Would it still be magical to use a standard wheelchair in the parks?

[Dafid Duck]

It's been five years since our last trip to Disney World. My wife and I our planning a trip just for us for our anniversary. Unfortunately, she had had some health issues and walking all day would be too much for her. She does not want to use a powered wheelchair, especially since she doesn't "look" handicapped. Are the parks too hilly to push an adult in a standard wheelchair? I never considered that before and I don't really remember.

Also, since she can walk short distances, can we leave the chair to go on a ride or fold it to bring it on a bus or tram? Thank you for all of your help.

 

[imperius]

Now I’ve myself never pushed someone in a wheelchair at Disney, but have gone often enough to not remember any real elevation changes. Only issue will be pushing it through the crowds.

You can leave the wheelchair and walk the line and the busses will load the wheelchair separate.

 

[Dafid Duck]

Now I’ve myself never pushed someone in a wheelchair at Disney, but have gone often enough to not remember any real elevation changes. Only issue will be pushing it through the crowds.

You can leave the wheelchair and walk the line and the busses will load the wheelchair separate.

I seem to think AK would be the biggest issue. There seems to be more bridges and hills there compared to other parks. I'm mostly worried about going up Main Street. Between trolley tracks and forced perspective, I'm worried how much of an incline it actually is.

 

[Master Yoda]

I did something similar with my mother when she was in her late 70's.

She still walked a couple miles a day at that point, but her pace was quite slow and there was no way she would have lasted the full day at the parks. She of course was not hip with the idea that she needed help.

We rented a standard wheelchair at the parks and used it almost like a stroller. We would park it with the strollers and my mom would walk into the attractions. If it was later in the day and she was getting tired we pulled right up with the wheelchair as pretty much every attraction at WDW is equipped to deal with it. By the end of day one she was quite happy that she listened to us.

Pushing it was not an issue. The closest thing you get to a hill in WDW is the bridge between England and France in WS and getting onto the monorails. Aside from that, everything is pretty level.

 

[Driver]

I seem to think AK would be the biggest issue. There seems to be more bridges and hills there compared to other parks. I'm mostly worried about going up Main Street. Between trolley tracks and forced perspective, I'm worried how much of an incline it actually is.

The incline up Main Street is very gradual. I recently brought my brother there who has some mobility issues I pushed him to the attractions and then he would walk thru the queue and get back in the chair all went well. You have two options with the bus you can fold the chair and carry it on or wait in the box spot and the driver will secure you in the bus. And yes AK was a little hilly compared to the other parks I did ok but depends on what you think you can handle. As far as not looking like you need a scooter. That's really no ones business and I would not let that bother me...... go enjoy yourself! You could just get the scooter while at AK because of the hills.

 

[Dafid Duck]

I did something similar with my mother when she was in her late 70's.

She still walked a couple miles a day at that point, but her pace was quite slow and there was no way she would have lasted the full day at the parks. She of course was not hip with the idea that she needed help.

We rented a standard wheelchair at the parks and used it almost like a stroller. We would park it with the strollers and my mom would walk into the attractions. If it was later in the day and she was getting tired we pulled right up with the wheelchair as pretty much every attraction at WDW is equipped to deal with it. By the end of day one she was quite happy that she listened to us.

Pushing it was not an issue. The closest thing you get to a hill in WDW is the bridge between England and France in WS and getting onto the monorails. Aside from that, everything is pretty level.

Thank you very much. Transferring and walking short distances will not be a problem.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thank you very much. Transferring and walking short distances will not be a problem.

You should not have issue one then. Disney is unbelievably accommodating.

If you end up needing a wheelchair full time there are a number of places that will deliver one you your resort as the ones you rent in the park must stay in the park.

 

[thomas998]

It's been five years since our last trip to Disney World. My wife and I our planning a trip just for us for our anniversary. Unfortunately, she had had some health issues and walking all day would be too much for her. She does not want to use a powered wheelchair, especially since she doesn't "look" handicapped. Are the parks too hilly to push an adult in a standard wheelchair? I never considered that before and I don't really remember.

Also, since she can walk short distances, can we leave the chair to go on a ride or fold it to bring it on a bus or tram? Thank you for all of your help.

We had to use a wheelchair for my mother-in-law and the only issues I remember were at some of the shows. Some of them were not any problem at all because the wheelchair access was up at the top... but if I recall the one that seemed steepest was the access for Beauty and the Beast at Studios because wheelchair access was at the front but you have to push the wheelchair on a fairly steep slope to get down to it... actually going down was easy, going back up after the show was a little more work... but I don't recall any problem in MK or EPCOT.... Can't comment on AK as we didn't do that park.

 

[DisAl]

We use a "manual" wheelchair for my mother (age 87 last trip) and had no problems pushing the wheelchair. According to the pedometer the average was 7 miles per day. AK was probably the worst overall, but still very manageable. As another poster mentioned, the worst thing we encountered was the ramps to the Beauty and The Beast theatre in DHS. (NOTE - There is an elevator at the ramp to the monorail in EPCOT.)
You can park the chair at rides just like a stroller. She can ride the chair right up to the bus stops, have a place to sit in the chair until the bus arrives, and then transfer out or the chair. Most busses have a slot to place a folded wheelchair so it does not take up one of the spaces for the electric scooter things.
One advantage you have with a wheelchair is you can hang all your backpacks with water, etc. on the handles rather than carrying them around.
As others have said, you have to be careful in crowds because oblivious idiots will step right in front of you - and then get mad if you bump them. I have mentioned this tip several times in other posts, but tie some sort of flagging tape, ribbon, ect. to the wheelchair handles to make yours easy to pick out among the many others that will be there too.

