Should I be prepared for difficult wheelchair pushing?

[tmfranlk]

I have convinced my grandma (73) to go to Disney with us - me (26), mom, sis (6), cousin (6) - in December. This will be her first trip ever!!!

Part of the convincing was a promise that I would push her in a wheelchair.

She doesn't use a wheelchair normally, but will at WDW because extensive walking/standing cause back and hip problems. I will be doing most of the pushing because I don't want to wear my mom and her heart out either (not that it should be a problem).

The only wheel chair I've pushed was a 6yo girl and that was rough on the steep hills of the St. Louis zoo.

Can anyone offer me any advice on what to expect? Also, any advice period about travelling with a wheelchair would be great since none of us have any experience. We are going at a slow period so I'm hoping to get a wheelchair at the resort (can I call ahead for this?).

Thanks for your help!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm not at my home computer, so I don't have all my little notes available. You can usually get a wheelchair from your resort, but you get what they have - for example, if you need a regular size, they might have only an extra wide one or vice versa. A lot of people prefer to just rent one from the outside companies for that reason, plus you can also rent a companion chair - a wheelchair with small wheels, which is more portable if you will have a car.
You might want to also think about an ecv. It's more expensive ans some people are a little apprehensive about driving one, but it would mean no pushing for anyone.

 

[teri]

You don't mention your grandmother's size, but nevertheless... I recommend that you get some good bike or golf gloves and wear them while pushing a wheelchair. There are many steep inclines, rough walking surfaces and other obstacles that make it hard on your hands when you are pushing a wheelchair. When I took elderly relatives and pushed wheelchairs a few years ago, I had blisters on my hands after half a day. And please remember, children should not be pushing wheelchairs without immediate adult supervision, within reach... they can lose control very easily, somebody could get hurt, especially on inclines.

There are some good tips about wheelchair use on the Disabilities FAQ . You will also find a page with rental information there. I agree with Sue, you should consider renting an ECV (or scooter) instead of a wheelchair - it will make life a bit easier in the parks and at the resort.

 

[tmfranlk]

Thanks for the advice, teri. She isn't very big, about 5'2" 130lbs and I'm definitely taller and larger than that.

I had considered the ecv, but she has essential tremors, which causes her hands to shake. I'm afraid that she won't be comfortable driving the scooter.

 

[SueM in MN]

teri has lots of good advice on the FACS.

The tremor might make it harder for her to drive an ecv, depending on how severe it is. You might want to have her try driving an ecv at a local store. Places like Target and many large grocery stores often have them for their guests to use. The ones in the stores are harder to drive in general than the ones you would rent in Florida - they usually are laonger too because they often have a cart attached. At least it would give you and her an idea of what driving one might be like.

If you think of any other questions, just ask.

 

[MKingdom]

In September, we stayed at the WL and they lent us a wheelchair for free. This was an older chair and the wheels weren't in great shape, which made it harder to push. After a few days we swapped it for a newer chair and that made all the difference.

The only park where we had difficulty with the wheelchair was AK; there are too many hills!

 

[SueM in MN]

None of the hills/ramps are that bad that I would say they are impassible, but it's nice to know about them so you can be prepared. Besides AK, the hills are at:
MK
- steep ramp to on/off the monorail
- steep ramp to get on/off the train at Main Street
- steep ramp up to the castle to get from Main Street into Fantasyland
- street that leads from Fantasyland (near Peter Pan) to Liberty Square (by Haunted Mansion)
- Frontierland in front of Splash Mountain

Epcot
- the walkway up to Wonders of Life and the Land
- the WS walkway between the United Kingdom and France

Studio
- the ramp area to avoid the steps by Indiana Jones
- the area in front of the Commissary that leads towards Star Tours

 

[Deb & Bill]

We took my mother who is 82 with us at Easter. We borrowed a chair from OKW where we stayed. We knew it would be difficult for her to walk the long distances. My dear husband pushed her chair all over WDW. He was a bit tired at times and we all helped, but for the most part he did it.

