Resort wheelchair questions/observations from our trip last week

[luvmarypoppins]

Dh and I went to Disney Dec. 5-12.

Background - I need a wheelchair sometimes. I do have one at home but its my grandmas and I dont want it getting stolen at Disney. I need it because of my frozen L shoulder from cancer and just general tiredness from the stuff associated with it. Sometimes I use it like a walker.

Dec. 5th - We checked into Polynesian and inquired about the resort wheelchair. There was one even sitting out front by the valet. CM asked us if the travel agent "promised" we could have one. Why couldnt I rent one from an outside agency. I told them we were here in May and never had this problem or questions. DH just signed a form and they gave it to us. So they do get us a wheelchair from the back. I know its the small size which my big butt wont fit into I use it like a walker. Fine with me. I can sit in it if needed.
Cm said - its only to be used at the resort etc. We have never been told that by any other cm. (We took it to the parks, no problem)

Dec. 7-12th. Check into Yacht Club. Ask for the wheelchair. They bring a regular one. Its much bigger and fits fine.However it is broken. DH is trying to fix it in the lobby with the YC maintenance tools. They bring another, broken too. DH tries to interchange parts, doesnt work. DH also tells them the one wheelchair is very unsafe and should not be used for ANY guest. Finally cm goes and gets us a wheelchair from the beach club. I should also add that here they did not push the issue of renting my own wheelchair but casually mentioned it after the 2 broken wheelchairs etc.

It was also mentioned that I could rent a wheelchair in the parks. I have done that in the past but told them I am just too weak to walk to the entrances etc. if there is no complimentary wheelchair available and YES that has happened in the past too.Was not fun. DH had to go waste time, go to AK park, plead and finally bring me one etc.

With these experiences I am just wondering if Disney should re think their resort wheelchair policy/inventory etc.

Anyone else have anything similar happen lately?

 

[cm8]

Dh and I went to Disney Dec. 5-12.

Background - I need a wheelchair sometimes. I do have one at home but its my grandmas and I dont want it getting stolen at Disney. I need it because of my frozen L shoulder from cancer and just general tiredness from the stuff associated with it. Sometimes I use it like a walker.

Dec. 5th - We checked into Polynesian and inquired about the resort wheelchair. There was one even sitting out front by the valet. CM asked us if the travel agent "promised" we could have one. Why couldnt I rent one from an outside agency. I told them we were here in May and never had this problem or questions. DH just signed a form and they gave it to us. So they do get us a wheelchair from the back. I know its the small size which my big butt wont fit into I use it like a walker. Fine with me. I can sit in it if needed.
Cm said - its only to be used at the resort etc. We have never been told that by any other cm. (We took it to the parks, no problem)

Dec. 7-12th. Check into Yacht Club. Ask for the wheelchair. They bring a regular one. Its much bigger and fits fine.However it is broken. DH is trying to fix it in the lobby with the YC maintenance tools. They bring another, broken too. DH tries to interchange parts, doesnt work. DH also tells them the one wheelchair is very unsafe and should not be used for ANY guest. Finally cm goes and gets us a wheelchair from the beach club. I should also add that here they did not push the issue of renting my own wheelchair but casually mentioned it after the 2 broken wheelchairs etc.

It was also mentioned that I could rent a wheelchair in the parks. I have done that in the past but told them I am just too weak to walk to the entrances etc. if there is no complimentary wheelchair available and YES that has happened in the past too.Was not fun. DH had to go waste time, go to AK park, plead and finally bring me one etc.

With these experiences I am just wondering if Disney should re think their resort wheelchair policy/inventory etc.

Anyone else have anything similar happen lately?

No, but I can see that they may just stop "providing" them as a courtesy. I would have just rented my own wheel chair. I know when we stayed at the GF the wheelchairs were for resort use only and it said so on the slip of paper you had to sign for it.

 

[livndisney]

Dh and I went to Disney Dec. 5-12.

Background - I need a wheelchair sometimes. I do have one at home but its my grandmas and I dont want it getting stolen at Disney. I need it because of my frozen L shoulder from cancer and just general tiredness from the stuff associated with it. Sometimes I use it like a walker.

Dec. 5th - We checked into Polynesian and inquired about the resort wheelchair. There was one even sitting out front by the valet. CM asked us if the travel agent "promised" we could have one. Why couldnt I rent one from an outside agency. I told them we were here in May and never had this problem or questions. DH just signed a form and they gave it to us. So they do get us a wheelchair from the back. I know its the small size which my big butt wont fit into I use it like a walker. Fine with me. I can sit in it if needed.
Cm said - its only to be used at the resort etc. We have never been told that by any other cm. (We took it to the parks, no problem)

Dec. 7-12th. Check into Yacht Club. Ask for the wheelchair. They bring a regular one. Its much bigger and fits fine.However it is broken. DH is trying to fix it in the lobby with the YC maintenance tools. They bring another, broken too. DH tries to interchange parts, doesnt work. DH also tells them the one wheelchair is very unsafe and should not be used for ANY guest. Finally cm goes and gets us a wheelchair from the beach club. I should also add that here they did not push the issue of renting my own wheelchair but casually mentioned it after the 2 broken wheelchairs etc.

