rented wheel chair stolen?

[magicaldisney]

My mom will be joining us for our next trip in two weeks. She just found out from her doctor that she will need to use a wheelchair. Due to some back and leg issues, she is not able to walk long distances. She is thinking however that she would park the wheelchair outside of stores to do her shopping and also wherever there is stroller parking for rides and attractions. Her concern is that it might get stolen. What do you think? I have heard of rented strollers being stolen (though not very often), but has anyone heard of rented wheelchairs being stolen?

 

[cat_herder]

I can't walk long distances either. I have a scooter and it uses a key to run. I will park outside stores, etc. and just take the key with me.

I have long noticed that strollers, wheelchairs, & scooters sitting outside rides with coats, bags, etc. in them and no one seems to bother them.

I have always been paranoid about leaving anything in my scooter and would take my things with me. But this year I'm buying a backpack to put on the back of the scooter. Actually I came to this board today to find out about doing just that and how well it has worked for others.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Generally when rented strollers are "stolen" it really tends to be people taking the wrong one or the stroller has been moved. I have not heard of any wheelchairs vanishing. But in any event, if it is a Disney chair as long as you have the receipt they will replace it.

 

[magicaldisney]

Thanks for the info. I didn't think it would be an issue!!

 

[christymarie]

If you want you can always tie a brightly colored ribbon onto the chair. That will make it easy to find.

 

[tekoa]

Several years ago (at least 10) we had rented a manual wheelchair for my Mother who cannot walk that far withour tiring. We went into one of the shops in the MK near the carousel. We parked the chair in the proper place just as we were coming out we saw the back end of our chair going the other way. It was being pushed by a lady from the UK who was pushing her
2 children in it. I ran and caught up to her and she was not even apologetic.
What was she thinking. That the chair was there for her convenience. If she needed one she should have rented one like we did. I was thankful I came out of the store when I did. Ever since that incident my mother refused to let a rented chair out of her sight. Yes our name was on it.

 

[hematite153]

My DW uses a w/c in the parks and YES, she has had one stolen. It boggled my mind that someone would steal a chair with a name and other identifying paraphernalia on it.

Now, we bring a bike lock and lock the wheel to the frame. It won't stop a person who really intends to steal it, but, it will (and has many times) stop a person who's just being an idiot and thinking that it's okay to "borrow" someone's wheelchair.