Wheelchair Question/Rides with wheelchair

[Lorra]

Would you rent or bring your own wheelchair? Does anyone know the cost?

Would you say there are plenty of rides for kids in wheelchairs? This is our 1st trip to WDW.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

As a former Fantasyland CM, I would have to say it really depends on how easy it is for you to transfer your child out of their wheelchair.

Winnie the Pooh and Small World are the only two rides in Fantasyland with a wheelchair accessible car. All the other rides allow lap children, so if you can lift them out it is not a problem. On the Disabilities FAQs thread on the main page there is a list of attractions that allow you to remain in your wheelchair. To figure out just how many rides are appropriate for your child you need to take into consideration the following:

1.) Can your child transfer? This will be the number 1 determinant of the rides they can ride
2.) How fragile is your child? Can they handle a bumpy ride or do they need a smooth ride?
3.) How tall is your child? (Many rides have a height requirement)
4.) Does your child have a cognitive disability that may cause him/her to be frightened of loud noises, dark places, etc?
5.) Is your child capable of sitting in their own seat (if they can transfer) or must they remain on your lap?

At every park there is a thing called a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities. It has all the information you will ever need. The second half is every attraction broken up by land or area with the nature of the attraction, boarding requirements, special considerations, etc. They really should give one at the entrance to anybody who enters with a wheelchair, but that almost never happens. You have to ask for them. You can get them at Guest Relations and any place that has the information sign. As a Fantasyland CM I used to keep five or six copies in my rain gear pouch to give to guests who needed it so they didn't have to go back to the front of the park, but I don't know of anybody else who did/does this.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

If you have your own wheelchair- bring it IMHO.

I have used a rental from WDW once myself when I had an ankle injury from being run over by an ECV While at work. I have also used them for my mom and a friend. The ones that rent get used and abused every day. They do their best to keep them in good condition, but it is hit or miss. Also, if you have your own wheelchair, presumably it is made to hit you. You're the same poster asking about rides for kids in wheelchairs right?

If it is your child, they will not have a good option. All the wheelchairs are meant for the average sized adult, they are uncomfortable to me because I am a very short adult and it was hard to manually push it because of the heigh of the armrests. Your child will have even more problems because there are only two sizes: regular and "relaxed fit" as my friend refers to them. Really, if you have your own WC it is obviously a need that you have on a daily basis, and will be much easier for you to bring it with you than to have to deal with a rental.

I don't know the current cost of a rental at WDW, last time I checked they were 15/day, so renting isn't the most cost effective option. You can find the current price info on the Disabilities FAQ thread. They do have free chairs at resorts that can be used throughout the resort, including parks for the duration of your stay, but they are strictly first come first serve and are very limited.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board, there is a link in post #3 to the Guidebooks that Eeyores Butterfly mentioned.

Besides the things that she mentioned, a lot depends on how small your child is. I have a 23 yr old DD who can't walk and really can't help us with transferring her. When she was a child, she pretty much went on everything we could lift her onto. So, over the years, she has been on everything except a few of the roller coaster rides (Space Mountain, Rock N Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad). As she has gotten taller and heavier, some of the rides have become harder to lift her onto.

If your child can't sit outside of his/her own wheelchair, there are still things to do. All of the shows are wheelchair accessible and many rides have wheelchair cars.

It would help us give advice if you can tell us a little more about your child.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have one, I would bring it.
Even if you think you will only use it in the parks, it is more comfortable for most people to have their own. Besides, the resorts are large and involve a lot more walking than most people think of.
The WDW transportation is set up to transport wheelchairs.
Also, if you are traveling by air, a wheelchair is transported free of charge and does not count against either your carryon or checked bag limit.

 

[SueM in MN]

I noticed that you posted 2 thread that are related, so I am going to combine them into on post.