It was also mentioned that I could rent a wheelchair in the parks. I have done that in the past but told them I am just too weak to walk to the entrances etc. if there is no complimentary wheelchair available and YES that has happened in the past too.Was not fun. DH had to go waste time, go to AK park, plead and finally bring me one etc.

With these experiences I am just wondering if Disney should re think their resort wheelchair policy/inventory etc.

Anyone else have anything similar happen lately?

I know for a long time (and they may still) they had painted right on the chair for use at "XXX Resort". I think the intent was for a limited number of chairs to be available for use at the various resorts. If you needed a chair at a park they have them to rent. You can also rent from an outside company.

 

[KPeveler]

My understanding is that the resort wheelchairs are officially for resort use only. If you require one full time, the policy is that you should rent or bring your own. I know that resorts let people borrow them and take them to the parks, but I think it is technically against the rules.

If you do require a wheelchair, you really do need to rent one off-site. There is no guarantee that the resorts will have one, will let you take it to the parks (again, I believe this is policy), or that it will fit right or work properly.

 

[SueM in MN]

The observations you wrote about are new to you, but some other people have reported the same things for the past 10 years. That is why, on this board we have recommended for a long time renting from an off site place for anyone who thinks they will have trouble walking around the resort or actually getting to a park where they can rent one.

The last time I looked at the specific disabilities park map and the Disney website regarding resort wheelchairs, it indicated wheelchairs were available for rent. From what I understand, this means they will rent one from a local rental place for the guest. I agree with the other posters that the original intent of those resort loan wheelchairs was to have one available for guests who become injured during their trip or didn't think ahead they would need one, but figured out they need one after arriving. This worked fine before the Internet because those groups if people were the only ones who knew the wheelchairs existed. Once planning books and Internet boards had people reporting they got one loaned, word got around.

I don't think the intent was ever to provide wheelchairs for anyone who asked for one. They did provide one many times when asked as a guest service.WDW has also always said the resort wheelchairs can't be reserved ahead of time. I think that is where the question they asked you about whether you were promised one by a travel agent came from.
They probably would want to honor the promise made by a travel agent, for customer relations with the travel agency and with you. I also would not be surprised if I heard that WDW contacted travel agents who had promised a wheelchair to let them know that is not an offered service.

So, the bottom line is, what you experienced is not new and guests who know ahead of time that they will need a wheelchair should rent from an off site company.

 

[Bete]

are meant for a sudden, unpredicted accident that occurs while you are there. For example, someone falls in the lobby (trips) of the resort and now has a sprained or broken ankle, etc.

Even with unexpected accidents the resort doesn't expect you to use it for your entire stay. It's suppose to be a temporary aid; until, you can rent your own.

I found out about this through personal experience there once. Disney has been very passive and more accomodating in breaking the rules in the past about things like this and they have let it go before, but it's really not right to expect this to be the norm. Consider yourself lucky from your past experiences getting one. In my one experience I was even told the wheelchairs are not the best kept up and therefore I should get a rental one.

You can get a transport travel wheelchair sometimes for a $100. We did it for my mom and it's been wonderful for us when we all travel together. The airlines cannot charge you a luggage fee either for it.

 

[pampam]

are meant for a sudden, unpredicted accident that occurs while you are there. For example, someone falls in the lobby (trips) of the resort and now has a sprained or broken ankle, etc.

Even with unexpected accidents the resort doesn't expect you to use it for your entire stay. It's suppose to be a temporary aid; until, you can rent your own.

I found out about this through personal experience there once. Disney has been very passive and more accomodating in breaking the rules in the past about things like this and they have let it go before, but it's really not right to expect this to be the norm. Consider yourself lucky from your past experiences getting one. In my one experience I was even told the wheelchairs are not the best kept up and therefore I should get a rental one.

You can get a transport travel wheelchair sometimes for a $100. We did it for my mom and it's been wonderful for us when we all travel together. The airlines cannot charge you a luggage fee either for it.

I see people using transport chairs in the parks and I always wonder how they manage. Regular WCs have large wheels at the back, which makes it easier to push. Transport chairs I believe are intended to be used to transfer people to cars, beds etc. and are not designed for use like a regular chair.

On a side note, twice we had a problem with DDs wc (flat tires) and the front desk was able to accomodate us. We were most appreciative. It really would have been a hardship if they didn't have any chairs to loan us.

