Wheelchair Issues during our trip 5/25 - 5/29/07

[luvmarypoppins]

Due to all my back surgeries and mobility issues I do use a wheelchair alot of the time when I am not walking. I will walk from the bus to the wheelchair pick up and thats about it. I have even answered a disney survey about epcot and I wrote down my wheelchair issues, but low and behold this time we had the same issues and its so annoying. We go through the international gateway, there are never any larger sized wheelchairs to rent. They say you have to get them at the park entrance, this results in me having to use the small sized wheelchair as a walker and go to the other side of the whole park just to get the bigger sized chair. Once I was told a cm could go and get it for me, nice but this just adds to wasting my valuable park touring time. I have asked disney to please have a supply of a few on hand there etc. Also another issue we had was at Animal Kingdom. Bad enough they moved the rental location inside the park, more walking for me, but they told us we could get a complimentary wheelchair (the one with the flag) back out to the parking lot. My dh told them I dont fit in that chair, yes I have a big butt and I cannot lie , well the cm said I could stay in my big sized chair but he would have to accompany us all the way out to the bus stop (Swan) which he did. Cant they have at least one big sized complimentary wheelchair there too? How can I get Disney to ever listen to these requests, its just not for me, its for all of us big sized people who need the wheelchairs. I wrote in december, just a survery, not directly and its still a big issue to me. Anyone else have to deal with this, what can I do, tia.

 

[Hook's Girl]

You can also contact Guest Communications

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Leave a name and phone number, they usually respond within 72 hours.

 

[Michigan]

Why not just get your own wheelchair? Even if they did have bigger ones at the back there is nothing that says someone else might have already took it before you get there. Having your own you can get a lighter weight chair so it will push easier then the WDW ones and you won't have to worry about getting the chair you need.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You might want to contact one of the off-site companies that rent wheelchairs and ECVs. Look at the "disABILTIES FAQ" for the sites and phone numbers of some which several people here have used and been happy with.

That way you will have a chair that will fit you and it will be available full time, if it is needed at the Resort or Downtown Disney. These tend to be better chairs than Disney has.

For the buses, if you can do the steps and someone is with you the cahair can be folded and brought on the bus. If you have problems with bus steps you will be able to use the lift or ramp; all buses are so equipped.

 

[SueM in MN]

It's possible that they have put some larger size wheelchairs out at the places you mentioned, but if there are only 1 or 2, they could still be gone when you get there.
If you do send a letter, you might suggest that they replenish the larger size wheelchair if it gets rented out (at International Gateway) or used at the complementary places.

I'd also agree with the other posters about either getting your own or renting one. That way, you would not have to worry about whether or not you will find one when you get to the parks.