Disney Charging for Wheelchairs

[figmentofmyimagination]

Reno mentioned on yesterdays daily fix that apparently disney will be charging a fee to use their wheelchairs at the waterparks

Was wondering how everyone felt about this

Should a business be expected to provide this service for free or should people be responsible for arranging their own wheelchairs

 

[TheMaxRebo]

just to clarify - all the other parks already charge for wheelchairs - this just makes it consistent b/w the waterparks and the other parks

Also, did a quick google search and looks like Universal charges the exact same rate - so consistency there too

I think like everything it's tough to offer something like that totally for free but $12/day isn't too much. Plus there are thirdparties you can rent from too (just like strollers) so ooptions

 

[NeuroCindy]

Wheelchairs cost money to buy and maintain. I have no problem with a business (with the exception of a hospital) charging a small fee to use them.

 

[figmentofmyimagination]

For what they charge for admission these days, I'm sorry it should be free

I thought the American disabilities act protected this from happening

 

[Princess Jes]

For what they charge for admission these days, I'm sorry it should be free

I thought the American disabilities act protected this from happening

I didn't think the ADA provided for all disabled people to get all their medical needs for free? I could be wrong though?

 

[rteetz]

I didn't think the ADA provided for all disabled people to get all their medical needs for free? I could be wrong though?

No it does not give medical needs for free. I'm sure a lot of people would be happy if it did though.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I didn't think the ADA provided for all disabled people to get all their medical needs for free? I could be wrong though?

I honestly don't know all the rules and requirements but I did find from one court ruling:
the court said that the ADA does not require the provisions of different goods or services, rather it requires the nondiscriminatory enjoyment of the services that are provided.

From that I gather they don't need to provide a wheelchair but that if someone came in with a wheelchair they wouldn't be able to discriminate against that



... plus the cynical part of me thinks that if they were free people would get them just to have and use for carrying souvenirs and stuff just because "it was free so why not?"

 

[Princess Jes]

No it does not give medical needs for free. I'm sure a lot of people would be happy if it did though.

No, didn't think so, so not sure why the ADA would "protect this from happening"

I'm sure they would, and I can appreciate that it would help people, but unfortunately, as Pete says, it's a capitalist society, so where there's money to be made, even in relation to wheelchairs, it will be made.
even in Australia where we DO get free health care, these things aren't free, nor is medication.

 

[Accident]

I'm not going to get into the legal discussion as I'm not qualified nor educated in this area...

I don't have an issue with renting chairs at water parks. If I required the use of a wheelchair, I would have my own when I showed up. This is more a convenience for those that would like to have one. i've had some situations where I needed to rent them and didn't feel ripped off or anything. We came knowing someone would have issues with the amount of walking and decided getting it at disney instead of showing up with one already was better for our situation.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

The theme parks charge to rent wheelchairs so why not the water parks as well/

I have no problem with it.

My mom was in need of one in 2012 when she really needed a total knee replacement but thought she could walk anyways.
By the end of the second night she literally could not walk so Disney was great and let her use a wheelchair free of charge to go to the bus.
The next day we rented one as soon as we got to the park and she was very happy we did.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

The theme parks charge to rent wheelchairs so why not the water parks as well/

I have no problem with it.

My mom was in need of one in 2012 when she really needed a total knee replacement but thought she could walk anyways.
By the end of the second night she literally could not walk so Disney was great and let her use a wheelchair free of charge to go to the bus.
The next day we rented one as soon as we got to the park and she was very happy we did.

Very true. I've been in the position of having to rent a scooter before due to an ankle injury. I tried not to but was miserable and had to swallow my pride. It completely changed my vacation for the better.

Also, I just wanted to say to the boards! I hope to see you around here more often!

 

[figmentofmyimagination]

Seems harsh that you are essentially charging a person with a disability or injury a fee to be able to navigate through ones park.

nevertheless I do hear horror stories of people being run over by ECVs. I know many retirement homes literally require a driving test before you can use them on property.

 

[NeuroCindy]

I see your point, and if Disney didn't allow people to bring in their own ECVs/Wheelchairs, I'd completely agree with you. I think part of Disney's perspective (and this is just a guess) is that if they give an inch, people take a mile. If they give people wheelchairs for free, will people with diabetes be requesting food for free, should people with salt wasting conditions, get powerade/pickles for free (I vote yes ) and on and on. They had to get rid of the GAC because of people abusing it, and instead introduced the DAS which is harder to abuse. So, I can see both sides, but from a business perspective it makes sense to charge (especially for ECVs) because there's a cost to the company.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I see your point, and if Disney didn't allow people to bring in their own ECVs/Wheelchairs, I'd completely agree with you. I think part of Disney's perspective (and this is just a guess) is that if they give an inch, people take a mile. If they give people wheelchairs for free, will people with diabetes be requesting food for free, should people with salt wasting conditions, get powerade/pickles for free (I vote yes ) and on and on. They had to get rid of the GAC because of people abusing it, and instead introduced the DAS which is harder to abuse. So, I can see both sides, but from a business perspective it makes sense to charge (especially for ECVs) because there's a cost to the company.

Also, I think depending on your condition you would need a different type of wheelchair ... should Disney be required to have every possible configuration that could possibly be needed?

 

[NeuroCindy]

Also, I think depending on your condition you would need a different type of wheelchair ... should Disney be required to have every possible configuration that could possibly be needed?

Excellent Point!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

As a wheelchair user I would rather they charge a small amount and have a good stock and well maintained fleet. Here in the UK places where they are free they only have a few and are in poor condition. I bring my own as I can't travel without it but I do feel these are invaluable to people. There have been times my powerchair has failed me!

One time at the safari in AK I had such a situ and CM got me a manual wheelchair for free. Me and my wife were beyond grateful. We were more than willing to pay.

 

[Gorechick]

I think having a fee also deters would be "abusers." Years ago, being in a wheelchair "could" give you access to front of the line treatment. I was reading on another thread how a poster saw a group of girls taking turns in the wheelchair all over the Magic Kingdom to gain access years ago. Its doubtful that would happen nowadays with the different policies they have in place. People will budget for one and more will be available for those that need them.

 

[pjweaver]

We actually rent a wheelchair from one of the preferred Disney companies we found on here in the Guests with DisABILITIES forum. Preferred Disney companies are the only ones that can deliver to your resort. It ran us about $10 a day, but it is worth is as the ones you rent in the parks are not supposed to leave the park entrance, and there aren't always guest chairs available to get to the busses.

Not everyone in a wheelchair NEEDS one, but it allows them better mobility. In fact we saw three chaperones in July using wheelchairs to push large coolers and backpacks for their tour group, and I would hate to think they got them for free. Here the ADA comes into play, as Disney CMs can not ask why someone needs a wheelchair.

There is also the fact that going into Disney is not cheap; in a day at Disney, $12 is a drop in the bucket. I'd gladly skip a churro and a coke for my wife not to be in pain. We have actually spent the first half of a day walking, then rented a chair after lunch to push through and spend more time in the parks rather than take a break. To me the value is easily worth the cost.

 

[figmentofmyimagination]

How about ecvs on the buses , feels like there should be a better way to load them on then they do currently

 

[rteetz]

How about ecvs on the buses , feels like there should be a better way to load them on then they do currently

How so? I think they do the best they can right now.