 

[Bete]

I see people using transport chairs in the parks and I always wonder how they manage. Regular WCs have large wheels at the back, which makes it easier to push. Transport chairs I believe are intended to be used to transfer people to cars, beds etc. and are not designed for use like a regular chair.

On a side note, twice we had a problem with DDs wc (flat tires) and the front desk was able to accomodate us. We were most appreciative. It really would have been a hardship if they didn't have any chairs to loan us.

Most travel, portable wheelchairs I know of now have the tires that don't go flat. Our wheelchair goes 15 pounds compared to a normal one that goes 30 pounds or more. I think this helps the mobility of the wheelchair to be lightweight. Our wheelchair includes a safety belt; so, I'm not concerned of an issue of my passenger falling out; because, I hit a bump or something. There are foot levers on the bottom that aid with moving the wheelchair if you have an issue moving it somehow over a small lip of the curb or whatever. Obviously, by your own admission you have seen these used at the parks. We go usually for two weeks at a time and we average 6 to 10 hours a day at the parks and we never had an issue with a portable, travel wheelchair. Our wheelchair cost us $130, 2 years ago. Our back wheels are larger than our front wheels. This wheelchair is rated for 300 pounds, but our occupant is no where near that weight. I will say we do some checks on the travel wheelchair before we leave. If there are any screws loose, etc. it gets taken care of before we go. I check for worn tires that have lost their threads, too.

I can see if something unforeseen happened in our travel wheelchair on the go that I may need a resort wheelchair for a day. Fortunately, in about 10 trips (besides going to Disney) we have had no issues with the travel wheelchair.

As long as, the resort continues to give their loaner wheelchairs to you then I suppose I would be grateful. I'm just not suprised by the original posters' comments on how the resort is suggesting to get your own.

 

[pampam]

Yes, DD's new wc doesn't have pnumatic tires like her old one. It seems with her old one, with the differences in temperature the wc would get soft tires in the front. Don't miss that at all.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes, DD's new wc doesn't have pnumatic tires like her old one. It seems with her old one, with the differences in temperature the wc would get soft tires in the front. Don't miss that at all.

My DD had one wheelchair with pneumatic tires. We were talked into them because they were supposed to be a smoother ride, but they were a total pain.
The back tires were the same size as bike tires, so when she had a flat and needed a new tire tube, we were able to get one from a bike shop for about 1/4 of what it would cost from the wheelchair company.
The front casters were another story. They got flat and needed more air frequently, they were hard to fill up with air. One of them needed a new insert and it was REALLY expensive. Because of the size, we had no options but to get it from the wheelchair company.

Since then, she has had semipneumatic tires on the back - they are like regular air filled tires, but are permanently filled with foam. Her front casters are solid and we have had no problems with them.
I would recommend that combination to anyone looking at a wheelchair.

I see people using transport chairs in the parks and I always wonder how they manage. Regular WCs have large wheels at the back, which makes it easier to push. Transport chairs I believe are intended to be used to transfer people to cars, beds etc. and are not designed for use like a regular chair.

On a side note, twice we had a problem with DDs wc (flat tires) and the front desk was able to accomodate us. We were most appreciative. It really would have been a hardship if they didn't have any chairs to loan us.

Many people use transport chairs for things like trips to the mall, etc. because they can usually be fit into a car trunk more easily than a wheelchair with large tires.
They are meant to transport someone who will be pushed since they have no large wheels that the person sitting in it can use. They are a good choice for someone who doesn't have the strength to propel their own chair.
They are also a good choice to use for someone that you don't want to propel their own chair - for example, someone with Alzheimers or autism.

Travel chairs are usually pretty low in weight compared to a standard wheelchair and most people find they are pretty easy to push.

 

[lovetoscrap]

You would probably also find that an offsite rental wheelchair would be in much better shape, better maintained and more comfortable. As you experienced, the chairs at the resorts, and even at the parks, are really just beat to heck with very little maintenance done on them. They really are just a temporary solution. If you need one for your entire trip, either for sitting or pushing, the offsite rentals are the best option.

 

[dclfun]

I also think the resorts don't want any liability issues with the chairs they issue for temporary use. Most really are beat up and are at the resorts because they're no longer good enough to be used as a paid rental option. Word gets out on message boards that they are available and the intent is misconstrued and people then have unrealistic expectations. I can only imagine if everyone who might possibly need a w/c had that expectation and asked for one when they checked in. I agree with everyone that either purchasing an inexpensive w/c or transport chair that fits the guest before leaving home or renting one that's in good condition and is comfortable is a much better option. I can only imagine the discomfort of riding in a chair with a saggy seat or back, loose leg rests, locks that don't work,etc.---Kathy