Tips for Traveling Independently When You're Disabled
These days, more and more individuals with disabilities are deciding to travel alone, and the travel industry is paying attention, especially in Florida. Almost all hotels, restaurants, modes of transportation, and attractions in Orlando comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and make certain those who need the help of wheelchairs and scooters are able to get where they need to go and do what they need to do safely and easily.
In a perfect world, you wouldn't have to wonder if the particular hotel or rental car offers these accommodations, but it's important that you don't simply assume they do. By taking the following steps, you can ensure you can have the independent vacation you've always wanted.
Tips for Traveling to Florida Independently
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Always Call Ahead- While the ADA may make it a requirement for places in Florida to accommodate your disabilities, some of these locations will need to make arrangements beforehand. Call ahead of time, preferably when you're making the reservation and about 48 hours before you're expected to arrive, to confirm that the accommodations you need will be available.
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Be Specific- Keep in mind that not all service providers in Florida are going to know the lingo of traveling with a disability- or medical terms. Describe your condition in simple terms and explain it as thoroughly as possible so they know exactly what you'll need. Never downplay your issues.
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Your Doctor- Always inform your doctor about your trip, and be sure to get a note and a phone number from him or her before you leave. The note should include information about your disability or injury, any medications you are on, and special needs you may have.
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Choose a Scooter- While you may get around fine at home with the help of a regular wheelchair, when you're visiting Florida, consider an Orlando scooter rental. Scooters are powered, so you won't wear out as quickly, and you'll be able to enjoy the many adventures you plan to have. Scooters also allow you to remain completely independent. If you become tired halfway through a theme park, it will be easy for you to navigate your way out because you won't have to do any pushing.
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Don't Forget Transport- If you've made arrangements for your Orlando scooter rental to be delivered to your hotel, make sure you didn't forget about transport to and from the airport. If your disability or injury is severe enough that you cannot walk at all, you might need the help of your own wheelchair for transport or may need to rethink your arrangements for the Orlando scooter rental.
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Carry Medical Information- Medical information should always be on you at all times, and should be in a location where it will be easily seen by a medical professional who may have to help you. This information can be in the form of a necklace, bracelet, or even a wallet card.
Want to maintain your independence while traveling to Orlando, Florida? Always call ahead, use a scooter, and don't forget to think carefully about how you'll get from one place to another as soon as you plane lands.
Wheelchair vs Mobility Scooter: Which one is Better?
A few months ago, we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a mobility scooter vs. a power wheelchair, or power chair. Both have their benefits, but for the majority of individuals visiting Florida on vacation, and Orlando scooter rental is the best option.
But what about regular wheelchairs? It makes sense that some might consider renting a regular wheelchair instead of a mobility scooter on their Orlando vacation. After all, if they plan on visiting Disney World, some of the rides will require them to transfer from their scooter to a wheelchair in order to get on the ride. Is this small time-saver really worth giving up a mobility scooter, though?
Disadvantages of Using a Wheelchair for Your Orlando Visit
When you're trying to determine what type of mobility device to use, consider what you'll be giving up when you choose a wheelchair.
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They Might not be as Comfortable- When you're on vacation, you want to spend every moment possible enjoying yourself. In Florida, this often means visiting theme parks, dining at restaurants, and seeing the sights. While some heavy duty manual wheelchairs can offer a comfortable place to sit, light duty wheelchairs often provide no comfort or support for the buttocks and back. Mobility scooters have cushioned seats and back supports that will offer more support and comfort.
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Weak Upper Body- Do you have limited upper body strength? If you're pushing a manual wheelchair throughout the Disney theme parks, you're likely going to become tired and sore before you even get halfway through the attractions. This means you'll either have to go back to the hotel and rest before you can have fun again, or give up your independence and allow someone to push you through the parks. An Orlando scooter rental will allow you to enjoy the entirety of your day without help and without hurting.
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Injury- If you're experiencing a temporary injury or illness that requires you to obtain mobility help while you're on vacation in Florida, there's a good chance you haven't spent much time in a wheelchair. As a result, your arms and shoulders may not be prepared for the manual labor they must undertake when moving you from place to place. This can result in injuries to your muscles and can ruin your vacation.
