Wheelchair or scooter rental for elderly parents?

[patty57]

Hi, I have a question for the experts. I'm traveling with my elderly parents to BWV Dec. 11-17. My mom is 83, dad will be 87 at time of travel. These are healthy people, independent non-complainers. My mom is having a knee replacement next week. So...here's the question. We're going to rent either a wheelchair or a scooter and they could actually both use it since neither has a permanent disability. They won't each rent one. The thought of a wheelchair is appealing because we could just carry it on the Disney busses as opposed to using a lift for a scooter. However, I'm asking the experts what they think...wheelchair or scooter? I would probably push the wheelchair. I'm a very healthy 53 year old.
TIA,
Patty

 

[Cheshire Figment]

That sounds like a workable plan. However, I would bring the information from the disABILITIES FAQs Post #2 with you in case you decide it is too much pushing or if one definitely needs an ECV.

A few years ago my mother, still very healthy at 96 (her birthday was Friday) was only 91. I "forced" her to use an ECV when we visited Epcot. Later she said I was definitely right about it.

I think you will end up definitely needing at least one ECV.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I would go with the ECV (or possibly 2 if you can afford it) because they both sound like really independent people. With the sort of wheelchairs you generally rent for/at a place like Disney (versus a custom one someone might buy for general use), they're really big and heavy and hard to move on your own so you often have to have someone with you at any point you're in it just to move it. Also, people who aren't used to pushing wheelchairs sometimes forget things like what direction the person they're pushing is facing and it's really annoying to say for the umpteenth time "no, I can't see that thing you're pointing at to your left because I can't turn that far and you've got me faced the other way" or similar.

The reason I said possibility of 2 ECVs is because even the shortest distance people expect to walk in a single day at WDW is about 4 miles. Some of the ride queues are 1/4 mile long just to walk through and that's not counting distances between rides. The World Showcase at Epcot is over a mile just to walk around (not exploring any of the different "countries"). So even if they're in really good shape, it might be too much walking. They might be good for one day, but multiple days in a row of that sorts of distances are really rough.

 

[patty57]

Thanks for your responses. So, it looks like votes for an ECV over a wheelchair? I had been leaning toward a wheelchair because I could fold it up and carry it on and off the busses, and because they would prefer to walk when they could, but this is new territory for me. I appreciate your input.

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess for the wheelchair or ECV question, I would have a few questions?

Have you talked to them about using a mobility device?
It's pretty obvious that they will need one, but if you have not mentioned it, it's better to bring it up now than spring it on them just before you go.

Have you asked them which they prefer?
Some people would be too nervous to drive an ECV and would be happier being pushed in a wheelchair, even though that gives less independence.
Other people are really interested in being independent and don't want to be pushed around.

Are both of them still driving a car?
People who are still driving a car usually feel more confident driving an ECV. If either of them never drove, they may feel more comfortable with a wheelchair.

Do any have hearing, vision or attention problems that would interfere with being able to safely drive an ECV? Driving an ECV does require a certain amount of concentration. Because there are no 'roads' inside the parks, people do wander across your path as you are driving. It's not uncommon for other guests to cross right in front of you without warning.

Have either of them driven an ECV before?
If they haven't, they can test one out in most large stores like Target and Walmart. If they can drive one of those, which are large and have a big shopping basket stuck on the front, WDW will not be a problem.

You might also want to look into other options - like renting one ECV and one wheelchair if they both need one at the same time or using a rollator (sort of a walker with a fold down seat).

My FIL used an ECV at Epcot and at the Studio, but felt it was too congested and busy at MK and AK. Some people do feel that same way while others are comfortable at all the parks.

 

[patty57]

Hi Sue,
We have discussed it. At first, my mother said no, but she reconsidered after speaking with someone she knows who used an ECV in Disney. My father is 87 and has said that he does not need anything even though we talked about all the mileage that comes with WDW. My mother will be almost five months post knee replacement, so she will be able to do some walking as well. That is why I was thinking they could "share" something. It would primarily be for my mother, but my father could use it if he got really tired. They could both learn to use an ECV although neither has ever used one before. I think I was originally leaning toward a wheelchair both for the ease of getting it on Disney transportation and also that there would be no learning curve with learning to drive it. Are all the wheelchairs available for rent very heavy? Is there such a thing as a lighter weight chair for someone who only needs it part-time?
Patty

 

[patty57]

Sorry...I missed a couple of your questions. They both still drive. My father has some balance issues and is hard of hearing.

 

[SueM in MN]

The rental wheelchairs are kind of standard nursing home/hospital wheelchairs. They are heavy - about 40-50 pounds, but it does not really take that much force to push them.

If both are still driving, I think they will not have much trouble. The hard of hearing would mean he would have to be more careful, especially getting on and off the bus where he would need to listen while driving.

If either of them feels uncomfortable driving onto the bus, another member of your party could do it for them.

 

[scdak]

There are lighter w/c, there are several companies in the WDW area that rent them and they deliver them to the resorts, I have seen the info in the disabilties threads. Its also possible to purchase a "transport chair" that is lighter weight, they don't have the large wheels that would allow a person to wheel themselves but have to be pushed by you all the time. I am planning on buying one for my mother to use for my upcoming trip and then we will have it as she gets older and her mobility issues worsen, the one I am looking at weighs less than 20 lbs total, probably 1/2 the weight of a standard wheelchair. I have never tried to carry a standard chair on a bus, but I can tell you from lots of experience putting it in the back of my van or SUV.........it gets really heavy after many times of lifting it wherever you go.

By all means, keep talking to your parents about mobility assistance of some sort, the distances at WDW are overwhelming to healthy, young people. My mother tried to "be normal" on a previous trip, after 3 days she was having so many issues with pain and fatigue that I finally just rented a w/c and told her to please sit down, the next 3 days of exploring the parks were so much nicer than the first 3 days, now she never argues with me about using the w/c!

 

[patty57]

Thank you all so much for your advice.

 

[Debbie-TN]

My cousin always rents her scooter from Walker Mobility, but there are a lot of companies in the area. It is cheaper to rent from them instead of at the park. If your dad thinks he can walk, you could always rent a wheelchair at the park if he finds out he can't walk that much. The transport wheelchairs are wonderful. For years my father used a regular wheelchair and it was so heavy to put in and out of the trunk of the car. When my mother started needing one when going places outside of the house, we got her a transport wheelchair. You can pick it up with one hand and it is very easy to push. We got hers at Sam's Club for about $150. It may be a good investment for upcoming years. Also, even though there aren't big wheels to push yourself, if you can walk some, you can still walk around while sitting down.