Wheelchair or ECV or knee walker + stroller?

[Keyneky]

I need help. My husband broke his big toe last week and is having a lot of trouble ambulating. My daughter just turned 5 (today!) and still depends on a stroller when we are walking long distances. We are scheduled to visit the Magic Kingdom this weekend for my daughter's first visit/birthday celebration. It'll just be the 3 of us. My husband does not want to spend ~$100 renting an ECV from WDW and just wants to rent a wheelchair. Would it be possible to push a wheelchair and stroller in tandem? I suggested renting a knee walker so that my husband can wheel himself around and I can push the stroller but he is unsure of how they work and if they would be comfortable to use for 12+hr days. Does anyone have any experience with knee walkers that they can share? Would putting up the money to rent an ECV really be the best solution? I feel silly renting an ECV when all he has is a broken toe and I am sure there are other visitors that probably need it more. On the other hand, pushing a wheelchair and a stroller seems impossible in my mind. Thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

 

[ErinTwinmom]

Rent an off site ecv, everyone will have more fun. You will have enough to handle pushing the stroller. Also as someone who has to fight the twin stroller battle please trust me there is no safe way to tandem or train at Disney.

 

[ttintagel]

If you decide against the ECV, you could revise your touring plan so that your daughter doesn't get tired enough to need the stroller.

 

[minnie mum]

No way on God's green Earth you can push a wheelchair and a stroller at the same time. And unless DH has the upper body strength of a weightlifter, no way he would be able to self propel a chair himself all day. An ecv is really the only practical solution if he doesn't want to use a knee scooter.

 

[Keyneky]

If you decide against the ECV, you could revise your touring plan so that your daughter doesn't get tired enough to need the stroller.

She gets a lot of discomfort because her feet are pronated. We'd spend hours on end resting if it was up to her little feet.

No way on God's green Earth you can push a wheelchair and a stroller at the same time. And unless DH has the upper body strength of a weightlifter, no way he would be able to self propel a chair himself all day. An ecv is really the only practical solution if he doesn't want to use a knee scooter.

I'm glad I'm not crazy. He makes it sound like it'll be SUPER easy to manage both and I know it will not be. He's seeing his doctor tomorrow and I asked him to bring it up and see what the doctor recommends.

 

[minnie mum]

I'm glad I'm not crazy. He makes it sound like it'll be SUPER easy to manage both and I know it will not be. He's seeing his doctor tomorrow and I asked him to bring it up and see what the doctor recommends.

Ask him to picture this: you pushing the combined weights of him, DD, a wheelchair, the stroller, and whatever day bags you have. In the heat. Over curbs. Over rough pavement. Up hills. In heavy crowds. For 12 hours. It's nuts.

DH is a strong man. He only has to push me in a chair, plus a small back pack. And he's bushed by the end of a day.

 

[Keyneky]

Ask him to picture this: you pushing the combined weights of him, DD, a wheelchair, the stroller, and whatever day bags you have. In the heat. Over curbs. Over rough pavement. Up hills. In heavy crowds. For 12 hours. It's nuts.

DH is a strong man. He only has to push me in a chair, plus a small back pack. And he's bushed by the end of a day.

Thank you! This is all I keep picturing and I think all he is picturing is dropping $100.

 

[gap2368]

as others said I would get a ECV off site they are cheeper and you may need something for the park exit wether or not you are driving or riding the buss there can be long waits ( and lets not talk about the hill to the monorail if you go that way.) when are you going as if it is in a few weeks he may not need any thing I hurt my big toe dropped one of those really big cans of sup form a little over 5 feet up right on my toe and in about 10 to 14 days I was ok I could not walk on it at all for about 5 days and my tip was just over 2 weeks away when I did this I hope your husband has a speedy recovery

 

[gap2368]

oh I see in your sig 3 days until his trip yep rent an ECV or if he wants to go the wheel chair way tell him he can push him self and have a few off site venders for ECV so when he see how hard it is you can call them

 

