Captain Gimpy's Adventure to Disney- Advice Needed!

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 17:22

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Captain Gimpy's Adventure to Disney- Advice Needed!

I was originally planning to get a motorized cart at Disney, but now I'm not so sure. This is something I intend to in the next day or so but I wanted to get everyone's inputs. I am actually seeing a number of disadvantages to the cart over a standard wheelchair. The major ones being accessibility and cost. I dont see a way for us to get my crutches on the cart which means there are many instances I may have to stand and gimp without any help. A standard wheel chair fits in most lines. I could also use it as a walker when I got antsy and push my 8 year old for a little bit. IT also is about 35 bucks less a day to rent. The disadvantage is someone gets to push me 95% of the time. The motorized cart makes me feel like the access is limited, and I worry about getting in my own way. The wheel chair it sucks because someone gets to push 115 pounds of me around for days at a time, but I'd be out of people's way and easier to see. I think often people dont really notice those zippy carts till its too late. The chair though annoying for who ever's pushing me would be a good way for us to talk etc which is nice too, I feel like the zippy cart has this horrible lack of intimacy and what I love most about a disney is the intimacy that it creates within a family. My injury is making me feel burdensome right now and like I'm not going to enjoy all the aspects I love which worries me. I worry the cart will make that worse, but I worry the wheel chair pushing is going to be burdensome and annoying. So I wnat to get your thoughts on this one :/.

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 18:09

Mase

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Wow... its kinda tough. I would say go wheelchair if you have someone willing to push. But being motorized could be better in the long run. But also... with both... you won't have to go through the lines. You will just go through the wheelchair one or through the exit. I guess after typing all of this out... if money isn't an issue go with the motor. You will still be able to ride everything... it will just be a matter of where to enter and the Cast Members are the nicest people and will help you figure that out and help get you onto the ride. So I would say motor. Then get a license plate that says whats in the picture.

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 18:56

JustCar

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I've seen people tuck the crutches beside them and just continue on.

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 19:28

katrina1122

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From one who pushed my dad in a manual chair for a few hours because his power battery was recharging at the MK, do your family a favor and rent a power wheelchair. While the parks seem fairly flat, they aren't, and dodging people makes it that much more exhausting for the pusher. You don't have to do a full out scooter, you can get a power wheelchair.

FYI, don't rent from Disney, use an outside source who will have the chair waiting in your room when you arrive. It's much cheaper that way.

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 19:54

dewingedpixie

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Katrina do you have a place that we can call. We arrive in 15 days. One thing I wanted to avoid was having to take it on the bus :/. I was hoping to gimp around the resort on my crutches.

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 20:04

Mase

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dewingedpixie wrote:

Katrina do you have a place that we can call. We arrive in 15 days. One thing I wanted to avoid was having to take it on the bus :/. I was hoping to gimp around the resort on my crutches.

Id say use it for the resorts as well. The bus's will accommodate and you will be first on, but last off... but you will always be guaranteed a seat on the bus with your family every single time.

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 20:27

dewingedpixie

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So is a pirate flag on my scooter too much for Disney? Captain Gimpy Sails the Parks of Disney! ARRRR!

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 20:40

JustCar

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You need the Pirate Flag with the Tally Ho

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 22:27

Julie

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katrina1122 wrote:

From one who pushed my dad in a manual chair for a few hours because his power battery was recharging at the MK, do your family a favor and rent a power wheelchair. While the parks seem fairly flat, they aren't, and dodging people makes it that much more exhausting for the pusher. You don't have to do a full out scooter, you can get a power wheelchair.

FYI, don't rent from Disney, use an outside source who will have the chair waiting in your room when you arrive. It's much cheaper that way.

I agree completely. We pushed my mil around years ago, and the hills are deceiving! I think of it every time around splash mountain and BTMRR, that hill is a killer pushing a regular wheelchair! I think the scooter is easier, or maybe the power wheelchair is a good compromise. Also agree with not renting from Disney. It's a big business in Orlando and there's lots of alternatives that I have heard are much more affordable. Isn't it like $75 a day at the parks? That's outrageous!

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 22:28

JustCar

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https://www.applescooter.com/Orlando1.asp?src=GO&gclid=CJiA-rys0qoCFQ8E5QodpkuNSQ

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 22:31

JustCar

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Buena Vista Scooter
Rentals & Mobility Services
407-938-0349
www.buenavistascooters.com

ScootArama
407-897-6839
www.scootarama.com

Scootaround, Inc.
Scooters & Wheelchair Rentals
888-441-7575
www.scootaround.com

Walker Mobility
407-518-6000
www.walkermobility.com

CARE Medical Equipment
407-856-2273
www.scooterrental.com

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Mon, 08/15/2011 - 22:54

JoAnn C

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Get a Guest Assistance Card (I think that's what it's called) from Guest Services when you first arrive. You can use the card to get to special entrances to the ride (some may be the Fast Pass entrance) and if I remember correctly you can bring up to five people with you.

