wheelchair rentals

[sparkers68]

I have read many posts that talk about wheelchair/stroller rentals at wdw. I am a newbie and am wondering why people aren't just using their regular wheelchairs. My family is planning on driving down this spring from Ontario and we will obviously be bringing my ds's w/chair with us in the van so why would we rent one at disney?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are a lot of people who normally do not use a wheelchair or ECV. Most people at WDW walk 8-12 miles (13-19km) per day. My mother, now 96, does not use a wheelchair at home. But when she comes to visit she has to have one as otherwise she would not last an hour. For day to day use I do not use an ECV. But on a day when I am going to be running around WDW or a major shopping mall I have to use it or I would not be able to last more tghan about a half hour.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are a lot of people who normally do not use a wheelchair or ECV. Most people at WDW walk 8-12 miles (13-19km) per day. My mother, now 96, does not use a wheelchair at home. But when she comes to visit she has to have one as otherwise she would not last an hour. For day to day use I do not use an ECV. But on a day when I am going to be running around WDW or a major shopping mall I have to use it or I would not be able to last more tghan about a half hour.

That is the reason that many people rent one.

My daughter has a very personalized custom wheelchair. Some people have a more ‘plain vanilla’ one (one without many special features); some of those people may choose to rent one at WDW rather than travel with their own wheelchair and risk damage to it. This is especially true for power equipment like power wheelchairs or ECVs.

 

[Piper]

I am choosing to rent an ECV instead of taking my own this trip. There are 11 of us going and getting to and from the Houston airport from Katy is going to be an expensive business even without the ECV. Also, my little ECV has a lot of trouble making it up the Monorail Mountain!!! I am using airport WCs or carts to get around there--fortunately, I can still walk with my crutch--I just wear out really quickly.

 

[KPeveler]

I rented a powerchair this past trip rather than bring my own... now I have a custom rehab chair, so I am going to have to bring it with me - it took me 18 months of arguing with insurance to get, and cost $16,000 - I am reluctant to give it to people who I don't know, and hope it does not get damaged!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

When we went to WDW last October my mom's "good wheelchair" was non folding. We brought her transport chair with us instead because, even in a mini van, her non folding wheelchair would have been impossible to fit in with 4 adults.

We used her transport chair on the trip down and back but I knew for the parks it would be too uncomfortable so I rented a wheelchair off site that was delivered to the hotel.

Now though, I bought her a folding, very comfortable wheelchair that she can travel with so we won't have that issue again.

 

[sparkers68]

okay that makes more sense to me now! Chairs do take up alot of space in the van of course and my son can walk for 5 or so minutes at a time but that is pushing it for him.