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Speed- Orlando scooter rentals can travel at speeds of about 5mph; a wheelchair can only travel as fast as you can push it. In some cases, using a wheelchair may make it difficult for you to keep up with your loved ones as they enjoy their Florida vacation.
Despite their disadvantages, manual wheelchairs do offer a variety of benefits. They promote physical fitness, increase maneuverability, are easy to operate, cost less, and are easy to take anywhere you need to go.
If you're trying to decide whether or not to rent a manual wheelchair or an Orlando scooter rental, consider the way it will be used. Do you want something with more support? Choose a scooter. Want a transportation option that maneuvers well? Choose a wheelchair. Select the best option for your particular needs.
Tips for Avoiding Falls in Your Vacation Home or Hotel
When you plan a trip to Orlando, Florida, you’re expecting the best of the best. You want magic, beauty, and excitement. You want to explore the various theme parks it offers, taste the best food, and enjoy luxury hotels and rental homes. The last thing you want is to become injured. Unfortunately, it happens, and when you have mobility problems, the likelihood of an injury increases dramatically.
So, what can you do about it?
Avoiding Falling on Your Vacation
- Scooter Rental in Orlando- Whether you’re traveling from your hotel room to the hotel swimming pool or you’re enjoying the magic of Disney, renting a scooter is essential to ensuring you’re as safe as possible. Being able to utilize the scooter will allow you to eliminate the need to walk any type of long distance, which greatly reduces the risk of falling or tripping, especially when your mobility is limited already.
- Equipped Hotel Rooms- When you plan your Orlando, Florida vacation, be careful how you make your hotel reservation. Be clear that you will be operating a mobility scooter and that your mobility is limited. Request a room that is on the ground floor, or one with disabled-access. As whether the room is equipped for individuals with limited mobility as well; the room may come with shower bars, hand rails, and lower countertops to accommodate for your needs.
- Equipped Vacation Homes- It’s much more difficult to find a vacation home with the scooter-friendly access, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Contact a realtor while you’re planning your trip. They will be able to help you find exactly what you need; this very helpful when you don’t live nearby and are unable to visit Orlando to find the perfect rental yourself.
- Go Clutter Free- Living out a suitcase isn’t very conducive to organization, but allowing the items in your hotel room to clutter up walkways can be dangerous. Even if you only have to walk short distances, like to the bathroom or to where your scooter rental is charging on the other side of the room, making sure path is free of any clutter will help you avoid falling.
- Rely on Help- There may be instances during your trip when you won’t be able to do what you want to do if you’re in a mobility scooter. For instance, some rides and attractions at the theme parks in Orlando will require you to transfer from your scooter to a wheelchair that will fit on the ride. Don’t be afraid to rely on a bit of help when you must make these changes. Being able to stabilize yourself on the arm of someone else can keep you from becoming injured and can keep the rest of your trip from being ruined. When you’re in your vacation home, think of things the same way. If you need help getting from your scooter to your bed at night, ask for help.
Want to make the most of your trip? If your mobility is limited, do everything you can to plan to avoid falling. Find the right hotel room or vacation home, get a scooter rental in Orlando, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Not Sure You Need a Mobility Scooter for Your Disney Vacation? Here’s Why You do
In this day and age, many of us do everything we can to save an extra dollar or two. We clip coupons, we avoid eating out, and we wear the same wardrobe for years until it’s obvious we need to update our clothing. Being frugal isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it can help you save back money to put toward the items you really need- or want. Like the Florida vacation you’ve been working towards for the last few years. Now that you’ve saved enough money, you’re ready to go enjoy yourself.
If you have limited mobility, your fun may be limited as well, especially if you’re still in the frugal mindset and refuse a mobility scooter rental. A mobility scooter rental can allow you to experience everything you want to experience in Orlando, though, and can keep you from needing frequent breaks or having to cut the fun short so you can go back to the hotel room and rest.
Not sure if you need a mobility scooter? Here are a few facts that may change your mind.
Why You Need a Mobility Scooter
- The average number of miles a person walks in ONE day while visiting Disney World is 13 miles. This doesn’t count the hours you’ll probably spend waiting in line so your daughter can ride her favorite ride for the fifth time.
- Planning on getting a room at a Disney resort? While this may get you closer to the theme park, you should still expect to walk about 15 minutes before arriving at a bus that will take you to the park.
