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Cars, buses, and wheelchairs, oh my!

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Sun, 05/04/2014 - 13:27
alicemouse's picture
alicemouse
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Cars, buses, and wheelchairs, oh my!

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice on how to handle Benn's aunt with a wheelchair on our trip next week. Currently the plan is to rent a wheelchair from Walked Mobility (reservation made, wheelchair to be delivered to us at OKW) and take the bus everywhere with the exception of the glorious boat to DTD.

My preference would be to rent a car. Dollar has a special now where I can rent a full size for less than $100 for 5 days. They describe a full size as "Nissan Altima or similar". What is the likelihood that I can fit a wheelchair into the trunk of a "full size" car. I haul grandma's wheelchair all the time, but in m subaru forester. I could fit a small house in there. The SUV is more than $200 and I'm afraid that's beyond my tipping point for bus > car.

Also, has anyone tried letting some of your party keep your ME reservation so your bags can be transported and letting one member of your party skip out and drive the car to the resort? It's about $60 cheaper to rent the car at the airport and it will waste way less time to not have to wait for a shuttle to pick me up and take me to a car rental location once on property.

All thoughts and suggestions appreciated.

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

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Sun, 05/04/2014 - 13:39
BuffaloBill
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One time we took ME back to MCO to pick up a rental car without any baggage, so it was pretty obvious what we were doing. My sense is that they won't have a problem with running someone to the airport as long as you make a reservation. You may have to fib if they ask to flight info.

Sun, 05/04/2014 - 13:40
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If it's just the fold up basic wheelchair you can totally get it in the trunk, My Mum would get my Nannie's in hers without issue Smile

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Sun, 05/04/2014 - 14:20
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I think as long as your bags have the ME stickers on them, they will make it to/from the airport whether you are on the bus or not. The bags are picked up earlier than you leave anyway.

I find the WDW buses really accommodate people with wheelchairs. If someone is in a wheelchair or motorized chair, they will board first and have a pleasant ride.

Can a wheelchair not ride the boat to DTD?

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Sun, 05/04/2014 - 14:53
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I've never done it but I've read at least one person in the party has to check in for DME for the luggage service.

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Sun, 05/04/2014 - 15:29
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I have checked in for DME without my whole party riding back to the hotel and had no problems. As long as your luggage tags are on your bags there shouldn't be a problem. Your bags don't go on the same bus as you do anyhow.

Some wheelchair rentals are portable, some are not. That really depends on what type of chair you have.

I didn't have a problem on the bus, and I loved taking the boat in my chair.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 04:54
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JustCar wrote:
If it's just the fold up basic wheelchair you can totally get it in the trunk, My Mum would get my Nannie's in hers without issue Smile

Thanks, JustCar. I feel like it should fit, but if it doesn't, renting the car will have been completely useless, so I want to feel more confident about it before committing to the car rental.

Eeyore wrote:
I think as long as your bags have the ME stickers on them, they will make it to/from the airport whether you are on the bus or not. The bags are picked up earlier than you leave anyway.

I find the WDW buses really accommodate people with wheelchairs. If someone is in a wheelchair or motorized chair, they will board first and have a pleasant ride.

Can a wheelchair not ride the boat to DTD?

Thanks, Eeyore. I know that Disney is very handicapped accessible and I'm certain that she can take the wheelchair on the boat without issue. My concern is that I suspect that aunt will probably not be able to continue to sit on the wheelchair on the bus due to safety regulations and getting on and off the bus may be very difficult for her if she has to do it on her own as she has two poorly rehabbed knee replacements. She is also very shy and I'm afraid that she will be uncomfortable being a "spectacle" with boarding the bus first. I feel like if have a good idea of what busing with a scooter might be like, but I can't recall observing guests in wheelchairs riding the bus because I feel like that is a less popular option for people who need mobility assistance. I'm sure things will go very smoothly because it's Disney after all, but traveling with a wheelchair is an unknown quantity to me and unknowns make me nervous, so I appreciate any advice or suggestions that any of you guys have to offer!

Kristen K. wrote:
I have checked in for DME without my whole party riding back to the hotel and had no problems. As long as your luggage tags are on your bags there shouldn't be a problem. Your bags don't go on the same bus as you do anyhow.

Some wheelchair rentals are portable, some are not. That really depends on what type of chair you have.

I didn't have a problem on the bus, and I loved taking the boat in my chair.

Thanks, Kristen. I had dismissed the car rental idea until I saw the special come up from Dollar. $91 for 5 days for a full size--tough to pass up! Did you have to move from the wheelchair or did they just strap it in place on the bus? We weren't sure if it would have to be folded like a stroller or if she could ride in the chair on the bus.

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 14:41
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Kristen K.
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I was allowed to stay on the chair on the bus, however I really didn't like to. It was strapped in place, but I always felt unsteady so I often moved to a seat.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 17:10
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Kristen K. wrote:
I was allowed to stay on the chair on the bus, however I really didn't like to. It was strapped in place, but I always felt unsteady so I often moved to a seat.

Thanks, Kristen! That makes me feel much better about the bus option.

__________________

Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Mon, 05/05/2014 - 22:17
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alicemouse wrote:
Thanks, Kristen. I had dismissed the car rental idea until I saw the special come up from Dollar. $91 for 5 days for a full size--tough to pass up! Did you have to move from the wheelchair or did they just strap it in place on the bus? We weren't sure if it would have to be folded like a stroller or if she could ride in the chair on the bus.


