Wheelchair rental Questions

[MJGirl]

Hi ... My Daughter(16) and I are thinking of bringing my Down Syndrome (41 and frail) brother with me on my next trip to Disneyworld. Chris is fully mobile, however, he doesn't do well in crowds and is extremely slow. My mother (76) will also be coming with us. She is recovering from a stroke and walks with a cane.

I was contemplating renting a wheel chair for both of them, as it will make the trip more enjoyable for all of us. My question is can I bring the chairs back to the hotel with us, will be staying on site, or do we have to rent one each day. We are either going to drive down or rent a car while there. How can I get more accessible parking (especially for Mom) without a handicap sticker.

Do you kind folks think I would be pushing my luck with the two chairs, or do you feel this is a reasonable request? I know they can both walk, but my brother will have a better trip without the pushing of crowds and I won't have to worry about my mom falling or getting jostled with her cane. Thanks.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi ... My Daughter(16) and I are thinking of bringing my Down Syndrome (41 and frail) brother with me on my next trip to Disneyworld. Chris is fully mobile, however, he doesn't do well in crowds and is extremely slow. My mother (76) will also be coming with us. She is recovering from a stroke and walks with a cane.

I was contemplating renting a wheel chair for both of them, as it will make the trip more enjoyable for all of us. My question is can I bring the chairs back to the hotel with us, will be staying on site, or do we have to rent one each day.

There is more information about wheelchairs that should be helpful to you in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
You can rent wheelchairs at the parks each day, but those wheelchairs can't be taken out of the parks.

You can also borrow a wheelchair from your resort. Those wheelchairs can be taken from the resort to the parks on the bus, but they can't be reserved ahead of time and they may not have 2.

There are also off-site places that you can rent wheelchairs from. They will be delivered to your resort and you can use them for the whole time you are there.

We are either going to drive down or rent a car while there. How can I get more accessible parking (especially for Mom) without a handicap sticker.

If you will have 2 wheelchairs, will you have room to transport 2 of them in your trunk?

If you drive, you can tell the CM that you have wheelchairs and don't have a handicapped parking permit. They do save spots on the ends of rows for that reason.
If both can get step up to get on the parking lot trams and you are able to lift and hold both wheelchairs, then you can ask to park close to the tram stop. That might be a bit difficult to do.

Another possibility is to apply for a parking permit before you leave. The permits from most of the Canadian provinces are recognized as valid in the US.

You can also ride the buses; there is room for 2 wheelchairs on the buses - maybe more if the wheelchairs can be folded (information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about how it works).
For MK, it is much easier to ride the buses because the buses let you off close to the park entry turnstiles. If you drive, you need to walk from the handicapped parking to the Ticket and Transportation Center (or take the tram from the regular parking). From there, you need to go on the boat or on the monorail (NOT recommended because you have to go up a very steep ramp to get to the monorail station level and down again when you get to MK).

Do you kind folks think I would be pushing my luck with the two chairs, or do you feel this is a reasonable request? I know they can both walk, but my brother will have a better trip without the pushing of crowds and I won't have to worry about my mom falling or getting jostled with her cane. Thanks.

I'm not sure what you mean - if you mean to rent 2, that's no problem as long as you have 2 people who can push.
If you mean gettin 2 lent to you from the resort, that might be more of a problem. If it's a non-busy time, you may not have much problem. During a busy time, it may not be possible.

 

[MJGirl]

Thanks Sue for your response .. I really appreciate it.

Regarging my last comment:

Do you kind folks think I would be pushing my luck with the two chairs, or do you feel this is a reasonable request? I know they can both walk, but my brother will have a better trip without the pushing of crowds and I won't have to worry about my mom falling or getting jostled with her cane. Thanks.

I guess what I'm really trying to say, is I feel bad using the chairs, when they both are able to walk. I worry that people will think "Why are they in a wheelchair when they can walk?" I just know my brother will enjoy himself more in a chair, as he won't wander, or get frustrated. The last thing I want is him to have a panic attack if we get ahead of him or if he gets too crowded. I also know my mother won't be able to walk that far at one time, and will need to make frequent rests. By the way, my mother also has narcolepsy, so the chair will allow her to take her naps when needed. So, inshort, for their health and my sanity, I believe the chairs may be the answer.

 

[cupcake]

I guess what I'm really trying to say, is I feel bad using the chairs, when they both are able to walk. I worry that people will think "Why are they in a wheelchair when they can walk?" I just know my brother will enjoy himself more in a chair, as he won't wander, or get frustrated. The last thing I want is him to have a panic attack if we get ahead of him or if he gets too crowded. I also know my mother won't be able to walk that far at one time, and will need to make frequent rests. By the way, my mother also has narcolepsy, so the chair will allow her to take her naps when needed. So, inshort, for their health and my sanity, I believe the chairs may be the answer.

