Wheelchair Rental and Hotel Accessibility

[VolvoManiac850]

I posted a general summary of a trip I am planning in another sub forum. After finding this one, I figured I'd place a few more specific questions here.

I'm planning a trip with two elderly grandparents. They are 84 and almost 83. Both will require a wheelchair to get around any of the parks. (They should be OK over shorter distances, such as getting from a parking lot to a restaurant or hotel). We are taking my grandmother's SUV and she does have a handicap parking permit due to foot problems caused by Type II Diabetes.

I now know the cost of renting a wheelchair at WDW, but have a few questions:

1. Is there a discount for seniors?
2. Is there a discount for multiple wheelchairs?
3. Are the wheelchairs electric or manual?
4. If you leave a park and then go to another one, do you have to pay again to rent a wheelchair? (Same for going back to a hotel, then re-entering a park).
5. Is there any way to get a double wheelchair? I know they make double strollers and wheelchairs with bikes on the back, but what about doubles?

In terms of hotels--we will likely be at Grand Floridian. I was last there in 1989 as a young child and obviously wasn't looking for any sort of wheelchair accommodations at the time. I am aware of the building code changes since then and am well-versed in the ADA, so I'm assuming they have upgraded or at least added accommodations in the 25 years which have passed. Have any wheelchair-bound travelers stayed at Grand Floridian, and, if so, what are your experiences?

 

[SueM in MN]

I posted a general summary of a trip I am planning in another sub forum. After finding this one, I figured I'd place a few more specific questions here.

I'm planning a trip with two elderly grandparents. They are 84 and almost 83. Both will require a wheelchair to get around any of the parks. (They should be OK over shorter distances, such as getting from a parking lot to a restaurant or hotel). We are taking my grandmother's SUV and she does have a handicap parking permit due to foot problems caused by Type II Diabetes.

I now know the cost of renting a wheelchair at WDW, but have a few questions:

1. Is there a discount for seniors?

No. If you plan to rent at the parks, there is a multiple-day discount for wheelchairs' but not for ECVs (power mobility scooters).

2. Is there a discount for multiple wheelchairs?

Follow the link in my signature or look near the top of this board to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post 2 of that thread has information about renting wheelchairs and ECV s (power mobility scooters)

3. Are the wheelchairs electric or manual?

In the parks, you can rent manual wheelchairs or ECVs.
Manual wheelchairs are relatively easy to push and the person riding in it does not need to watch where they are going, but can look around and enjoy the sights some people are OK with the loss of independence that comes with being pushed and others are not.

ECVs are powered. They give more independence, but the user needs to be constantly alert to what is going on around them and must be ready to stop at any time.
Good hearing, vision, alertness and ability to react quickly are important to using an ECV safely. People frequently step out in front of the ECV or wheelchair without any warning. So the user must be constantly ready to stop, depending on what is going on around them. The constant alertness can be very tiring and using an ECV also means the person is not free to look around at the scenery.
Some older people do not feel comfortable using an ECV, especially if they no longer drive a car.

4. If you leave a park and then go to another one, do you have to pay again to rent a wheelchair? (Same for going back to a hotel, then re-entering a park).

no, but save your receipt - showing that will get you another wheelchair without paying. There is usually not an issue with getting wheelchairs in the parks, but ECV s are in shorter supply.
Rather than renting at the parks, I would recommend renting from one of the off-site places listed in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You may be able to get a discount for rental of more than one and (more importantly) you will also have it available for use at the resort or if you go somewhere like Downtown Disney.

5. Is there any way to get a double wheelchair? I know they make double strollers and wheelchairs with bikes on the back, but what about doubles?

No.
They would be too wide or too long to fit in wheelchair spots or in lines.

