Renting wheelchair or scooter from outside company?

[kungaloosh]

Hi,
I had posted this on the community board but a couple people suggested the experts here could assist me better so I'm reposting.

I’ve got my 24th trip to WDW coming up in November and I’m facing something for the first time. I have a herniated disc in my lower back that has herniated for the 4th time so I am facing disc fusion surgery. Due to my surgeon being booking out to the beginning of Nov and my unwillingness to cancel this trip it appears the surgery will be in Dec. and I will go to WDW in the condition I’m currently in. The back itself does not hurt too badly. My major issue is that every herniation has landed on the S1 nerve down my right leg so I have some permanent nerve damage and then the pain from the current issue. Walking more than short distances can be very difficult and painful. Before folks jump in to say I’m crazy and should have the surgery as soon as possible and cancel the trip I’ve lived with this before for a couple months at a time since this is the 4th herniation within a year and a half and I’ve already had 3 surgeries. I have been planning this for a year and a half and we are surprising a 7 and 8 year old and I’m also going to get to see my son and his fiancée who relocated to Gainesville this year so there is no way I’m cancelling unless the surgeon tells me that I have to for reasons I don’t yet know. Enough background, on to my questions!

Has anyone ever rented a wheelchair or scooter from a company outside Disney and had them waiting at the hotel for them? If so can you share the good and bad? If it worked well I’d really appreciate the company name or website. Anyone remember approx costs? How easy is it to use a scooter? I don’t want to run over anyone but DH thinks it would allow me to be more independent. Does a scooter last all day after being charged overnight? We are staying at BCV so one of the main reasons I was thinking of having it waiting for me at the hotel is because it’s a bit of a walk from there to the Int’l Gateway. Also we are going offsite to Sea World one day and if I get a wheelchair we could put it in the back of the taxi van so that I could have it there.

Anyone ever rented from an outside company and had it go missing at the park? I would assume that if you rent from Disney and that happens you just inform them and get a new one like a stroller?

I can walk short distances so my plan is to have the chair for the longer hauls and then park it in the stroller parking areas and be able to walk around the “lands” and wait in line with the rest of our group. Any ideas or answers are really appreciated.

Thanks,
Cathy

 

[dlhvac]

Have used apple scooter now on disney property also have had two back surgeries sorry for you. make sure doctor is very very good.321-726-6837

 

[dlhvac]

if you charge it all night should last all day at the park the boat takes scooters . actually had someone take the wrong scooter from cape may cafe in beach club had to take hers which was also apple scooter called them they said keep it and just return the one i had to bell services when done the scooters from disney must be returned before leaving the park. always take the key out of scooter.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Has anyone ever rented a wheelchair or scooter from a company outside Disney and had them waiting at the hotel for them? If so can you share the good and bad? If it worked well I’d really appreciate the company name or website.

Dozens, if not hundreds of us Have you looked at the disABILITIES FAQ 'sticky' thread? There's tons of information about, among other things, offsite rental companies recommended by multiple DISers. Don't quote me, but I think you want post 2. Or 6.

 

[Carnator]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713


this link will help...go to post # 2


If you go to a local walmart, target or grocery store that have ECV's. These are much larger than the ones that are rented from off site companies. This will help you practice.

 

[Nanajo1]

In the past 10+ years I've rented ECVs from off site vendors I've pretty much used them all. I had great service from Walker Medical but they did not offer walkers when I needed one so I switched to Care Medical with good results. I also used Randy's but I prefer to have the ECV waiting for me. Currently I need a Power wheelchair. I've used Apple. I'm very pleased with them. Their price for Power chairs is very reasonable. I have never had a problem with running out of power. There have been days we've been out from early AM to Illuminations.Visited 4 paks without a problem(otherthan MY stamina was running low. Have a great trip.

 

[CarolAnnC]

We have used Walker Mobility in the past and will be doing so again for my mother in a couple weeks.

I rely on the ECV that can be rented in the parks sometimes for myself. We could not put two ECV in our one rental car, and I can manage usually to get thru the park gates to where the ECV are rented. Worst case I can go with a standard wheelchair, but really prefer the ECV.

 

[Bete]

you need to be careful not to let them run when you are standing still for a while like with a Disney show, live entertainment, parades and fireworks. Just turn the scooter off at those times and this will help your battery power for the day. Don't leave it on when you are eating, either. Carry your battery charger with you to the parks. In an emergency, you can find an outlet at the parks to use to charge it.

Many companies deliver scooters to the Disney resorts; we like Apple Scooters.

The boats to Disney Hollywood Studios and Epcot are fine with using the scooter. If you need to use the bus it's a little harder with getting the scooter on and off, but you get use to it eventually. You'll have others to help you, anyway. We have lifted up a scooter at times on the bus to get it in the proper position to lock it up on the bus. When using a scooter on Disney transportation you are the first one on, but the last to get off. tHis is the protocol. When using a car make sure the scooter can fit in the trunk, if necessary. You didn't mention using a car and how many would be in a car all together if you are using one. The smaller scooters should work fine in most car trunks from mid-size on up.

