Traveling with wheelchair questions

[LisaBi]

Talk to me about the logistics of traveling with a wheelchair. DS uses a chair in the parks, and only occasionally at other times. I usually rent from an off-site vendor. But I realized I can buy one for less than the cost of two rentals. My only concern is the logistics of travel. I am concerned about being able to juggle the chair with all of our other luggage at the airport on the home end - it is just the two of us. I don't see how I could push the wheelchair and get all the other luggage on and off the airport buses and to the check in counter, then all the luggage off the carousel and back to the buses to the car when we get home. I am also concerned about ME. Will there be any problem getting them to put the chair under the bus with the luggage?

 

[bidnow5]

One thing you should think about is depending on why the wheelchair is needed the one you buy most likely have solid tires rentals mostly have air filled and have a much smother ride at airports you can get a skycap to move your luggage for tips

 

[LisaBi]

We need it because he just can't do the distances. Partly stamina and large part very odd shaped feet. I'll check onto the tires bing air or solid. Good advice!

At our home airport (Kansas City) there is no assistance available in the long term lots. So it's up to me to get it from the car and onto the bus. Coming home, it's up to me to get it off the bus and to the car. We usually end up with three checked bags, my carry on and purse, and his backpack.

 

[JillyBean1899]

How old is your son? Would it be feasible to drop him and the bags off at the terminal, then you park the car and take the shuttle to the terminal? If not, I'd be figuring out a way to reduce the checked bags (maybe roll up vacuum bags so you can condense?) or a way to hook them to my belt. You'll end up looking like momma duck with some odd ducklings but hey, whatever works.

Oh, and the "solid" wheels is only on "transport" chairs. Those are the ones with 4 small wheels, they're not designed to be "driven" by the person using them, only pushed by someone else. If you're getting a "regular" wheelchair with 2 large back wheels and 2 small front ones, the large wheels are air filled.

 

[CJN]

If you can't do as JillyBean suggested (dropping your son and the bags at the terminal prior to parking) maybe what we do might help. Like your son, I can't walk long distances but can usually make it from the parked car to the airport shuttle stops. So I load up my bags into the wheelchair and use it as a luggage cart/walker. Just having it to hold onto really helps. Many, many times I've had other passengers or the driver come to my aid in actually loading everything on the shuttle. Even when I haven't had help, people around me have been patient. The same thing works in the airport getting to the checked bags area.

 

[BabiesDaddy]

Have the majority of your stuff shipped to the hotel and carry only your essentials with you during travel. I'm sure if you explain the situation with your hotel, it won't be an issue. I just wouldn't have anything I couldn't live without in them. Also, ship them early incase of any holdups.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have the same situation. Adult DS uses his chair at the parks, but he can walk short distances. He has a Convaid chair, but it is the largest one.

On the way to a trip, we try and check the 2 larger bags at curbside. Then I sit Sean in his chair, holding a carry-on bag. I hang my laptop on the back of his chair, and off we go to the gate.

After we get our luggage at the airport, I load most of the bags, except the biggest one, ONTO the chair. He can walk the short distance to the rental car, usually sort of "helping" with the largest bag or pushing the chair with me. I can sort of drag that big bag and push the chair at the same time. Buying SPINNER type luggage has helped us immensely, too.

Leaving a Walt DisneyWorld resort is a DREAM, because you can check bags at the hotel. We always rent a cr and do not use magical express.

I travel alone with DS 2X a year, to WDW or DL. Last trip to DL was to LAX, and we had to get our rental car using a shuttle (NOT ideal). We managed. (Easier to fly into SNA for a DL trip with him, though.) MCO not a problem, easy access to rental car.

 

[LisaBi]

Thanks everyone. What about ME? I am concerned because one time when the parks were busy they were using ME and DCL buses for overflow getting people from resorts to parks.One of them came to the resort and refused to load us. The Mears driver said he was not allowed to put a wheelchair under the bus. I would hate to have to wait for a wheelchair accessible bus when we don't really need one.

 

[50surgeries2012]

Thanks everyone. What about ME? I am concerned because one time when the parks were busy they were using ME and DCL buses for overflow getting people from resorts to parks.One of them came to the resort and refused to load us. The Mears driver said he was not allowed to put a wheelchair under the bus. I would hate to have to wait for a wheelchair accessible bus when we don't really need one.

I used my Quickie 2 ultralightweight wheelchair on my last Disney World trip in January with my family, and friends. We used the Magical Express bus, and when it arrived. The driver told us that I had to board the bus like everyone else, and he would put my wheelchair into the cargo bay. This was no problem for me because I could do stairs as long as my back was OK with it, and I took them slowly.

That seems strange that the driver you had didn't allow the wheelchair to be stowed under the bus. Wouldn't that be an act of discrimination? If you're still looking into getting a wheelchair for your son. The Quickie 2 is very light in weight, and only weighs about 27lbs. They make them in both kid-size, and adult-size models.

