SN stroller/wc... take our own or rent?

[brown1442]

I have a 4 year old son with autism, a neuromuscual disorder, and low tone. He has a SN stroller/wheelchair because he can't walk far at all (as in couldn't make it through a short trip at the grocery store). We just recently got it for him since he just outgrew traditional baby strollers. We are debeting whether we should bring his chair with us or rent something down there? It was a very expensive piece of equipment (>$3K) and I hate to think of what the airline might do to it... or of it getting lost/stollen at the parks. But I also know it would probably be more comfy for my son to have his own chair then another.

Any advice??

 

[SueM in MN]

Check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board (or you can use the link in my signature to get there).

Post #2 of that thread has information about renting wheelchairs, ECVs and special needs strollers. You may be able to find a stroller the same as his to rent.

Post #6 of that thread has information about Guest Assistance Cards, where you can find out about using a stroller as a wheelchair. When doing this, you can bring the stroller with you into all shows for him to sit in during the show. You will also be able to bring it with in lines and keep him in it until boarding. It will be waiting for you when you get off the attraction.
During the time he is out of it, it will be sitting at the exit, which is a lot safer than just being parked in the stroller parking area. I can tell you from experience that most people getting off attractions are not seeing things like strollers when they get off. Thet are mostly focused on getting off and getting to the next attraction. I was really worried the first few times we left DD's >$8000 wheelchair, but soon saw that it was really not going to come to any harm.

Also check out the post on the FAQs thread about air travel. If your child can't walk for a short shopping trip, you will have trouble in the airport. You can gate check the stroller so that it is put in the baggage compartment last and taken out first. This is not a guarentee it won't be damaged, but it is much better than sending it throught with all the baggage. Also, in that thread, there is information about carrying a wheelchair onboard the plane. If your stroller meets the size and the plane has a closet, your stroller could be placed there. Depending on the size, it may even fit in the overhead baggage compartments.

 

[brown1442]

Thank you so much for the links! Esp the info about the wcs being placed at the exits... that makes me feel much better!! I am still worried about the airlines though. Do you know how big the wc closets are on airplanes or does it vary between airlines? Ds's chair is 24.8in x 15in x 31.9in when folded... so definitely not tiny but not huge either. It definitely wouldn't fit in the overhead compartments... not that anyone would likely be able to lift it up there anyway!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Not all airplanes have closets, but you will be able to get more information about the plane scheduled for your flight by calling the airline.
The closets/stowage areas are usually better suited for 'basic' foldable wheelchairs that will fold and fit into a fairly narrow space. The new guidelines add a size requirement that was not in previously - providing "a space of 13 inches by 36 inches by 42 inches without having to remove the wheels or otherwise disassemble it."
The disABILITIES FAQs thread has more information in post #15.

The most important things to do for your stroller before handing it off to the airline are to remove anthing you can that were added to it (removable cup holders, etc). You want to fold it up as small as possible and make sure it doesn't unfold during handling. You can do that with straps or ropes tied around it or may have some built in clips for securing. You want to make sure it can still be easily carried by the baggage people.
Gate checking doesn't totally eliminate the possibility of damage, but does decrease it a lot because your stroller will be hand carried rather than going on the baggage conveyor belts and caroussel.

 

[christymarie]

I have not rented strollers while in Orlando but we have a Maclaren Major special needs stroller we have used in the past and we are in the process of getting a Zippy chair for when we go next year for my son with moderate/severe classic autism. What brand of stroller/wheelchair do you have? If it's a Kimba or Pixie, it may look more stroller like and you may still need to get a stroller as a wheelchair sticker for the chair.

We found having our own very helpful for transporting through airports or eating at various locations en route to Disney. You can definitely rent down there but if you have customized your stroller/wheelchair I say keep the child in what he knows and is comfortable in.

Just my 2cents, feel free to IM me.

 

[brown1442]

I checked our airlines website and they do have a closet that fits one chair... but it doesn't say what size so I will have to call. I am just so worried about them damaging the chair in transit!!

We got a Thomashilfen Swifty... so it definitely does look more like a stroller then a wc so I will ask about that "stroller as a wheelchair" sticker just to clear up any confusion. We needed to get that one because they use a special fabric that is extra breathable and prevents overheating... Matthew has major issues with heat intolerance and autonomic dysfunction. It does have a bunch of add-ons (like laterals, 4 pt hip belt, butterfly harness, etc) that make it more medical looking but people might not notice those at first glance esp if they didn't know what they were looking for.