- Thinking that staying at another Orlando resort will better appeal to your frugal mentality? While you may save a little bit of money by booking a room outside of Disney, that doesn’t mean you’ll be doing any less walking. There are an average of 20,000 rooms in each Orlando resort.
- What time of year are planning on visiting Orlando? In January the average temperature is about 72 degrees, but from April to October, you can expect to be walking in temperatures as high as 80 to 100 degrees.
What’s the Solution?
A mobility scooter rental is the smart solution when your ability to walk is limited, and you want to get the most out of your Orlando experience. While it may cost a little bit extra to use a scooter, it will allow you to get anywhere you want in Orlando and keep you from being in pain from too much walking or becoming too tired.
With the help of Florida Scooter Rentals, you can rent a scooter a reasonable price and have it delivered right to your hotel room. You’ll then be able to fold it up when you need to take your car or a cab, and you’ll be able to use it in any theme park and have access to a number of attractions. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you enjoy your Florida experience.
Disney Magic Kingdom Tips When You’re Using a Scooter Rental
When your mobility is limited, using a scooter rental to enjoy Disney’s Magic Kingdom is not only recommended, but essential. The parking lots and common areas that have to be navigated before reaching the ticket gates are a long distance away. Here’s a short breakdown in how the process works:
- If you’re traveling by car and don’t have a handicap sign for your vehicle, you’ll have to navigate the parking lots and common areas until you reach the ticket gate.
- If you’re traveling by car and do have a handicap sign, you’ll be able to park in the handicap parking lot. However, if you decide to use the free, available wheelchairs in this lot instead of an Orlando scooter rental, you’ll need to travel down and back up an incline in order to reach the ticket gate. The inclines can be hard on anyone, even if someone is available to push you.
- If you decide to take the monorail, you may arrive at the ticket gate more quickly, but you’ll also have a two story incline up to the monorail platform and another once you get off the monorail. There will be another slight incline as well before you reach the security checkpoint and gate.
These inclines can be much too taxing when you’re only using a wheelchair, but they can also be hard on your scooter rental. If you want to avoid the ups and downs while still making sure you don’t spend all of your vacation time going across parking lots, consider these tips.
Using Your Scooter Rental in Disney’s Magic Kingdom
- Skip the monorail and take the ferry instead. The wait will be longer, but you won’t have to go up and down inclines that could limit the time you spend in the park because of its affects on your scooter battery.
- Always arrange for an Orlando scooter rental before you visit the park. Don’t rely on the scooters the park provides; these are generally sell out first thing in the morning. Having Florida Scooter Rentals deliver your scooter to your hotel room will allow you to enjoy the benefits of the scooter well before you enter the park as well.
- For shorter and easier commutes, stay at a Disney resort or on-site hotel. You’ll be able to use a boat or the bus service to quickly and easily reach the entrance to the Magic Kingdom.
- If you decide to park in the handicap parking lot or use the monorail, make sure your scooter’s battery is full charged. The inclines can deplete its power more quickly, but with a full charge to start off with, you should be able to enjoy the entire day with your family and friends in Magic Kingdom.
Are you ready to enjoy Disney World’s Magic Kingdom? Don’t let your limited mobility get in the way. Use these tips and an Orlando scooter rental to make the most of your visit to Florida so you can have time of your life.
Planning to Swim in Orlando? Benefits of Finding a Hotel With a Zero Entry Pool
If you’re planning a trip to Orlando and you’re disabled due to an injury or illness, you’ve no doubt already begun looking for everything you think you might need. Your must-have list will probably include finding a location to rent an Orlando mobility scooter, researching Orlando theme parks to determine their ability to provide you with the services you need when you visit, and finding a hotel that has all the right accommodations.
While the majority of hotels in Orlando are extremely accessible to those who rent Orlando mobility scooters, some may offer more accommodations that you had imagined. They might offer rooms that are scooter-friendly and include wall bars to help you stand and transfer. Some might offer outlets right next to the bed, so that when you transfer from your electric scooter to the bed at night, you can easily plug the scooter in so the battery will charge. A few, however, will offer something more: zero entry pools.
What is a Zero Entry Pool?
