Wheelchairs and ADRs

[Dreamport]

My Mom is going to need a wheelchair/scooter for the first time at WDW. I've told both her and Dad about just renting from an off-site company but he's insisting we'll just rent them each day at the parks. How much time should we allot for procuring one each day? I managed to snag an 8:20 ADR at the Crystal Palace on a non EMH morning for Dad's birthday and want to make sure we're not late! 15 minutes to get through the park, at least an hour to travel from AoA, and another 20 minutes to get a chair? Also, when do the counters open up? Thanks for any advice!

 

[hddanis]

You might want to warn them that there are a limited number of scooters for rent in the parks and they nearly always run out. It really is best to rent them offsite if they know they'll need them. Plus, they'll be able to use them going back and forth to the resorts and anywhere else you want to go.

 

[txnana]

The other big problem is if they need scooters because of limited mobility, there is a whole lot of walking involved before you even get to the area to rent a scooter if there is still one available at each park. And the cost is about double of what it costs to rent from an outside company to have a scooter available for touring your resort, going from resort to resort for meals, shopping at DTD, so many reasons to rent one for the whole stay from an outside source - we do it every visit and it makes life so much better for the whole family!

 

[emldrl]

Is there a specific reason he feels this way? Along with what others have pointed out, there is the fact that renting from offsite is really easy. If you use a preferred vendor, you don't even have to meet them for drop off or pick up. There is SO much walking involved at WDW, before you even step foot in the park, not to mention all the standing and waiting. There is no way I could do that, which is why I will get an ECV. Believe me, I don't want to, but I have to. Try to give him all the positives, point out how easy it will be, and be as gently insistent as you have to be!

 

[lanejudy]

My Mom is going to need a wheelchair/scooter for the first time at WDW. I've told both her and Dad about just renting from an off-site company but he's insisting we'll just rent them each day at the parks. How much time should we allot for procuring one each day? I managed to snag an 8:20 ADR at the Crystal Palace on a non EMH morning for Dad's birthday and want to make sure we're not late! 15 minutes to get through the park, at least an hour to travel from AoA, and another 20 minutes to get a chair? Also, when do the counters open up? Thanks for any advice!

The wheelchair/ECV rental location at each park will be open as soon as any guests are allowed entry -- that includes early entry for early breakfast ADRs. It should not take long to rent, though if you are arriving at rope drop there could be several others trying to do the same thing right then.

You don't specify if mom will use a wheelchair or ECV. Wheelchair supply should be fine throughout the day, however other posters are correct that ECVs can and do run out mid- to late-morning. If you plan to park hop, or take a break back at your resort mid-day, she may not be able to get an ECV immediately when you return to the park. The in-park rentals also cannot be taken out of the park for any reason -- that includes ADRs at nearby resorts, to/from transportation, and park-hopping. An offsite rental will be less expensive and she'll have it for those tiring late nights getting out of the park and back to your resort.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[NJlauren]

Convince them to rent from outside the park! What if on the the way back to AoA the bus is packed is she going to be able to stand? We got my mom an ECV for the first time 2 years ago and rented from outside. Best choice, were able to get transportation with out worrying where she was going to sit, were able to get around the parks easy and CM were great with helping us find places to park for the rides and meals etc. My mom couldn't have done her last 3 trips to Disney with out it.

 

[my3sons77]

Yes, read these posts to him about renting from an offsite vendor. My mom is also going to need a scooter for the first time and it was only about $120 for 4 days, she got the "deluxe" scooter and they drop off and pick up from the resort!!!

He may not be taking into account that the resort is large and there is a lot of walking involved there. Busses do not drop off right at the gate, she'll have to walk a good bit just to get to the scooter rental counter.

Check out Apple Scooters.

Hope everything works out

 

[tinka-belle]

Definitely rent from off site. It's quite a trek from where the busses drop you off for the parks to the rental counters for someone who has difficulty.

Put it to them this way...

The average person walks 6+ miles per day at Disney, and only half (or a little more) is in the actual parks. You walk from your building to the bus stop, from the bus drop off to the parks, then to the rental counters. Reverse this when you leave. Then you walk around the resort to/from the food court etc. Not to mention the time standing waiting for a bus at the resorts and the parks.

People routinely underestimate how spread out everything is! Tired or in pain is not a magical way to spend your vacation.