We need Cheshire Figment's list of questions to ask yourself when worrying about what others will think! IMO, the wcs sound like a really great solution to help everyone really enjoy their trip. That's what it's all about! Perhaps there are a few unenlightened people who are unfamiliar with your families' needs who might have nothing better to do with their time than ponder why your family needs mobility assisstance. And perhaps not. But foregoing help that will really make a difference for your brother and mom will not make these people suddenly get it. All it will do is make the trip less fun for everyone. So if you have two people to push, go for it!! See the FAQ for offsite rental info. There's also discussion of the WDW wcs vs offsite in a thread a few below that's titled something about buses. The types of reasons you give are exactly the reason why you *should* rent! It sounds like it will really enhance everyone's experience.

And have a great time on your upcoming cruise! My dh and I are going on the May repo. Can't wait!!!!!

Cupcake

 

[KPeveler]

dont bother with what other people think. neither your mother nor your brother would enjoy themselves fully if they had to walk the whole time (in fact, too much strenuous activity might be bad for your mother).

Remember, this is your vacation. You are paying for it, you are taking it. Everyone else can either deal or not, but thats not your problem. you go, you have fun, and let everyone else lighten up.

btw, at wdw, i will be using a chair, even though i "normally" walk

 

[SueM in MN]

I guess what I'm really trying to say, is I feel bad using the chairs, when they both are able to walk.

Being able to walk is a lot different than being able to walk around WDW.

You have a lot of good reasons for them both to be using wheelchairs and, from what you have written, not having wheelchairs for them would make your trip uncomfortable (if not dangerous) for you all.
As for anyone else's opinion, it doesn't really matter.
Anyone who thinks it's easy or you get any special 'priviledges' when using a wheelchair, has not traveled with one. If they had, they would know that most attractions are wheelchair accessible, so you won't be getting on any faster than any other guests. The few attractions that are not accessible and you might get on faster are balance by some where you will actually wait longer.

 

[SueM in MN]

Cupcake, your post on another thread made me think of something else....

For someone who plans on using a rental car, another option besides renting a wheelchair is to rent a Transport Chair. They are wheelchairs, but instead of having 2 large wheels in the front and 2 small ones in the back, they have 4 small wheels.
This means that the person who is riding in it can't propel it because they can't reach the wheels. But, transport chairs are lighter weight and since they don't have the 2 big rear tires, they are lighter and easier to fit into a car trunk. You can rent them from some of the off-site rental companies listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[SueM in MN]

We need Cheshire Figment's list of questions to ask yourself when worrying about what others will think!

Here are Cheshire Figment's questions:
Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will having a GAC, to be used if needed, make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[MJGirl]

Just wanted to post a great big Thank You for all your advice. I will probably use the wheelchairs, now just have to convince DM to come along. She is not sure if she can make the trip or not, so I will have to work on her some more. Thanks again!

 

[DAniece]

We actually switched DA to a transport chair while she was in the stroke rehab hospital. She had sternal precautions (breast bone was cut during open heart surgery 2 days before the stroke) and was supposed to be "pedaling" the wheelchair -- she kept trying to use her right arm (left neglect, so at that time she didn't "know" she had a left arm) & was putting too much strain on the healing breastbone.

The transport chair was a god-send. Not only was it lighter and easier for us to manuver, it was also much easier for her to "pedal" (think Flintstones & driving w/ your feet) & "steer". It may be possible if your mother or your brother are able, and if they get practice before the trip, that they can have more control getting themselves around in brief spurts while sitting in the transport chair.

One other note (someone can help w/ more info) -- having a cushion or seat-pad is VERY helpful, stops the sitter from sliding around while using their own feet/legs, and protects the skin for pressure sores/blisters.

EG

 

[SueM in MN]

One other note (someone can help w/ more info) -- having a cushion or seat-pad is VERY helpful, stops the sitter from sliding around while using their own feet/legs, and protects the skin for pressure sores/blisters.

EG

That's a good point.
Some people have just used seat cushions (like you can find in the Housewares' or Outdoor Living section of places like Target or Walmart). That might be fine for someone with slight needs for protection.
For someone who needs more protection (like someone with very little feeling or little 'padding') , there are more protective pads. I have never bought from any of these places, but here are some examples:
Edmond's wheelchair.com
There are some frequent posters who have bought things like this on line, so hopefully someone will suggest a place they have experience with to buy.

 

[MJGirl]

Just wanted to thank all of you for your advice and give you an update. We have booked Disney for September. Hoping they are offering the Free Dining again. Just in case, I have booked the Cinderella Breakfast (yah .. can't believe I got it!), Le Cellier Dinner (my birthday dinner that is , Liberty Tree Tavern (I hope Chris will be happy with Minnie and Goofy) and Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package. We should also be there during a MNSSHP so I will try to get tickets for that as well. My brother will have the time of his life.

I'm thinking of driving down (20 hours and I'm the only driver), so I'm going to look into renting some wheelchairs here and also talk to the Transportation Ministry about getting a temporary sticker for my car. I booked 6 nights and 5 day passes, so I figure the first day there will be a pool, relax, rest day!

I just hope all goes through. The guy at Disney that I booked with (thank you Bill) made all kinds of notes about asking for a trundle bed and a first floor, plus also trying for building 14 (which is the closest to the main building at Port Orleans Riverside. I booked POR as it offers the trundle bed and well none of us 3 ladies really want to share a bed with their son, their brother or their uncle.

Again thanks for your advice. Here's wishing all works out as planned!