Wheelchair or scooter?

[Pamnkevin]

My 72 year old father will be coming to disney with us. He can walk, but walks very slow and could not do an entire day on his feet. He wants a wheelchair while he's there...which if we're staying onsite we can get one free...correct? I'm wondering though if he'd be better off with a scooter. Thoughts?

 

[Smile&Nod]

I would not assume your hotel will have one available. They have a few but no guarantee they will have it. If he is not intimidated by the idea of a scooter then try that. I rented twice from Apple Scooter and they were great. Scooter is delivered to your hotel for arrival and picked up when you leave. If you go with a wheelchair they rent those as well. It can be s long walk from your room to the bus stop and then I to the park so having one available all the time is great!

 

[aaarcher86]

The resort wheelchairs stay at the resort so you'd still have to pay to rent one in the parks. Those are not free.

 

[Pamnkevin]

Thanks everyone...I did not realize the resort ones had to stay there. So if we have to rent regardless...just seems to make more sense to get a scooter

 

[Pamnkevin]

Double post...oops

 

[aaarcher86]

If you're going to do a scooter I would recommend looking into outside vendors that work with Disney. That way your dad can have it at the resorts and the parks. The scooters at the parks have to stay at the parks.

Rentals for wheelchairs at Disney are around $15 a day and scooters are around $50.

 

[Pamnkevin]

Yes...I was looking into applescooters.com. We may be renting a stroller as well. I just talked to him and he wants a wheelchair. He thinks he'll be pushing it around most of the time (kind of like a walker) but I don't think so. I think he'll be pushed mostly. If he walks...that makes for a VERY slow walk for the rest of us. I also don't want him to feel rushed though and hurt his feelings or cause any fights. He's treating us to this trip after all

 

[powellrj]

If he thinks he wants to walk, what about a rollerator? Its kind of the best of both, he can push and also have a place to sit. It can be hard to get an ECV around the parks if hes not use to using one, so a wheelchair may be his best option.

 

[pbrim]

Usually you can get an ECV on short notice, so you could always start out with a WC and see how it goes. Or you could ask him to try an ECV one day and you can always switch to a WC if he doesn't like the ECV.

ECVs you rent (especially the off-site vendor ones) are not like the ones in the stores. Those are typically very big and cumbersome and very slow, while the rental ones are smaller and more maneuverable. So if he is basing his opinion on experience with store ECVs he may want to re-consider.

Also, you don't have to spend all your time in the ECV. You can park it in a central stroller parking area while walking to nearby rides and shops. I rarely take mine into shops or restaurants, they tend to be a little crowded. (But you can if you need/want to.) The downside to that is that you won't have any support, as in pushing a wheelchair and leaning on it.

One other consideration -- you need to be quite alert to what's going on around you when using an ECV. Since you are below line of sight, people tend not to see you, and walk right into you or stop in front of you. ECVs don't stop on a time, so you need to be alert. This can be tiring on it's own. Which may be another reason to prefer a WC over an ECV.

 

[Pamnkevin]

I've never heard of a rollerater...I'll have to check that out. These are very good points about both WC and ECV. I'll have lots to share with him

 

[JillyBean1899]

I've never heard of a rollerater...I'll have to check that out. These are very good points about both WC and ECV. I'll have lots to share with him

You've heard of it, you've just never seen the actual word for it.

 

[Pamnkevin]

You've heard of it, you've just never seen the actual word for it.

You are correct

 

[On My Way]

We went to Disney last Nov and my Mom rented a scooter from Buena Vista Scooters. It worked out great being there at the resort when we checked in and we left it there at checkout.

I have a problem with my feet, so on day 6 I just couldn't walk Magic Kingdom anymore. My hubby rented a $12 wheelchair at the park and the wheels were absolutely horrible!! It made for a really long day for both of us since we would have had to exchange it all the way back at the entrance so we just dealt with it all day. Not fun!!

Buena Vista has a scooter that is more like a wheelchair if he prefers a wheelchair type.

 

[JillyBean1899]

We went to Disney last Nov and my Mom rented a scooter from Buena Vista Scooters. It worked out great being there at the resort when we checked in and we left it there at checkout.

I have a problem with my feet, so on day 6 I just couldn't walk Magic Kingdom anymore. My hubby rented a $12 wheelchair at the park and the wheels were absolutely horrible!! It made for a really long day for both of us since we would have had to exchange it all the way back at the entrance so we just dealt with it all day. Not fun!!

Buena Vista has a scooter that is more like a wheelchair if he prefers a wheelchair type.

The park chairs can be hit or miss, just like shopping carts at the grocery store. Since they used to basically be a pass to the front of the line, people that didn't need them would get them, and then abuse them. If you know that you'll need something while you're there, I highly recommend renting from off site, especially since it means you'd be able to use it before you get into the parks.

 

[SteveMouse]

An electric wheelchair and an ECV may appear to be to molar, but operating them is completely different. An electric chair takes considerably more practice and is generally less forgiving, especially since it has a shorter turning radius. Many vendors won't rent an electric wheelchair to you unless you validate you have prior experience. The chairs also do not break down info component parts to put in a car.