wheelchair availability at resorts

[mmmom]

We're staying at BC May 4-8. My dad has emphezema, rheumatoid arthritis and other complications and uses oxygen when necessary but not full-time. We rent a wheelchair in park (he's too stubborn to use EVC-tried it last time and lasted 2 hours before returning it) I'm worried BC is too spread out for him to walk and read wheelchairs are available at hotels-but how does it work? Is it first come, first serve and is it only to get from point A to point B or do you keep for entire stay, what is likelihood of one not being there when you need it??? Thanks for help.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The resort wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you get one, it is available to you for the length of stay. I have never used one, but other posts to this forum indicate they may not be the best in the world.

I would suggest the possibility of renting one from one of the off-site companies. Here are some URLs and phone numbers.

Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

Also you would be able to get a chair that is the correct size for him. Since he need oxygen, they could also provide tanks, etc.; as well as making sure the wc has the ability (accessories) to carry a tank.

I am used to using an ECV; the companies will all deliver to the hotel before you arrive (except Randy's which requires you be present) and pick up from the hotel after you leave. I know that Walker will charge my credit card for the full rental amount the day before arrival.

Hope this information helps

 

[SueM in MN]

My DH and I stayed at YC over New Years Eve. You are right that everything is rather spread out. It's convenient to walk to MGM and Epcot, but anyone with health problems would not find it easy becasue it is quite a way and there are hills. The boats that you can take to both parks might be more than he can walk to also. And, if he has a wheelchair, you would be able to go to the BW area which is really nice.

I've seen some of the same posts that talk about the wheelchairs available at the resorts, some people are very pleased and others found that the available wheelchair was either in poor condition or didn't meet their needs (like an extra wide when they needed a narrow one, or vice versa).
Even if you are driving and bringing the oxygen with you, you will still need a back-up medical company in case of problems with the oxygen. All of the companies that Cheshire Figment listed (except for Randy's Mobility) are full service medical companies that also provide oxygen. Since you will need to be dealing with them anyway, you may as well rent a wheelchair from them too (and they will be able to provide one with holders for oxygen tanks, as Cheshire Figment mentioned).

 

[DolphinBoy]

I just got off the phone with the Dolphin. The do not have wheel chairs to rent and do not supply the refrigerator free of charge for refrigerated medicines. Secondly, all handicapped accessible rooms have a King size bed. So if you have a family of 4, forget about it.

 

[DolphinBoy]

Has anyone used any of the rental shops listed above?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have used Walker at least 10 times in the last 3 years. One time they delivered an ECV with a problem, but they had a replacement to me within an hour.

Sometimes a minor problem developed and when I contacted them they said they could come and replace the unit within a short time. Since I am somewhat mechanically inclined I then asked what I could do myself, and each time I was able to take care of the problem after receiving their advise..

 

[SueM in MN]

All of the places listed above have been used by (and recommended by) DIS Posters. There are other companies that we don't have any reports on, so regular posters who post lists of the places don't include those.