Rental wheelchair etiquette question

[chuckml]

We are going to the world this December, and my parents have decided to come with us. My 67 year old father has severe rheumatoid arthritis, and will be renting a wheelchair for the week from the parks. (he does not like the ecv's). Anyway my question is, can we take the wheelchair out of the parks to the bus stops so he doesn't have to walk from the exits? He won't mind standing in the regular bus line, as he can stand for a fair amount of time, and can walk, all be it slowly. I just would prefer to not have him have to walk with the masses exiting with his cane. Thanks in advance!

P.S.--Just to clarify, I'm not saying we want to take the chair on the bus, just wheel him to the AKL stop.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the disABILITIES! board.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and :welome: to disABILITIES!

A couple of different situations.

One is that normally you cannot take Park wheelchairs past a certain point. At Epcot and DHS this is the Park Gates. For AK it is the Outpost, which is very close to the flagpole outside the gates. At MK they may allow you to take it on the monorail, but you must leave it at the Gift Shop at TTC.

All four parks have special loaner wheelchairs, with a post and pennant one them. These can be used between the Park Exit and the parking lots. However, as Park Closing approaches thee become impossible to get, as they are left all over disabled parking and the buus stops and cannot be collected and returned on a timely basis.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #2 discusses mobility and rentals. You may be better off renting from an off-site vendor. The wheelchairs tend to be better than Disney's rentals and they are avilable at all times. And the distances from some of the rooms at AKL to the lobby can be very long; this way he will have the chair available to him at all times.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Debbie-TN]

If he finds that he will need an ECV, I would suggest renting one from Walker Mobility. My cousin always rents hers from them and we have always had great service. They deliver itand pick it up at the hotel. If it's the big ECV's at the parks that he doesn't like, he might like these because they are smaller and have only 3 wheels. A lot easier to get around on. He could go to Walmart or another store and practice before he goes. It's better to be on an ECV than in pain all day. Remember that you would also have it at the hotel. After walking all day, he will still have to walk back to the room.

 

[Wants2Live@WDW]

Hi!
I have gone to WDW three times since my stroke, and I recommend renting from a rental agency outside of the parks, but as I have my own electric wheelchair now, I no longer have to use these services (the concierge desk and the reservation line for WDW gave me the number for Buena Vista Rentals (407) 938-0349 for renting wheelchairs and scooters).

The advantages of renting from off-site are these: 1) no deposit every day (just one time rental agreement and/or deposit), 2) you have transport to the bus areas (and at MK and Animal Kingdom, that is NO joke...tremendous walk/wheeling), 3) you have them for the bus ride (in case there are no seats available on the bus), and 4) peace of mind in case the parks run out that day (and yes, that has happened to me at MK, AK, and Epcot during July...caned all the way up to the gate and then there were no wheelchairs or scooters. The Cast Members were able to locate one after half of an hour, thank goodness! They are great helpers, don't get me wrong...there are just a lot of people that go to WDW).

However, I just read that if you call ahead to your resort, they might be able to loan you a wheelchair (standard one) for the length of your stay, if they have one (no guarantees), and I am not good with "maybes" on vacations.

It is an amazingly magical place that seems to whisk away all of my cares, and I hope that you all feel the same! Enjoy your vacation!

May pixie dust line your travels!

 

[chuckml]

Thanks everyone! I'll relay the info to Dad. Seems that renting offsite may be the best option.