Swimming is great exercise for everyone, but even more so for those with disabilities. It creates a weightless feeling that lets those who have difficulty with mobility control their movements better. Obtaining this exercise is hard, however, without access to a zero entry pool.
A zero entry pool is a type of swimming pool that has a shallow, sloping entrance, rather than a ladder or steps. This type of ramp generally starts out with about half an inch of water and then gradually deepens as you get farther into the pool.
For guests with disabilities, this feature allows immediate access to a pool. You can either use a water-proof electric scooter to enter the pool, or simply transfer from your mobility scooter to a standard wheel chair.
While most hotels have lifts that can help disabled guests access the pool, zero entry pools offer many benefits that these lifts don’t.
Benefits of Zero Entry Pools
- Available All the Time- Pool lifts may be much more common in hotels, but it is also very common for them to break down. Because of this, access to the pool is not always available to those who have had to rent an Orlando mobility scooter or those with mobility problems. Zero entry pools guarantee access every single day- and they don’t have to be replaced or repaired because they don’t have mechanical parts that will break down.
- Independence- Unlike with pool lifts, individuals who need the assistance of an electric scooter or wheelchair don’t have to wait until hotel staff is available to enter the pool. This allows them to maintain their independence.
- Safety- Because zero entry pools begin with only half an inch of water, disabled individuals can judge for themselves how far they should and should not go. Because those that are disabled are more apt to know their limitations, this often reduces chances of injuries and accidents.
- Fun with Families- Hotels that don’t offer zero entry pools are often filled with families who stay behind in their room or re-plan their activities, simply because their disabled family member can’t join in the fun. This isn’t what a vacation is about. Zero entry pools allow everyone to join in and have the time of their lives.
Your Electric Scooter and Zero Entry Pools
If you have to rent an Orlando mobility scooter to help you get around, consider finding a hotel that will make your vacation easier and a lot more exciting. Look for accommodations that you don’t normally find, like specially designed rooms and zero entry pools.
XTips for Planning a Florida Vacation When You’re Disabled
When you’re thinking of taking a vacation in Florida, you have to plan your trip well to ensure you hit all the top sights and attractions. This is even more important if you’re disabled. While Florida is extremely accessible to individuals with disabilities, if you want to experience the best of cities like Orlando, you have to start the trip with a plan in place that will allow you to do so. Not sure where to start? We can walk you through each step of the plan, from your Orlando scooter rental to utilizing your hotel concierge.
Planning an Orlando, Florida Vacation
- Think Ahead- Planning a vacation when you’re disabled takes much more forethought than when you’re not. You have to consider things other people don’t, like where you’re going to use the restroom if you’re out sightseeing, whether or not the hotel you’re staying at will have a place to plug in your Orlando scooter rental, and whether or not that outlet is close to your bed. When you book your trip, ask questions and obtain the answers you need so that your trip is one you’ll enjoy.
- Scooter Rentals- If you have difficulty getting around, consider a scooter rental while you’re in Orlando. Walking around or even pushing yourself in a wheelchair can be exhausting. Instead of wasting your time and energy, let a mobility scooter do all the work. This way, you can spend every moment of your vacation doing exactly what you want to do.
- Talk to Friends- Do you have friends that live in the area that are also disabled? Seek them out for advice on the best locations to go on your visit. They’ll know where to park at Disney World, which restaurants have the best access, and which shops you simply can’t pass over. If you don’t have a friend in the area, consider going online to find a community of travelers with disabilities. One such membership site, the Travelin’ Talk Network, will help connect you with other individuals in Orlando that are willing to share travel information with you.
- Utilize Your Concierge- A hotel concierge is your best friend while you’re staying in Florida. He will not only be the one who accepts your Orlando scooter rental when it arrives, but, if he’s knowledgeable about the area, will be your guide to fun in the city. He’ll help you find adequate public transportation, provide information about accessible attractions in the area, like Disney World and Sea World, and help you find a restaurant that is not only disability-friendly, but serves your favorite food. Don’t be afraid to seek your concierge out for information. They are there to help you have the best time possible during your stay.
Orlando Scooter Rentals, Concierges, and Friends: The Perfect Vacation
If you want your vacation to Florida to be perfect, start planning it now. The earlier you begin researching scooter rentals, accessible parks, restaurants, hotels, and shops, the more organized and fun your trip will be.
