wheelchair hire help

[Limara]

We have finally managed to book and are off to Sunny florida 15th November, I have a disabled child and it would give us more room in the car to hire a wheelchair in florida I only need a small one for a 15 year old child does any one know anywhere I could try for one ( I dont want to pay as much as it would cost to buy one )

[Lakul]

I recently hired a wheelchair for one of my guests from Bob Walker at Walker Mobility - http://www.walkermobility.com/ . The total price for 14 full days for a manual wheelchair was $85 delivered. Power wheelchairs were $250 per week, but for 14 full days they would rent for $425.

Excellent service and Bob was very helpful.

[blott]

Or you could try http://www.scootaround.com who also do a similar sort of rental.

It really is easier if you can manage to take your own wheelchair and squeeze it in somewhere as your child will already be used to it and it will save quite a lot of money in rental costs.

[Limara]

Thanks for the replies, ill try both of them renting a strange wheelchair isnt a problem she isnt used to a wheel chair at home as she has vey limited walking with a k walker but can only just manage round asda so will have no hope of even shopping over there........ our wheelchair takes up so much room and I know how small the boots are over there, even on the full size cars It just semed sensible to rent and save space for luggage.

[Citrus-view]

Do do not say if your child is 100% dependant.

If she is not then the parks all have wheelchairs as do most of the malls

On the subject of taking your own, whilst the trucks on US cars ar smaller than ours, eventhe big ones. Have you thought about a people carrier? - They come in all sizes fro 8 people and up. Easy to drice as all automatic

[Limara]

Hi David, She isnt 100% dependant over here, I guess with the size difference of shops in the US she may even need it for shopping she can only walk very small distances with a walking frame and that will have to go with us as well, the people carrier over there wont help us for geting to and from the airport back home, the wheelchair and walker just about fills my boot so we only have the roof box for luggage.
The idea of renting from a park would be good IF they actually had them available,I have never visited a park over there yet when there have been any left to rent!

[steph_goodrum]

Limara
We have friends with an 18 year old disabled daughter who have been visiting Florida for several years and as her roller walker and wheelchair have got bigger they have just used a people carrier or suchlike and found that better so they know what is available, the other reason for taking their own is that as you have to check into the airport 3 hours before flight it gives her chance to look round the shops at the airport as well. Because they know they are going to a villa and have washer etc available they take the minimum amount of clothes for the 4 of them so can manage with a few smaller cases which they can put on their laps if need be on the way to the airport.
We flew back from Miami on Sat and had a 4 hour delay at the airport, we felt really sorry for this elderly gent (about 70) who was brought to the departure gate 3 hours before original flight time, he was travelling alone, and once he had been seated the attendant went off and left him , he wasn't even close enough to ask at the desk for any help, after a couple of hours we knew there was going to be a delay so asked him if he wanted any drinks or wanted us to fetch anyone to take him to the bathroom or anything, but he was there in one seat for 7 1/2 hours in total and that was before the 7 hour flight. So if you do have your own wheelchair it would be much easier, in case you encounter the same sort of problems.

[burgessfamily]

I can recommend http://www.walkermobility.com/
My mum has just hired a scooter for this Sat when we fly out and for 21 days it was around $524.. for 21 days.
They have promised to deliver it before we get to the Villa.

Burgessfamily

[huckleberry house]

Limara
Looking at some of the prices quoted on here and the difficulties that can arise with flight delays it would appear that you may be better off ,financially and in other ways, to look at some other way of getting to the airport in UK,hiring a 7 seater for Florida and taking your own wheelchair.Would it be possible to hire a taxi and let them know you need a lot of space or how about a coach,or could you hire a car/minivan from where you live and do a drop off at the airport and vice versa for your return?

Lesley

[steph_goodrum]

Or do you have a friend who might take a second car to the airport for you and the same on return? If you live close to Gatwick, and are flying with Virgin, and can make use of the twilight checkin that would help as it would be possible to take your cases one night and then go back in the morning with just hand luggage and the wheelchair and walker. I know it's a bit of a long shot and would mean 2 trips to the airport, but could solve the problem.