Stroller as a wheelchair - size of stroller

[kathleendsm]

Our son, who will be 2 when we go to Disney in 5 months, has mobility delays (he's currently unable to crawl, stand or walk). At best he'll have very limited mobility so we plan to get a GAC to use his stroller as a wheelchair.

We also have a daughter who will be 5, and I'm sure she'll get tuckered out in the parks, so we'd like to plan for a spot for her to sit in too. We were thinking about bringing the sit and stand stroller, but I am worried about it fitting in lines. It's probably not as long as a regular double stroller, but definitely longer than a single stroller (it has a little bench seat behind the stroller seat, as well as a platform, that an older child can use).

Another option is to bring his regular stroller and a smaller, lighter one for our daughter. His regular one is still fairly big (but much more comfy and offering the option for a nap). Is there a way to gauge how large the accessible queues are to make sure we don't bring a stroller that would be too big to fit?

Will we get tons of dirty looks from people while we're doing this? I'm sure lots of people would love to bring a stroller in line for a 2 year old, but we feel like his lack of ability to even stand coupled by the fact that he's tall and getting big means it would just be extremely difficult if we didn't get this to accommodate him. Cranky mom and dad equals cranky everyone.

 

[syko]

I can't imagine that you stroller would be any larger than an ECV, and they fit through most lines, and where they can't there is always a different way to enter the attraction.

 

[SueM in MN]

If it is no wider than 30 inches and no longer than 48 inches, you should be fine.
That is the size that is listed In the Americans with Disabilities Act as a "common wheelchair" that sizes need to be planned for.
Many areas are wider - up to 36 inches. For shows, plan that he will need to be out of the stroller since the stroller will sit too low for him to see. Also a lot of the wheelchair spots are in the rear. He will also not be able to stay in the stroller to use the wheelchair accessible ride cars/boats (except possibly Small World, 3 Cabballeros (however it is spelled) in Mexico. The stroller will be too low and can't be secured in ride cars. For those two boats, the height doesn't matter and you just pull forward and lock the wheelchair brakes. Because of that, they might (no guarantee) let him stay in the stroller for those.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Yes, some people may give you dirty looks- ignore them. You're getting a stroller as w/c GAC because your child has a disability, not because you think it's an inconvenience to leave it outside. I just wanted to say, last trip we rented a sidebyside baby jogger citimini and it worked amazingly well. It was super comfortable for both kids, fit easily through all accessible ride queues (even the seas w/ nemo and friends, which is really tight) and a dream to maneuver. Just wanted to let you know about the option. I rented from orlandostrollerrentals.com

 

[syko]

We use stroller as a wheelchair and it goes on any ride that allows a wheelchair on.

The only problem we have ever had was on IASW and that soon got sorted out.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Our DD broke her arm in the middle of one of our last trips to Disney. She was 3 at the time. We went to Guest Relations and they tagged her stroller as a wheelchair to allow us to keep her in it as much as possible. We really didn't get any dirty looks for keeping her in there and taking her through lines in it (I was ready to pack up and head home but both the ER dr and our dr at home assured us it was fine to keep her there, but to minimize any running around to prevent her from falling on her arm again so we kept her in her stroller as much as possible when we were out in the parks).

Anyway...go with whatever you think will work the best for you, get the tag for your stroller and have a GREAT time !

 

[jmartinez1895]

We use a speical needs stroller for our son that is 5 ( he is the size of an adverage 3 year old). Our stroller is a jogger style so it is longer than most and we fit fine. As for people talking and looking, most people did not even pay attion to us, but evey now and then I could heat a tired parent whine to the CM that it's not fair that we got to bring our stroller, but they could not have thers. If your child needs it then don't think twice about what people think. Enjoy your trip and do what ever your children need you to so that they have a safe and comfortable trip.

 

[treehugnmama]

I have the sit and stand and I don't see it being a problem.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I absolutely cannot guarantee that my reaction would be typical of most visitors, but if I, who have no kids and no disabilities of my own, saw you with your child in a stroller in a line, I would immediately assume that you needed that stroller so your child could enjoy Disney with the rest of us.

About 99.99% of the strollers in lines at Disney are being used for disabled kids: I don't even think anything else would cross my mind.

 

[peemagg]

I think the only time that there is problems with people and strollers in line, is when people don't know or realize that it is for a disabled child, especially if the child doesn't look obviously disabled. It is the same for anyone with a invisible disability. If you don't look disabled, then some people (very few really), think that if they can do it then so can I. It is then when the problems that CM's have to deal with arrises.