My mom likes it for the fact that she can lift it easily in, and out of the back of her station wagon without any trouble of it being extremely heavy as some manual wheelchairs are.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Thanks everyone. What about ME? I am concerned because one time when the parks were busy they were using ME and DCL buses for overflow getting people from resorts to parks.One of them came to the resort and refused to load us. The Mears driver said he was not allowed to put a wheelchair under the bus. I would hate to have to wait for a wheelchair accessible bus when we don't really need one.

You shouldn't have any issues with ME. When we were there in December every ME bus we saw was accessible now.

 

[Gracie09]

Thanks everyone. What about ME? I am concerned because one time when the parks were busy they were using ME and DCL buses for overflow getting people from resorts to parks.One of them came to the resort and refused to load us. The Mears driver said he was not allowed to put a wheelchair under the bus. I would hate to have to wait for a wheelchair accessible bus when we don't really need one.

I just made a reservation yesterday and the form had a check box asking if I needed a wheelchair accessible bus. I would just make sure you check that and (because I'm like this) follow up with a phone call a couple days before the trip. When you get your return package I would also call and confirm a wheelchair accessible bus on the return.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks everyone. What about ME? I am concerned because one time when the parks were busy they were using ME and DCL buses for overflow getting people from resorts to parks.One of them came to the resort and refused to load us. The Mears driver said he was not allowed to put a wheelchair under the bus. I would hate to have to wait for a wheelchair accessible bus when we don't really need one.

There are 2 questions -
1) DME buses going between airport and resorts
2) DME or Mears buses being used for overflow transportation between parks and resorts

DME buses to and from the airport and resorts
Wheelchair accessible buses with lifts are available. Not all of the DME are lift equipped. If you want to use one and did not
If you check the box on the DME reservation or ask at the airport for a lift equipped bus, you can stay in the wheelchair and the driver will load the wheelchair onto the bus seating area. It will be tied down and you can choose to sit in it for the bus ride or transfer to a bus seat.
You do not need a lift equipped bus if you can climb the stairs to get onto the bus; the driver can stow the wheelchair under the bus in the storage area.

DME or Mears buses being used for overflow transportation between parks and resorts
These are used for some of the larger resorts (i.e the Value Resorts) during very busy times. From what I have heard, these are being used less often now than they were in the past because Disney purchased some very large double long buses for the routes that have larger numbers of guests to transport.

When used for this purpose, from what I have heard, they are not using the under bus storage area at all. Not for strollers, not for wheelchairs.
The purpose in using those buses is to move large numbers of people quickly. Putting things under the bus and then getting them out an distributed to the correct people at the correct stop would slow things down so they don’t use that storage area.
You should wait for one of the regular Disney transportation buses. They are all wheelchair accessible and have ramps to get on with a wheelchair. If the wheelchair folds, you may do that and hold it rather than having it tied down to the bus with the wheelchair securement straps.

 

[SueM in MN]

I used my Quickie 2 ultralightweight wheelchair on my last Disney World trip in January with my family, and friends. We used the Magical Express bus, and when it arrived. The driver told us that I had to board the bus like everyone else, and he would put my wheelchair into the cargo bay. This was no problem for me because I could do stairs as long as my back was OK with it, and I took them slowly.

That seems strange that the driver you had didn't allow the wheelchair to be stowed under the bus. Wouldn't that be an act of discrimination?

See my reply about the buses going to and from resorts and parks.

If you're still looking into getting a wheelchair for your son. The Quickie 2 is very light in weight, and only weighs about 27lbs. They make them in both kid-size, and adult-size models.

My mom likes it for the fact that she can lift it easily in, and out of the back of her station wagon without any trouble of it being extremely heavy as some manual wheelchairs are.

I think the OP is looking for lower cost wheelchairs since she posted she could purchase one for the price of 2 rentals.
Custom lightweight manual wheelchairs like the Quickie 2 generally start at about $1000 to $2000

For the OP, I would suggest looking at www.adaptivemall.com
if you are interested in special needs strollers or less expensive (but still expensive) pediatric wheelchairs.
Look in strollers: http://www.adaptivemall.com/allstrolpus.html?campaign=strtopnav
and in pediatric wheelchairs: http://www.adaptivemall.com/concon.html
to get an idea of what is out there.

If you are looking for some other type of wheelchair, like a transport chair or less expensive one, this site is helpful:
http://www.1800wheelchair.com/home/wheelchairs
The transport ones (with 4 small wheels) are less expensive and also lightweight, but may be hard to push, especially with a heavier person riding.

I would personally advise against getting air filled tires. With air filled ones, you have to check them to make sure they are still full and may have to replace tubes. That happened several times when my DD had one with air filled tires.
Solid tires may be fine for someone who is not a full time wheelchair user of who can tolerate at rougher ride, but the are not the only option to air filled tires.
We have had pneumatic tires with airless inserts in DD’s chairs for a long time. They are no-flat tires filled with gel; they give a similar ride to air, but without any of the issues.
The wheelchair front casters are always going to be non-air filled. DD had air filled ones on her first wheelchair and they were a real pain (plus expensive to replace).

Depending on what your child needs the wheelchair for and your insurance, you may be able to get much of the cost covered by insurance with a doctor’s prescription and documentation of medical necessity for the chair.