Wheelchairs in Parks for Rent?

[Tink316]

Hi,

My DS has Down syndrome -- and low muscle tone. Although he can walk, he has difficultly walking for long distances/periods of time.

We are thinking of renting the wheelchairs in the parks as opposed to getting one from an off-site rental. DS likes to walk when he can, but we would want the chair available for when he needs to rest, especially later in the day. (Don't really think we would use at the resort - last time we rented a special needs stroller we never used at the resort.) He is too big for the stroller now, which is why we are thinking of just renting wheelchair in the parks.

Are the park wheelchairs decent condition for purposes stated above? DS is about 120 lbs.

Thanks for any information.

T

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes, you can rent them in the parks and that may work out best in your situation.

There is pretty complete information about renting wheelchairs in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board, or follow the link in my signature to get there. They are adult size wheelchairs.

If he wants to walk, you can park the wheelchair with the strollers and just come back and pick it up before you leave that area. You can also bring it into lines with you if one is too long for him to walk - all lines are wheelchair accessible up to loading. At MK, there will be some attractions with different procedures for wheelchairs, but in general, you will will be in the regular lines unless you get Fastpasses.
There is more information about access and also about special maps for guests with disabilities in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[LisaBi]

Tink - Please, please, please rent from off-site. My son, now 18, also has Downs. The first time I took him to WDW after he'd outgrown a stroller, I figured I'd just rent in the parks. Well, the first day at MGM was OK. The second day we did Epcot. It was a very long walk from the monorail to the rental station. (OK - Partially my fault - we walked the ramp, not knowing there was an elevator). Anyway, he just flopped down right outside the ticket gate, and that was the end of the day for us. Just too much walking for him to get to the wheelchairs.

Ever since then, I rent from off-site and it goes much better. It's cheaper too. It's a bit of a pain dealing with the WC on the buses, but not really to bad. And it sure beats trying to make him walk from the buses to the rental stores.

 

[LisaBi]

Another option that we've used is to borrow from the resorts. Most resorts have (or at least used to have) free wheelchair "rentals" on a first come/first serve basis. You have to give a credit card for a deposit, then you can have it for the duration of your stay. However, I started renting off-site because there was no guarantee the resort would have one available, and they were in pretty rough shape.

 

[SueM in MN]

Another option that we've used is to borrow from the resorts. Most resorts have (or at least used to have) free wheelchair "rentals" on a first come/first serve basis. You have to give a credit card for a deposit, then you can have it for the duration of your stay. However, I started renting off-site because there was no guarantee the resort would have one available, and they were in pretty rough shape.

that's why we usually recommend people renting instead of trying to borrow one from the resort.
Quite a few other people reported the same experience as you did.

 

[Tink316]

Tink - Please, please, please rent from off-site. My son, now 18, also has Downs. The first time I took him to WDW after he'd outgrown a stroller, I figured I'd just rent in the parks. Well, the first day at MGM was OK. The second day we did Epcot. It was a very long walk from the monorail to the rental station. (OK - Partially my fault - we walked the ramp, not knowing there was an elevator). Anyway, he just flopped down right outside the ticket gate, and that was the end of the day for us. Just too much walking for him to get to the wheelchairs.

Ever since then, I rent from off-site and it goes much better. It's cheaper too. It's a bit of a pain dealing with the WC on the buses, but not really to bad. And it sure beats trying to make him walk from the buses to the rental stores.

OMG, LisaBi! I can totally relate to the flopping down right outside the gate and being the end of the day! Thanks for the advice. Which off site do you usually rent from? Thanks!!

 

[LisaBi]

When are you going? How old is your son? This will be our 10th or 11th trip, just the two of us, so I've learned the ropes pretty well. He just adores going - it gives him a chance to "just be a kid" more that he normally gets to. I also find that he actually learns a lot and builds some life skills at WDW. Like at home he won't talk to a cashier - he always hands me his money to pay for something, but at WDW he has no problem going to the food court, ordering his food, then paying for it (on our room card - usually DDP) all alone.

 

[LisaBi]

Sue - Hello to you too. I haven't been on the boards much lately. We haven't been to WDW for nearly two years, but are going next week. I have a lot of catching up to do on anything that may have changed, new tips, etc.

 

[LisaBi]

Tink - I've used Walker Mobility. Everything has gone smooth every time. I think there are a few other companies as well that people on this board like.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue - Hello to you too. I haven't been on the boards much lately. We haven't been to WDW for nearly two years, but are going next week. I have a lot of catching up to do on anything that may have changed, new tips, etc.

 

[Dan1]

Hi,

Are the park wheelchairs decent condition for purposes stated above? DS is about 120 lbs.

Thanks for any information.

T

I concur with renting off site.

You mention that your son is around 120 pounds, but not his height.

The adult wheel chairs are meant for, well, adults. My DD uses a wheel chair; she's in her mid-20's yet around 4 ft 10 and around 100 pounds. The adult wheel chair we tried to rent at Epcot was too large for her, her feet only reached the WC's peddles if she stretched.....totally uncomfortable.

If you rent you can specify exactly what chair you need.

Dan

 

[Tink316]

Thanks for the info... DS is almost 12... We are going to WDW the week after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26-Dec 3) because I wanted to experience the Christmas lights and decorations. And, I'm hoping my son will enjoy that part as well. He has been twice in the past, but we've always gone in early October. One year the weather was "perfect" and the other they were having a heat wave (hot, hot, hot and humid!)...but of course, we still had fun.

My son is all about swimming so I'm hoping that the weather cooperates in November and that we will still be able to get some use out of the pools (we are staying at AKV - Kidani. I understand the pools are heated, and to be honest, my son will swim in most pools regardless of temps. He's gone in my brother's pool at the beginning of the season here in CT when the pool temp was only 66...

And as I mentioned previously, he is capable of walking, but because of the low muscle tone - walking for long periods...or distances is out of the question. No way we could spend time in the park without access to a wheelchair. I will definitely look at the off sites.

Thanks for the info!!

Teri