Don't worry though about others ignorance or comments. Just go and have fun with your family and let the CM's deal with those uninformed people.

 

[Mamamoose]

We used our Maclaren last year and plan to do the same next month. Our DD has spina bifida and tethered cord but you would never know to see her sitting in her stroller (she can walk but tires so easily). I worried people would be annoyed b/c we got her out of the stroller for the rides but not one person said a thing, so no worries!

 

[C&G'sMama]

Here is picture of DS from our May 2009 trip in the Special Needs Stroller from Liberty's Advanced Mobility Line that we rented from Orlando Stroller Rental. He was just turned 6 here. We rented the same stroller from OSR 2 weeks ago. It is fairly large and fits in all the lines.

He's ASD, is 6, and the size of an 8 or 9 yo. He looks "normal". We get some looks, we look back, I don't care. This is the best thing for him and for us.

 

[kathleendsm]

This is great information, thank you! I guess at the end of the day it doesn't matter what anyone thinks, because we'll be there and be having a great time.

To be honest, my bigger worry is that my snuggle-boy will not even want to be in the stroller, and I'll end up wearing him for the whole week in the Beco baby carrier! Good for him, not so great for my back.

 

[toi]

Thanks for posting this! I just came on here to ask these very same questions and am happy to read all of the replies! My son is 4 and gets fatigued due to an invisible disability. There is no way I can carry him through the lines. Have a great trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for posting this! I just came on here to ask these very same questions and am happy to read all of the replies! My son is 4 and gets fatigued due to an invisible disability. There is no way I can carry him through the lines. Have a great trip!

In case you have not seen it, there is a link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post # 6 of thst thread has information about Guest Assistance Cards and using a stroller as a wheelchair. In case you don't have a stroller your child will fit in, post 2 has information about wheelchairs and strollers.

 

[Mono~rail]

We use our stroller as a WC for our dd who has a feeding tube. I know the stroller you are talking about, OP, and it shouldn't be a problem.

As far as other guests making comments, it happens, but it shouldn't bother you. Most just don't know. We go to WDW about 4 trips per year and only a few encounters were memorable.

The first was was in line for IASW. This was the first trip that we used a GAC WC=stroller so it made me uncomfortable. The woman was behind me. The line was long so I had to go through the roped off que before getting to the CM who let me through the WC access line. Anyway, I had to listen to this crazy woman behind me for 5-10 min going on and on about me having my stroller in line. Her first words were something like "Hey! Hey you! You can't take your stroller in line! Can't you read? These signs say no strollers!" Then it escalated to "Oh, I guess the rules don't apply to stupid people!" Finally I got to the CM and got away from her. Not sure what she had to say after we were let through.

The second was on our last trip and it happened during Storytime w Belle in MK. We got there early so we were sure to get a seat and know there would be room for dd's stroller. We were near the entrance and I heard a lady argueing with the CM that her baby was sleeping and she should be allowed to bring the stroller into the garden because "that kid gets to." The CM politely explained that the child in the stroller had a disablility and had a GAC. The lady blushed and apologized.

So it happens, but not that often. We've had some people tap us and politely ask how we were allowed to do that. We point out DD's med equipment and explain the GAC.

 

[dmbfan]

Here is picture of DS from our May 2009 trip in the Special Needs Stroller from Liberty's Advanced Mobility Line that we rented from Orlando Stroller Rental. He was just turned 6 here. We rented the same stroller from OSR 2 weeks ago. It is fairly large and fits in all the lines.

He's ASD, is 6, and the size of an 8 or 9 yo. He looks "normal". We get some looks, we look back, I don't care. This is the best thing for him and for us.

To funny...we rented that same stroller for my son's make a wish in March of 09 and it was LONG...However during fantasmic at HS, we had to wait in the regular line, and when we were still pushing it up to the wheelchair section, some guy started yelling at my husband saying "we can not bring strollers up" and when my husband said it was marked as a wheelchair, he yelled FU, that is no wheelchair... We were shocked, but not surprised.

He now has the EIO pushchair, and this will be much easier to get thru the lines and has hooks to keep his IV backpack to hang...so instead of having to take 5 mins to get in a ride, it will be more like a min.

Keep in mind, you will never see these people again...and I agree with what one person had said, if they want my son's stroller as a wheelchair, than have it, but when out 8 day trip is over, you also have get to have all his medical problems...Enjoy your trip and do not worry about anyone else..