Wheelchair user + young child

[OurBigTrip]

While I don't doubt you may have seen that, the parent should know their rights and should have put security in their place. I can hold my child with one hand and push with the other. People with disabilities adapt and find ways to do things you wouldn't believe. There is nothing inherently more dangerous about a parent in a mobility device holding their child and anyone else doing it. What about all the people with completely invisible impairments? Should everyone be tested on the way in to the park to ensure they are capable of carrying their child? I know you don't mean that but it is a slippery slope and what may seem unsafe or insecure to an outside observer can be quite the opposite to someone with experience living their life.

Putting “security in their place” is a great way to ge kicked out of the park.

Disney or any entity can put safety above accommodation.

 

[Lilsia]

While I don't doubt you may have seen that, the parent should know their rights and should have put security in their place. I can hold my child with one hand and push with the other. People with disabilities adapt and find ways to do things you wouldn't believe. There is nothing inherently more dangerous about a parent in a mobility device holding their child and anyone else doing it. What about all the people with completely invisible impairments? Should everyone be tested on the way in to the park to ensure they are capable of carrying their child? I know you don't mean that but it is a slippery slope and what may seem unsafe or insecure to an outside observer can be quite the opposite to someone with experience living their life.

I don't think it is really an issue with parents in wheelchairs. The problems are the rented ECVs. Those can go pretty darn fast and unfortunately, there have been incidents when there is a child on board. From what I have seen, Disney gets involved when someone lets the child control the EVC while grandma is just going along for the ride. You have to be 18 for those so I can see why they stop it.

 

[DisSurfer878]

No different than an ambulatory parent carrying their child and gets bumped and someone gets hurt. They can’t stop me from parenting and carrying my child because I have a mobility device unless no one is allowed to carry their child. Assuming there is more risk because I’m in a wheelchair is discriminatory on their part.

As to your question about who pushes the chair the answer is in some cases like mine the wheelchair user. No idea OPs capability but it is totally possible to hold a child and push a chair. Speaking from personal experience.

I think they actually CAN legally enforce this for their rentals though.

Because you're paying them for a service and those are the terms and conditions of utilizing that service. It's not discrimination in that case.

 

[voxparse]

I think they actually CAN legally enforce this for their rentals though.

Because you're paying them for a service and those are the terms and conditions of utilizing that service. It's not discrimination in that case.

Totally agree, rental is a very different scenario.

 

[WillowHaven]

None of us will be renting through Disney. One has a custom electric chair that they will be bringing. The other two do not need custom and will be renting offsite once we are there- probably electric wheelchairs as well, but possibly ecv.

No one would be letting a 5yo drive. And with an electric chair, one hand is free to hold a young one on your lap or push a stroller. I just didn't know if either would be allowed.

 

[DisneyOma]

No different than an ambulatory parent carrying their child and gets bumped and someone gets hurt. They can’t stop me from parenting and carrying my child because I have a mobility device unless no one is allowed to carry their child. Assuming there is more risk because I’m in a wheelchair is discriminatory on their part.

As to your question about who pushes the chair the answer is in some cases like mine the wheelchair user. No idea OPs capability but it is totally possible to hold a child and push a chair. Speaking from personal experience.

Both hands on the child, how would you roll the wheels on your chair? Or is the child sitting freely on your lap? The walkways at WDW are very textured, and people also step right in front of you and you'd have to be able to stop quickly.

None of us will be renting through Disney. One has a custom electric chair that they will be bringing. The other two do not need custom and will be renting offsite once we are there- probably electric wheelchairs as well, but possibly ecv.

No one would be letting a 5yo drive. And with an electric chair, one hand is free to hold a young one on your lap or push a stroller. I just didn't know if either would be allowed.

If one doesn't have both hands on the child, is it safe? What if the child reaches over to grab the controls?

 

[SteveMouse]

OP, Navigating a wheelchair or an ECV in a Disney park is unlike most other experiences. It is CROWDED. People are walking in multiple directions, often while looking at maps or apps, and not where they are going (the person you suggest would be carrying the child may very well feel lost without a map or app in their hand, as well). That is not to say something is definitely going to occur, but there is an increased risk or likelihood.

