wheel chair advice

[DBurdette]

we are going with my 80 year old mother next year. i know you can rent wheel chairs at each park but have heard it is first come first serve. isn't there a place close that you can rent them and they even deliver it to your resort? seems like i read that somewhere once. I don't mind renting it from the park but don't want to get there and they are all rented out. my mother has bad knees and won't be able to walk the park. thanks!!!

 

[billsfan]

We have rented in the past from Walker Mobility. No problems what so ever. There is a lot of great information about Walker Mobility and other things in the Sticky: disABILITIES FAQ at the top of this forum. It was really helpful for us when we went with my MIL who also needed a wheelchair.

 

[SueM in MN]

The disABILITIES FAQs thread is near the top of this board, or you cab follow the link in my signature to get there.

Post #2 of that thread has the rental information the other
poster mentioned. Walkers is one of the companies listed; all of the listed companies are ones recommended by DIS posters over the years. All of them will deliver and pick up from your resort.
I would feel comfortable renting from any of them.

Renting from the parks is an option for some people. They do run out of ECVs, but are not as likely to run out of wheelchairs, especially if you get there before noon. But, something else to keep in mind is that the resorts are large and require a lot of walking too. If you are concerned about the walking in the parks, having a wheelchair at the resort would be very helpful too.

 

[lmgaddis]

How early do the ecv's typically run out? We are debating going down with my mom. She is 64 and has no problems walking and running errands at home but she is really only able to be "on the go" for about an hour. She has ms, ra, possibly Lupus and osteoporosis so severe that she has multiple fractures in her back. I have joked with her that we just need to wrap her in bubble wrap to take her out. She has kept a very good sense of humor considering. Needless to say, she is in a LOT of pain alot of the time! She really wants to do WDW with me and the kids but knows her limits and has finally said that she would rent an ECV. We are ready to have Gammy scooting around disney! She says she doesn't want/need anything at the resort just something for the parks. I like to be there for rope drop but know I am going to have to take my commando style down a few notches. Would getting there by 10am still be ok? I could always hit the park early, rent it and then go back to the resort to pick everyone up also.

Thanks so much for your help and this board is amazing! I have been reading the faq section and have learned so much! I can't wait to get her started on some tart cherry juice to see if that helps her. You ladies/men are amazing!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

An important question is where will you be staying and what will be your mode of transportation. With the exception of the Contemporary Tower all the resorts are very spread out. And if you are using Disney transportation it can be a very long hike from your room to the bus stops.

Also, when are you going? If it is a crowded time of year they can run out of ECVs within an hour of park opening. And if you leave a park and return or go to another park there is no guarantee at all that you will get an ECV.

Also, the off-site rentals are much easier to use and much more maneuverable than Disney's.

 

[lmgaddis]

Thanks for the reply! We are looking at going over the summer. I know, very busy, crowded and hot! But with 3 boys in school one of which will be starting middle school, this looks like a good time for us to go. My mom would like to stay at the Grand Floridian but if not there then we will most likely be looking at the Poly or YC/BC. We will have our own car. I drive an Expedition which is large but I am afraid about having to put it in and out of the car by myself. When my youngest was in a wheelchair last year b/c of a broken leg it was not easy!! I am not a big fan of the buses at WDW. We had some horrendous experiences last year and just decided to take our own car. I think she can handle the resorts ok, it is just the crazy amount of walking in the parks that would do her in. We will def be taking mid-day breaks everyday to go back to the pool. We did that on our last trip and it worked out great for everyone!

 

[DBurdette]

We will stay at CBR and will have our own transportation. Plan on going first of June next year. You feel the wheel chairs off site are better? I would prefer to get them than the ones at Disney, then.

 

[KPeveler]

We will stay at CBR and will have our own transportation. Plan on going first of June next year. You feel the wheel chairs off site are better? I would prefer to get them than the ones at Disney, then.

The ones on-site stink! They are not at all adjustable, and they seem to come in either too wide or too narrow! I DEFINITELY recommend getting one off site!

 

[DBurdette]

I already called walker mobility and their prices are very reasonable. I think that is what I'm going to do. THanks so much!!!