Question on help with limited ability

[BrownHP800]

Hello everyone,

We are looking to surprise my mother-in-law for a little trip to the Flower and Garden Festival next April. Long story short, she suffered a mild stroke and while she doesn't need a wheelchair or anything like that around home, just her cane, she is going to need something to help with getting around Epcot for a day.

What would be the best way with the minimum amount of walking to get her a wheelchair when we get there? We will be driving. She does have a handicap placard so we could use that but from what I have been reading it might be easier for us to do regular parking and just take the tram to the entrance. She can probably make it that far without much issue. (Hopefully).

We do not have a wheelchair so we will just rent one for the day. She doesn't like the scooters or we would get one of them.

Thanks for any insight

 

[gap2368]

all the parks have wheel chair renter ( they are at the same place as where you rent a ECV) they really do not run out of wheel chair but the few times I have used Disney wheel chair they are not the best quality ( hard to push) and there are a few hill at EPCOT ( the land) so if you do not have more then one person tp push I would get one off site I am not sure how long your stay is but a few days of moderate might be enough for your MIL

the handicap parking at EPCOT is close ( might be the closes out of all the parks) but they do offer curtsy wheel chair to use in the parking lots

also I know for some mobility problems sitting can make to worst she dose not have to be sitting all the time she can use the wheel hair as a walker or you can park it and walk around some

 

[SueM in MN]

A bit of clarification:
- are you local and just driving for the day?
- if you are not local, where are you staying?
- is she planning only one park day?

 

[mamabunny]

Hello everyone,

We are looking to surprise my mother-in-law for a little trip to the Flower and Garden Festival next April. Long story short, she suffered a mild stroke and while she doesn't need a wheelchair or anything like that around home, just her cane, she is going to need something to help with getting around Epcot for a day.

What would be the best way with the minimum amount of walking to get her a wheelchair when we get there? We will be driving. She does have a handicap placard so we could use that but from what I have been reading it might be easier for us to do regular parking and just take the tram to the entrance. She can probably make it that far without much issue. (Hopefully).

We do not have a wheelchair so we will just rent one for the day. She doesn't like the scooters or we would get one of them.

Thanks for any insight

If you are driving in for the day only, and will have the room, you could check around to see if you could borrow a chair in your hometown.

Lots of Churches and service organizations (like the Masons, Eastern Star, Shriners, Lions Club, Elks, Moose, etc.) typically have a few odds and ends of donated equipment. It won't be new (and you might be wisely tempted to give it a quick going over with a disinfecting wipe or two!) but if you only need it for the day, you might be able to borrow one locally. Shoot, post on Facebook, and ask if anyone has one sitting in the garage or a closet that you can borrow. That way you can park with her placard in the H/C parking, pop the borrowed open, and away you go.

I hope she enjoys every minute of her surprise day!

 

[BrownHP800]

We are not local and driving from NC. I only have a small SUV and I don't think we can fit a wheel chair in the back with our luggage. We rented a house in Davenport and yes, only going to Epcot for 1 day. Perhaps Disney springs for 1 day.

She is very stubborn and I know she will want to walk as much as possible but in reality she just will not be able to make it without sitting down. We probably won't do too many rides. We mainly want to show her the Flower and Garden Festival. I think she will really just enjoy taking it slow and enjoying the sites.

Thank you all for your input.

 

[gap2368]

flower and garden is so pretty I really enjoy looking at all they do there.

I would do the handicap parking and then rent a wheel chair in the park she dose not have to sit in it the whole time she can push it some and sit when needed I think she will really enjoy a place to sit when in the world show case and watching the shows if it is hot and sunny out I would bring a small ( and I do mean small) umbrella for a bit of shade for her exspsily if you are watching one of the out side show in world show case, a little shade can make it feel 10 degrees cooler.

 

[johnsgrl]

We are not local and driving from NC. I only have a small SUV and I don't think we can fit a wheel chair in the back with our luggage. We rented a house in Davenport and yes, only going to Epcot for 1 day. Perhaps Disney springs for 1 day.

She is very stubborn and I know she will want to walk as much as possible but in reality she just will not be able to make it without sitting down. We probably won't do too many rides. We mainly want to show her the Flower and Garden Festival. I think she will really just enjoy taking it slow and enjoying the sites.

Thank you all for your input.

Most wheelchairs fold fairly flat, maybe 5 inches? I have put one on top of our suitcases in the back of a small SUV. If she will insist on walking, have you considered a rollator? Just a walker with a seat, so she can sit for a bit whenever she needs to. I think those can be rented from offsite agencies and it would be available for you wherever you go, EPCOT or Disney Springs. I have seen them at Flea Markets and thrift shops in NC for $25.00 -$35.00 so you could pick one up that way too.

 

[Bete]

Getting around the park has been covered pretty well, here.

