Would you say something?

[MickeysMommy]

So, I booked the trip for December for Mom and I. She is loaded with arthritis in her back, just had 2 knee replacements and I requested a wheel chair for check in. She also had back surgery in 2000.

She just finished PT about a month ago and is doing really well - walking wise.

My question. So, I requested a WC for her and we'll use it for the parks but she might not need it all the time around the resort. I guess I am a little concerned that people might say something to us about using the WC...I have heard those stories...

I would fold up the WC to get on the bus. She can climb up with my help but once we get off she would need it as she can't walk those distances. Am I being paranoid?

 

[Sandy V.]

I think you should be just fine. Just don't go "racing" her around WDW and run into folks.

Have a great time!

 

[dodukes]

Don't be silly (or paranoid) use the wheelchair and who cares what other people think. This is the only way she may be able to enjoy the entire park and not be hurting.

 

[NMAmy]

Anybody who would give you or your mom a hard time about that is just not worth worrying about, pal.

Lots of people have invisible disabilites. You can just never tell what someone is going through. My dad lost his leg and was in a wheelchair for several years before he died. He'd wear the prosthesis but just couldn't tolerate walking on it. Sometimes he'd get comments but then he'd just knock on his leg because it annoyed him when people would judge.

 

[MushyMushy]

Tell her not to smile or look like she's having fun, and she should be fine. That's what seems to get people riled up for whatever idiotic reason.

But seriously, don't worry about what other people think. There's going to be someone who's aggravated with how you breathe, so let it be their problem and not yours.

 

[azgal81]

I'm sure you will get a few rude comments from guests but the majority of guests will be respectful to both you and your mom.

 

[lillygator]

don't worry about it! Have a great time!

 

[Magickndm]

I go to WDW once a year with an aunt who uses a wheelchair and not once has anyone acted rude about it. Quite franky, until the Dis boards, I had no idea so many people had issues with wheelchair users and I really don't think as many in the "real" world do.
Just go, do what you have to do, and have fun!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

So, I booked the trip for December for Mom and I. She is loaded with arthritis in her back, just had 2 knee replacements and I requested a wheel chair for check in. She also had back surgery in 2000.

She just finished PT about a month ago and is doing really well - walking wise.

My question. So, I requested a WC for her and we'll use it for the parks but she might not need it all the time around the resort. I guess I am a little concerned that people might say something to us about using the WC...I have heard those stories...

I would fold up the WC to get on the bus. She can climb up with my help but once we get off she would need it as she can't walk those distances. Am I being paranoid?

I wouldn't worry about the comments. Doubt you'd even get any. I would, however, consider renting an ECV instead of using the wheelchair. When my mom hurt her ankle last year and needed help, she said that riding in the chair was really scary. Too many people not paying attention to what they were doing and no real protection in front of her. With the ECV, there was a little more buffer to make her feel safer. Not to mention, pushing a wc around the parks is pretty tiring for the other person.

FWIW

 

[sorcerormickey]

If I see that it is an older person using a wheelchair, I do not care at all. When I see teenagers using one for reasons that are not obvious, I sometimes have my doubts....because of the following paragraph. (Yes this did happen to me.)

I was at the TTC waiting for the AK bus. There were severel people waiting for the bus, including a teenage girl in an ECV from one of those off-property rental places. She had 2 teenage guys with her. After they got on, followed by everyone else, they started arguing. Arguing about WHO WAS GOING TO BE THE DISABLED ONE AT ANIMAL KINGDOM!! None of them needed the ECV at all!! The girl had it thru all of MK, so the 2 guys argued about it the whole bus ride to AK.

It is those kind of people that make other Guests question someone needing an ECV or wheelchair. But, I figure if it is not just a group of teenagers or people goofing off, the ECV is needed, visable difficulty or not.

 

[MickeysMommy]

Thanks, guys. I guess I just worry that someone will say something to her when she is walking around CBR but needs the WC at the parks. Thanks for putting my mind at ease!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Best to be prepared...

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I wouldn't worry about it. My mother rented an ECV at Epcot. She's epileptic and can't walk long distances without having a seizure. On the outside, she doesn't look disabled AT ALL and of course she can walk. I didn't think about it at all. My family knew the truth and that's all that matters. It was only embarrassing when she started running into walls at the Living Seas.

 

[mickeysgal]

I guess I am a little concerned that people might say something to us about using the WC...I have heard those stories...

I wouldn't give a hoot about what anyone thinks. If she needs the WC, then she needs a WC. What other choice do you have? Not go because of something someone may think? Make your mom walk in pain because of something a stranger may/may not think? No offense to you, OP, but this is one time that reading too much on the DIS is really a bad thing. Relax and enjoy your time with your mom at WDW!!! Whoo Hoo!!

 

[ndelaware]

We always get a WC for my mother when we go to the parks. When she is not riding in it, she pushes it, using it like a walker. We never had anyone say anything or for that matter give her any looks. The only incident we had was when one of my daughter's sat in it while Mom was pushing it and people kept looking at my daughter with sympathy cause they thought she needed the chair. I made her get out and stay out. LOL!

 

[sugarpie]

Go, use a wheelchair or whatever your mom needs. Anybody who would question somebody elses need for assistive devices is a complete idiot. I really doubt anybody would say anything, but there are idiots out there.

Have a great time.

 

[Maleficent13]

I don't think anyone would say anything, MM. I think you'll be fine!

 

[SueM in MN]

I was at the TTC waiting for the AK bus. There were severel people waiting for the bus, including a teenage girl in an ECV from one of those off-property rental places. She had 2 teenage guys with her. After they got on, followed by everyone else, they started arguing. Arguing about WHO WAS GOING TO BE THE DISABLED ONE AT ANIMAL KINGDOM!! None of them needed the ECV at all!! The girl had it thru all of MK, so the 2 guys argued about it the whole bus ride to AK.

To rent an ECV, at least one of them must have been over 18 and with a credit card.
They would also find out that AK was built with Mainstream Access, which means the lines are accessible to wheelchairs and ECVs. People using wheelchairs or ECVs wait in Mainstream lines with everyone else, so having one just means a place to sit while you are waiting. And sometimes the wait is longer; for the Safari, people with wheelchairs and ECVs get sent to a separate boarding area (a little bit after the stroller drop off point). The wait for the accessible vehicle is often much longer than the regular trams - we have waited 40 minutes there when the regular line was just walking right on.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

If anyone DOES say something, have her hike up her pant legs and show em the scars. Seriously though, there really shouldn't be any issue. She is older, she needs the assistance, there shouldn't be any issues. Enjoy your trip and don't forget a light jacket. It's not bitterly cold in December, but it's been known to get a bit chilly.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Tell her not to smile or look like she's having fun, and she should be fine. That's what seems to get people riled up for whatever idiotic reason.

She can smile & look happy, but she has to drool at the same time. In other words, she cannot look too normal, or she might get dragged from her chair and beaten.


Just kidding - never though twice about people in WC's and ECV's, but I do caution that if she gets an EVC, practice a little before going around the parks. I've had a bad experience concerning an untrained EVC user (I was pinned against a display case b/c he didn't know what he was doing).