Always, make sure you charge your scooter each night. Take your key when you leave the scooter. Keep the scooter out of the way at the parks. If you park it in a parade route, the CMs will manually move the scooter. There's a manual overdrive they can use on a scooter. Then, you may have trouble finding your scooter. Keep the scooter out of the rain; seek protection and shelter if this happens. You don't want to expose the electrical components to water. Avoid rain puddles, too. Some use shower caps and ponchos to protect the scooters from getting wet. We have a tendency to follow the weather reports and we look at the sky a lot when using a scooter at the Disney parks. We were caught once in the rain and luckily nothing bad happen. We were watching the fireworks at MK and with the crowds all around it took a while to seek shelter.

A scooter will really help you and it's well worth everything you must do to have one. As previously stated you can practice for free with store scooters. If you want more practice go to a local zoo and rent a scooter for a day there. Finally, at BWV practice at the resort before heading out to the parks.

You will probably not qualify for a power wheelchair rental; because, there are skill sets you need to know for them. They are much more expensive and the rental companies are more cautious on renting them. A manual wheelchair will need to be pushed. If you go with a manual wheelchair get the travel, portable kind. Preferably, get a lighter weight portable model. The manual wheelchair weights can vary a lot from 15 pounds to 50 pounds. If using a push wheelchair I would alternate my activities at the park between shows and rides to give the pusher a rest. If pushing will be shared by a few people then it won't matter as much.

 

[samrutster]

I used several outside vendors and finally always used Randy's Mobility because of price, condition of scooter, etc. They will have it waiting at your resort for you when you arrive. I finally broke down and purchased my own scooter several years ago that is small, but with excellent battery life that I even bring with me when I fly. But I would say Randy's was by far the best!

 

[canopynut66]

have degenerative disc diease in my spine and have had three surgeries but noting they can do but facett shots for me and some times they work and most times not. I rent from walker mobility and they have at resort when we get there and have 24/7 and leave it at bell services when we leave. we take in at nite and hook to the battery they send and have never had a problem. have also seen apple scooters in there as well. good luck to you and no have never had a problem with any o ne messing with the scooter while in eating but generally I am on it even then

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Hi,
I had posted this on the community board but a couple people suggested the experts here could assist me better so I'm reposting.

I’ve got my 24th trip to WDW coming up in November and I’m facing something for the first time. I have a herniated disc in my lower back that has herniated for the 4th time so I am facing disc fusion surgery. Due to my surgeon being booking out to the beginning of Nov and my unwillingness to cancel this trip it appears the surgery will be in Dec. and I will go to WDW in the condition I’m currently in. The back itself does not hurt too badly. My major issue is that every herniation has landed on the S1 nerve down my right leg so I have some permanent nerve damage and then the pain from the current issue. Walking more than short distances can be very difficult and painful. Before folks jump in to say I’m crazy and should have the surgery as soon as possible and cancel the trip I’ve lived with this before for a couple months at a time since this is the 4th herniation within a year and a half and I’ve already had 3 surgeries. I have been planning this for a year and a half and we are surprising a 7 and 8 year old and I’m also going to get to see my son and his fiancée who relocated to Gainesville this year so there is no way I’m cancelling unless the surgeon tells me that I have to for reasons I don’t yet know. Enough background, on to my questions!

Has anyone ever rented a wheelchair or scooter from a company outside Disney and had them waiting at the hotel for them? If so can you share the good and bad? If it worked well I’d really appreciate the company name or website. Anyone remember approx costs? How easy is it to use a scooter? I don’t want to run over anyone but DH thinks it would allow me to be more independent. Does a scooter last all day after being charged overnight? We are staying at BCV so one of the main reasons I was thinking of having it waiting for me at the hotel is because it’s a bit of a walk from there to the Int’l Gateway. Also we are going offsite to Sea World one day and if I get a wheelchair we could put it in the back of the taxi van so that I could have it there.

Anyone ever rented from an outside company and had it go missing at the park? I would assume that if you rent from Disney and that happens you just inform them and get a new one like a stroller?

I can walk short distances so my plan is to have the chair for the longer hauls and then park it in the stroller parking areas and be able to walk around the “lands” and wait in line with the rest of our group. Any ideas or answers are really appreciated.

Thanks,
Cathy

You and I are in a similar boat--herniated disk at the L4 for me, and I will be renting for our trip that starts on Friday and am very apprehensive about it. We are at BLT, so I won't have to deal with many busses, and we will have a car to get to AKL and DHS.

I am still undecided as to which model to get, the lite, the heavier one, 3 wheel or 4 wheel. I guess if I chose the wrong thing, they might bring me another if I called.

Good luck with your trip and most of all with your back, I feel your pain, truly, except mine is in my left leg.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

While staying at OKW my inlaws came to stay with us for a few days. On the advise of the CM's at the front desk we used Apple. They were offsite at the time. They dropped it off at the hospitality house. The desk called me when it arrived. I retrieved it and brought it back to our rooms so it was there for father in-laws arrival. When they left we called apple. Returned it to the Hospitality House at OKW and they picked it up there. Really was that simple.