Wheelchair Questions

[SRUAlmn]

I wasn't sure if this was the right forum to ask this, so if a moderator could move it if it's not, I'd appreciate it


We are headed down in less than 2 weeks for our wedding. My grandmother just had heart surgery in April and we weren't even sure if she was going to make it, but she pulled through and is doing really well now She is able to get around, but VERY slowly & it wears her out quickly, and we feel she would be more comfortable in a wheelchair (especially in the heat!) She won't be going to the parks that much, but will a couple times, and will probably need to use it around the resort a little too.

We contacted the Contemporary where we'll be staying and were told that the only way to have a wheelchair for your whole stay (at the resort and at the parks and to get on and off the busses, she can't do stairs yet) would be to rent one from one of 3 independent companies that rent them. Does anyone have any recommendations? Does anyone know what they charge?

We were also trying to remember back to previous trips to think about things like elevator locations. For example, the ramp up to the monorail outside of Epcot is very steep and I don't think any of us could push her wheelchair up it. Is there an elevator there?

This is all new for us, so any help anyone could provide would be great!! Also, if anyone has stayed in the garden rooms at the Contemporary, how difficult will it be to get her to the monorail platform?

Thank you

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The top item is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent wheelchairs from offsite.

There is an elevator on the boarding side of the Epcot Monorail Platform. However, the TTC and MK monorail stops do not have any elevators.

From the Contremporary Wing there is a short walkway to the back of the Contemporary (Pool and Bay Lake side). Take any elevator to the 4th floor. There is an elevator next to the Fantasia Shop on the 4th floor that goes to the monorail platform.

If your grandmother has decent vision and can drive you might want to look into renting an ECV for her rather than a wheelchair. It will give her a greater degree of indpendence.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The top item is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent wheelchairs from offsite.

There is an elevator on the boarding side of the Epcot Monorail Platform. However, the TTC and MK monorail stops do not have any elevators.

From the Contremporary Wing there is a short walkway to the back of the Contemporary (Pool and Bay Lake side). Take any elevator to the 4th floor. There is an elevator next to the Fantasia Shop on the 4th floor that goes to the monorail platform.

If your grandmother has decent vision and can drive you might want to look into renting an ECV for her rather than a wheelchair. It will give her a greater degree of indpendence.

Thank you!! I will go and check out the FAQ My grandmother does have great vision, but she is still not supposed to be driving because of her leg strength. She gets little twitches still and is still trying to gain back muscle strength after being bed-bound in the hospital for 2 months. I would assume that would pertain to an ECV too, but maybe not

 

[Linda Bell]

Thank you!! I will go and check out the FAQ My grandmother does have great vision, but she is still not supposed to be driving because of her leg strength. She gets little twitches still and is still trying to gain back muscle strength after being bed-bound in the hospital for 2 months. I would assume that would pertain to an ECV too, but maybe not

Hi

Might also look into buying a transport wheelchair if the ECV won't work for you. They collapse to fit in the trunk and you can use it in the parks, hotels, and even wheel her up to the door of the plane. Airline just stores it as luggage after she gets off. They start at $95 and they may be cheaper and more convienent than renting and you will have it if you need it at home. We have a Nova Comet and take it everywhere. Love the soft back tires and the hand brakes.
http://www.allegromedical.com/wheel...ightweight-transport-wheelchairs-p192474.html


Linda

 

[SRUAlmn]

Hi

Might also look into buying a transport wheelchair if the ECV won't work for you. They collapse to fit in the trunk and you can use it in the parks, hotels, and even wheel her up to the door of the plane. Airline just stores it as luggage after she gets off. They start at $95 and they may be cheaper and more convienent than renting and you will have it if you need it at home. We have a Nova Comet and take it everywhere. Love the soft back tires and the hand brakes.
http://www.allegromedical.com/wheel...ightweight-transport-wheelchairs-p192474.html


Linda

Wow! Thanks! LOVE the hand brakes. For right now she is fairly mobile still, but having just been bedridden for 2 months it's going to be a shock to her system to go do all this. My aunt and mom have been taking her on short trips to the mall, etc... to get her used to traveling and being out and about. This is a definite possibility

 

[KPeveler]

a lot of ECVs are driven using your hands, not feet, so it may be worth inquiring with some companies for your grandmother...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Thank you!! My grandmother does have great vision, but she is still not supposed to be driving because of her leg strength. She gets little twitches still and is still trying to gain back muscle strength after being bed-bound in the hospital for 2 months.

An ECV, especially the off-site rentals, has a handlebar similar to a large tricycle. There is a lever positioned so it can be pushed by either thumb; pushing with the right hand will go forward and with the left it will back up. Taking your finger off the lever will stop it. The speed is controlled both by a dial which sets the top speed and the control lever, where the further in it is pushed the faster you will go. The legs are not used at all to control the ECV.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Oh, awesome!! I don't know why I was thinking they had a little pedal on them. Thank you both so much for the clarification

 

[SueM in MN]

Many stores have ECVs - you will find them in places like grocery stores, Walmart and Target. Those are great places to try one - Target is a better place than Walmart, because Target has nice wide aisles. You would want to do a little practice before going to Walmart because the aisles are much narrower there. The ECVs at the stores are much bigger and have a cart attached on the front, so if she can drive a store one, she would have no problem at WDW.