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Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:43

dewingedpixie

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We discussed it and we're going to order a standard wheel chair. We know there are hills at Disney, but we're hoping I'll be able to do a little more walking while we are there. We dont want the added cost of the scooter, and the incovenience of having to charge it. We also worry about my very smart daughter, who sometimes isnt completely aware of her surroundings. We dont like the size of the scooter either and feel itll be hard to get around in the shops etc. We are big epcot shop fans and that would have been a big problem for us, as this is actually a bigger deal to me than the rides themself. We already know we probably wont have to worry about lines so if it takes us a little longer to get around the park we are ok with that. We like how a standard wheel chair is compact when folded we wont need extra time to get onto and off of the bus. We figure if I get tired we'll get a scooter for a day or so at the park. We hope though that I can use the wheel chair as a walker option as well which would allow my daughter down time too .

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Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:45

katrina1122

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JustCar wrote:

Buena Vista Scooter
Rentals & Mobility Services
407-938-0349
www.buenavistascooters.com

ScootArama
407-897-6839
www.scootarama.com

Scootaround, Inc.
Scooters & Wheelchair Rentals
888-441-7575
www.scootaround.com

Walker Mobility
407-518-6000
www.walkermobility.com

CARE Medical Equipment
407-856-2273
www.scooterrental.com

Those are all good, we used Care if I remember correctly. Do a google search and tons will come up.

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Wed, 08/17/2011 - 12:48

katrina1122

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You will have to wait in line...it just might be at the exit so there's a place to sit. We never got bumped to the front of the line with my dad.

Wheelchairs as walkers don't work so well because they aren't balanced with out someone sitting in the chair, it will tilt backwards on you.

Charging generally isn't a problem as all the restaurants will let you charge while you eat.

I still say get a motorized wheal chair not a scooter as it is the same shape as a wheelchair, but no one has to push you.

Don't count on just renting one at a park if you get tired, they only have a few and they tend to rent quickly in the mornings, plus they are only for in that park. If you switch you have to hope another one is available.

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Wed, 08/17/2011 - 17:29

dewingedpixie

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Katrina we are bringing my daughter we figure when I want to walk it will be in short bursts, since my leg 10 days out is still killing me walking, my daughter is 8 she will get tired we'll let her sit in the chair and I'll push her for 10-15 minutes then sit down. So we both get a break per say. We really dong want to have to go through the loading of the scooter at the resort. If we choose to get a scooter we will make the decision on the day we got to the park.

I may look into the motorized wheel chair option but I'm really horrible with joysticks :/

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Wed, 08/17/2011 - 18:10

Freya

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I was stuck in a wheelchair when I went to Disney World a few years ago.
I was fine pushing myself around most of time. The only time I really NEEDED to be pushed by someone else was when we were in AK, just cause the ground there is very uneven and it tired me out fast.
And just so you know the handicap bathrooms are wonderful there.

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Thu, 08/18/2011 - 00:04

ChipnDaleFan

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We rented a motorized wheelchair for my grandma when we went and it got wedged in the curvy lines of the old Living Seas....people climbed over her to keep the line moving rather than helping!

I've pushed her also and I say go motorized and just watch which lines you have it in

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Thu, 08/18/2011 - 01:08

Lizzy_B

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I would have said scooter, based upon my experience being the pusher more than once But it sounds like you are strong, can do a lot of your own pushing, and have strong feelings about wheelchair over scooter. Do what you instinctively feel is the best choice, knowing that you have lots of resources here, thanks to our forum friends, in case you change your mind. Good luck! I know it's not the way you wanted. But maybe the slowdown will, in itself, be a blessing. I hope so.

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Thu, 08/18/2011 - 01:11

dewingedpixie

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Freya wrote:

I was stuck in a wheelchair when I went to Disney World a few years ago.
I was fine pushing myself around most of time. The only time I really NEEDED to be pushed by someone else was when we were in AK, just cause the ground there is very uneven and it tired me out fast.
And just so you know the handicap bathrooms are wonderful there.

Thank you for this. We are hoping to try and get a high end wheel chair. I'm very physically fit. My Tibia is broken actually due to running! I like the idea of pushing myself, my bf may not because I can after less than a week haul a** on crutches. I already ran and swam faster than him too. He probably will want to push so I just dont go like a jet engine across the park.

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Thu, 08/18/2011 - 01:53

Freya

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dewingedpixie wrote:

Freya wrote:
I was stuck in a wheelchair when I went to Disney World a few years ago.
I was fine pushing myself around most of time. The only time I really NEEDED to be pushed by someone else was when we were in AK, just cause the ground there is very uneven and it tired me out fast.
And just so you know the handicap bathrooms are wonderful there.

Thank you for this. We are hoping to try and get a high end wheel chair. I'm very physically fit. My Tibia is broken actually due to running! I like the idea of pushing myself, my bf may not because I can after less than a week haul a** on crutches. I already ran and swam faster than him too. He probably will want to push so I just dont go like a jet engine across the park.

Haha. I had fractures in my shin from too much dancing, so I was in pretty good shape when I went too. I did almost lose my mom a few times on that trip. And I actually turned it into a game for myself to see which hills I could get myself up while we were there. Some days that worked out better than others...

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