hi all hope your ok me an my family are lucky enough to be going to florida next year my walking is ok for short distances but then i have to stop thinking of using a wheelchair does anyone no if you can hire them at the theme parks and is my blue badge valid over there or do you have to apply for a temp one while there cheers if anyone can help mike …
Hi Mickey,
I was lucky, to go to Florida, with family and friends, Easter this year. I took a travel wheelchair, I bought online, from LIoyds Pharmacy. The chair and my stick, proved invaluable, as the parks are so big. You can hire chairs, i believe, but it can work out expensive. I never used my blue badge, when i was there?
Regards
Gareth
Hi mickey We too went to Florida last year I took my own scooter as they are expensuve to hire in the parks $80 a day and you need to get there early to get one. The chairs are slightly cheaper but who’d want to push one of those round all day? The parks are enormous. I took my blue badge and got to park in all the disabled areas deffinatley worth taking it. Hope you have a fab time, dont think I’ll be doing it again even using my scooter I was exhausted and needed a holiday to get over it! Lol xx
Hi
Congrats on your upcoming trip.
We found early on that if you try to use a wheelchair which is provided by attractions, venues, ect that it was the exception that one was actually available and unfortunately many places do not allow you to book in advance. Not sure how this works in the US.
If you believe you would benefit from using a chair you can have an assessment through your council’s wc services, GP can refer.
As far as a bb, it seems that a UK blue badge is not automatically accepted in the US, that you must check with each individual council. I cannot find any information from an “official” source but I don’t think it would be worth trying it if you are not sure.
S.
Travelling by aircraft seems a daunting experience for anyone Disabled in wheelchair or not, but in reality it isn’t it can be a seamless experience as you are helped every step of the way, (that’s not meant as a pun).
I worked for British Airways for 26 years, as such travelled to many parts of the World. In fact in 1988 I travelled twice around the World, some 48,000 miles in 5 days on aircraft, sponsored for Charity. Not something I would recommend but shows you it is possible.
Stick to these guidelines and you will really enjoy the experience. First on booking your flight tell them you would like assistance from check-in to the gate. This could be a wheelchair with someone pushing or a lift on a Golf type buggy. The gate could be over one mile away so don’t think your doing any favour’s by not asking for help. The aircraft has a certain slot for take off, if you are late because of walking difficulties, THE AIRCRAFT HAS TO GO without you, otherwise it costs mega bucks.
If you have problems walking down the isle when you get aircraft side, no problem, quite a few aircraft now have small wheelchairs especially to take people up and down the isle. If you can’t walk whatsoever, no problem, tell them and facilities will be put in place from check-in to take you to the aircraft by ambulance, high lift you to the aircraft and trained medical staff to lift you in the seat. The golden rule here is ‘tell them.’
With some airlines you can pre-book your seat. If so get one that has more leg room and near the toilets, probably a bulkhead seat. The Civil Aviation Authority has made a ruling that no Disabled person can have a seat by an Emergency Exit for obvious reasons.
If for some reason you get to your destination and your wheelchair is missing or worse still damaged it is the airlines, or should I say good airlines signed up to something called the Haig Protocol to restore or repair your chair, see the airlines staff.
I remember I went to San Diego from Gatwick once and they left my chair behind. I was in a rush had to go down to Tijuana and the only one they had to loan me had a large sign above my head saying ‘AVIS Rent a Car.’ The times I was stopped in my Hotel by people saying “hey fella, where can I get a car.”### ### Have a good time, don’t worry as far as flying is concerned your husband will be looked after.
Equipment used for his disability eg wheelchairs; crutches travel free. I have no idea if this extends to a travel kit but I would think they were being rather pedantic if they charged; mind you I would be very careful with so called ‘budget airlines.’ Give you airline a ring to clarify.
### George
thanks so much for your replys some good advice will try an get as much sorted as possibble before we go not going till april next year so plenty of time once again thanks to you all
thanks so much for your replys some good advice will try an get as much sorted as possibble before we go not going till april next year so plenty of time once again thanks to you all
On my earlier trips to Florida when I didn’t need a chair all the time we hired one in the parks but my daughter who is rather tall found it too low to push and it gave her back ache. So I bought one! (Have credit card will travel!) The advantage of your own chair is that you can take it right back to the car. Walking, even from handicapped parking, can be a long way.
As for the blue badge – I found that Disney and Universal parks without question accepted it but you are supposed to get a local one for street parking. I never bothered.
Have a wonderful time
Jane