Wheelchairs and getting around

[Daisybell911]

Crap. I've been so excited about my 1st trip to Disneyland for my birthday and now my body is starting to go kaput. I have an auto immune disease that makes my joints hurt really bad and I swell terribly. It makes walking not fun at all. My beloved BF said he would push me around in a wheelchair to try to keep my condition under control but I hate it. . Does anyone have any tips for navigating the park in a wheel chair? I can stand in lines but I need to be off my feet as much as possible. Last year I ended up in the hospital after walking around DW and I'd like to not have a repeat performance.

Do I get the chair inside the park or is it inside security? Do I need a doctors note? Any tips for getting around? I dont want to get one for the week. I don't want to commit. I'm hoping if I don't, I won't need it. Wishful thinking I suppose!

 

[tlovesdis]

The wheelchair and ECV rental area is outside the park, but after security. You do not need a doctor's note. In DL most lines do not accommodate a wheelchair so if you can't wait in line, you will need to get a return time. They will scan your tickets and tell you when to come back. Then when you come back (usually to the exit of the ride) they will scan your tickets again and let you in. Some rides, like Haunted Mansion they will ask if you can walk without the chair through the ride, but if you can't they have accommodations for that.

Most of the lines in DCA are wheelchair and ECV friendly so you go in the regular line and then at some point they will direct you where to go with the chair!

You can only have one return time for a ride at a time. It's like a FP in a sense.

I use an ECV at Disney so if you have any questions, I would be glad to try and help!

 

[Daisybell911]

That's very helpful to know! I had such a hard time getting around in DW last year. Thanks!

 

[Nevada Jen]

The ones you rent from off site are so much better and cheaper. I really would do that. Like a huge difference for both the pusher and the sitter. Honestly, they are so much cheaper, I think a whole week will be less than 2 days on site rental, You rent them after bag check but before the gates into the parks. I can attest that this is a giant pain if you decide you need one once you are in the park and there is a line to get back in. Many people are going to suggest you get an ECV instead. You are probably the ideal person to use an ECV because you have all your facilities and aren't actually injured. It would be much easier on both of you but I get that it is intimidating. It is very hard to push a chair all day if you are not used to it. Make sure you BF brings a pair of bikers gloves or his hands will be ripped apart at the end of day 1. You do not need a doctors note.

Finally, I get that you don't want to commit to needing it. I really do. But your trip will be so much more enjoyable for you and your BF if you take this potential issue off the table by using a set of alternate legs. You can literally ride from one land to another and park it and then walk in the land if you want to. Also, you don't have to commit, you can wait until a couple of days before to reserve. (We have actually gotten a wheel chair delivered to a Disney hotel mid day with no problem). Check out the disabilities forum here for tips (and a bunch of people who will talk you into an ECV )

 

[Darkbeer1]

I understand your feelings, and I am getting to the point where myself and my wife do need some mobility issues addressed. Some days, it is as simple as to limiting stairs and reduced walking (good planning and taking it slow), some days it is a cane, and some days, yes, renting either a wheelchair or ECV is done.

I also would look at pricing and what else you plan to do at the Disneyland Resort and other things in the area. Where are you staying, and what will you use to get around (rental car or public transit). I would opt to rent an ECV for the entire week from an outside vendor in the area, and have it delivered to my Hotel/Motel if I am using public transit, and then a manual fold-up wheelchair with a rental car. This way you have it for Downtown Disney, Anaheim GardenWalk and any other thing you do during your visit.

Due to Federal Law, Disney doesn't want to see a doctor's note, they will instead ask you what type of accommodation you need, and if the issue is mobility, then you are told to rent the wheelchair.

Disneyland is different than DCA in the fact that all DCA attractions have wheelchair friendly queues and entrances, while Disneyland, due to its age, has special ADA entrances due to narrow queues and/or stairs on some attractions.

There is a good guide available at the Disneyland website.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/guests-with-disabilities/

Don't spend time in SoCal Hospitals, and just plan in advance that you will need to address the issue. If you are having a "good day", then you can opt to leave the chair in the room for a bit. But better to have it than not.

http://www.disneylandscooterrentals.com/pricing

https://locations.scootaround.com/anaheim

http://www.rentmobilityscooter.com/

 

[5forMickey]

So sorry that you have to deal with that, I know the terrible suffering that you go through, please take everyone's advice and rent an ecv offsite so you can enjoy your trip. My parents use Deckerts, and like you, I worry I may need one eventually but luckily I haven't flared while on vacation. Just don't think twice about getting it and then if you don't need to use it all day you can park it somewhere close for when you need it. It will be much better than missing your trip because you're stuck in bed.

For our upcoming trip I think we paid jus a little over $25.00 per day which you are well worth. Good luck and I'll be sending positive vibes your way.

 

[tlovesdis]

If you do go the ECV route, I also highly recommend Deckert's! I use them for every trip!

 

[GenGen22]

I agree with tlovedis is about Deckert's they have really good reviews and I completely know how you feel personally. I have Austio arthritis in my left knee and starting in my right knee. I'm going to have to have surgery but just can't do it until next year. Anyhow, I can't handle the walking either and thought about a wheel chair and decided on an ECV on my last trip. Trust me when I say I feel so embarassed but I'm not going to let this keep me From Disney!!! I didn't want to bother people by pushing me around especially since there's all the walking as it is. I didn't want to wear out my family by pushing me around so, I got the EVC. You don't have to wait too long for rides if they tell you to come back & everyone is all so nice about it. At DCA all the rides are accessible so, you wait in line with everyone else.

