Renting from Florida Mobility Products & visiting Universal

[Justin Jett]

I am looking into renting a Convaid stroller for an upcoming trip to Universal's Harry Potter area. Since Universal is outside of my comfort zone, I want to use a push-type chair. Plus the smaller chair may be easier to use in the Harry Potter area.

Online research shows that Florida Mobility Products rents Convaid and similar chairs. Does anyone have experience renting from them? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

No experience with renting from them, so can't help you on that part.

I do have experience with them in taking care of some damage done to my powerchair on a flight in. All I can say is . They worked with me on which time would fit me for them to come around, reconfirmed that by calling in a short time before. I've got a chair that has basically been totally rebuild from the ground to fit my needs and has things on there that tend to be nonstandard.

Sure enough, the cushion for my back was punctured (I've got an aircushion) and thus not possible for me to sit in the chair. It was a bit of a catch 22 at first. I've got a Permobil chair and the cushion (actually a baby cribs mattrass ) for my backrest is from Roho. Apparently in the US the two of them have got an agreement where it results in Roho not delivering any of their products to Permobil users but requiring them to go through Permobil. Nice and peachy but Permobil did not have the cushion I needed. Roho did, but didn't want to deliver to me/Florida Mobility. They wanted us to have Permobil order it, sent it to Permobil, have Permobil sent it to us etc.

Nuts and it would mean a couple of days extra for me without being able to use my chair (and not being able to use a rental because of needing such specific stuff). It took a lot of talking and keeping at it, but eventually FM got the green light and Roho agreed to ship us the cushion directly. Then FM basically would not back down until Roho agreed to ship it a certain way which would result in us having that cushion the next morning instead of having to wait a couple of more days (standard way of shipping would take longer and that day being a friday with the weekend coming up).

The work itself didn't take much time for FM to do. But before they could do that? They literally were making calls for over an hour of pure phonetime between Roho, Permobil, 3way calls between them and having me listening in most of the times. They made sure I'ld get what I needed a.s.a.p. instead of just going "can't be changed, you'll get your fix eventually, this is what we get paid for by the airline, take it or leave it". All this legwork was done by the owner (can't remember his name right now, oops).

In the end they started working on this on friday afternoon and on saterday around noon I had my powerchair back in a working state. They could've all too easily not gone the extra way and waited for the "standard" way of operation. They didn't. They could've waited for our backup to pay out (I knew this cushion isn't a standard and expected some problems, so my own dealer got a new one out to my dad. He would've delivered it to the airport that saterday morning, where the airline would've had it flown in and delivered to us on sunday evening). Again; they didn't. They promised to get my up and going a.s.a.p. and they came through on that promis.

Totally of no help with your rental question, but perhaps it helps out a bit if there are any things you wonder about in case you find you'ld need any technical help for the rental. (I know I personally take this things into accound, so that's why I blabbered on about it)

Have a great time at Universal!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They are where I bought my current ECV and also the lift on my car. They also do the repair work. I have never rented from them, but if my ECV had to be left overnight they always would loan me one for use.

 

[Justin Jett]

Thank you both.

After reading Universal's Rider's Guide, and reading reviews of the Harry Potter area, I am kinda nervous about this. I think the pushchair will help though. Glad to hear good things sbout Florida Mobility.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Reading those same reports, I can see why you are a bit nervous Skip. I would be too! I would love to see the HP-area but am waiting and hoping to see a little less crowdedness and with that more room for some accessibility improvements.

Have a great time while down there and here's for you hopefully coming back and telling us how easy you found it and being worried for nothing.

 

[Justin Jett]

Just a quick update:

It is very hard to a Convaid Cruiser for rent. Florida Mobility Products only spoke spanish when we called.

We bought a Tumble Forms Feeder Seat for me to use at Universal.

 

[bidnow5]

I had a scooter repaired by them super nice people to deal with

 

[lovethattink]

I am looking into renting a Convaid stroller for an upcoming trip to Universal's Harry Potter area. Since Universal is outside of my comfort zone, I want to use a push-type chair. Plus the smaller chair may be easier to use in the Harry Potter area.

Online research shows that Florida Mobility Products rents Convaid and similar chairs. Does anyone have experience renting from them? Any advice would be appreciated.

My son just got a Convaid Cruiser. It's so easy to push him!! I can easily hold a tray of food AND push him with one hand!! He doesn't care for the 30 degree tilt of the seat, though. He likes sitting upright. We also have a sunshade for it. It works great, but it's very difficult for me to see the people in front of us. It folds very nicely. It is weight-heavy at the footrests, making it lopsided to carry. It fits nicely in our car. We have annual passes to Universal, but haven't been to the Potter area yet because of the crowds.

Sorry I don't have any info about that company.

 

[Justin Jett]

As it became increasingly difficult to find a Convaid chair to rent, we began to realize that buying one to keep would really help our family.

My parents bought a Convaid Safari Transport for our upcoming trip in December.

Now, I am ready if we go to Universal Orlando during regular park hours, Mom can take me in her car, and we can fly on commercial airlines if we need/want to. The Safari can even be lifted into my Grandparents' house. That is not possible with the 317 lbs. power wheelchair.

The 5-Point harness is very different than the butterfly harness that is on my power chair, but I like it very much. It supports me really well, and the pads are big and soft.

 

[SueM in MN]

thanks for the good information. Glad to hear you found something that will work out for you.

 

[Justin Jett]

thanks for the good information. Glad to hear you found something that will work out for you.

Hi Sue,

Thank you for the heads up about access at Universal. It was your posts about the policy change in 2008 that prompted us to consider a stroller for the December trip.