Doing Disney on Wheels - Tips for Using a Wheelchair to Get Around Walt Disney World

Disney World is a multigenerational thing in my family. I've gone with my grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren. Disney World is a very big part of our life and our history. The thought that I might lose that because of my mobility issues was devastating to me.

The first trip we took after my disability became so bad that I could barely walk anymore; I didn't even want to go. I didn't want to be the wet blanket that slowed everyone down. I didn't want to be the 'spoiler of magic'. I was depressed.

When the suggestion of using a wheelchair was first presented to me, I was even more depressed. A wheelchair? Accepting the reality of being disabled and fighting that with every inch of my soul was one thing but hearing my family and friends saying "Just get a wheelchair" hurt my feelings. I know it wasn't intentional but if you aren't the one with a disability you can't understand it.

I could and can still walk short distances if I wear my air casts. The problem was, Disney is an average of 4 miles per day of walking. By the end of our first day I was in agony. When we got back to our hotel room I had to crawl on my hands and knees to get around.

I had no choice but to surrender to a wheelchair. I was in a lot of pain and even though I wanted to be the hero and not slow everyone down, I was. When my husband rented it at the front gate of the Magic Kingdom I felt sick to my stomach.

When I first sat in the wheelchair I immediately felt self conscious. I was convinced that everyone that looked at me was judging me for being in it. I felt like a rolling 'side show'.

Disney has trained their cast members (Disney employees are called cast members) to treat disabled guests (customers are called guests) with respect and dignity. They put my feelings at ease when they not only talked directly to me; they squatted down so they were on my level. I didn't feel like a freak in a wheelchair, I felt like a person who just happened to be sitting down.

I was concerned about being able to get on the attractions (that is what Disney calls rides) with my family. The most common question that the cast member asked me was if I was able to transfer. If I wasn't (but I could) they could accommodate me and the wheelchair to have access to the rides.

There are very few things a person in a wheelchair can't do in Disney. The Swiss Family Tree House is one of them because it's all stairs leading around the tree house. Other than that, I enjoyed all the attractions that my family and I wanted to do.

Some of the attractions also have an alternative entrance for people with wheelchairs. It's a separate entrance that is more convenient for a person with mobility issues to enter the attraction. They also have the ability to slow down the moving sidewalks in most attractions so you can get onto them safely.

The other concern I had was what to do with the wheelchair while we were on the attraction. Another problem solved by Disney cast members. Once you are in the attraction, they take your wheelchair to the exit to wait for you.

All of Disney's gift shops, restaurants, restrooms, transportation including buses, monorail and boat launches are wheelchair accessible. You can visit Walt Disney World and enjoy the freedom of every other person there. You just do it sitting down.

Disney wheelchair rentals are available for $10 a day or you can get a Length of Stay rental for $8 a day. There are also off-site places that rent wheelchairs that will bring them right to your room.

Disney's wheelchairs are available at all the theme parks, water parks, resorts and Downtown Disney.

Don't let your disability slow you down. Don't let pride or embarrassment take away from your trip. Nobody is paying any attention to you; they are all there enjoying their own vacations. They really don't care what you are doing.

Disney doesn't want you or me to suffer. They do everything they can so ensure you can enjoy your trip like everyone else.

And I didn't suffer. Once I got over the hard-headedness of myself and got into the wheelchair, our trip was something that we all could enjoy. I wasn't in pain and I could keep up with my family. We had a fantastic time and it is a trip our family will remember for years.