Traveling with a mostly-abled guest

[Verstehen]

Hi guys! In less than two weeks my sister will be coming to visit me and we'll be spending four great days and nights at Disney. We'll be staying at French Quarter.

Here's the deal: she's 19, pretty able-bodied, but she has a genetic illness that is a bit unpredictable, especially in the Florida heat (she'll be traveling from upstate NY). We're planning on getting her a wheelchair, but if she can walk on her own for a good portion of the day, what's the best strategy? I don't want to wait until she's tired and can't walk very well to trek all the way to guest services and pick up a wheelchair, but I also don't want to get one first thing and find out it's a hassle to get her on rides and into shops and restaurants during times when she's totally fine to just walk. It's the sort of situation where she could be perfectly fine one minute, and close to passing out the next, even if we keep her hydrated.

Please forgive me. I've been to Disney many times, but I've never gone with anyone requiring extra assistance, and I want to make sure her trip is as awesome as possible. Please let me know any tips you have for traveling with a guest who only needs a wheelchair part of the time.

 

[lovethattink]

We often see adult wheelchairs parked in stroller parking at attractions, outside restaurant, etc.

 

[Verstehen]

Oh, that's great. I must admit, having no child or need for a wheelchair, I usually don't notice the stroller area.

 

[bedogged]

Hi guys! In less than two weeks my sister will be coming to visit me and we'll be spending four great days and nights at Disney. We'll be staying at French Quarter.

Here's the deal: she's 19, pretty able-bodied, but she has a genetic illness that is a bit unpredictable, especially in the Florida heat (she'll be traveling from upstate NY). We're planning on getting her a wheelchair, but if she can walk on her own for a good portion of the day, what's the best strategy? I don't want to wait until she's tired and can't walk very well to trek all the way to guest services and pick up a wheelchair, but I also don't want to get one first thing and find out it's a hassle to get her on rides and into shops and restaurants during times when she's totally fine to just walk. It's the sort of situation where she could be perfectly fine one minute, and close to passing out the next, even if we keep her hydrated.

Please forgive me. I've been to Disney many times, but I've never gone with anyone requiring extra assistance, and I want to make sure her trip is as awesome as possible. Please let me know any tips you have for traveling with a guest who only needs a wheelchair part of the time.

Why not rent her an ECV? Nobody would have to push her and you could park it outside rides like the wheelchair if that was her choice, although most rides allow them to be driven through the regular line. Also, I think she would find an ECV fun to drive!

 

[Verstehen]

Why not rent her an ECV? Nobody would have to push her and you could park it outside rides like the wheelchair if that was her choice, although most rides allow them to be driven through the regular line. Also, I think she would find an ECV fun to drive!

Do you know how much those cost to rent?

 

[SueM in MN]

Do you know how much those cost to rent?

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
Post 2 has information about renting ECVs and wheelchairs, both in the parks and from off-site rental places.

In the situation you are describing, I would recommend a wheelchair.
You could park the wheelchair with the strollers at attractions, she could walk around in that general area and when ready to move to the next area, you just wheel it over, either with her in or not.

I would not recommend an ECV in your situation because, she would need to drive it. If she suddenly becomes incapacitated, she would not be able to drive it and you will find yourself in the same position of having to find a wheelchair for her.
If you rent a wheelchair from off-site , you should be able to fit it into a car trunk if you drive or you can use buses, monorails and many boats.
More info in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[Verstehen]

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
Post 2 has information about renting ECVs and wheelchairs, both in the parks and from off-site rental places.

In the situation you are describing, I would recommend a wheelchair.
You could park the wheelchair with the strollers at attractions, she could walk around in that general area and when ready to move to the next area, you just wheel it over, either with her in or not.

I would not recommend an ECV in your situation because, she would need to drive it. If she suddenly becomes incapacitated, she would not be able to drive it and you will find yourself in the same position of having to find a wheelchair for her.
If you rent a wheelchair from off-site , you should be able to fit it into a car trunk if you drive or you can use buses, monorails and many boats.
More info in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Thanks! I think we'll rent it at the park because she won't need it around the hotel and such, so that way we can pick it up and drop if off and not worry about getting it back and forth. But it definitely sounds like a wheelchair is our best option. I don't mind pushing her. As long as we can park it with strollers sometimes, I think it'll be great.

One question for anyone in a similar situation, and this is just a casual thing. Do you ever get looks or remarks when you or your family member is coming out of the chair? I know when she was little we took her but didn't get a wheelchair. Instead we got a note from Disney that said she could go to the front of the line (back when they were doing that), and got some rude comments about it. Drove my mom crazy.