 

[DisneyJoe]

We had to use a wheelchair for my mother-in-law and the only issues I remember were at some of the shows. Some of them were not any problem at all because the wheelchair access was up at the top... but if I recall the one that seemed steepest was the access for Beauty and the Beast at Studios because wheelchair access was at the front but you have to push the wheelchair on a fairly steep slope to get down to it... actually going down was easy, going back up after the show was a little more work... but I don't recall any problem in MK or EPCOT.... Can't comment on AK as we didn't do that park.

Beauty and the Beast has wheelchair seating at the very top too - perhaps it was full...

 

[Phonedave]

Years ago - lets say early 2000's my then mother in law went with us in a wheel chair. She was the same way, she could walk a bit, but with a busted up knee, was not going to be walking around the parks.

As long as you are in reasonable shape (if walking up a hill does not get YOU winded) then you pushing a wheelchair should not be a problem. As @Master Yoda said, the worst hill is in EPCOT.

-dave

 

[JIMINYCR]

There are some areas that can make w/c use difficult. If you are moving along the sidewalks the crowds will not part for you or make it easy to maneuver. Moving up Main street in the middle to avoid the sidewalk crowds, beware of the trolly tracks in the pavement. They can catch a wheel. Going through the shops, for the most part you have room to maneuver but there are times displays are situated so it is difficult to turn. In some restaurants the tables are very tightly situated and can make it hard. The very worst is San Angel in Mexico, made more difficult due to the low lighting. Some areas in the parks, especially AK, can be rough going due to the roughness/ make up of the ground. Overall Disney has made its parks and resorts very w/c guest friendly. We have always found all the various transportation CM's to be very helpful when loading & unloading.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Now I’ve myself never pushed someone in a wheelchair at Disney, but have gone often enough to not remember any real elevation changes. Only issue will be pushing it through the crowds.

You can leave the wheelchair and walk the line and the busses will load the wheelchair separate.

I have, more then once been the motor for a wheel chair. Although there were some places that did put a strain on the old body, like the ramps to the Monorails. They have elevators now. The person I was taking had CP and could walk but only with support from me, but, not all day long. His only scary part was the moving load platforms at omni-mover rides, but, we did fine and the Chair was always just waiting for us at the end.

As far as the buses are concerned, I never used them during that time so I don't know. I would think that it would be difficult to find a spot on the bus to place a folded chair and secure it in place. Something like that can become a killing projectile in the event of an accident or quick stop. Perhaps it would be better to just stay in it and let the driver secure the chair and the passenger the way it should be. However, like I said, I didn't use them at the time so I will yield to anyone that has done it that way with no problems.

It's not even necessary to leave it and "walk the line". They can stay in it through out the line and transfer off at the load area. There is no telling how long the wait can be in any line at WDW. It's better to have it with you then left in a parking area outside the queue opening.

 

[Dafid Duck]

I'm hoping we can save the walking for those difficult areas. It's just going to be us and we want it to be special for our anniversary.

 

[daisyduckie]

I've pushed someone in a wheelchair through the parks, and Epcot was suprisingly hilly.

You may want to invest in some good gloves if you are going to spend more than a day or two pushing your wife around. You don't want to end up with blisters on your hands.

 

[Dafid Duck]

I've pushed someone in a wheelchair through the parks, and Epcot was suprisingly hilly.

You may want to invest in some good gloves if you are going to spend more than a day or two pushing your wife around. You don't want to end up with blisters on your hands.

Great suggestion. Thanks! We did Busch Gardens Williamsburg a few years ago. Very hilly and I did have blisters by the end of the day.

 

[Saxtongoof]

The real steep hill is going into the land at EPCOT,

 

[DisAl]

I have, more then once been the motor for a wheel chair. Although there were some places that did put a strain on the old body, like the ramps to the Monorails. They have elevators now. The person I was taking had CP and could walk but only with support from me, but, not all day long. His only scary part was the moving load platforms at omni-mover rides, but, we did fine and the Chair was always just waiting for us at the end.

As far as the buses are concerned, I never used them during that time so I don't know. I would think that it would be difficult to find a spot on the bus to place a folded chair and secure it in place. Something like that can become a killing projectile in the event of an accident or quick stop. Perhaps it would be better to just stay in it and let the driver secure the chair and the passenger the way it should be. However, like I said, I didn't use them at the time so I will yield to anyone that has done it that way with no problems.

It's not even necessary to leave it and "walk the line". They can stay in it through out the line and transfer off at the load area. There is no telling how long the wait can be in any line at WDW. It's better to have it with you then left in a parking area outside the queue opening.

On the busses they either lock down the chair with the rider belted in, or on some busses there was a slot beside the wheelchair strap down location that the chair could be folded, slid into the slot, and secured. That left the seats where the wheelchair lockdown is folded down and room for three rather than one.

 

[ninjaprincesst]

I found it to be a whole different ball game trying to push my Dad in a wheelchair than pushing a stroller, we were all exhausted by the end of the day. I would highly recommend a scooter (who cares if she does not look disabled, that is their problem not your wife's). It might be easier with a women who is light and easier to push but my 220lb Dad almost did us in, mine and my Mom's backs were done for after 1 day.

 

[Goofyernmost]

On the busses they either lock down the chair with the rider belted in, or on some busses there was a slot beside the wheelchair strap down location that the chair could be folded, slid into the slot, and secured. That left the seats where the wheelchair lockdown is folded down and room for three rather than one.

Cool. Must be a new addition to buses since I was a driver. When I was driving a chair that wasn't secured was a lethal weapon in an accident. Simple solution. I wonder what took them so long to think of it.