What is the climate for people in wheelchairs or scooters?

[tomato]

I wrenched my knee the day before we left. Our first day I just limped around but in trying to protect my knee I hurt my hip. ( Middle age sucks! ) now I am really holding back my family. I've told them to just go on without me. I will sit and people watch.

They want to rent me a wheelchair or scooter but I am really self conscious about it. I don't NEED it per se. I can walk through the lines just not the great distances of the parks.

I don't want to be perceived as taking advantage. But I am torn about holding my family back. Plus with huge crowds, how do you even get through some of these places?

 

[starshine514]

You said that you are holding your family back and telling them to go without you; I'd say that constitutes a need. I recommend getting one. I don't know what size you are or the physical fitness/size of those with you, so I'm not necessarily recommend one over the other. Obviously, you would be more independent with an ECV (but they are much more expensive to rent).

Many times the handicapped line makes you wait just as long or longer than the regular line, so even if you do need to use it in the lines at times, I wouldn't say that you are taking advantage.

 

[Eeee-va]

Absolutely rent an ECV or scooter if you need it. My mom has fibromyalgia and a bad hip, which really held her (and us) back in the parks. She hesitated for 2 or 3 trips before finally giving in and renting an ECV. It made our trip much better. You do a LOT of walking in Disneyland--I mapped out our October 2010 trip and Mom had certainly walked at least 2.5 miles, maybe even 3+ miles, before she hurt too much and had to give up. When we went in November 2011, she was able to substantially more. She just parked the ECV near a ride, got in the regular line, rode, and then walked to her ECV. That helped keep her moving but let her save her energy and not be in the extreme pain she'd suffered previous trips.

I was also much, much happier because even though it was just her and me on that trip, I much more rarely had to sit or stand around and wait for her to have the energy to continue on.

If you're walking to the parks each day, I'd call Deckert's (714) 542-5607 and see what they can do. Their rental rates are cheaper than Disney's and you get to keep the ECV through the duration of your trip, instead of turning it in any time you leave the parks.

 

[ccbayly]

Interesting question. I think you have to get over the fact the yes, some people will give you dirty looks and you might feel awkward. I have Multiple Sclerosis and use a wheelchair in Disney. Because I CAN walk from my wheelchair to the ride vehicle I have had some rude comments. I actually had a guy say "Hey, why didn't you have to wait in line. That's not fair!" I smiled at him and told him I would happily trade out situations. He could take my disability and I would wait in his line. (I didn't bother with the fact that I had waited in a separate line myself)

You can't change other people, but you can smile, enjoy yourself, be polite, watch closely for small children and have a great time. Don't let it bother you, just have a magical Disney Day. You will be happier if you are not in pain!

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Alright, I have awesome experience with this now

We went in early June. I believe the problem started at the beginning of our vacation before we even left our driveway. I picked up my mother's suitcase and put it in back but felt my back do something weird.

At the end of the first day my back was hurting pretty bad but I powered through. I was ok if I crouched down in line or squatted. By the end of the second day I had slowed considerably. By the third day I only made it two hours before I started to bawl and told my family I was going to have to go back to the hotel (but wasn't sure how I'd get there). I literally stood at the base of the Hungry Bear and cried. My husband insisted I get a wheelchair. I was totally against it. He went up to the front and got it and brought it back and demanded I sit. The rest of the vacation went wonderfully. My back got the rest it needed and honestly, the wheelchair saved our vacation.

The worst part about being in a wheelchair was that people don't look where they're going and I had numerous people try to jump over my lap to 'beat us'. That was the worst. All castmembers (minus one grumpy chick..) were SUPER SWEET. They assisted me in and out of the cars where I might've needed some help (I didn't, but they were cute). They treated me with respect and dignity. I ignored everyone in line because it was hard enough for me to swallow my pride enough to use the chair in the first place..if I'd seen someone glare at me I'd crumple. When we went it was crazy busy, so it's doable, trust me!

Don't hold your family back. This is the part that hurt my heart the most. I couldn't do it to them any longer. The chair made EVERYONE happier. EVERYONE. You have a need. Trust me. Ignore anyone who doesn't understand. You and your family do and that's all that matters.

