Wheelchair newbies

[uncleleo]

We’ll be at WDW for a week beginning April 5, lodging at the Contemporary. A few days before that, DW will (hopefully) end 6 weeks of recovery from microfracture knee surgery, during which she will have kept the weight off one leg almost entirely. While we expect DW to be capable of walking unaided when we go to WDW, we won’t be sending her running for any FASTPASSes.

I’m thinking it will make things easier for us to have DW in a wheelchair for any long walks. Since maximum portability would be our most important criterion, would we be better off getting a chair from a vendor? In other words, are the standard Disney chairs far more cumbersome than what we could get elsewhere? If so, what model(s) should we be looking for?

Related question: is our temporary handicapped parking tag good in Florida?

Thanks,
Lee

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Actually the Disney rental wheelchairs are less cumbersome than those from off-site vendors. That is because they are mostly intended for transport and do not have all the leg and foot adjustments from a more standard chair.

And yes, your temporary tag, as long as state-issued, is valid in any state including Florida.

 

[Tiggerish]

You might want to consider renting a ECV for her because it can be difficult to push someone in a wheelchair if you are not used to it.

With an ECV she could drive herself for the long distances and then get out when she wants to get onto a ride or go inside somewhere. Most waiting areas now let you drive the ECV up to the point of getting on, then the cast member moves it to the exit area while you are on the ride. Or you can park it with the strollers and walk/stand through the line to get on or into the attraction.

The Contemporary is a great location when mobilty challenged because of the walkway that connects it to the Magic Kingdom and the monorail stop inside the hotel.

 

[uncleleo]

Thanks, CF (wow, 15,000 posts!) and Tiggerish. DS and I are actually looking forward to the workout from pushing DW around in a wheelchair. It means I can eat anything I want and still lose weight, right?

Assuming she will have no trouble walking through the queues, do we just park the wheelchair with the strollers or is there usually a separate place for them? I feel badly that I never noticed these things before.

 

[KPeveler]

Thanks, CF (wow, 15,000 posts!) and Tiggerish. DS and I are actually looking forward to the workout from pushing DW around in a wheelchair. It means I can eat anything I want and still lose weight, right?

Assuming she will have no trouble walking through the queues, do we just park the wheelchair with the strollers or is there usually a separate place for them? I feel badly that I never noticed these things before.

honestly keep the wheelchair in lines that are mainstreamed! i understand not wanting to use the alternate entrances, as sometimes you can wait longer, but most queues are mainstreamed, and there is not always a convenient place to leave a wheelchair i have found. the queue for soarin is 1/4 mile long each way (in and out) so if she gets tired or sore part way through, you're kinda stuck... there is no special privilege to using a wheelchair, you wont get sent to the front of the line or anything, so you won't be "taking advantage" or anything...

if she wants to walk, she can push the chair empty as use it as a kind of walker...

I used to want to leave my chair outside attractions and walk (no longer an option) and I got stuck more than once... keep it, and you won't have to worry!