Wheelchairs loaned at resort hotels

[gardener14]

I've read that the Disney World resort hotels have wheelchairs to loan to guests. Are these only loaned on a daily basis or can they be kept for the length of the stay? Can they be taken outside of the hotels, such as to the theme parks or would we still have to rent one at the parks?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Length of your visit at that hotel.
Yes, you can take them to the parks.

You CANNOT reserve one in advance; resort wheelchairs are on a first-come, first-served basis, and have limited availability.

 

[Schmeck]

And the wheelchair may not be a proper-sized one for the individual - they are a bit random at the resorts!

 

[SueM in MN]

And, if it's busy, they may say that you can only have the wheelchair for a limited amount of time. One poster wrote they were told that the wheelchair could only be taken for 3 or 4 days (can't remember which) because it was a busy time. The WDW official information says that if you want to make sure you have one, you should rent from off-site. I don't know for sure, but I think the original intent for having wheelchairs at the resorts was so they could lend them out to people who had an unexpected need for one (injury, etc.)

I would defineatly agree with off-site because you will have a better wheelchair that hopefully fits you.
There is more information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, plus places to rent from off-site.

 

[coinkc]

We were able to get one from CBR for our entire stay. However, a couple of the bus drivers gave us some flack because they said we weren't supposed to take it out of the resort. Most of the time we didn't have any problems...it was just once in a while, usually in the morning.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I didn't think that you were allowed to take the resort wheelchairs to the parks but maybe the policy has changed. Wheelchairs are available to rent at the park.

 

[Twende]

We have used the wheel chairs from the resorts several times. You cannot reserve them ahead of time but we have always been able to get one. You are fine to take them into the parks.

Once at the CR the CM was super helpful and she went through a whole room of them them to find one that was just right for us.

They are not in super fine shape. I have learned to take some WD40 with us to oil the wheels and the brakes. We also take a screwdriver and pliers in case things need adjusting. We drive our own vehicle there so that helps with carrying tools to the resort. We have never had trouble leaving the resort with the chair. It is ours for the length of stay. We sign papers and leave a credit card number and show a DL. I always worry that someone will steal it at the parks but so far so good.

We use the valet parking at the resorts, free with a DISability placard, and then tip the valets well for helping us load the folded chair into the trunk!

I mark the chair very clearly with lime green ribbons and I leave a brightly colored bag, that stores extra blankets, on the back handles. I also usually tie wash rags around the arm rests to make it a bit more comfortable for my mom's arms and I have a special green blanket that we use as padding on the webbed seat.

We always leave the chair in better shape when we leave!

We rented one time last year and the wheels on the chair squeaked so bad. I tried to find someone to fix it for us at the MK and no luck. We ended up squirting sun screen on the wheels to silence them!

My mom is not able to drive a scooter so we have to use the push type chair. But it works for us!

 

[SueM in MN]

I didn't think that you were allowed to take the resort wheelchairs to the parks but maybe the policy has changed. Wheelchairs are available to rent at the park.

People have posted in the past that they were told the resort wheelchair could not be brought to the parks, so that does seem to be variable.

 

[gardener14]

Thanks everyone for your responses. It does seem strange that there are varied experiences about taking the resort wheelchairs into the parks. You'd think there would be a more straightforward view about this. The fact that Twende mentions using the resort wheelchairs on several occasions and not having problems taking them into the parks makes me think it's allowed, or if it's not allowed that it's rarely enforced. It kind of makes sense that you'd be allowed to take them out of the resort during your stay because if you needed it to get across the park to a bus stop, what do they expect you to do with it from there?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Honestly, like someone posted above, they sorta expect you to rent a wheelchair offsite if you want to be sure of having it for your entire stay.

 

[Twende]

We have used the resort chairs on at least five occasions and stayed for a week most of those times. We had no trouble getting one, unless you count the time at BC where they called to YC to have one brought over.

We have borrowed them at CR, BC and AKL and taken them everywhere with us without any problem. Like I said we have our own vehicle so we did not use Disney buses but we did us their other transportations like the boats and monorail and had not one comment or problem.

We did sign for our chairs and like I said we left a credit card number and ID. We did not use the chairs that are kept by the valet area to help guests enter the resort. I would guess that those chairs are meant to only assist guests to enter or leave the resort, a bit like the ones neat the AK parking area that help you get from the parking lot to the wheel chair rental area only.

Perhaps these are the chairs that are not permitted into the parks?

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

We have used the resort chairs on at least five occasions and stayed for a week most of those times. We had no trouble getting one, unless you count the time at BC where they called to YC to have one brought over.

We have borrowed them at CR, BC and AKL and taken them everywhere with us without any problem. Like I said we have our own vehicle so we did not use Disney buses but we did us their other transportations like the boats and monorail and had not one comment or problem.

We did sign for our chairs and like I said we left a credit card number and ID. We did not use the chairs that are kept by the valet area to help guests enter the resort. I would guess that those chairs are meant to only assist guests to enter or leave the resort, a bit like the ones neat the AK parking area that help you get from the parking lot to the wheel chair rental area only.

Perhaps these are the chairs that are not permitted into the parks?

Regarding the parking lot wheelchairs, we used one for my son at EPCOT last year and were not allowed to bring it into the park. We had to get him out of the chair up where they checked your tickets. It was good we got that wheelchair too because we had to stand awhile to get in when the park opened and it would have been hard for him.

But, y'know the more I think about it, the more I think that the hotel wheelchairs should have to be left at the hotel. There are only a limited number of these free wheelchairs available and I've always thought they were provided to help hotel guests who need them get around the hotel and not around the parks.

 

[Twende]

Rob I guess I should have explained the parking lot chairs better. I did think that they would allow them to the rental desk but I guess not. What a pain that could be for some people.

Now about the resort chairs. There are two kinds of them. There are the ones that are used by the parking/valet area to help guest into and out of the resort. These must stay at the resort.

Then there are the chairs that are kept in the concierge/help desk area. They are not out in the open and you can not just walk up and take one. You must sign papers, give a credit card and an DL with photo in order to get one. They are given for your length of stay and are yours to use in any manner you need.

When I went with a CM at CR to see what they had, there had to be 20 chairs in the room. There were many sizes and types and the CM helped us pick a small adult or large child's one to fit my parent just right. It was wonderful of her to be so helpful and meet our needs so specifically!

I hope that clears up any confusion.

 

[kimsuenew]

I've read that the Disney World resort hotels have wheelchairs to loan to guests. Are these only loaned on a daily basis or can they be kept for the length of the stay? Can they be taken outside of the hotels, such as to the theme parks or would we still have to rent one at the parks?

I could not get one at SSR for the first few days of our stay, but eventually one came back (perfectly sized but very wobbly, I never felt real secure while in it, but it was all they had). They attach it to your room, so you are responsible for it (financially) so use care where you leave it (if you are someone like me that can walk short distances with a cane)!

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I hope that clears up any confusion.

It sure does, thanks.