Everything to Know About Wheelchair Rentals at Walt Disney World

Sharing is caring!

My family recently went to Walt Disney World to show my 86 year old Grammy Pandora in Animal Kingdom. Avatar is her most favorite movie…so much so that she only allows herself to watch it on her birthday. Otherwise she says she would watch it nonstop and it would be dangerous. Anyway, my goal was to bring her to Florida from Los Angeles to see Pandora and ride on the Avatar rides. Because she is 86 years old, we went through the process of renting a wheelchair for her so that she could easily access the entire park. She is not handicapped and sometimes she did walk, but she is very old and couldn’t walk the entire day. I felt like while I was planning this trip, there wasn’t a lot of information about wheelchair rentals and how to proceed once you had one. When I was a kid, you had to obtain a disability pass from Guest Services and enter the ride via the exit. This is not the case anymore. Read on learn about wheelchair rentals at Walt Disney World.

Wheelchair Rentals at Walt Disney World: an FAQ

First off, where do you rent wheelchairs and scooters?

When you enter each park, there is a clear hub with wheelchairs and scooters for rent. They are very visible and we had no trouble finding them. In Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kindom the area was off to the right, directly after you entered the park. In Epcot, it was to the left. If necessary, there were also temporary wheelchairs to use by the parking lots to transport whoever to that main hub. Those were green and just lying around for use.

How much does it cost to rent a wheelchair?

Rentals were $12 per day or $10 per day for multi-day rentals. For example, we rented ours for 2 days so it was $20 total. On the first day, we paid the full $20 and received a receipt indicating that the wheelchair rental was for two days. There were blank lines for the cast members to fill in the date of use. The second day, we used that same receipt to get another wheelchair. It’s important that you do not lose the receipt from day to day!

Do you need any documentation to rent a wheelchair?

No, you do not. I was worried that since there was a limited supply and my Grammy does not have a documented disability that renting a wheelchair would be difficult. On the contrary, it was super easy!

Can you get a wheelchair early if you get into the park early?

Yes. Once you get into the park, through the ticketed gates, you can rent a wheelchair. We arrived at Hollywood Studios an hour before the park opened to get onto Rise of the Resistance. They began letting people into the park 45 minutes before the park opened and once we got in, we could get a wheelchair. A quick note: wheelchairs are first-come, first-serve so if you need a wheelchair, I recommend getting to the park earlier in the day so you’re guaranteed a wheelchair.

How can you identify your wheelchair?

When you first rent your wheelchair, you fill out a name card so you can find it at the end of a ride from the group of wheelchairs.

Can you use your own wheelchair?

Yes. I would read Disney’s direct website about the details since my family only rented ours.

Which lines can you access with a wheelchair?

Regardless if you are entering the standby line or the Fastpass+ line, you will approach the entrance and speak to the cast member. They will tell you if you can proceed via the normal lines or if there is a different way you need to go. Many of the newer rides are accessible with a wheelchair. For example, the standby line for Flight of Passage was accessible. However, the standby line for Star Tours was not accessible, so a cast member directed us to the Fastpass+ line instead, which was free of stairs.

My one tip is to lead with the wheelchair so the cast members know that your party has a wheelchair. Sometimes a couple of us would go ahead in the standby line only to have to turn around and go elsewhere because of the wheelchair. The cast members will eventually take the wheelchair and leave it by the exit of the ride for you.

Overall, the entire process was super easy and everyone was very helpful in directing us to the appropriate line.

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

Save to Pinterest

Sharing is caring!