 

[scroot]

If you end up pushing a chair here are a couple of tips. You need good shoes that will support your feet and give you good traction if you need to go up a hill (or down, which can be harder on your body). The ramps getting on and off of the friendship boats can be an adventure. Pushing a wheelchair, you will discover how often others move without thinking. People will walk backwards right into a moving wheelchair, or view it as an obstacle to be jumped over. These things make it necessary to focus more on the people in the park than the surroundings. Smile alot and travel with some advil

 

[doombuggy]

I'm in the same boat. Want to take my grama (currently, aged 77) down to WDW next May, now that my grampa passed away. She has Parkinson's, and had a hip replaced last Sept., so she's not as spry as she once was. I was going to look into the ECV, but I became a little concerned reading these posts. She has tremmers in her right hand sometimes - can I help her drive the ECV by walking next to her. I have absolutely no idea how these things work. I may end up wearing myself out with the wheelchair! Thanks for your help!

 

[RobinMarie]

I wanted to add a few hills, as they stand out in my mind.

MK:

BTMR - if you are going on this ride, there was a different way to do things when I was there in May. I pushed the chair up the hill towards the exit (as directed to by a CM) and was told since the wait was 40 minutes, I would have to return in 40 minutes. It was so hot and 40 minutes later I was going up the hill again! The next time we rode I ran up the hill myself and got the card rather than push her all the way up the hill again!

Studios:

Backlot Tour - I waited on an incline for this ride. We were in the line marked handicapped but many people were in front of us so I had to have the w/c leaning on me during the wait on the incline. (no, the brakes didn't work well enough for THIS incline).

And maybe I'm just not what I used to be but: the walk to Fantasmic at the end of the day usually tuckers me out but with pushing a wheelchair I was REALLY tired.

Hope this helps!

 

[indigo]

In Oct 2000 my GF at the time got sick on the first day of the 12 day trip. I ended up pushing her in a wheelchair the rest of the time. Many of the hills provide quite a work out in the heat.

I would look into renting one of those motorized chairs if you're going to be there for more than a few days.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would look into renting one of those motorized chairs if you're going to be there for more than a few days.

Good idea.
They are called ECVs or "scooters." You can get them from the parks (limited number available) or from one of the outside rental companies:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

I know some people have taken the phone numbers along with them, so they can call and arrange a rental if they decide they need it. Most of them will deliver and pick up at your hotel, have a 3 day minimum for rental and will not rent for use by someone younger than 18. (If it's different, I'm sure someone will correct me).

 

[pwoodham]

We were in the exact same boat in 2000 - we took my mother, who was 87, and pushed her in a wheelchair all over. One other item I haven't seen mentioned is a cushion for the chair. It got to be pretty hard sitting after 8 or so hours, and her bottom got sore!! After we got home, we purchased one at a local medical supply place, but they may have them other places. Since my mom didn't normally spend ALL her time in the wheelchair, this was something we didn't know in advance. BTW, mom took her own wheelchair, something you might want to consider. It's so much easier to not have to wait for someone at the airplane door, etc. if your grandma needs it for places other than just the park.
As has been suggested, I would have preferred mom get a scooter, but she would not. She refused to even try one out. We still had a great time, and found most of the pushing to be not bad at all.

 

[SueM in MN]

Good point about the seat cushion. The wheelchairs that you can rent generally have a sling type seat - similar to a director's chair. I've seen people with hotel pillows on their seats; obviously they got a sore "sitter" and used what they had available to make the wheelchair seat more cushioned. That's another reason it's a good idea to get up and move around a little bit at least once an hour. My DD has a pressure reducing gel seat cushion on her wheelchair, but she still needs to move her bottom to change the pressure point.

 

[indigo]

We found that a pool or room towel worked as a cushion in a pinch.

 

[JudithM]

Another towel can be used to cover the black/dark colored seats on an ECV/wheelchair especially in the hot sun. Also, you won't stick to the seat .