My comment pertains to rides/attractions. If you don't do any then it won't be a worry. Please be aware if you go in and out of a ride where you need to step down to get in and up to get out that could be difficult for her. An example, of a such a ride would be test track.

 

[bridget8822]

Hi there! My husband had 3 small strokes during open heart surgery in January and we took the family to WDW in August. We rented an ECV for him and the great thing about it was he could park it, take the key and do some walking and when he felt tired go back to it. The kids actually loved going to get it for dad.

We did DAS as well. Don't be afraid to ask about it because you feel intimidated in any way. With my husband, he felt as tho others needed it more. But you know what he'd been through ALOT and is still not yet 100%. So we went to guest services and they were so pleasant and helpful.

WDW is alot for the healthiest of folks. Don't be afraid to ask Disney for help.

Good luck to you!!

 

[gap2368]

Hi there! My husband had 3 small strokes during open heart surgery in January and we took the family to WDW in August. We rented an ECV for him and the great thing about it was he could park it, take the key and do some walking and when he felt tired go back to it. The kids actually loved going to get it for dad.

We did DAS as well. Don't be afraid to ask about it because you feel intimidated in any way. With my husband, he felt as tho others needed it more. But you know what he'd been through ALOT and is still not yet 100%. So we went to guest services and they were so pleasant and helpful.

WDW is alot for the healthiest of folks. Don't be afraid to ask Disney for help.

Good luck to you!!

just an FYI but if someone has a mobility/ stanama problem then Disney recommendation is to use a mobility device ( I am not trying to start an argument here on where this is the right or wrong thing that Disney dose it is just what they have said) in order to get a DAS card you need to explain your need that have to do with waiting in lines. so for some one with a broken leg they might need a wheel chair ( this would accommodate them in lines where they would not have to stand) Every ones has a right to walk into GR and say this is my disability this is what I have problems doing is there something that you can recommend for me ( or some version of this,) I have gone in to GR a number of times because there was something in the park that I wanted to do that I could not and have asked for recordation ( like a place that would meet my need to watch the parade or fire works) I have also done this at rides ( HM I was having a hard time with the stretching room and then the line after the CM told me I could ask to skip it and then ask to go thought the exit.)

agin I am not saying the OP or the PP should or should not get a DAS or ask for one just that you will need to explain your need and why a wheel chair /ECV will not cover your needs ( and I know just because your main need is the use of a mobility device dose not meant you can have other need that need a DAS card)

OP I hope you enjoy flower and garden with your mother in law.

 

[bridget8822]

Hi! No debate at all I'm not one of those. LOL. I just see "stroke" and try to help! My husband has mobility issues (he had lost use of the right side of his body) so we had an ECV delivered to Port Orleans upon arrival but also there were emotional issues as well as stamina and heat sensitivity, cardiac problems. We were nervous about the whole trip but honestly Disney goes above and beyond to help. Guest services didn't ask a slew of questions - they were as kind and understanding as could be. (I wish hospital staff was as kind!).

I guess I am just saying don't worry - get some rest and don't be afraid to ask for help.

 

[gap2368]

I have been behind ( and in one case infant of) someone ( or a group) and they have said ( or something to the effect of) I have a wheel chair so I need one of those specie card so that we do not have to wait in lines. the CM will ask what there needs are and when it is just the use of a wheel chair/ ECV then they will tell them they do not need anything else. One guest was angry and demanding to see a manager that he had a good friend that told him about the card. ( so I was just making sure the OP know that for a DAS you should have other need that a wheel chair will not cover)

but yes do not be afraid to ask for help wether at GR or the ride ( I skipped HM because I just could not handle it at all, but thanks to a good friend that this is her favorite ride at Disney I will now go since I know that there are accommodation that I can ask for. since she ended up asking for me)

 

[DisneyOma]

Hi there! My husband had 3 small strokes during open heart surgery in January and we took the family to WDW in August. We rented an ECV for him and the great thing about it was he could park it, take the key and do some walking and when he felt tired go back to it. The kids actually loved going to get it for dad.

When you say kids, I hope you mean over 18 - WDW (and pretty much all of the rental places) have rules that kids are not supposed to drive (or ride double) on ECVs.

 

[bridget8822]

Actually no. My daughter Grace is 13 and she would get it for him just fine. Many times she would even help to get it on Disney transportation for him. She was better than he was at getting it safely aboard the buses into the designated area and not once did a cast member or bus driver suggest otherwise. Mind you they weren't joyriding or reckless. They are very responsible young ladies so when we'd be at a certain ride and the ECV was on the other side where we'd park it, they'd go get it and drive it over to the exit. I'm sure if they were acting wild then circumstances would be different but they were just happy to be helping dad.

The girls are very brave. When my husband had his heart surgeries and strokes he lost the entire use of the right side Of his body and speech. They helped me with everything and once he was strong enough we took this trip to heal and get some Disney Magic. And we did.