I have a multigenerational trip coming up soon and it seems that my FIL will not be fully recovered from his surgery by the time we go. He got the medical clearance but his stamina is nowhere it’s usual level. He won’t accept an ECV but we’re hoping to convince him to use a manual wheelchair (pushed by his grandson). After some quick research I’m leaning towards a third-party rental so we’ll have it anytime and not just at the park. Any recommendations? Any reason not to use the official WDW supplier? Anything we should look for (or avoid) in a chair? It’ll be our first trip using any mobility device to please share any wisdom!
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This is a good plan. Does Scooterbug have wheelchairs? I honestly can’t remember. If they do, they are just as good as any.
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I’d just say I hope there is more than one person able to push a manual wheelchair. They’re heavy and it won’t be easy.
I haven’t had to do that at WDW but even pushing an 8 year old at school put a strain on my back, and we had a team of. 3 throughout the day, so around 2.5 hours each.
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Maybe there’s something like this available to rent that he’d be amenable to
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Have not found such a thing for rent.
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@Randall1028 rented one when he took his mom to WDW several years ago. He may be able to weigh in on this and where he rented one.
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Tip, that you didn’t ask for…
rent, or borrow, one for practice. Some museums, shopping malls, etc. have chairs available. Let FIL, and pushers get a feel for it. FIL may change his mind about an EVC. I like the independence of an EVC.
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My grandson mentioned going to Wal-Mart or another similar store to try a scooter, easily.
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electric wheelchairs are a little more complicated than scooters, so they really do want those renters to already be versed in using those.
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The only other question I have on the renting from Disney vs renting third party is how are you all traveling from room to park or from park to park? Using Disney transportation is easier as the bus driver will lock the wheelchair, scooter, whatever down. If you are driving yourself, remember the extra time and space to stow the mobility device into the vehicle.
This is why I stopped renting scooters altogether. It’s a huge pain to dismantle it, put it in the car, take it to the resort, put it back together, charge it overnight, redismantle it, put it back into the car, go to the park, reassemble it.
Thank you all for your input!
Yeah I wondered about that. DS would be the primary (he’s a 19yo who routinely lifts weights so our best bet) but my DH and others could also pitch in.
A really good idea! Unfortunately the trip is next week and based on a conversation yesterday he’s still refusing to admit that he won’t be able to do it all without some help 
We’re strictly Disney transportation this trip. So any rental was going to be one that delivered to the resort. I think “being that person” is one of the reasons my FIL is so resistant. Having a line of people wanting to board a bus but waiting and watching for him to be secured. He’s never complained about others, but he’s just not ready to accept that at this time he’s the one who needs help.
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This!!! I wouldn’t wish this chore on anyone… there are A LOT of up-hills in the parks. I’ve witnessed a lot of tired and frustrated family members pushing a manual wheelchair. I would try to talk him out of this and maybe ask him if he is really willing to allow a family member to have to do so much heavy lifting of his pride … 
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I will add that we forced my MIL to use an EVC, we didn’t give her a choice, we just rented it. Similar circumstances. We all took turns driving it b/c sometimes she wanted to walk, sometimes she was embarrassed but she needed it and was grateful that it was there.
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This is a hard place to be, for certain.
Maybe your group doesn’t have to take the bus? It may be pricey tho It is handy: Minnie vans. We have occasionally opted for spending the dough in the evenings rather than ride the bus.
I’ve not ridden some rides cuz of being that person that CMs stop the ride for. Maybe I wouldn’t need extra time. Who knows.
Also, if he can walk enough to board the bus while your DS folds and carries the chair, that might be doable. I’ve had bus drivers that see me and my cane ask me to wait while they lower the bus side so the step isn’t so high.
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My DH is still resisting. He makes my park days MUUUCCCHHH slower. I would forgo renting from a 3rd party unless FiL is on board. You can always rent from the parks in a pinch (if they have availability) but I think they should have wheelchairs available most of the time. Ask him what his Plan B is if he can’t get around in the parks? Also, do you have a park with a walking path? We have a 2 mile one here. Is he able to practice a lap around now? 2 miles can be just a morning in the parks.
100% get this. Are boats or the Skyliner feasible options? They seem to be more user friendly for the self conscious. I’ll throw an expensive idea out there… Minnie Vans that can accommodate ECVs. If his hang up is being the one to hold everything up, private transportation would be an expensive fix.
We think alike, lol.
Could you just consider renting a car for him? My father was in a very similar boat, recovering from surgery and just not able to stand for long periods of time. The scooter made him able to travel with us. It also made him very independent. The rental scooters could be assembled/disassembled by you or your DS very easily and DFIL could have the privacy to travel in peace.
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It just occurred to me to mention what we’ve done on several trips in the last 4 years, especially with several-ages groups. Our family also has a variety of ride preferences. So we’re not all doing the same thing at the same time.
I’m the slow walker. Plus I get tired and rest on a bench plenty. I’m just about the only one that doesn’t do coasters, drops, etc., while most others do. So they go on ahead and we all meet up somewhere.
Maybe your group has a person or two that doesn’t mind slowing down and doing less. Your FiL can navigate on his own steam. Everyone’s still in the bubble
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My dd26 has a bunch of chronic illnesses, including a connective tissue disorder, and uses a wheelchair at WDW for when she has a flare or is exhausted. We rent from Scooterbug and pick up the chair from bell services upon arrival. Dropping it off at bell services before departure is one less stressor on me. She isn’t comfortable using an ECV as she doesn’t have much hand strength when flaring.
I am the primary pusher. I am 5’2”. Dh is 5’11”. He experiences back pain after pushing the wheelchair. Look at people pushing—taller ones hunch over! Something to keep in mind.
The ground surfaces at WDW vary widely and can get quite bumpy for the wheelchair user. You might consider a cushion. Dd doesn’t need one but prefers that I slow down in certain areas (anything with brick and the “textured” concrete like in AK and Storybook Circus).
Dd hates using the w/c on a bus because of overheard comments in the past 
so we only do that if absolutely necessary. We take Minnie Vans for rope drop or walk/Skyliner/boat if staying at one of those resorts.
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Thank you for sharing. I hate the idea of comments being made about anyone, and I think that also feeds into why my FIL is against the idea since his need isn’t obvious to others.
Tomorrow is departure day. We’re going to give him a choice of A or B but he must choose one and we’ll do daily rentals from the parks. The thought of using it on Disney transportation is just too much but if he decides it is useful (or if it turns out walking to the bus and back to the room is too much) we’ll see if we can get a next-day third party delivery and suck up the Minnie Van costs.
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Check with Bell Services. Perhaps they’ll give him a ride to the bus stop if your bldg is very far and they know in advance. Especially if you’ve a doctor’s note.
If he’s ready and others aren’t yet, he can head slowly to the bus stop. I can walk longer if I’m able to go my own speed 
When we’ve used Minnie Vans they’ve dropped us at our bldg rather than resort lobby entrance. It may be that he’s good to walk to the bus stop in the morning but will appreciate the Minnie van at day’s end. The vans can accommodate 6.
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