WDW in a powerchair

[dizzyintx]

Im new here and I got a few questions for all of you. First off , introductions. I'm Kim and I have spms. I use a power chair at home and I want to take it to wdw. We are going for our 25 anniversary!! It will be our first honeymoon. We took all of the family(15 total) about 10 years ago, and we spent the whole time organizing everybody. So now it's our turn ( although we're feeling somewhat guilty). On to the questions:

1) My power chair has no key, is it safe???If it runs out of charge at the park is there anywhere to charge it? I really don't want to rent a scooter because of $$$.
2) Should I get a GAC if I'm in a chair? I'm on chemotherapy(novantrone) and am pretty weak.
3) Is there anywhere to store freezer packs for a cooling vest? I don't think the refridgerators in the room will work. The packs are long, about 15 inches and have to lay flat. How about at the parks? I have 2 sets because they only last about 5 hours. Without them I am toast!

I appreciate all the help I can get! Kim

 

[dclfun]

Hi Kim- I'm not familiar with spms, but I can try to answer some of your questions. It sounds as though you can transfer from your chair? I cannot thus I've never had to worry about someone "messing" with it. I don't think it would get stolen, however. It also sounds like you have trouble with heat. There's a GAC that allows you to wait in shaded areas. As for the other GAC's, being in a chair is probably sufficient enough, although there is one that says you can use the GAC as a fastpass. Other GAC's are for people walking but needing accomodations, someone needing to use a stroller as a w/c. The GAC's aren't designed to get you into attractions immediately, and in some cases you'll wait longer than other guests. ( just so you'll realize you won't get "head of the line" with either a chair or GAC ) You'll be able to store any medical items at First Aid. As for your chair running out of power, you could leave your charger in First Aid. Perhaps WDW could let you use one of their ECV chargers, but it would depend on if your chair and their ECV's both have the same connectors and charge. Good luck! --Kathy

 

[Nanajo1]

Hi,
I'm also on Novantrone, now every 3 months. I try to schedule my trips at least three weeks after my infusion because my blood counts drop so low. My MD has given me antibiotics to bring with me in case I should develop an infection. I don't bring my power chair, I'm afraid to bring it on the plane. I rent an ECV for my trips. When I must leave my chair somewhere(restaurant lobby etc) I disable my computer on one side so it can't be driven and can't be pushed. I'm usually in sight so I can get it moved if necessary. As far as icing your vest components would packing them in ice from the ice machine work? Bring plastic bags to wrap them.
I hope your trip works out and is magical.

 

[dizzyintx]

Thank you both for your help Kathy I will use first aid to store chargers and cooling packs, it was a great idea and one I haven't thought of.
Nanajo, I've never talked to anyone else on Novantrone! Has it helped you as much as me? It took around 9 months to finally start helping, but boy I feel so much better. The ms fog has lifted. I lost all ability to talk and think and ended up in a rehab hospital for 6 weeks. I could barely move. It has been truely a blessing for me and I hope you are feeling better too. Can I ask you why you don't fly w/ your power chair? I have a manual chair too, it would be so much easier for me and hubby to bring my power chair. I just hope they don't break it. I plan on wraping the arm w/ the power. Kim

PS. How do you get the countdown on your messages?

 

[SueM in MN]

You have already gotten a lot of good advice. I can tell you that the people at First Aid are very nice. If you need to get out of the heat for a while or lie down, they have cots in small cubicles with curtain dividers. We've nver stored anything there, but we've seen people coming there to use things they have stored. If you think you will need to charge your wheelchair at the parks, you can store your charger there and charge it too. i would never try to use another charger for DD's power wheelchair; doing that risks damaging your chair and invalidating your warrenty.
For some rides, you can stay in your wheelchair for the wait in line and the whole ride/attraction. For other rides, your wheelchair will be coming in with you; boarding is at the exit and the wheelchair and will be waiting for you at the exit. We have to lift DD out of her wheelchair for many rides and no one has ever bothered it. Since the wheelchair is usually sitting at the exit or you are in it, there is little chance for anything to happen. I would not leavce anything of value in a backpack in it though.
Here's a link to the DIS page about touring with mobility disabilities. If you scroll to the bottom, you will find a list of rides where you can stay in the wheelchair.
My DD has a power wheelchair for the past 3 years. We have not been brave enough yet to take it on the airplane. We have heard some bad stories about power wheelchair damage. If the airline damages it, they are responsible for getting it fixed though. We have talked with our wheelchair tech (we know him quite well since DD is sort of rough on wheelchairs). His suggestion was to remove the joystick assembly entirely and box it up. DD's will remove easily with just 2 screws and a a few couplers. Here's a link to a thread about air travel with a wheelchair.
We have looked into renting a power wheelchair from
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/
or
Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com
That way we would have a power chair for the parks and a manual chair for in the room, etc. They won't rent a power wheelchair to anyone who doesn't already have one, but will if you have the correct specifications and settings from your equipment supplier. They only provide a standard seating system, but it might be a better option for you depending on your needs than bringing your own chair or renting an ecv.
If you leave the power wheelchair somewhere, I'd agree with Nanajo to disengage the clutch (I think that's actually what she's talking about). If you do it on one side only, the chair can't be moved because it's half engaged and half free wheeling. Most people won't know how to make it move when it's in that condition. Even if you leave it free-wheeling, it's very heavy and difficult to move.
Ask as many questions as you can think of. As you can see, we have lots of people ready to help.

 

[BCV23]

We just got back and took our daughter's power chair for the first time. As Sue described, most times it was in a secure spot while we were on rides. At restaurants, my daughter preferred to transfer and then we would move the chair out of the dining room. I was a little nervous about this at first but no one "messed with it." Sue has a gereat idea on disabling it though.

 

[SueM in MN]

Twice this summer, while DD was in summer school, she came home with her wheelchair "not working". All that was wrong with it was someone had disengaged the clutch. The school and bus people didn't have a clue what was wrong. All they knew was when they switched it on, the computer display was flashing and it would not go. Since they couldn't figure it out the second time (after a written explanation of what was wrong and what to do about it), I think a stranger would have a hard time putting the wheelchair in working order.