Stroller as Wheelchair

[wendygrace]

Hi there. We are going to the world in late December. Our son's Make a wish trip turned us into Disney lovers. I just bought a double jogging stroller to bring with us to Disney. We will be using it as a "wheelchair" as Ds has low stamina, low muscle tone, and sensory issues. We will be going back and forth from POP often (for midday breaks, etc) and was wondering if anyone has ever used their stroller in this manner. We've never been on the buses. I'm assuming we will need to fold the stroller and carry him in. Is that correct? I would hate to take up a wheelchair spot and doubt it would even fit. Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[alizesmom]

Hi there. I'm not an expert but from all I have read here if you can fold the stroller and just take Michael onto the bus you will save yourself a lot of grief. The response of bus drivers to wheelchairs is not always up to Disney's usual standards. Other than that treat the stroller as a wheelchair without feeling guilty. You know the drill, stop and get a GAC and have the stroller marked as a wheelchair. Have lots of fun! Karen

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The SaW GAC will not work on the buses. Strollers are not designed to be tied down, so it would be a safety and legal matter. You will have to be able to fold the stroller (again, required by Federal Law) to take it on a bus.

 

[wendygrace]

Thanks for the info. That's what we'll do. I was just practicing folding it and it is easy to fold. Dh will have to do that while I hold the chillins' and the stuff.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, for taking it into lines, if it is 32 inches wide or less and 48 inches long or less, you should have no problems.

 

[wendygrace]

Thanks Sue for the measurements. I'll have to measure it.

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

OUr first trip in Dec 2006 (Christmas), we used my Emma's stroller as a wheelchair. She had just gotten her wheels 3 months earlier and she wasn't a great driver.

We were given a sticker and used her stroller through the lines right up to the front. We had no problems at all.

We had to close it on the bus but could leave it open on the monorail.

Have fun!

Amy

 

[mechurchlady]

Point of clarification: Strollers may be used as a wheelchair IF they meet federal guidelines and are labeled are (designated as) usable for public transportation. Most strollers do not meet those guidelines. You can check the stroller manual or online to see if that your stroller is up to the requirements.

That is why some people can take a stroller on the bus and leave the child in the stroller because the stroller is up to them guidelines while others cannot. The law about folding the stroller applies to ground transportation not to boats or monorails.

 

[wendygrace]

That makes sense. We did have a stroller wheelchair for our son when he was younger and they expected him to be a lot bigger (he was misdiagnosed with overgrowth syndrome) and not be able to walk. Thinking on this, we'll be folding it up and either carrying him or having him walk in lines. We'll use it mainly for transportation and shows if absolutely necessary. Thanks for all the help.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

In Feb I was told by a bus driver that they can do the stroller on the buses but they he normally doesn't for several reasons and recommended that it not be done for the simple reason that they will loaded and strap it in just like a wheelchair and he knows of a few drivers who have actually broken strollers b/c of it. the frame is not strong enough to support the the strap being tighted down and so it will end up bent. I found this out b/c a woman and a child 10mths or younger and this is exactly what she did I questioned the bus driver and this was his reply and the reason he let her was b/c the mother had back problems.