 

[GranJan]

The fact that she can walk some will make her situation much easier. She'll be able to walk in to restrooms & restaurants. The first time I finally admitted I needed a wheelchair, I didn't like having to be pushed. If I felt up to it, I could use the wheelchair as a walker & just push it. That way I at least had something to hold onto. I did that a few times when I was waiting for my family to ride a ride. I now have a scooter & it gives me much more freedom. I can see how it could be a problem if a person got to the point they couldn't drive it though. I wish there was a way I could bring both my scooter & my walker. Then I could just use the walker for short distances. I've thought I'd see if there was a way to attach the walker to the back of my scooter but it would probably be it the way.

As far as people giving rude looks to a person who gets up & walks from a wheelchair, I've never had it happen. That's probably because it's obvious I have trouble walking. I did read a comment from someone who said they drove their scooter into a restaurant & people had to get up & move their chairs for her to get through...then when she walked to the buffet, people gave her rude looks. I think if your able to walk a little, you should park your scooter outside. Lines for rides are different since you might end up standing longer than you're able.

 

[pbrim]

I wish there was a way I could bring both my scooter & my walker. Then I could just use the walker for short distances. I've thought I'd see if there was a way to attach the walker to the back of my scooter but it would probably be it the way.

Check with where you rent your ECV. Some of them can deliver you scooter with a walker rack on the back, specifically designed to carry your walker.

 

[GranJan]

Check with where you rent your ECV. Some of them can deliver you scooter with a walker rack on the back, specifically designed to carry your walker.

Thanks for the info. I own my scooter...cheaper than renting several times. I may check & see if I can buy a rack for mine. It's so hard trying to take scooters into restrooms & such so having the walker handy would sure help.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks! I think we'll rent it at the park because she won't need it around the hotel and such, so that way we can pick it up and drop if off and not worry about getting it back and forth. But it definitely sounds like a wheelchair is our best option. I don't mind pushing her. As long as we can park it with strollers sometimes, I think it'll be great.

One question for anyone in a similar situation, and this is just a casual thing. Do you ever get looks or remarks when you or your family member is coming out of the chair? I know when she was little we took her but didn't get a wheelchair. Instead we got a note from Disney that said she could go to the front of the line (back when they were doing that), and got some rude comments about it. Drove my mom crazy.

There are people who will comment no matter what. They feel they know about everyone and that everyone is 'cheating'.

I have occasionally heard comments about DD, and she can't even get out of her wheelchair herself!

You know what the need is and what other people think doesn't really matter.
The majority of people will not be a problem.

 

[treehugnmama]

Sorry meant to start new thread

 

[tobikaye]

I know that most people have already answered your questions, but as someone that did not get a wheelchair for my mom when entering Epcot this past February because she though she would not need it, get it when entering. We were in Mexico before she decided and from Mexico, it is a very long walk to guest relations for a wheelchair. Her thought had been that in May 2010 she was able to walk spend five days walking all of the parks at WDW so why in February 2011 would she need a wheelchair for a one day, one park visit. Unfortunately, she found out after we got back home she needed another surgery for her degenerative neck disorder. It is looking like this time around, she will have to adjust to the stamina issue being a bit more permenant.

While we were at Epcot, I pushed her around when she was tired or hurting, but when she needed to get up and walk, she used the wheelchair to lean on like someone would with a walker. It gave her more ways to enjoy the day. We also did as others mentioned and parked the wheelchair out of the way when she went to the bathroom or a restaurant.

 

[SeanofStarCommand]

The last two times I went to WDW I rented a wheelchair from Walker Mobility. They are a local Orlando company and are used to delivering to the resorts. It is nice to have a wheelchair around the resorts because even just around there, you walk more than you think you do. I am also mostly-abled but with my many health problems I would never be able to walk anywhere.
Every once in awhile I'll walk from my room to the food court, but I'm mostly in the chair. Yes, I do leave the chair with my girlfriend to use the restroom and to get a drink refill or go to the buffet. I'm 28 but look much younger so I'm sure some people wonder what I'm doing in a wheelchair. But in my experience most people are very nice and extremely accomodating. I even had a stranger push me up the steep walkway to Soarin' when my GF ran for fastpasses!
Your sister will have a much better time knowing she can sit down when she needs to. It will make her vacation so much better.

 

[kofslinky]

I am SO glad you posted this! I was getting ready to ask a very similar question, and this really helped. In January I started chemo for breast cancer at a very young age, and have noticed recently that one of the side effects is breathing difficulties. I was thinking about getting a wheelchair for my EPCOT visit at the end of September, and was wondering how a mostly-abled person would best deal with using the chair (needing it to walk longer distances, but fine to stand in line kind of thing). Thank you for asking and thanks for all the great responses- they really helped me out a lot!