Wheelchair rentals ?'s

[atlanta braves fan]

Does anyone know where I can rent a wheelchair for use at Disney besides the ones in the parks. My mother has scoliosis and can not walk very far without extreme pain. When we went five years ago, it was extremely hard on her walking from the bus drop off to the place inside the park to rent the chair. This year we are staying at the Boardwalk and I am worried about getting her back and forth to Epcot. I figure there must be a rental company that can help me in the area. I also wondered if any of them can actualy deliver a wheelchair to the resort so we don't have to try to fit it in a car packed with luggage.TIA for any helpfull replies

 

[Eeyore1954]

There are several places you can call:

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/
Phone (407) 856-2273, Toll Free U.S and Canada (800) 741-2282

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee
407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html
(800)747-0246

You might want to talk to them about an Electronic Convenience Vehicle (ECV) or motorized chair. It's easier to get around WDW in an ECV and saves someone from your party from having to push all day. WDW does have some small inclines. By the end of the day, you can get fairly tired. ECVs are fairly easy to maneuver and can be recharged overnight.

I believe Walker will deliver to the resort and pick up after you check out.

 

[JonHM]

I just spoke with Walker yesterday. They are going to deliver our ECV to our resort so that it will be waiting for us in the luggage room with our name on it when we check in, and at the end of the trip we just return it to the luggage room and they'll pick it up later that day.

They charge $30/day for a standard ECV (which I think is the same as they charge for the ones in the parks, although obviously, you could use this one outside the parks as well) and $39 for a 'heavy duty' ECV for people 300 lbs and up.

They seem very nice, but we don't leave for our trip until Sunday, so I can't post an actual review until I get back. Good luck with everything!

 

[PeterPam]

We just got back from Riverside and while we were there we were told that any Disney resort will furnish you a wheelchair for free if you inquire at guest relations. That is a much better deal then renting a chair at the parks.

 

[atlanta braves fan]

Eeyore1954, Thank you!Thank you! Just what I was looking for.

 

[atlanta braves fan]

Thanks to all! This makes it much easier to know all of my options
Thanks again

 

[SueM in MN]

All of the places that Eeyore1954 posted have been given good reports by DIS posters over the years. They will all deliver to your resort; Randy's Mobility requires that you be there when they deliver and pick up. The others will deliver and pick up from the resort whether you are there or not.

Even if you plan to get a wheelchair at your resort, you should probably take the numbers for the off-site rental places with you. There are a few buts involved in getting a wheelchair from your resort that DISer have posted about over the years.
The resorts have not in the past allowed people to reserve a wheelchair in advance, so some people have found that the resort did not have any wheelchairs when they got there. Or, the wheelchair that was available was not right for them (not in the best condition or it was extra wide when they needed small or vise versa). They can request a different wheelchair from another resort, but people have posted that can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Some people were very pleased with the wheelchair that was lent by the resort, but just in case you have problems, it's good to have some alternatives with you.

If you decide to rent an ecv, your choices are in the parks (limited quantitiy, and often run out early in the day) or from one of the outside rental companies. The off-site companies will deliver ecvs to the resort too.
ECVs are also called scooters and are fairly easy to learn to drive. You don't need any proof of disability to rent one (although you do have to be over 18).

If you ask for a power wheelchair, the parks don't rent those at all and the medical equipment companies will tell you they only rent them to people who are already using one (but maybe don't want to travel by plane with it). Power wheelchairs are controlled by a joystick, more expensive, a little harder to learn to drive and they require some additional set-up. (Just mentioning because some people mix them up and I know of someone who thought she could not rent an ecv because she asked for a power wheelchair and they asked her a bunch of questions).