even how Disney is supposed to handle it.

Did Disney offer any info on where you could rent a wheelchair from an offsite vendor? Did you ask them?

Also, is there really only one elevator that stops on the monorail level? I thought there were elevators to all the floors at CR?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Did Disney offer any info on where you could rent a wheelchair from an offsite vendor? Did you ask them?

Also, is there really only one elevator that stops on the monorail level? I thought there were elevators to all the floors at CR?

They did not even mention an off site vendor, just to rent at the parks and when I said we weren't going there they shrugged their shoulders and said that there were quite a few complaints about this. As it happens I do know about off site vendors - we used to rent a wheelchair for my mother, but another person with another reason would have been left with no idea what to do. This was just a very short amount of time we needed the chair so did not choose to do that - figured that by the time we got a chair we wouldn't have need any more and as it is my sisters ones not care for the manual chairs not fitted for her.

Just one elevator goes to the monorail level. It is dedicated and goes from the 4th floor concourse, just outside the arcade, to the monorail. The hotel room elevators do not access that area. We did find it confusing though even figuring out what was going on because someone had just plunked down the sandwich boards on the monorail hours in front of the elevator door, which suggested we were within the time frame, and had nothing about the elevator being out of order. As I was pressing the non-responsive button attempting to call it for us to use another guest shared that their family had been directed to a bus at the MK station because they wouldn't have been able to exit the monorail platform at CR. I had suggested I walk with my sister over to MK but the front desk suggested the taxi instead once transportation wouldn't do anything. I'll just stick with my gut feeling on what to do next time.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This was announced officially earlier this year.
It was hinted at in their printed materials for several years (suggesting renting from off-site).

Perhaps you want to update the FAQ thread here too? It still says that the resorts have loaners. I had not seen anything on them eliminating them and since they had been available for years it was quite unexpected.

I should add that I had searched here on the DIS but didn't find anything mentioned about the elimination although I might not have been using the correct terms. Not the same as checking with Disney but I was basing that on history.

 

[SueM in MN]

I was on vacation and just got back. Now catching up with work

 

[lanejudy]

I knew it had been reported here a few months ago, though I'm not sure I saw confirmation until much more recently. Unfortunately, I wasn't been able to find that thread when I've looked for it again until just now. Post#8 of this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/wheel-chair-availability-at-resorts.3441162/#post-54290281

Apologies the information wasn't easier to locate.

 

[DisneyOma]

They did not even mention an off site vendor, just to rent at the parks and when I said we weren't going there they shrugged their shoulders and said that there were quite a few complaints about this. As it happens I do know about off site vendors - we used to rent a wheelchair for my mother, but another person with another reason would have been left with no idea what to do. This was just a very short amount of time we needed the chair so did not choose to do that - figured that by the time we got a chair we wouldn't have need any more and as it is my sisters ones not care for the manual chairs not fitted for her.

Just one elevator goes to the monorail level. It is dedicated and goes from the 4th floor concourse, just outside the arcade, to the monorail. The hotel room elevators do not access that area. We did find it confusing though even figuring out what was going on because someone had just plunked down the sandwich boards on the monorail hours in front of the elevator door, which suggested we were within the time frame, and had nothing about the elevator being out of order. As I was pressing the non-responsive button attempting to call it for us to use another guest shared that their family had been directed to a bus at the MK station because they wouldn't have been able to exit the monorail platform at CR. I had suggested I walk with my sister over to MK but the front desk suggested the taxi instead once transportation wouldn't do anything. I'll just stick with my gut feeling on what to do next time.

Thank you for the detailed answer - but now I'm confused! You said you wanted a loaner at the resort, but then you stated "This was just a very short amount of time we needed the chair so did not choose to do that - figured that by the time we got a chair we wouldn't have need any more and as it is my sisters ones not care for the manual chairs not fitted for her." How would you know a loaner from the resort would fit her, but an offsite rental would not? Or am I misunderstanding what you stated?

And what a poor design at CR! Since it was built before the ADA (or before any major tweaks of it) I'm not too surprised, but still, that's disappointing.

