Originally Posted By chelie Hi everyone! I'm a disneyland expert have been thousands of times in 45 years and now I'm finally able to get to WDW. The delema I have is I have heard that WDW is huge and my Mom is in a standard wheelchair. I'm afraid that all that pushing will send us over the edge. LOL Can anyone tell me how much it is to rent a electric scooter at the parks? Do they have weekly rentals? Is there anywhere in the area like a medical supply place that we might be able to rent one from for our stay? Thanks in Advance!!! Chelie
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I will get this info for you and post it here in one hour from now. I;ve had to do this for my wife's grand. First of all, don't panic, it's easier than you think. Be back later!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Each Disney park features designated parking areas for guests with disabilities. Disney uses a system of helpful symbols to guide its disabled guests. These symbols include a wheelchair to indicate that people can remain in their own wheelchairs to experience the attraction, another sign indicating that they must transfer from their wheelchair to board the attraction, and yet another sign communicates they must transfer to an available wheelchair. There are also signs to indicate listening devices which amplify the audio, a reflective captioning system and also video captioning. Disney actually allows guide animals to ride on some attractions. Designated "animal break areas" are located throughout the parks, and each park has personnel available to assist you with your animal. Guests at Disney's Polynesian Resort now can enjoy the pool with the new "zero-entry" feature. Resembling a beachfront shoreline, the architectural feature offers guests a gradual ramp into the water. Guests with disabilities are invited to use special wheelchairs provided by the resort to help them enjoy the pool. The new "wave" of pools, also is available at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Also, I HIGHLY reccomend reserving a room that is wheelchair accessable. It's not JUST that she may not need a wheel chair all the time, but there are no steps and stumbling places in accessble rooms typically, and they have them at ALL the resorts. I have even stayed in a THREE BR Grand Villas the the Boarkwalk that was accessable and the room was actually larger than the other 3 BR's to accomodate the areas that you don't realize are problems for people in wheel chairs. Here is some info for renting before you get to the parks. Randy's Mobility - Orlando Rental of manual and motorized wheelchairs from $70.00 a week and up. (Phone: 863-679-1550) Walker Medical and Mobility - Orlando Full service medical equipment rentals. (Toll Free: 1-888-SCOOTER) If you absolutely have to have an electric for her, and you want to rent it AT the parks, make sure you get there early. There really are just so many. As for regretting taking her......you won't. I mean I hate to sound like you can take advantage of her disability, but well... you can get front of line access to most attractions.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip We've taken my mother (who is 78 at this time) to WDW twice in the past two years. Although she is generally mobile, she has a pacemaker and trouble with fibrillation so I knew se would not be able to walk the parks. We rented a standard wheelchair and had no trouble pushing her in it. Animal Kingdom was occasionally troublesome because the paths are rutted and there are quite a few hills. But the MK, MGM and Epcot parks are all pretty flat and aren't much trouble for someone pushing a wheelchair. By the way... I had originally planned to rent a cart for my mom, but she didn’t want one. Since she had never used one she was afraid she wouldn’t be a very good driver and would run in to people. EXCELLENT THINKING MOM!!! No wonder I’m so danged smart, huh?? At any rate, if you do decide to rent one check with your mom first to make sure she would feel comfortable using it.
Originally Posted By jazzfan4 When my wife went lame at WDW before Christmas she rented the electric carts for $40 and you get $5 back when you turn it in.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey We just took my 78 year old mother to WDW for a week and rented a wheelchair for her because she has bad circulation in her legs which causes pain when she walks for long distances. We rented the chair for the entire trip (8 days) and had no problem pushing her around. Actually, it's a good way to keep the weight off when you're eating your way around the World! We've rented a chair for her for the past five years and haven't had any issues.
Originally Posted By beamerdog I strongly advise renting from an off site company if your mom will need mobility help at the resort, too. Even if you're staying on site there is a lot of walking at the resorts. (Been there, done that.) I know that ecv's rented in the parks cannot be taken to the resorts and I'm assuming that's also the case with a manual wheelchair. Does your mom have a service dog? I have one and if you need specialized advice, let me know. For the most part, WDW is awesome with service animals. It's been years since I've needed an ecv full time, so my info is old. DVC dad gave some good advice. Have a great time!!
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey <<I know that ecv's rented in the parks cannot be taken to the resorts and I'm assuming that's also the case with a manual wheelchair.>> Beamerdog is right-wheelchairs rented at the parks cannot be taken to the resorts. In some cases, you can take them to the buses, but you can't take them on the buses. Most of the WDW Resorts have wheelchairs you can use on site. I believe they're free, but they're on a first come, first served basis.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey It also helps to ask for a room close to the food court/bus stop if your mom has mobility problems. WDW has been very accomodating, save one instance, for our family.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Here's a good site for a start on what services are available on site: <a href="http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/Plain?id=PlainHomePage" target="_blank">http://disneyworld.disney.go.c om/wdw/common/Plain?id=PlainHomePage</a>
