Ask Tink: Where Do I Rent Strollers and Wheelchairs?

"I found that if a wheelchair, etc. wasn't rented at the front of the park that you could NOT get one elsewhere. Is that still the case?"

     Thank you to the Tinker that sent in the above question. Lots of Guests have questions about wheelchair, ECV and stroller rentals. First I'll address your specific question, and then I'll give you a little more information about rentals, in general. 

     You are correct. If you want to rent a wheelchair, ECV or stroller it should be done at the entrance to the park. (In Epcot, you can get one from the main entrance, or from the International Gateway entrance, in World Showcase.) Now, if something happened that you were in the park, away from the entrance, and you suddenly found that you are in need of a wheelchair, there are a couple of things that you can do. Firstly, if you have injured yourself, or are dizzy or weak enough that you can no longer walk, you should immediately notify the nearest Cast Member, so that they can get you medical assistance. If you are not sick or injured, but find yourself fatigued or unable to walk further, you should send a member of your party to the rental area, at the front of the park. If that is not an option, talk to a Cast Member nearby. Some locations, including First Aide and Baby Care, keep a spare wheelchair on hand for emergencies, and they may allow you to use it to get to the rental desk. 

     Should your rented stroller, wheelchair or ECV stop working while you are in the park, let a Cast Member know. They can usually either switch it out with a better one right there and then, or they will call a Cast Member from the rental area to switch out your broken item. No need to trudge to the front of the park.

     Push wheelchairs, Electronic Convenience Vehicles, (or ECVs), and single and double strollers are available for rental at all four theme parks. No documentation is needed to prove that you require a wheelchair, however, if you are renting one because you have heard that you don't have to wait in line for the rides if you are in a wheelchair, think again. Yes, in some of the parks, the queue lines are too narrow to accommodate the width of a wheelchair, and therefore the queue must be bi-passed, but because some Guests had been taking advantage of this situation, Disney put a different system in place for these problematic attractions. I used the system once while visiting with my mom, just after she had knee surgery and was using a wheelchair. We wanted to ride Peter Pan's Flight and the wait at the time was 45 minutes. Because of the narrow queue, we would be taken in the exit and put right on to a ride vehicle, but to make it fair for everyone, rather than loading us right away, we were given a pass by the greeter. The pass said we could return through the exit and ride in... you guessed it... 45 minutes! The same as the standby queue wait time. So we did not have to stand in the queue line and wait, but we still did not get the immediate access that some people think they will be granted. 

     I will say this: if you don't actually require a wheelchair, don't get one. There are a limited quantity and you might be taking one from someone with a disability who will now have no way to get around the park. Not magical. Plus, if I see you hopping out of one and you are perfectly able-bodied and obviously using one for the benefits, I will give you some MAJOR stink-eye. It's serious. Watch out.

     As for strollers, most attractions will require that you use a stroller parking area, located near the entrance of the attraction. Just be aware that as soon as you join the line, your stroller may be moved around within the parking area, by a Cast Member, in order to keep the area organized and make sure all strollers are accessible. It's a great idea to bring a ribbon, flag, or something else to hang on the handle of your rental, so that you can easily recognize it if it is moved. You will get a name tag to put on rented wheelchairs and strollers, but something that stands out and makes your item easier to find is always a plus. We bring our own stroller to the park and you would not believe how many red strollers there are at the exit of any attraction! 

     Let's talk pricing. Standard wheelchairs and wide wheelchairs can be rented for $12 per day. Single strollers are $15 per day, and doubles are $31 per day. ECVs are $50 per day and also require a $20 refundable deposit. With all rentals, you do save some cash if you pre-pay for multiple days in advance, so ask about that at the rental desk if you know you're going to be using it for multiple days. Rentals are the same price, no matter what time of day you enter the park, but if you leave at some point in the day and either return to the same park, or even if you park hop, show your receipt upon re-entry and you will not have to pay again. 

     Are you thinking that you're going to need a wheelchair to get you to and from your car in the parking lot? No problem! Disney provides courtesy wheelchairs that you can take from your car to the rental desk, or vice versa. They are a different color from the regular chairs though, so no, you will not be able to get away with using the free one for the whole day. Trust me, I have considered it. 

     Now, if you are in need of a wheelchair, ECV or stroller that you can utilize around your resort and elsewhere, you may want to look into an outside company, where you can rent for the length of your stay. Many companies will deliver right to your resort and pick your item back up at the end of your stay. The pluses to this are that you will have your item to use everywhere and generally, it'll save you some money too. The downside is that you are going to have to get your rental to and from the parks on your own. Disney buses are equipped with lifts, so you will be able to bring the ECV onboard, but make sure you're comfortable navigating it. You will have to drive on to a small lift platform and then maneuver into a small parking area on the bus. There are several outside rental companies but some of the more popular are Buena Vista Scooters and Magic Strollers. 

     For more information on in-park rentals, as well as accessibility information, visit Disney Guest Services at any park, or click HERE.