There are also differences that may be better or worse because of the particular child- their age, weight, interests, and squirmyness, among others.

Pedestrians in the parks often walk into or immediately in front of ECV ior wheelchair users. It can be pretty tough and emotionally tiring.

I know most kids sitting in my lap or otherwise are fascinated by my chair’s control screen and often make grabs for it. Yhey are not frequently around me so the stimulation is new and they are curious

 

[DisSurfer878]

None of us will be renting through Disney. One has a custom electric chair that they will be bringing. The other two do not need custom and will be renting offsite once we are there- probably electric wheelchairs as well, but possibly ecv.

No one would be letting a 5yo drive. And with an electric chair, one hand is free to hold a young one on your lap or push a stroller. I just didn't know if either would be allowed.

It's 100% possible that rental companies will have the same policy as Disney that their equipment is for one person only.

 

[ttintagel]

I think it's one of the many things at Disney that there are just no advance guarantees about, one way or the other.

 

[SteveMouse]

As a head—up, OP, far fewer organizations rent power wheelchairs than ECVs. In Orlando, those that do require you to be a regular wheelchair user in your home environment. There can be a bit more of a learning curve with a wheelchair rather than a ECV.

 

[starry_solo]

Are you sure your 5 year old won’t be able to walk the entire time? I started going to DLR when I was five, the family didn’t bring a stroller for me to sit in or anything. If I ever got tired, we found a bench or quick service area (or indoor entertainment) to sit at. We didn’t stay the whole day though, just from park opening til about 4 or 5 pm.

this was way back when the parking lot was where DCA is, so we would normally walk from the parking lot to the front entrance. We would break for lunch, sit at the picnic tables outside the gates and dad would get our ice chest / cooler from the car with our lunches and bring it to the picnic tables.

 

[WillowHaven]

I know most kids sitting in my lap or otherwise are fascinated by my chair’s control screen and often make grabs for it. Yhey are not frequently around me so the stimulation is new and they are curious

If it was new, I might have more concerns. Since it's usual, I'm less concerned about that particular aspect.

I think it's one of the many things at Disney that there are just no advance guarantees about, one way or the other.

This is pretty much where I've landed and will make plans accordingly.

Are you sure your 5 year old won’t be able to walk the entire time?

Honestly, I don't know. It's entirely possible. But, I don't really want to get stuck at the back of the park and the end of the day and still need to get back to our hotel with an exhausted 5yo and no way to carry them. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.



Most of this discussion has centered around having a kid riding with an adult on an ecv or wheelchair. I would much prefer to use a stroller. He's big for his age and I don't particularly want to have a kid on my lap the whole time. Everyone having their own spot would be preferable. We could park the stroller outside the queues, just like everyone else. And if we don't end up needing it, we can leave it at the hotel.
But, it seems this is not a question that really has an answer right now. So we will make our decisions with that in mind.

 

[Lilsia]

If it was new, I might have more concerns. Since it's usual, I'm less concerned about that particular aspect.


This is pretty much where I've landed and will make plans accordingly.


Honestly, I don't know. It's entirely possible. But, I don't really want to get stuck at the back of the park and the end of the day and still need to get back to our hotel with an exhausted 5yo and no way to carry them. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.



Most of this discussion has centered around having a kid riding with an adult on an ecv or wheelchair. I would much prefer to use a stroller. He's big for his age and I don't particularly want to have a kid on my lap the whole time. Everyone having their own spot would be preferable. We could park the stroller outside the queues, just like everyone else. And if we don't end up needing it, we can leave it at the hotel.
But, it seems this is not a question that really has an answer right now. So we will make our decisions with that in mind.

I highly doubt that they would allow you to push a stroller while in an ECV. That just seems really dangerous. I think that your options are to either have the child walk and everyone just take it at their pace and take frequent breaks, or bring someone that is mobile that can push the child in a stroller. We also stopped taking the stroller once our kids turned 5 and just took it slow. We did not need to carry them at the end of the night.

 

[WillowHaven]

I highly doubt that they would allow you to push a stroller while in an ECV. That just seems really dangerous. I think that your options are to either have the child walk and everyone just take it at their pace and take frequent breaks, or bring someone that is mobile that can push the child in a stroller. We also stopped taking the stroller once our kids turned 5 and just took it slow. We did not need to carry them at the end of the night.

