Using a wheelchair instead of a double stroller?

[Mommee]

Is there a (legitimate) reason that someone would choose to rent an adult wheelchair from Disney for two-usually 8-12 year age-children--and then take it through the line?

Several times on the last few trips I've seen this. We've been going for years and it seems to be a relatively new thing. I see it several times a day just going through the parks, but it also happens more frequently at ride load/unlaod. At unloading for Pirates, the woman in front of us grabbed her wheelchair and was trying to get her kids to sit in it to go up the elevator, but they balked and wanted to go up the ramp. She said "ok" and they took off at a run in glee while she took the wheelchair up through the elevator by herself. The cast member looked like he was about to explode when that happened, which makes me thing this wasn't an isolated things. Then there was Spaceship Earth; that was another place I saw this. The woman looked so angry when she was told she would need to sit down and wait for roughly 15 minutes, and then when my party was called up right after that she grabbed her kids and ran to the front of the line. The cast member DID ask her to step aside so my party could go first (I need the wheelchair for the ramp because I cannot walk up it due to the rigid foot braces I wear) but I noticed them getting on carts right behind us.

On the surface it looks like people are renting wheelchairs so they can keep their kids in it all the way through the line and not park them like they're required to do with strollers. And, like Spaceship Earth, it's sometimes a lesser wait.

BUT, I know that sometimes there's things going on I just don't understand.

SO. Like I said in the beginning, is there a legitimate reason I've seen this happening more and more? I'm not being snarky or trying to start anything, I really want to know. Is there some blog out there promoting this for some reason or am I just clueless about the reason it's done? If this were an occasional sighting I wouldn't think much of it, but it's not.

Please don't be mean. I'm really, truly just wanting to understand.

 

[nikkislaght]

I have stopped trying to understand why people do the things they do.. Some people feel more entitled than others.. some people think that their problem is greater than the next guys... some people are just plain rude and self centered..
Why you would have a stroller for an 8 or 12 yr old is beyond me.. other than needing it as a wheelchair.. but by those ages most children would be in a wheelchair..

Trying to play devils advocate. ... maybe the wheelchair was for her and she only needed it for short periods...and her kids took advantage and used it too????

I Know when I cant use my cane anymore and need a chair full time my son would be begging to sit in it at some point during a Disney trip... lazy lump..!
I have no answer for you.. cept to say Im glad the CM allowed you on first... and Karma is a cow..... when she or her kids really need aids.. lets hope Disney says nope. is that bad of me???

 

[redberyl]

Well, Im considering using a wheelchair instead of a double stroller when we go to the local amusement park this year. Both my kids can walk, but not for long distances. One has heart disease, and very little stamina. The other has spina bifida, can walk but is really slow and her braces will cause skin breakdown if she were to walk on them all day. They are too big for a double stroller. Insurance wont pay for wheelchairs, they dont need them every day. Dont see whatbenefit there would be to putting kids in a wheelchair who donr need it, some rides the wheelchair line is longer.

 

[lanejudy]

There may be a number of reasons that family had a wheelchair, I try very hard not to judge others' because invisible disabilities are just that -- unseen.

Older children with special needs do not fit in most strollers, and definitely not 2 of them in a double. Therefore a wheelchair may be necessary. WDW, as well as very few off-site vendors, does not rent pediatric-sized wheelchairs. So adult sized is common. Such children may appear "normal" and without a disability, may be able to walk/run/jump at times, but may have limited stamina due to medical conditions. Anyone who sees my child first thing in the morning at a park might question her need for a stroller, but a couple of hours later is a different story.

Mom may need the wheelchair for herself, though not sitting in it full-time. She may need to walk and push it at times. During such a time maybe she thought the kids could sit while she pushes, especially if she wanted to use the elevator and keep the family together.

Other people...well, let's not go there...

I'm going to close this because it's all speculation and likely to get heated quickly.