Resort Wheelchairs?

[cbg1027]

I remember reading somewhere that the resorts will loan you a wheelchair for the duration of your stay and that you are allowed to take them to the parks. Can anyone confirm this?

If this is true, do the wheelchairs fold up? I think I could fit one in the trunk of my car if they do.

I'm going with my 82 year old grandmother and since we will have our own car, we prefer to drive most places. If the wheelchairs don't fold up, then I think we will pay to rent one at the park instead of waiting on buses and then having to wait on loading a non-folding wheelchair.

It just would be nice to get a free wheelchair for the whole stay instead of having to go through the wheelchair rental and return every day!

 

[Piper]

The resort may or may not have a wheelchair available. They are there for guests with emergencies. They are also in poor shape and terribly uncomfortable (as are the park wheelchairs.) Your best bet is to rent one from one of the offsite companies listed in the FAQs listed at the top of this thread. That way you can get one that is the right size for your grandmother. You will also have it available when you need it. Renting offsite is both cheaper and more comfortable than renting at the parks!

 

[Chickenlady]

I agree with the PP. When our flight home was delayed by a day (yippee!), we used one at the resort. I had already returned my rented scooter. The wheelchair was on its last legs and was horrible to sit in. My DH did not like trying to push me around for even a 1/2 day at the parks. I would definitely rent one from an off site company. I'm pretty sure they fold to put in a car.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just seconding what Piper wrote.
The resorts do have wheelchairs available, but they can't be reserved ahead of time and there is no guarantee they will have one or what kind of condition it will be in. Some people in the past have found all that was available was extra wide when they needed regular or whatever. They really are more meant, like Piper mentions, for sudden things that come up when someone ugh not have the option to bring one or rent one from an offsite place.

 

[daisyduck123]

We rented an offsite one for DD16 in January and it worked out quite well for us.

* On a side note, in 2007, when DH broke his big toe on our arrival day, the cm at SSR told us there are resort wheelchairs for guests to use for length of stay, but they are really only for RESORT use...not park use, but that they can't make the guests NOT take them to the parks.

We rented an offsite ECV then, and that worked out great.

 

[POOHsie]

I agree with all the comments. The resort wheelchairs are not supposed to be used for the parks as a freebie perk. I don't believe they fold, either. They are for resort use, for a sudden unexpected need, like a guest getting dizzy or something. Plus, they are like those horrible carts at the grocery stores, the ones with a wiggly wheel or a horrible screech, or wheels so rusted they are hard to push. You really don't want to use one of them.

Rent a wheelchair off-site and you can keep it for your whole trip. No daily turn-in required. You'll get one with proper maintenance done, a clean seat and a proper fit. They really don't cost that much.

 

[dclfun]

I agree with what everyone else has said. The w/c's do fold up but they are very heavy and might not fold easily. I'm thinking that if you plan to drive and put the chair in the trunk, you'll do better with a lightweight folding chair in the proper size. By the time you've lifted one of those behemoths into your car you'll be exhausted and might have hurt yourself/pulled a muscle. ---Kathy

 

[cbg1027]

Thanks for the info guys.

So any suggestions for wheelchair rental companies?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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, including Post #2 where people rent wheelchairs and ECVs.

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

 

[gwb]

Last Sept DW had knee scope so we decided to see about getting wheelchairs from WL and they were very helpful. BUT!!!! all the wheelchairs were in horrible shape at best.!!!
There are a number of companies that rent chairs at a good price and will deliver them to you at the lobby of your resort.
If you can afford it check out renting an ECV instead; it will be a lot easier on you and provides more comfort and independence for the rider. The companies also deliver and pick up free of charge.