In terms of hotels--we will likely be at Grand Floridian. I was last there in 1989 as a young child and obviously wasn't looking for any sort of wheelchair accommodations at the time. I am aware of the building code changes since then and am well-versed in the ADA, so I'm assuming they have upgraded or at least added accommodations in the 25 years which have passed. Have any wheelchair-bound travelers stayed at Grand Floridian, and, if so, what are your experiences?

All of the public areas and elevators are accessible and all bathrooms have at least one accessible toilet stall.

What do they need in their room?
Many people assume anyone using a wheelchair or ECV needs snow accessible room, but many do not. The doorways of all rooms are wide enough to drive a wheelchair or ECV into the room. Since you mentioned they can walk, just not long distances,they would not need to use a wheelchair in the room.
Depending on what their needs are, they may or may not need an accessible room.
There is a post on page one of the disABILITIES FAQs thread that talks about the differences between the different types of accessible rooms.
If they don't need a roll in shower, they might be just fine in a 'regular' room.

 

[SueM in MN]

I saw your post on the Family Board with a few more details about your grandparents.

Grandpa--84 years old, had a stroke over a year ago. He can't drive anymore, walks very slowly, processes things much slower than he did just a few years ago (he was an engineer and, even just a few years ago, was very sharp). On his previous trip (14 years ago), he was very adventurous and actually rode Tower of Terror with me--and enjoyed it immensely!! He's too proud to ever own his own wheelchair but is fall-prone. We will almost certainly get him one for the parks. He suffers from mild dementia.

Grandma--will be 83 next month, has Type II Diabetes and vision issues (but can still drive). Has a lot of trouble getting around and has a cane, but is too proud to use it. She will almost certainly need a wheelchair for the parks as well (do they make doubles like they do strollers?) and hopes to get out more than she did in 2000 (she spent a good portion of the day in a hotel room--she tends to sleep late). Worth noting--she's a lifelong Disney fanatic who still remembers seeing Snow White in the theater in the 30s!! She also suffers from mild dementia.

Given what you wrote about them, neither one would be safe driving an ECV, so I would get a wheelchair go reach of them.

 

[SueM in MN]

Also from your post on the Family Board:

--How good is the Disney transit system for wheelchairs? We have relied heavily on the boats at Yacht Club/Beach Club/Boardwalk on past trips and usually take the bus or drive elsewhere. I am currently thinking of driving everywhere and just keeping the wheelchairs stored in our SUV, but if we "hop" between a park given days and have them, would the boats and/or buses be conducive to these?

There is more information about transportation options in a post on page 1 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
In general, the small boats that serve some of the MK area resorts are not accessible. All of the larger boats are.

Buses are all accessible, with at least 2 wheelchair tiedown spots per bus.

Monorails are accessible.

You may want to consider the Contemporary. There is a walking path between a contemporary and MK. If you stay at Grand Floridian, your only options are driving or monorail. Since the monorail has been operating on limited hours ( and even before could be pretty busy), contemporary would give you more options and an easy way to get back to the room without having to wait for anything.

--We don't need any special accommodations in the hotel rooms. Currently, I'm thinking my mom and I will each room with one grandparent so we can be there in case anything happens.

so, it sounds like an accessible room is not needed.
You can request things like shower bench or raised seat toilet from Housekeeping at your resort.

--What attractions are off-limits to people who are in wheelchairs or have limited accessibility? Grandma and Grandpa should experience Disney to its fullest; I don't think they will be able to make a trip for much longer.

There are only 3 which are listed as 'must be ambulatory:
- Peter Pan (because the moving walkway can't be stopped or slowed)
- Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse ( many stairs)
- Tom Sawyer Island ( many stairs, suspended bridges, uneven paths)

Tomorrowland Transit Authority has a very steep moving ramp

There are posts on page 2 or the disABILITIES FAQs thread that will be helpful to you. There is one post for each park that talks about attractions that may be hard to board.
There is also a post about attractions with warning. There are no attractions that are 'off omits' to guests using wheelchairs, but some may not be the best choice because if the individual person's condition, so you may want to discuss with their doctors.