 

[SueM in MN]

Contemporary was completed in 1971, way before there were consistent guidelines for accessibility and 20 years before the ADA.
There are elevators to all floors, but the level the monorail loads and unloads on is sort of an extra floor.
The elevator to that area was actually a relatively recent addition - not sure of the date, but I think it was the mid to late 1990s.

At any rate, it's not possible to get wheelchairs lent any more from resorts.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Wheelchairs are being eliminated, slowly and systematically.
2) As they require repair, they are left to rot.
3) People use these free chairs in lieu of renting them at the parks, hence, no WDW revenue.
. . . you asked for a chair at the Front Desk
. . . you left a credit-card-imprint, in case the chair was not returned
. . . you had the chair for the length of your stay
. . . you could take it anywhere on property
4) Disney does not like giving away revenue.

NOTE: Resorts still have a chair-or-two. But, these are for emergency use or temporary use only. They are kept locked-up and they are not left with the guest.

 

[seashoreCM]

Wheelchairs left about the resort already had a significant shortcoming, namely, none being around when you needed one. Trip reports have already mentioned needing a wheelchair to get from a park handicapped parking lot to the park entrance and not finding any.

So only a short hop, skip, and a jump to "eliminating" them.

4) Disney does not like giving away revenue.

It is possible to put together an hourly rental program for wheelchairs at resorts. Guests would have the choice (and probably much greater availability) of renting at the resort or arranging a rental from an outside firm. Or maybe the chair-or-two for emegency use already work that way.

 

[SueM in MN]

1) Wheelchairs are being eliminated, slowly and systematically.
2) As they require repair, they are left to rot.
3) People use these free chairs in lieu of renting them at the parks, hence, no WDW revenue.
. . . you asked for a chair at the Front Desk
. . . you left a credit-card-imprint, in case the chair was not returned
. . . you had the chair for the length of your stay
. . . you could take it anywhere on property
4) Disney does not like giving away revenue.

NOTE: Resorts still have a chair-or-two. But, these are for emergency use or temporary use only. They are kept locked-up and they are not left with the guest.

I would disagree that it is an issue of revenue.
Disney doesn't actually rent the ones in the parks. They are provided by a contracted provider (I believe Scooterbug).

IMHO, the biggest 2 issues for Disney providing them at the resorts were all the hassle involved in doing it and liability in terms of making sure the equipment was in good condition and maintained. Plus, from what I understand, there was a lot of transporting a wheelchairs from one resort/back and forth to the parks as wheelchairs 'migrated' from the place they were provided.
Once they started the Featured Provider program, there was no reason to continue their own fleet of wheelchairs at each resort.

I think with only having one or 2 for emergency use, they are getting back to what it was originally.
Disney never advertised having wheelchairs to lend at the resorts. As far as I know, they were always meant for people who had unanticipated, urgent need for one.
I think the issue for Disney was that it became common knowledge that they had them available (mostly thru the Internet) and it became an expectation to get one for free. So, I think Disney accidentally got into a wheelchair 'business' that they never intended to be in.

Wheelchairs left about the resort already had a significant shortcoming, namely, none being around when you needed one. Trip reports have already mentioned needing a wheelchair to get from a park handicapped parking lot to the park entrance and not finding any.

So only a short hop, skip, and a jump to "eliminating" them.

It is possible to put together an hourly rental program for wheelchairs at resorts. Guests would have the choice (and probably much greater availability) of renting at the resort or arranging a rental from an outside firm. Or maybe the chair-or-two for emegency use already work that way.

I don't think Disney would ever put in place a short term hourly rental program. It would be a lot of hassle with very little benefit for them.
There is already a short term rental at Boardwalk (run by Buena Vista) and short term at Disney Springs (I believe run by Scooterbug). If they ever did an hourly/short term rental, I think it would be a contract service, done only at resorts, like Boardwalk, that get a significant number of day visitors.
Anyone who needs one for a short time at the resorts would also need one longer term (other then Boardwalk, which gets a lot of visitors to that general area). So, it makes more sense to refer those guests to one of the Featured Providers.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I would disagree that it is an issue of revenue.

1) I can understand your thought.
2) It might well be valid.
3) I can only go on what we hear and see.