[Keyneky]

as others said I would get a ECV off site they are cheeper and you may need something for the park exit wether or not you are driving or riding the buss there can be long waits ( and lets not talk about the hill to the monorail if you go that way.) when are you going as if it is in a few weeks he may not need any thing I hurt my big toe dropped one of those really big cans of sup form a little over 5 feet up right on my toe and in about 10 to 14 days I was ok I could not walk on it at all for about 5 days and my tip was just over 2 weeks away when I did this I hope your husband has a speedy recovery

We are going this weekend. He is still having trouble walking around. I would like to rent off site but I have no idea how we would get from our off site hotel to MK and vis versa. I don't think I could lift or fit an ECV in my car even if I really, really, wanted to.

 

[gap2368]

they come apart so they can be easy to lift the peases ( from what I hear)

 

[Keyneky]

they come apart so they can be easy to lift the peases ( from what I hear)

I didn't know that they can come apart. Thanks for the info. I will look into it!

 

[gap2368]

I do have not used one but others have said they do so someone might be able to let you know one that would be light weight and easy to take apart and out together

 

[SueM in MN]

When you contact the off-site company, let them know you will need to be transporting it in a car trunk. They will be able to rent one to you that is designed to take apart for car transport.
Most break into several pieces with no piece heavier then about 35 pounds. When they deliver it, the delivery person can run through how to take it apart and put it back together again (most will also have an instruction tag or brochure attached).

If you have not looked yet, follow the link in my signature (or look near the top of this board) to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post 2 has information about ECVs - if you scroll down, you can find rental company links and phone numbers.
Posts 18-21 of that thread has info about getting into attractions. That might be helpful if he can't bear weight on the foot.

We are at WDW right now and it is VERY hot, do that is another reason he would be best off renting an ECV.

 

[JennyDrake]

Another BIG vote for renting ECV from off site. They will tell you the ways of getting it to you. I've had great experience with walker Mobility.

 

[piccolopat]

If he absolutely won't use an ECV, rent a wheelchair. Your daughter can sit on your husband's lap while you push. He may find that he can walk if he pushes the wheelchair with your daughter sitting. I've broken my big toe before and the first few days were very difficult. He may be able to walk on it with some support by the weekend. Has he tried using a cane? You will definitely not be able to push a wheelchair and a stroller at the same time.

 

[Keyneky]

If he absolutely won't use an ECV, rent a wheelchair. Your daughter can sit on your husband's lap while you push. He may find that he can walk if he pushes the wheelchair with your daughter sitting. I've broken my big toe before and the first few days were very difficult. He may be able to walk on it with some support by the weekend. Has he tried using a cane? You will definitely not be able to push a wheelchair and a stroller at the same time.

Thanks for the info. I picked him up a cane yesterday but he hasn't had a whole lot of time to use it. I wasn't sure if they allowed a child to sit with the parent in a wheelchair.

 

[Keyneky]

Another BIG vote for renting ECV from off site. They will tell you the ways of getting it to you. I've had great experience with walker Mobility.

I will look into them. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Keyneky]

When you contact the off-site company, let them know you will need to be transporting it in a car trunk. They will be able to rent one to you that is designed to take apart for car transport.
Most break into several pieces with no piece heavier then about 35 pounds. When they deliver it, the delivery person can run through how to take it apart and put it back together again (most will also have an instruction tag or brochure attached).

If you have not looked yet, follow the link in my signature (or look near the top of this board) to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post 2 has information about ECVs - if you scroll down, you can find rental company links and phone numbers.
Posts 18-21 of that thread has info about getting into attractions. That might be helpful if he can't bear weight on the foot.

We are at WDW right now and it is VERY hot, do that is another reason he would be best off renting an ECV.

Thank you, SueM! I did read over the FAQ when we found out his toe was broken. I will pull it up again to find suggestions for places to call. I appreciate your help. Enjoy your time at WDW!

 

[Keyneky]

Convinced him to rent an ECV now I have to find a place that works for us. We will only be there the weekend, I need a place that will pick up late Sunday night.