I can't personally comment on anything having to do with the wheelchair. I can comment on having your own car at Disney. For $91/ 5 days, IMO, it is absolutely worth having your own car. Aside from your Aunt probably being so much more comfortable in a private car, it is wonderful to have your own car to get around Disney world! For that price, I say definitely get your own car!!! The only downside, is once you have your own car at Disney, you may always want your own car at Disney awesome

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.

Tue, 05/06/2014 - 03:30
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AnnielovesDisney wrote:

I can't personally comment on anything having to do with the wheelchair. I can comment on having your own car at Disney. For $91/ 5 days, IMO, it is absolutely worth having your own car. Aside from your Aunt probably being so much more comfortable in a private car, it is wonderful to have your own car to get around Disney world! For that price, I say definitely get your own car!!! The only downside, is once you have your own car at Disney, you may always want your own car at Disney awesome

Good luck, whatever you choose to do.

True story, Annie. We had a car in December and it was FANTASTIC! We will definitely be getting one for our fall trip when we're back to just the two of us. Our concern is if we can't get the chair in the car, then we will have rented the car for nothing. And there's really no way to know for sure until we actually have car and chair in hand if it will be an issue. I feel like a "full size" should have a big enough trunk to accommodate a wheelchair, but a Nissan Altima or similar is classified as "full size" according to Dollar. I used to drive an Altima and full size it is not! laugh

__________________

Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Tue, 05/06/2014 - 19:56
tommy
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I can tell you about Disney Transport (not the DME buses) re: ECV or wheelchairs, as I am new CM in the Bus Driver Role. We absolutely (as we should, and are trained to do so) go out of our way to accommodate W/Cs or ECVs. We load them first while the bus is empty. We unload them last, to lessen the risk of bumping into anyone sitting. It's an easy and quick procedure. Your family member does NOT HAVE TO transfer to a bus seat if she cannot do so. We will safely buckle her and the conveyance into special spots on our bus. Up to 6 family members may board through the rear doors along with the ECV, after it's secured. I am a fan of having my own car also, but dont let the Disney Transport discourage you form using the free and so convenient bus service at all.

Tue, 05/06/2014 - 21:33
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alicemouse
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tommy wrote:
I can tell you about Disney Transport (not the DME buses) re: ECV or wheelchairs, as I am new CM in the Bus Driver Role. We absolutely (as we should, and are trained to do so) go out of our way to accommodate W/Cs or ECVs. We load them first while the bus is empty. We unload them last, to lessen the risk of bumping into anyone sitting. It's an easy and quick procedure. Your family member does NOT HAVE TO transfer to a bus seat if she cannot do so. We will safely buckle her and the conveyance into special spots on our bus. Up to 6 family members may board through the rear doors along with the ECV, after it's secured. I am a fan of having my own car also, but dont let the Disney Transport discourage you form using the free and so convenient bus service at all.

Thanks, Tommy! Congratulations on your new job! We do like the bis service and have had good experiences with it in the past, but we do like having a car just to be autonomous. Especially at the end of the night when everyone is tired, it's so nice to be able to walk directly to the car and drive back to the resort. Plus, there's the added benefit of being able to swing by a grocery store for breakfast and beverages!!

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Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

Wed, 05/07/2014 - 10:12
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Tommy, cheers to all the drives, my nephew is autistic and his stroller has the wheelchair stick and one night he was asleep and the most wonderful driver told us not to wake him and we drove him on and strapped in the stroller and went like that. It was so amazing as he had a long day and the issue to try and wake him and carry to a seat would likely have resulted in something larger, but that didn't even become a discussion. The driver saw us in line ready to get him out if the stroller and immediately jumped up and offered the Evc ramp and straps. We and I'm sure everyone else on the bus are extremely grateful.

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Oct 2009 POP
Sept 2011 POP
Oct 2013 Coronado
May 2014 AKL , Magic, AoA Girlie Trip
Oct 2014 CBR Pirate Room Girlie Trip
Nov 2014 DCL Fantasy 7 Night Eastern Caribbean, Girlie Trip, POR Royal Guest Suite, GF Concierge
August 2015 DCL Magic 7 Night Mediterranean
October 2015 DL Grand Californian, DCL Wonder Panama Canal

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Wed, 05/07/2014 - 11:57
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Conclusion reached, reservations made. We'll be getting the wheelchair from Walked Mobility as originally planned and we will be renting a full size car from Dollar. The total came to $127 for the car and $65 for the wheelchair (we got a larger one just to be safe). So, for less than $200, we now have many transport options during our stay! I talked to a nice lady at Walker Mobility last night and she assured me that the wheelchair would fit fine in the trunk. I'll take a few bungees along just in case...

__________________

Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table because that will make you more welcome. --Randy Pausch

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Trip Reports:
December 2013: 10th Anniversary, 1st DVC Stay | April 2014: Birthday on the Boardwalk | May 2014: Star Wars Weekend, Navigating WDW with a wheelchair | August 2014: Villains Unleashed | September/October 2014: MNSSHP, F&W, Tower of Terror 10-miler | March/April 2015: Disneyland and California Coastal Cruise | November 2015: Wine & Dine Half, Food & Wine, 1st Disney Cruise | February 2016: Presidential Classic Gymnastics Meet | March 2016: "Work" Trip, Tours, F&G Festival | April 2016: Conference at Disneyland | Fall 2016: Festive Fall Fun | January 2017: Festival of the Arts | May 2017: AbD Backstage Magic | July 2017: AbD San Francisco | Sorry I had to give up doing trip reports. Too many time commitments right now.

 
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