My son has moderate to severe classic autism as well. I'd love to hear any tips or experiences you'd love to share!! It's always helpful to hear from other moms I think!!

 

[christymarie]

I loved the Swifty but since DS is 6 it didn't give enough growing room for the insurance company.

I would definitely bring the Swifty. It would only help in going through the airport. Are you staying onsite? Are you going to rent a car? We have done both and made a point of getting the Zippy transportation equipped. We were not able to have DS stay in his Maclaren stroller when riding Disney Buses so we had to collapse it and carry it on. After that we decided that driving our own car or renting was our best option. With the Zippy being transportation equipped we are much more comfortable with doing Disney Buses.

 

[SueM in MN]

We were not able to have DS stay in his Maclaren stroller when riding Disney Buses so we had to collapse it and carry it on. After that we decided that driving our own car or renting was our best option. With the Zippy being transportation equipped we are much more comfortable with doing Disney Buses.

I just wanted to explain why the stroller needs to folded on the buses.

Buses have belts and tie down hooks attached to the floor for attaching mobility devices securely to the bus so that the device won't move around during the bus ride.

Some special needs strollers have been equipped for transportation. This means they were designed with places to attach the hooks without damaging the stroller. They also usually have seatbelts that could hold the rider in place during an accident.

Some bus drivers will attach special needs strollers with the tiedown straps, but that is not safe to do in case of an accident and because the stroller is not designed to be tied down, the frame could be bent even just by putting the straps on and tightening them.

 

[brown1442]

My son's Swifty does have bus tie downs on it... we got that so that school could use his chair for transporation if they need it (still not certain if that will be necessary... he won't go for another year). I hadn't even considered using that on the Disney buses. He could sit on the bus seats... although he might not be willing to STAY!! Is one option safer? We've never done the bus thing before so I am new to that!!

Matthew is 4 and pretty small so he's got a fair about of growing room in his Swifty. We were originally going to get Jazz... even went as far as ordering it and trying it out... but it was too heavy (and big and bulky) for me to lift in and out of the car so it just didn't work for us. We were able to adapt the Swifty to work for him and its lighter for me to lift so it worked well for us. We are hoping it will last us 3-4 years... plus we figured by the time he's 8 a stroller wouldn't exactly be the most age appropriate thing for him and we'd need to look at something else if he still needs something at that age.

 

[christymarie]

I just wanted to explain why the stroller needs to folded on the buses.

Buses have belts and tie down hooks attached to the floor for attaching mobility devices securely to the bus so that the device won't move around during the bus ride.

Some special needs strollers have been equipped for transportation. This means they were designed with places to attach the hooks without damaging the stroller. They also usually have seatbelts that could hold the rider in place during an accident.

Some bus drivers will attach special needs strollers with the tiedown straps, but that is not safe to do in case of an accident and because the stroller is not designed to be tied down, the frame could be bent even just by putting the straps on and tightening them.

Sorry, Sue, I didn't mean to not make that clear. The reason you mentioned above is one of the reasons we got his new chair transportation equipped. It was not a hassle carrying on the Maclaren but this Zippy is way heavier than the Maclaren and would not fold down as nicely. I'm looking forward to being able to use the Disney buses again now that we have this feature.

 

[christymarie]

Brown1442, I sent you a private message explaining some of the things that help us when we go to WDW. Feel free to ask any other questions you have.

 

[mykidsintow]

We just picked up my daughters new zippy 2 today. I am pretty bummed at its lack of folding. I know, completely off topic. She wouldn't go for the special needs strollers they look like a "baby stroller". She is so stubborn. Anyway the Zippie 2 is just heavier and not as foldable as I had expected.

We can also give tips if you need traveling with wheelchair to disney.... done it many many times. Always use the bus, always use lifts/ramps and tiedowns. We did it once with an old kidkart and a LOT of times with her power chair.

We just returned last week and the airline was awesome with her power chair. I wouldn't hesitate to take it again. Specify its not a kiddie stroller and make it clear its expensive to replace. They have to fix it if they break it, or replace it. I was laughing with the rep today and was thankful Delta was awesome with my daughters chair. He said hands down the most requests they get is southwest. If I ever want he equipment broken he said we just need to fly southwest.

 

[brown1442]

Yikes... I am glad we aren't flying Southwest this time (that is what we flew last time)!! Although, I am not sure AirTran will be any better. EEK!

I appreciate any advice you want to share!!