I'm 29 and needed a wheelchair in Disneyland for my back. How ancient does that make me sound

Oh and for the record, California Adventure is very wheelchair accessible. You can go through just about every line with your party. In Disneyland is where they have you enter at the exits.

 

[rewardsinlife]

If you feel like you are holding people back, and ruining your knee by constantly walking on it in the first place, I recommend a wheelchair. Interesting thing I did notice is that you are ' least' noticed in an ECV. This can bea good thing or a bad one. People tend to cut right in front of you while you are on an ECV..however it gives you more independence and you blend in more with the crowd. Getting a manual wheelchair will have people ' notice ' you more..which leads to more stares...yes.. But people also go out of their way to get out of your way.

An example, I was in a wheelchair and an ECV was about 2 ft. To my side. We were both going the same direction through the bottleneck by Indy on the way to main street away from the rivers of America. We started at the same point in the crowded mess. 2 min. Later I take a quick look back as I round the corner by the tikki hut and notice that the ECV was still stuck in the crowd by Indy. The rider was constantly honking her horn but no one paid attention to her. With me in the manual, I had people actually moving and then telling the people in front of them to get out of the way for the wheelchair.

Up to you, but make sure you don't overdo it! CM are more than accommodating to help you on an ECV or wheelchair...and actually prefer you take the handicap entrance if you need more time to get into and out of the ride or walking in line.

 

[Jperiod]

Get something, it's worth it. I got an ecv when I was 8 mths pregnant and have NO regrets about that. Walking was painful and slow at that time, but standing was fine. I just got off next to the ride and stood in line. The others are right though, it sucks to drive them because people cut you off and the things don't brake like a car! I clipped a little girls foot after fireworks cuz her mom tried to cross in front of me with her (the extra space I was leaving so I wouldn't run into anyone if they stopped fast).

As for the stares, ignore them. Who cares? You're never gonna see them again, so don't let it ruin your magical trip. My son has autism so we get GACs and have never has an issue (or we're oblivious in our "laughing place!" ).

 

[NiceOneSimba]

Absolutely get an ECV! You--and your whole party--will be glad you did. If you are staying a ways away (or even across the street, which can seem like "a ways" at the end of the day), you might want to consider renting from one of the off-site places. Then you can drive the ECV back to the hotel at night.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I'm dying to know how Tomato's day is going! I hope a wheelchair or ECV is involved!!

 

[ArchOwl]

I'm dying to know how Tomato's day is going! I hope a wheelchair or ECV is involved!!

I hope so too! I have had to use both at one time or another at DL and it totally felt weird at first, but then I got used to it. And I wouldn't have been able to have a good time without the help. I have always been impressed with the CMs and how they look you in the eye, even when you are at a lower level in the wheelchair/ECV. They have always been so nice and courteous to me. A lot of guests are clueless and will step in front of you or won't see you, but that is life. Only one guest has ever said anything to me about using the handicapped line. She was the self-appointed line police at Peter Pan and was demanding to see everyone's GAC. I just ignored her.

I have had to use a wheelchair and other mobility devices outside of DL and I have to say that DL does an amazing job with accessibility and courteousness to their handicapped guests.

 

[bumbershoot]

"The worst part about being in a wheelchair was that people don't look where they're going"

Absolutely. I've toured the park with a friend who has a scooter, and it's astonishing how many people just jump right in front, not thinking about it. Would those people jump in front of a moving moped? It's crazy.



I think the OP's case is a NEED. In such a situation I'd call an offsite rental place and get a scooter. Not a wheelchair, as I don't want DH to have to push me and wear himself out.

 

[starshine514]

I have had to use a wheelchair and other mobility devices outside of DL and I have to say that DL does an amazing job with accessibility and courteousness to their handicapped guests.

I so agree. I took my girls to a couple local amusement parks on vacation this year and I found myself constantly going 'how would someone in a wheelchair get to this point'. Unfortunately (as I looked around), the answer often was 'they couldn't'. I'm very impressed by the accessibility at the Disney parks.