Some Advice For A First-Time Disabled Disney Visitor

[Astingel2016]

Hello all! Planning a trip for my family for December. I'm disabled due to a left leg amputation in Feb 2022. I'm hoping to rent a powerchair instead of a scooter due to balance issues (leaning forward all day to reach the controls isn't something I can do!). I haven't had any luck yet due to my size. Does anyone know where I could rent a powerchair with a weight limit of up to 500?

Also, does anyone know the width of the ramps on the Disney World buses? I've seen a few videos and the ramp does not look wide enough (I've had this problem before with transportation and it was a nightmare). I just want to make sure that in the event I have to use my personal wheelchair, the ramp will be wide enough. Also, I've seen the doors of the Skyliner and they don't look like they open wide enough either. I saw a video of a woman pushing someone in a wheelchair onto the Skyliner. She was barely able to get the wheelchair in the door!

Obviously this will be my first trip to Disney World and I want to make sure things are set up so I can enjoy the parks as much as possible and my family can as well without having to push me everywhere. I'm also looking into motorized wheelchair options (not scooter or powerchair). Everything is an option at this point, except for the scooter. I already know I won't be able to use the scooter. Any further suggestions would be great.

 

[jo-jo]

I don’t know any answers for you, but I wonder if one of the rental evc companies might be able to give some advice.

 

[Tiggerish]

Try googling "Cloud of Goods - Orlando". Their website lists a bariatric chair as a possibility.

 

[Astingel2016]

Try googling "Cloud of Goods - Orlando". Their website lists a bariatric chair as a possibility.

Already checked with them and while they have it listed for the Orlando location, it's not actually available.

 

[Tiggerish]

Already checked with them and while they have it listed for the Orlando location, it's not actually available

That is so disheartening. Being a full time power chair user is hard enough but trying to travel with one is such a struggle.

 

[SteveMouse]

Scooterbug at least used to rent power wheelchairs and may have had some bariatric chairs. They are the only entity that can leave/pickup devices at Bell Services at Disney hotels.

Scootaround may also have bariatric chairs available for rent. They advertise having chairs that have a 450 pound capacity.

Disney’s property rules for Orlando require that mobility devices be no wider than 36 inches nor longer than 52 inches. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

The BraunAbility ramps for buses and other vehicles are standardized at 32 or 34 inches in width and support 1,000 pounds. I don’t know what specific products Disney uses.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hello all! Planning a trip for my family for December. I'm disabled due to a left leg amputation in Feb 2022. I'm hoping to rent a powerchair instead of a scooter due to balance issues (leaning forward all day to reach the controls isn't something I can do!). I haven't had any luck yet due to my size. Does anyone know where I could rent a powerchair with a weight limit of up to 500?

Also, does anyone know the width of the ramps on the Disney World buses? I've seen a few videos and the ramp does not look wide enough (I've had this problem before with transportation and it was a nightmare). I just want to make sure that in the event I have to use my personal wheelchair, the ramp will be wide enough. Also, I've seen the doors of the Skyliner and they don't look like they open wide enough either. I saw a video of a woman pushing someone in a wheelchair onto the Skyliner. She was barely able to get the wheelchair in the door!

Obviously this will be my first trip to Disney World and I want to make sure things are set up so I can enjoy the parks as much as possible and my family can as well without having to push me everywhere. I'm also looking into motorized wheelchair options (not scooter or powerchair). Everything is an option at this point, except for the scooter. I already know I won't be able to use the scooter. Any further suggestions would be great.

What model power wheelchair do you have?
We have not brought our daughter's Permobil F5 VS power chair to Disney World (too many concerns about it breaking on an airplane). It looks huge, but is 30 inches wide. I have seen guests with the same wheelchair at Disney World though.

The Skyway has signs that say wheelchairs and ECVs must be no larger than 48 inches long and 30 inches wide. That size will fit in the Skyliner, but it will be a tight fit thru the door. I haven't measured the ramp on the buses, but based on the size compared to our wheelchair accessible van, I'm guessing they are at least 34 inches wide.

 

[aleria24]

I typically use a Maxima scooter at Disney, mostly for the increased battery capacity. It looks big compared to the standard scooters, and is listed as 25.5" wide. I have never had an issue with bus ramps or the Skyliner. It fits with room to spare.

 

[Bete]

If you want an easier trip you may have to rent a handicap van to get you back and forth from the parks that fits a bariatric power chair. That's very costly and you will need a driver.

 

[Evita_W]

If you want an easier trip you may have to rent a handicap van to get you back and forth from the parks that fits a bariatric power chair. That's very costly and you will need a driver.

But if his device is wider than the allowed width, then it can't be taken into the park anyway, if it is within the allowed width, it can fit on Disney Transportation.

 

[Bete]

But if his device is wider than the allowed width, then it can't be taken into the park anyway, if it is within the allowed width, it can fit on Disney Transportation.

You can enter the parks I believe with a bigger scooter than what is allowed on Disney transportation; you just can't do a very large scooter/power wheelchair with Disney transportation getting there. I believe you can enjoy shows with a larger scooter/power wheelchair, as well as street entertainment, parades and fireworks. You can probably go to a quick service restaurant, too.

For a first time scooter/power wheelchair user it could be overwhelming using Disney transportation; so, your own personal van may be a better answer.

 

[lanejudy]

You can enter the parks I believe with a bigger scooter than what is allowed on Disney transportation

That's correct. The size limit to enter the parks is 36" x 52" presumably to fit through pathways, etc. The size limit for transportation is 30" x 48" which is a standard ADA limit.

I don't know what device the OP has at home, but I'd be highly surprised if it's too large for WDW.