 

[chirurgeon]

I use an ECV due to my asthma. I also rent off site so I have it for going to and from the parks and Downtown Disney. Using an ECV will let you enjoy the parks so much more. I know about the hating it. Will admit, I have come to enjoy. You can reserve it and cancel if need be. I wouldn't use a wheelchair, your BF can walk beside you and it will make conversing much easier.

 

[Daisybell911]

I'll definitely look into Deckards. We arrive on Friday the 9th but we are going to the beach first so we get in late. We will be at the parks Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We have to leave the Camelot at 6ish in the morning on Tuesday to go to Universal. I need a three day rental

 

[5forMickey]

Also, You can reserve one at Universal but they are $50.00 a day. Good luck I hope everything works well for you.

 

[llump41]

The wheelchair and ECV rental area is outside the park, but after security. You do not need a doctor's note. In DL most lines do not accommodate a wheelchair so if you can't wait in line, you will need to get a return time. They will scan your tickets and tell you when to come back. Then when you come back (usually to the exit of the ride) they will scan your tickets again and let you in. Some rides, like Haunted Mansion they will ask if you can walk without the chair through the ride, but if you can't they have accommodations for that.

Most of the lines in DCA are wheelchair and ECV friendly so you go in the regular line and then at some point they will direct you where to go with the chair!

You can only have one return time for a ride at a time. It's like a FP in a sense.

I use an ECV at Disney so if you have any questions, I would be glad to try and help!

You can only have 1 return time but you can have a return time and a FP at the same time.

 

[Astylla]

I can't recommend Deckert's enough. I had an injury a few weeks before a trip and was scared to use an ECV but it was so amazing , easy to use and made the trip a million times better , and the battery lasted all day didn't even tick down a notch !
I'm sorry you're dealing with the difficulty but it really will make it easier for both of you !

 

[Daisybell911]

After all the wonderful advice everyone gave, I decided to save my body the hardship and get an ECV. I ended up renting it from scooters 4 U. They got good reviews and were $45 less than Deckert's. It's hard to admit I need one but it'll be for the best I'm sure. Now, I'm going to the dollar store and buying Halloween stuff to decorate it!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Glad to hear you have rented an ECV. I hope you have a good time. I am in a wheelchair and have an autoimmune disease too. It is so hard to accept at first we aren't walkers anymore. But by being proactive and brave like you have been you will see you will have a great time. Plus the best part is... What woman doesn't want a basket to put her Disney shopping in !

 

[mom2rtk]

I hope you have a great trip!

 

[5forMickey]

After all the wonderful advice everyone gave, I decided to save my body the hardship and get an ECV.

I'm so happy for you, I think it will make a big difference in how you feel. What a cute idea about decorating it. Enjoy your trip and best wishes for no more health complications.

 

[bumbershoot]

Now, I'm going to the dollar store and buying Halloween stuff to decorate it!

Now you're talking! Have some fun with it!

I'm sorry you're hurting. And I'm glad you're going the scooter route; your trip will be so much better for it.

Now go look up the scooter stuff for Universal; I was just looking on the site last night for restrictions with casts, so I know they have a whole section about mobility stuff.

 

[xipetotec]

Crap. I've been so excited about my 1st trip to Disneyland for my birthday and now my body is starting to go kaput. I have an auto immune disease that makes my joints hurt really bad and I swell terribly. It makes walking not fun at all. My beloved BF said he would push me around in a wheelchair to try to keep my condition under control but I hate it. . Does anyone have any tips for navigating the park in a wheel chair? I can stand in lines but I need to be off my feet as much as possible. Last year I ended up in the hospital after walking around DW and I'd like to not have a repeat performance.

Do I get the chair inside the park or is it inside security? Do I need a doctors note? Any tips for getting around? I dont want to get one for the week. I don't want to commit. I'm hoping if I don't, I won't need it. Wishful thinking I suppose!

My wife is in a similar boat and actually. She's had some severe back damage and early onset Ostheo-Arthritis. So she CAN walk but not long distances. The first time we did Disneyland a few years ago she had to do it in a wheelchair. *IF* you are staying at a Disney hotel, they might actually have some first come first served ones for rent there. As for needing anything else, we didn't. we were able to go right up to most rides and they will either have a big enough queue for you to wait with everyone else, or they will give you a return time ( so you wait the same time as everyone else ) and then let you in via a back entrance. Also, if you are able to walk short distances ( Which they call "Transfer" ) you should be able to ride most rides without needing to wait for any special wheelchair enabled vehicles.

This incidentally is basically how it works at WDW as well.

Have fun!

 

[GenGen22]

After all the wonderful advice everyone gave, I decided to save my body the hardship and get an ECV. I ended up renting it from scooters 4 U. They got good reviews and were $45 less than Deckert's. It's hard to admit I need one but it'll be for the best I'm sure. Now, I'm going to the dollar store and buying Halloween stuff to decorate it!

You won't be sorry at all. It won't be so bad. I'm renting one again for my next trip. I'm still embarrassed but it's the only way I can go to Disney as the walking is just too much for me & the pain is unbearable. This way I can enjoy my time. Im greatful they even have scooters.