Wheelchair heads up

[billsfan]

Just returned from a week long trip to WDW. Rented my Mother in Law a 24" wheelchair while we were down there. I have always rented her a 22" wheelchair in the past but the rental company did not have any available for our week while we were down there. They upgraded me to a 24" one for free. The problem is that the 24" wheelchairs do not fit on any of the bus ramps and they do not fit thru alot of openings at WDW. She has very limited mobility in her knees and getting in and out of the chair all week long took a little toll on her. We made it work and still had a great vacation but just a heads up to anyone thinking about renting a 24" wheelchair.

 

[SueM in MN]

That's kind of strange. I wonder if you ended up with a 28-30!inch wide wheelchair?

The bus ramps are at least 30 inches wide and door ways are at least 32 inches.
The lines are considered accessibleif the wheelchair is no wider than 30 inches.

I can measure right now, but my daughter's wheelchair has the tirs canted out at the bottom and measures about 27 inches from wheel to wheel at floor height. We've never had any issues getting thru door, on the buses or onto any of the wheelchair accessible ride cars.

This is a quote from the WDW website, from this link:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/

All bus routes are serviced by buses equipped to accommodate various types of wheelchairs within the following guidelines:

• The mobility device must fit the lift without being forced. Some motorized chairs and ECVs are too wide or too long for the bus lift. The standard lift size is 30” x 48”.
• The mobility device must be securely fastened in the onboard restraints.
• It is recommended that Guests using a scooter transfer to a bus seat while onboard.

 

[billsfan]

Sue,
I rented the wheelchair from walker mobility. I believe the sizes they have listed on their website for their wheelchairs are for the width of the seating area of the wheelchair. I have no idea how wide the wheelchair was at its wheel base. I did not think to measure it or did I have anything to measure it with. I just know that the wheelchair they advertised as a 24" wheelchair did not fit on the ramps or thru a lot of openings. Just thought I would give a heads up to other potential wheelchair renters.

If you have any other questions I will attempt to answer them the best I can.

 

[BillSears]

My "18 inch" wheelchair is about 24 inches wide. So I can see the size they use being the seat width.

 

[SueM in MN]

The width given is the width of the seat. I was just surprised the total width could be so much larger. The total width is usually closer to about 6 inches larger than the seat width, as Bill's is. That would make a 24 inch wheelchair around 30 inches total width.

My daughter's wheelchair seat width is 15 inches, but the total width is about 29 - much of the 'extra' is because her wheels are canted out at the bottom. It's hard to explain, but they are not flat to the side of the wheelchair. They each stick out about 4 inches more at the bottom than the top.
The only reason I mentioned it is that her wheelchair has at least 3 inches to spare on each side going on the bus ramps and thru the narrower doors.