Some people are too nervous driving an ECV to relax, but many people enjoy the independence of it, as has been already mentioned.

 

[bsbcgirl]

We just returned from our split stay at CBR and Dolphin from 6/25 through 7/1. My DD tore her ACL the week before (great timing) and is scheduled for surgery next week. Things went really well, thanks to the great tips from all of you. Rent a small wheelchair (we actually brought a transport type ) at home and bring it with you. You will need it at the resort and getting from the Disney transportation to the park entrances. Also, a lot of time will be saved from standing in line at each park to rent a wheelchair for the day.
Hope this helps, and thanks again to everyone for your great advice!

 

[SRUAlmn]

We just returned from our split stay at CBR and Dolphin from 6/25 through 7/1. My DD tore her ACL the week before (great timing) and is scheduled for surgery next week. Things went really well, thanks to the great tips from all of you. Rent a small wheelchair (we actually brought a transport type ) at home and bring it with you. You will need it at the resort and getting from the Disney transportation to the park entrances. Also, a lot of time will be saved from standing in line at each park to rent a wheelchair for the day.
Hope this helps, and thanks again to everyone for your great advice!

Thank you for this! My mom and I were just on the phone talking about whether or not we felt my grandma would be able to get from the bus to the park entrance ok. Glad to know the rent at home option worked better!

 

[kdeachilla]

My son is a Junior at Slippery Rock! That makes 3 of us who know where it is!!

 

[SRUAlmn]

My son is a Junior at Slippery Rock! That makes 3 of us who know where it is!!

Cool!! It's a great school! Especially now that they are remodeling the entire campus It's so hard, though, when you move out of PA and when people ask where you went to school and you tell them they look at you like you're nuts. Like it's not a reputable school

On another note, I see that you're from York. My fiance grew up in Stewartstown!! Small world

 

[kdeachilla]

Cool!! It's a great school! Especially now that they are remodeling the entire campus It's so hard, though, when you move out of PA and when people ask where you went to school and you tell them they look at you like you're nuts. Like it's not a reputable school

On another note, I see that you're from York. My fiance grew up in Stewartstown!! Small world

Very small world!! We're actually just south of York in a tiny town called Jacobus but Stewartstown is about 15 minutes away.

We are originally from Maryland, where DS went to High School, and his friends from there laugh at him all of the time because he goes to a school named Slippery Rock. But he's doing very well there (Athletic Training Major) and we're very proud!!

Well, we're off to a 10 day stay at POP tomorrow!! Happy 4th of July!!

 

[leanan]

I really recommend the ECV rental if she can see well enough to drive one. Just being pregnant with bad hips those ECVs have been a life saver and you feel more independant this way. Always a plus in grandma's mind I am sure.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Very small world!! We're actually just south of York in a tiny town called Jacobus but Stewartstown is about 15 minutes away.

We are originally from Maryland, where DS went to High School, and his friends from there laugh at him all of the time because he goes to a school named Slippery Rock. But he's doing very well there (Athletic Training Major) and we're very proud!!

Well, we're off to a 10 day stay at POP tomorrow!! Happy 4th of July!!

SRU is great for athletic training! Good luck to him!

We'll be there for a few of the same days. We get there next Tuesday for our wedding! Enjoy Pop, it's fun!!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I really recommend the ECV rental if she can see well enough to drive one. Just being pregnant with bad hips those ECVs have been a life saver and you feel more independant this way. Always a plus in grandma's mind I am sure.

Thank you! Because of everyone suggesting it on here we talked to her about it. She said she's afraid she couldn't do it and would run someone over I think she is a little apprehensive, so we may rent a small chair at home and have her take it with us that way she'll have it everywhere and we won't have to keep getting new ones and standing in line.

 

[alizesmom]

My son is a Junior at Slippery Rock! That makes 3 of us who know where it is!!

How about 4 of us? I come from just north of SRU on I79. Hometown of Cochranton which is a small burg just south of Meadville. Karen

 

[SRUAlmn]

How about 4 of us? I come from just north of SRU on I79. Hometown of Cochranton which is a small burg just south of Meadville. Karen

Cool!!!!!!! And we are both named Karen, Sing with me now 'It's a small world after all, It's a small world after all....' SORRY! Now you're all going to have that song stuck in your head all night

 

[SRUAlmn]

Hey! Just wanted to update everyone since you were all so helpful. My aunt called my grandmother's visiting nurse's association and they are letting her take a wheelchair at no charge to use on our trip. That way, we'll have it with us at all times and we won't have to worry about her having to walk from the busses/monorail to the front gate and we won't have to wait in line to get one. Thank you all again SO MUCH for your help. You have helped make my grandma's trip much more comfortable and enjoyable and that is priceless!!!!