Wheelchair question

[JulieSharp]

Hi,

I have read the really useful FAQ so thanks for that, it is just next year we are thinking of travelling from the UK without Joshua's wheelchair.

He is 15 and autistic/non verbal, he can walk, just not long distances, hence we figure as we will probably only need a chair for the theme parks we will rent out there, but have never done this before.

I have seen the extracts for the parks. like below for MK, which say where to rent a wheelchair and like I say have read the FAQ, what happens for example when we park up at Magic Kingdom and then have to make our way over to the monorail - he could walk it there, but can we not collect closer to the car park?

Also I can see Universal Studio's website says collect wheelchair from car park rotunda, anyone know what or where that is?

Magic Kingdom Theme Park
Frontier Trading Post in Frontierland (replacement location)
Mickey's Gift Station at Ticket and Transportation Center (limited quantities)
Stroller and Wheelchair shop inside Main Entrance (also rents ECVs)
Tinkerbell's Treasures in Fantasyland (replacement location)
Tomorrowland Arcade (replacement location)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Why not take his wheelchair? It will be carried at no cost by the airline and he can be wheeled all the way to the door of the aircraft. And that way you don't have to rent and can be sure that one will be available at all times. Also, the only rentals from Disney are adult-sized chairs which he might not fit into well.

 

[JulieSharp]

Partly because we are staying in an off site villa and only feel we really either need a wheelchair for the parks/shopping malls, we rarely use it at home.
Recently he has shown more patience in certain things, in that we can now take him to restaurants in the UK, something that we have not been able to do really, and also encouraging him to walk more where in the past we would use his chair , when shopping for example.

We are trying to encourage him to walk more, he isn't the best walker, and feel if we push him more *not in the chair that is, I mean development wise* it will benefit him, I guess we are just trying to push the boundaries a little.

We don't visit theme parks every day, in addition from a rental vehicle perspective it's close to £200 more for a vehicle that will in theory take our luggage AND the chair, that is a minivan.
I don't think the mid size SUV we are looking at, Ford Escape, will take everything we are bringing, and when we analyse why we need the chair, it really came down to just using it at the parks.

 

[ttintagel]

You could rent a chair from an outside company like Walker Mobility.

 

[JulieSharp]

Yes, thanks we have considered that too.

The thing with the vehicle is there are only 3 of us, so we don't really need the extra space apart from travelling from and to the airport and the cost to rent is significantly more, I just don't think the smaller SUV will take all our luggage and the chair. Plus we are trying to get him to walk more as I say earlier.

 

[Piper]

It sounds as though you have made up your mind to rent in the parks. I think people are suggesting off-site rental because the chairs in the park are not in the best condition. Remember they have been used by many people who don't really take care of them. You also have little control over the size of the seat--you take what they have available. Also, if you park-hop, you don't take the same chair out of the park. You turn it in and then take a chance that the park you hop to has another one available.

Many people who have children with Autism use the chairs not only as a means of keeping them from tiring, but also a safe place for them to retreat. If he doesn't need any of these things do what you will.

I have never been to Universal so cannot help you with that park.

 

[lanejudy]

Yes, thanks we have considered that too.

The thing with the vehicle is there are only 3 of us, so we don't really need the extra space apart from travelling from and to the airport and the cost to rent is significantly more, I just don't think the smaller SUV will take all our luggage and the chair. Plus we are trying to get him to walk more as I say earlier.

Just suggesting that if you rent from off-site and the w/c is delivered to your villa, you wouldn't have the w/c in the vehicle with luggage so it should fit in a Ford Escape for your day-trip to the parks. It can be folded and stowed in a closet at the villa on days when you don't wish to use it - therefore encouraging him to walk. Renting off-site may also be less expensive than renting by the day in the parks.

If you do rent in the parks, MK will be your biggest challenge getting to/from the parking lot. I think you may be able to drop-off curbside at or near the TTC, and someone stay with your son while the other adult parks the vehicle. But there is no way to drive close to the entrance to MK. I've heard the other parks are a little easier.

Sorry, I don't have experience with Universal.

 

[dimndgal1]

Just want to second (or third) renting from an outside company.

The wheelchair rental at Universal is not ideal for transit -- you park in the garage and someone needs to walk to the rental station by the walkways toward the parks and then come back to the car with the chair. Sometimes tehre have been chairs in the garage (I assume for intermediate transport) but it's hit or miss. And, the walk from the garage to the parks is LOOOONG.

Also, at the end of any park day, the last thing you will want to do is drag or carry your child if you can help it. Park days are long days -- there is a reason why many people rent strollers for older children or they strongly suggest wheelchairs and ECVs for those who are mobile but might need assistance.

It can be a hassle to drag wheels around, but it will more than make up for it when it comes time where you need it. I am renting an ECV for our trip this summer and we will have a stroller for our 5 year old DD. I could PROBABLY get by without an ECV and she never uses her stroller outside of amusement parks -- but I'd rather be safe than regretful at the end of the day.

HTH!

P.S. many of the rental companies have smaller size wheelchairs from what I have read that should easily fit into the trunk of a small car. There are some great suggestions of companies on the sticky in this forum and the places I have called were very friendly, knowledgeable, and beyond helpful!

 

[JulieSharp]

Thanks for all the replies, we haven't fully decided what to do yet just need to be in a position for deciding on the rental car before we decide to actually book.

I am being put off the idea of renting from the parks a little as ideally would rather have a chair there waiting in the boot of the car.

It was just a balancing act between getting Joshua to walk more, which he needs to do, and reducing the car hire cost by a significant amount when really we do not need such a large vehicle nearly all of the holiday.

Having said all that if the cost of renting from an off-site company is just as expensive as the larger rental car, we still may decide to take our own.

 

[Michigan]

Does you son's chair fold together or is it a rigid chair where only the seat back folds down? You should be able to get the chair in the car with the luggage. SUV back seats split so if you fold the 2/3 part of the seat down giving you a lot more room.

 

[EMTyarn]

There are wheelchairs in each park's parking lot for Guest use. When you arrive at the park, follow the Blue line, and let the CMs know that you have a person with a wheelchair in the vehicle. If there are no wheelchairs at the end of the lane, ask a CM and they should be able to get you one.

In addition, any CM on the Monorail can get you a wheelchair, at any station. If you see my hubby Hayes, do say hello

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I too would rent from an off site company.

We use Randys Mobility.

I like them because they dont require an insurance fee if the chair gets stolen in the park etc.

Some other companies I looked at online require a fee for that.

Best of luck.