I would not be pushing a stroller from an ecv, only from an electric wheelchair. I agree that trying to push a stroller from an ecv would not work, and probably be dangerous.
If I can go shopping in my wheelchair and push a cart, I don't see how it would be much different to push a stroller. The main difference I see would be the crowds. I only wanted to know if it was an option we could consider. j

It sounds like you took at least one trip before your kids were 5, and I'm glad it worked for them to walk at that age. Since this trip would be the first for this particular 5yo, I don't have the luxury of knowing how they will handle being there and if they can walk full time.




I really just wanted to know what our various options are for managing the park. Needing mobility aids is new for all of us since the last time we visited the parks 8 years ago. Knowing our options allows us to plan accordingly.

 

[Lilsia]

I would not be pushing a stroller from an ecv, only from an electric wheelchair. I agree that trying to push a stroller from an ecv would not work, and probably be dangerous.
If I can go shopping in my wheelchair and push a cart, I don't see how it would be much different to push a stroller. The main difference I see would be the crowds. I only wanted to know if it was an option we could consider. j

It sounds like you took at least one trip before your kids were 5, and I'm glad it worked for them to walk at that age. Since this trip would be the first for this particular 5yo, I don't have the luxury of knowing how they will handle being there and if they can walk full time.




I really just wanted to know what our various options are for managing the park. Needing mobility aids is new for all of us since the last time we visited the parks 8 years ago. Knowing our options allows us to plan accordingly.

The other thing to consider is that the terrain is not always perfect. Animal Kingdom paths are rough and bumpy, Epcot has some hills and bridges. It is not the same as going into a store. And as I said, WDW is a lot of walking for everyone, that is why I suggest a lot of breaks, especially for little kids. Not only does that help with their stamina, but little kids get much more easily over stimulated than adults do. That is why you see so many melt downs at the park, they just can't handle all of that input. Taking it slow and taking lots of breaks is beneficial even if they are in a stroller.

 

[lanejudy]

I believe the OP plans to visit Disneyland in California not WDW in FL. That said, it’s a much smaller park with less walking distance to get between attractions. OP, I would consider whether this is a family trip or an adult trip at a faster pace with more “big” rides. Taking a 5-yr-old is a different trip regardless of mobility issues, often taking a slower pace with more breaks and a focus on the “kid” experiences. Think about what is the focus for this visit.

 

[jo-jo]

It's my understanding that you use an electric wheelchair at home, am I correct? If so, have you gone to a zoo, park , etc . And pushed a stroller? Smooth sidewalk might be easy, but bumps, dips and rough ground something else.

Since those here can only tell you what might happen, I'd bring the stroller but be prepared to be told can't use it. Would it work if you'll need to park somewhere , have a snack, maybe some can hold child while they take a nap ?

My concern would be, how will you keep a 5 year old by your side .

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Would a stroller board (a small attachment off the back of a stroller where an older child rides) be considered a trailer-like object? If not it might make for a good compromise if the 5 year old can walk most of the time but may get tired at certain points. I saw a picture online and it takes up no more space than if the child were pushing the wheelchair his/herself.

 

[RoseGold]

No different than an ambulatory parent carrying their child and gets bumped and someone gets hurt. They can’t stop me from parenting and carrying my child because I have a mobility device unless no one is allowed to carry their child. Assuming there is more risk because I’m in a wheelchair is discriminatory on their part.

Of course it's different. Disney doesn't allow more than one person on any device. They can and do enforce it. Maybe OP will get away with it, sure. We've done it a lot and gotten away with it. But it isn't your right to use the device for an extra person or "discrimination" to enforce an obvious safety standard.

Of course there's risk on a motorized vehicle. That's not rocket science.

 

[RoseGold]

Would a stroller board (a small attachment off the back of a stroller where an older child rides) be considered a trailer-like object? If not it might make for a good compromise if the 5 year old can walk most of the time but may get tired at certain points. I saw a picture online and it takes up no more space than if the child were pushing the wheelchair his/herself.

This one I actually have seen enforced by security, where a kid is hanging off the back of grandma's ECV. There's no way Disney is going to allow this.