 

[lustergirl]

Cheaper to rent offsite and you are guaranteed to get a good one. I wouldn't chance it

 

[sophiasapientia]

Ditto to the above. Many years ago, we decided at the last minute that my DH needed a scooter for a day at the park and, even at rope drop, Disney was all out of them! I ended up pushing him in a wheelchair. Based on that experience, I would never chance it if you are sure that you will need one! We've since used an offsite rental company and it worked out great. We are planing on using one again for our upcoming trip.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

remind dad that end of day it is a walk to where you catch the bus and park wheelchair or scooter will have to be left before you go out the gate. plus there is no where to sit and wait for bus esp if you have to wait for second bus. this does not include the fact that is cheaper to rent off site and bus drivers will help if help is needed to get scooter where it belongs on bus

 

[Dan Murphy]

Fully agree with all above. I have rented offsite scooter for past several trips (maybe not the next, just had knee replaced ) and it worked out perfectly. Renting onsite is not recommended.

I use Buena Vista Scooters

https://www.buenavistascooters.com/

They actually have an onsite location (as well as their main offsite) on the Boardwalk, they also rent the surrey bikes there.

10% discount mentioning Deb's Allears site.

 

[Dreamport]

The wheelchair/ECV rental location at each park will be open as soon as any guests are allowed entry -- that includes early entry for early breakfast ADRs. It should not take long to rent, though if you are arriving at rope drop there could be several others trying to do the same thing right then.

You don't specify if mom will use a wheelchair or ECV. Wheelchair supply should be fine throughout the day, however other posters are correct that ECVs can and do run out mid- to late-morning. If you plan to park hop, or take a break back at your resort mid-day, she may not be able to get an ECV immediately when you return to the park. The in-park rentals also cannot be taken out of the park for any reason -- that includes ADRs at nearby resorts, to/from transportation, and park-hopping. An offsite rental will be less expensive and she'll have it for those tiring late nights getting out of the park and back to your resort.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thank you for the information! Mom is strongly leaning toward just using a wheelchair. If we do end up renting on-site then I will note how busy it will be come rope drop and at least 15 minutes the morning of our ADR just to be safe.

 

[Dreamport]

To everyone who has commented:


Thank you very much for your replies! My Dad can be stubborn and is often set in his ideas, but as Mom and I say, we just have to "Big Fat Greek Wedding" him now and then. (Hopefully some of you have seen the movie and remember the scene where the women get the father to think letting the daughter work elsewhere was his idea.) Sometimes he just needs to hear from perfect strangers what we have been telling him all along, too. I'm gathering information on off-site companies right now and he even mumbled something about a wheelchair someone in the family might not need anymore to just "drag along with us". Again, thank you.

 

[disnut8]

To everyone who has commented:


Thank you very much for your replies! My Dad can be stubborn and is often set in his ideas, but as Mom and I say, we just have to "Big Fat Greek Wedding" him now and then. (Hopefully some of you have seen the movie and remember the scene where the women get the father to think letting the daughter work elsewhere was his idea.) Sometimes he just needs to hear from perfect strangers what we have been telling him all along, too. I'm gathering information on off-site companies right now and he even mumbled something about a wheelchair someone in the family might not need anymore to just "drag along with us". Again, thank you.

My husband and I, on separate occasions, both needed a wheelchair. We did manual ones so I pushed him once and he pushed me once. We rented from offsite and once we were offsite and the chair was there when we checked in and we left at the desk when we checked out. The second time, we were on property and the same thing.

After being the pushER and the pushEE, I would say to rent from offsite, have that wheelchair there every single minute of every single day of the vacation. My husband's condition improved immensely during our trip and we left the wheelchair from time to time so he could stretch his legs. I couldn't do that with my experience so having that wheelchair in our room so I didn't have to walk was such a nice thing.

The vacation is about everyone and having the wheelchair, both times, made the vacation. For BOTH of us.

 

[EpcotQueen]

I agree with all the comments about renting off site. Ever since my knee replacement I can't do all the walking. Have made the mistake of thinking I could do it only to have to get an ECV from Disney. IF I was lucky there was one available. Too often though there were none available. The other advantage to the off site ECV (we rent the 'portable') the are easier to maneuver around the crowds. Disney's are large, clumsy beasts.