taking mom with mobility issues - help!

[headoflife]

My DH, kids and I have been to DW at least once a year for the past 9 years. We have invited my mom often, but she has always refused. I know that this was at least in part due to her difficulty getting around (she has very severe arthritis). I have told her that she would need an ECV or wheeelchair. Well, now she decided she wants to join us on this trip (10/5-10/11). I have encouraged her to try an ECV at the store, and see how she does, but she is resistant. I am not comfortable with her renting one without trying it, as I have seen how she drives a regular shopping cart in the store! That means a wheelchair. We have never used one, so I am trying to get a sense of how difficult they are to push and steer.She may take an occasional break and walk, using the wheelchair as a rolling walker, but mostly it will be us pushig. How tough is it for a newbie? We did several years of Disney double strollers, with about 100 lbs of kid inside. How much harder is it to push a wheelchair with 150 lb woman? Thanks for all your help!

 

[SueM in MN]

A wheelchair with 150 pound adult in it is probably going to be easier to push than 100 pounds of kids in a stroller. The wheelchair's larger tires mean it takes less to push than the small tires on a stroller. The front tires (casters) swivel, so it doesn't take much to turn them. The turning is like a shopping cart, but one with much better tires and no wobbles. Plan on taking breaks when you need to and the idea of having her use the wheelchair sort of as a rolling walker is a good one. That will help her to avoid getting stiff from all that sitting.
There are some hill area in the parks; it helps to know where they are, but you are probably already aware of those from your experience pushing a stroller.
Check out the FAQs at the top of this board. If she doesn't try out an ecv ahead of time, you might want to rent one for her for the day at Epcot. That park is bigger and the paths are wider, so it's a bit easier for someone just getting used to an ecv to use one there. If she does really well, you could try one of the other parks (but save MK for a wheelchair since it's the most crowded and congested).
Take it easy and have fun.
Let us know how it went when you get back.

 

[headoflife]

Thank you Sue for the information. It's good to know it may be a small challenge, but doable. I was able to push the kids in the stroller, so it's good to know that all the responsibility for my mom's getting around will not fall on my husband's shoulders and back . I just hope my mom has a great trip, as she hasn't been to WDW in at least 20 years!