Wheelchair and Backstage Tours

[terif4]

We are booked to go on the Backstage Tales Tour (AK) and Backstage Magic Tour (3-park tour). I have a foot in a walking boot and will have a wheelchair. I am capable of walking around, but if I do so for long distances, I will be in pain by the end of the day. I'm debating whether I need to bring the wheelchair for the backstage tours. Has anyone done these tours with a wheelchair? Can it be easily accommodated or will it just make things more complicated?

 

[mamabunny]

We are booked to go on the Backstage Tales Tour (AK) and Backstage Magic Tour (3-park tour). I have a foot in a walking boot and will have a wheelchair. I am capable of walking around, but if I do so for long distances, I will be in pain by the end of the day. I'm debating whether I need to bring the wheelchair for the backstage tours. Has anyone done these tours with a wheelchair? Can it be easily accommodated or will it just make things more complicated?

I haven't done the tours - so I can't speak directly to that, but I am a bit worried about your wheelchair!

Will you have someone to help push you in the chair? Even folks in excellent condition can find it VERY difficult to hop in a wheelchair, and then push themselves for the (average) 5 - 10 miles you will walk at WDW every day. If you make it through the first day, expect your arms to feel like limp noodles connected to broken shoulders on day 2; I know from personal experience.

If you have someone who can push you, then I promise I will hush up and go away LOL - but you may want to consider keeping the name & phone number of a local ECV rental vendor in your phone's contacts just in case... most will deliver straight to the parks (again, from personal experience).

WDW is obviously something you have been looking forward to; you are planning some pretty awesome activities it looks like! Consider renting the ECV from the start, so that you, your foot (get better soon!) and your arms and shoulders are ALL happy at the end of every Magical Disney day!

And to our little corner of the DIS!

 

[terif4]

Thanks for the warning. I have my husband and 17-year-old son to push the wheelchair. We've been to Disney a couple dozen times so we don't have the pressure of needing to see and do everything. I did wrestle with the thought of an ECV, but that seems to be more of an inconvenience when taking Disney transportation. I guess my guys will be the ones to tell me whether I made the right decision or not!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks for the warning. I have my husband and 17-year-old son to push the wheelchair. We've been to Disney a couple dozen times so we don't have the pressure of needing to see and do everything. I did wrestle with the thought of an ECV, but that seems to be more of an inconvenience when taking Disney transportation. I guess my guys will be the ones to tell me whether I made the right decision or not!

remember park wheelchairs can not go outside the gate and trams/ buses/ boats/ cars can have a walk or wait plus you can have a good distance from transportation and your room. if you rent chair off site so you have at resort not much difference in that and an ECV something to think about say you are not riding a ride with them and for some reason you need to move chair are you going to be able. CMs are not going to be able to help you.

 

[JennyDrake]

I would highly recommend renting from an off site vendor. I had great service using Walker Mobility. From the "Been there, done that" file of my own, GET THE WHEELCHAIR. You can easily fold and stash it to walk as much as you can tolerate. The boot will get real old, real fast and you never knew how many inclines are at WDW until you are hobbling in a boot.

The rustic, uneven pathways at AK are murder wearing a boot.

Feel free to PM me!