I'm trying to find out information about renting a wheel chair, should we end up needing one.

Here's the deal . . . my mother-in-law had a stroke this past November - not a big one, but big enough to scare us! Now, she tires easily and wants to make sure we all get to do what we want without her having to take breaks all the time. Her idea was to rent a wheel chair in the park. She has lots of energy, most of the time, but when it runs out, it runs out fast! (she's only 60)

What we are worried about are a couple things . . . First off, are they available in the middle of the day, or do they usually run out? We'll be going the first week of December, so crowds should be less, but still, we worry. Also, will she get bad looks if she gets out of the chair and looks perfectly fine? The only time she's been in a wheel chair was leaving the hospital and she's a little embarassed, even though we've said not to be.

Does anyone know how much they are to rent these days? If this works out to be a good idea for her, it might solve our stroller issue too! DS can just sit on Nana's lap!

Thanks for the help!

First of all let me warn you that renting either a wheelchair or EVC from Disneyland isn't your answer because if her energy 'goes' then you still have to get her from the gate to your hotel...the second issue is that she can't hold the baby at all if she's sitting on/in a Disneyland owned wheelchair/ECV...it's in the contract and the CM's will approach you and ask you to remove the child. (BTDT)

I highly recommend renting her an EVC for the trip from an off site company such as Deckarts, many padders have had great luck with their scooters and customer service, the information can be found here (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showpost.php?p=1123210&postcount=11). If she seems 'resistive' you can mention how much more fun all of you will have if she's totally independant moblity wise and the baby will love riding on the scooter with nana....my surrogate grandsons LOVE it when I have my personal scooter and they can ride and help drive me around the park.

I too recommend Deckert's. The price has been reasonable and they are very cooperative. And it was handy to carry my 4yo nephew back to the hotel at night when we didn't have a stroller.

However, notice that the original poster said in December and the signature says Disney World.

There are several locations that are very good in the WDW area. These include Buena Vista Scooters, Care Medical, Colonial Medical, Randy's Mobility and Walker Mobility.

Good catch CF, but the advice to rent off site is still the same, for the same reasons, you need the scooter to get to/from the hotels and Disney won't allow children to 'lap ride' if you're using their equipment.

... and Disney won't allow children to 'lap ride' if you're using their equipment.
It is not just Disney. I am one of two moderators in a forum related to disabilities at the WDW Parks on another board, as well as a CM and with several disabilities of my own (and use an ECV in the Parks). All of the off-site rental companies say one person, age 18 or older, is the only one allowed on the ECV.

I have stopped people from coming into the Studio in rental or even their own ECV with a child riding in a lap. It is a SAFETY HAZARD! Most of the rental scooters weigh 150 pounds and can do 4½ MPH. Add on the weight of the passengers and you can have several hundred pounds striking a pedestrian or a wall. All you need is for the child to press against the lever and it will go where pointed.

Yes, I should have specified, WDW. Good info about the lap issue. Duely noted! I would NEVER let him on a scooter with someone - I can see the dangers there, but being in her lap in a wheelchair pushed by me or my husband, that would be different. We'll have to see how her health improves over the next several months. She's doing GREAT, but she's just worried something will happen between now and then (knock on wood that it doesn't!) They called it a warning stroke - as in, there's a good chance for another soon, but that's what the meds and doctor visits are for. At least now she knows and is aware of the issues. It sure suprised us all! Needless to say, she's not getting to go on a lot of rides wtih this "new" heart condition of hers. But you know, that's ok with her! ;)

I'll look into the outside rental places to be prepared. Thanks sooooo much for the great help!

:)