wheelchair bathroom for flight?

[bridegirl]

DH's stepfather is confined to a wheelchair due to progressing MS. He would like to come us to WDW but cannot make the long flight from Sacramento because he would be unable to use a normal airline bathroom.

Are there flights with accessible bathrooms?

What are the other options? Amtrak?

TIA,

Susy

 

[Linda Bell]

Are there flights with accessible bathrooms?

What are the other options? Amtrak?

TIA,

Susy[/QUOTE]

I was just checking out this stuff yesterday!

For accessible bathrooms see:
http://www.bootsnall.com/guides/05-03/the-straight-poop-on-accessible-airline-toilets.html

We took Amtrak from Seattle to LA. You pretty much have to rent a handicapped bedroom and the rest of the train is for all practical purposes inaccessible. The room was very small but had what we needed and we had a good time. Great views and a good book made it a great relaxing ride.

For us to go from Seattle to Orlando is several thousand dollars one way. This includes meals which they will bring to your room since the dining car is inaccessible. It requires 3 or 4 different trains depending on route so you should be able to do it in one less.


The accessible bedroom only holds two people with an upper and lower bunk which folds out of the two seats. Warning...very thin matresses. The upper bunk has a net so you don't have to worry about falling out. There is an in room potty and sink but no shower. There is room to remain in your chair, if you so desire, but that is about it for floor space. You much check your luggage but are allowed carryons so careful packing is a must.

At stations the other party can get off the train at some of the longer stops but the wheelchairs don't. Good for grabbing snacks and magazines.

You can rough up the price and route on the Amtrak site but they do give a nice discount for disabled passengers . You have to call them directly to book the accessible room.

I would love to do it again! It is just very pricey.

Linda

 

[VirtuallyMe]

I've never heard of a wheelchair accessible airplane bathroom- shoot they are almost inaccessible for some who are able bodied...

You could always arrange to have a catheter put in for that sort of bathroom need- doesn't help much for the other however. The catheter can often be easily inserted by the individual or family/friend- but if needed I'm sure there are places near to Disney for the flight home too...

I wonder too- if he was on a flight with at least one lay over- then at most it would be 3-4 hours on the plane then get out at an airport- which all have wheelchair accessible bathrooms...

The train could be nice- but shame they don't have the overly large staterooms like they show on tv...

 

[Figaro]

Hi, Susy!

Some airplanes do have accessible bathrooms. But it is only the larger planes and they aren't exactly like an accessible bathroom on the ground. The kind that I have had the most experience with (when we fly to Hawaii) is the kind where the door basically folds back to make it double sized and then a heavy curtain is used to close off the area which will include part of the hallway.

This gives a person more space to get the aisle wheelchair into the area but doesn't increase the space of the bathroom at all or change or increase the number of grab bars as it is basically the same bathroom with a wider doorway and more space that is useable outside of the door.

There are always aisle wheelchairs on the plane but often the flight attendants don't know how to use them. And they are not allowed to assist with toileting at all. Whoever is travelling with you DH's stepfather will have to do that. The aisle wheelchairs aren't all that difficult, as they are pretty much the same as the ones that they use to get people to their seats except that they often fold down into a compact size to fit under an airline seat.

The issue with flying is that there is never any guarantee that a specific type of plane will be used (they do change them, sometimes at the last minute), but if you are flying on a flight that has a significant distance to fly, you are much more likely to get one of the larger planes that has that kind of restroom.

Hope this helps!

 

[Tumbleweed]

My mother is an amputee. We have flown with her before. For the
flight she used depends- type underwear. While it certainly is not their
most preferred option, at least it would make the trip doable. Also watch
the amount of fluids before the flight. His first reaction will be like our
Mom's - no way! But let him think about it... it might just work.

 

[Belle1997]

Hi there,

Have you talked to the doctor about a pill that can be taken that will help slow urine down while travelling. I am not sure what it does but I took 4 teengers to New Zealand from Toronto Canada who could not walk at all so no bathrooms for them. And it enabled them to go the distance. Also I had a friend from England travel to Toronto using the same pill.

 

[Anniegirl]

I would recommend a Texas catheter. It is not invasive like an indwelling catheter, or a medication. It rolls on like a condom and connects to tubing/drainage bag (which can be worn strapped to a leg -a leg bag). The tubing and bag are reusable for the flight home, just replace the Texas cath. Have him check with his doc, there are options that won't cost a fortune. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Andrew Bichard]

DH's stepfather is confined to a wheelchair due to progressing MS. He would like to come us to WDW but cannot make the long flight from Sacramento because he would be unable to use a normal airline bathroom.

Susy

I'm a wheelchair user too.

I will be flying London to Orlando tomorrow (whoopee!), which is a nine hour flight, plus an hour each end for loading/unloading which comes to almost eleven hours between toilet visits.

I use a small folding urinal under an airline blanket, which my wife empties when she goes to the bathroom.

Go to this website http://www.manfred-sauer.co.uk and follow the links for uribag.

Andrew

 

[BillSears]

I use a small folding urinal under an airline blanket, which my wife empties when she goes to the bathroom.

Great idea! I haven't flown for longer then 5 hours but I'll have to remembr this for times I might fly longer.

I use a catheter and leg bag full time. On long trips I just don't drink the day of the flight and with no fluid in there's not much fluid out and the leg bag doesn't have to be emptied mid flight.

 

[Absimilliard]

The only proper accessible bathrooms you'll find on a plane are on the large Airbus planes. The Airbus 330-340 middle bathroom has a full size door on one side and the wall separating the stalls move away, so it is the best arrangement I've seen. I haven't seen the Boeing 777 yet, but let's hope Boeing through of that...

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Great idea! I haven't flown for longer then 5 hours but I'll have to remembr this for times I might fly longer.

I use a catheter and leg bag full time. On long trips I just don't drink the day of the flight and with no fluid in there's not much fluid out and the leg bag doesn't have to be emptied mid flight.

I once tried not drinking, plus double dosing myself with Oxybutynin. Actually made it, but transatlantic far, far too long.

Fifteen minutes and I'm out the door heading to the airport hotel. I'll be at Grand Floridian within 36 hours, then at Boardwalk Villas in about eight days. Look out for a balding, bearded, overweight guy riding an Invacare Storm.

No laptop - bye 'till I get home.

Andrew

 

[Plaid Princess]

Does he need the full accessible restroom, or is it more of an issue of getting to the restroom? Would being seated directly across from a restroom make the trip a possibility?

I would call the airline you were thinking of flying and see if they can give you more info. I know some of the newer Airbus A320's actually have a restroom setup that allows a panel to be removed between two "stalls" to create a bigger area... but there's only a few of these in service now as they are the newest design.

 

[Gracie09]

The trip was ten years ago. I hope he made it cross-country by now

 

[lanejudy]

This thread is old. Info may or may not still be accurate. If anyone has a current question, please start a new thread