Crazy idea, what do u think?

[Sarahsmom85]

Ok
Looking for opinions. DH is a quad. He uses an electric wheelchair, he has had a few very bad experiences with public transportation, so he will only use his own vehicle or rent one.
We are staying off site for 15 day. If we rent a wheelchair van it will cost us $1400. I've come to realize just how much money that is. Quite a lot.
Our van at home is a 94 with 165,000 miles on it and must last us at least another 5 yrs. I really can't drive it to Florida from Mass.

Ok heres my crazy idea. I've started looking on ebay for a cheap used van for sale in the Florida area. Right now I see one for $500 but it is in the Tallahassee area which i feel is a little to far away. But I have two months to still look. I do know someone who lives in the Tampa area and for a few bucks i might be able to get them to go get it in Tallahassee for us.
Anyway does it sound crazy to buy a van in Florida use it for our two weeks then donate it to a charity for the tax write off before we leave? Or i'd give it to someone it i could find someone who could us it.
Any other ideas or comments?
Anyone know of any vans for sale in the Orlando area?
I saw a small van from uhaul that said rent me for $19.99 a day.
I actually had a crazy idea of renting a unhaul with ramps for our time in Florida. lol
Maybe we could have a van swap like they do the stroller swap

 

[Andrew Bichard]

My suggestion would be to cancel your offsite hotel if you can, and use your $500 to upgrade yourself to an on-site hotel so you can use the accessible Disney Transportation system.

Andrew

 

[Sarahsmom85]

Point is DH will not use transportion. One too many inpatient bus driver put an end to that.

don't want to stay on site, we are doing many offsite things.

Have a beautiful 3 bedroom villa for two weeks.

 

[OCDPlanner]

I don't think your idea is crazy at all. Any idea that is legal and saves/doesn't really cost you any money is always a smart idea. And the fact that you would donate the van to charity afterwards makes it even better. Not only are you doing a good deed, you basically get the "use" of the van for free.

Alternately, you might try calling around to the different transport companies, churches and community centers and see if any of these organizations have an older van that you could "rent" if you make a donation. Or a van that they're looking to sell because they have bought/need to buy a new van.

Having been to WDW twice with my Mom, who uses an ECV, and staying both on/off site, I can't say that the added cost of staying on-site equaled the availability of handicapped accessible WDW buses. In 1995 we had to wait several minutes longer than other guests until the "right" buses came along. (Not to mention the sometimes snarly comments made by other passengers who had to wait until after my mom was on-board. Especially during the busy season when everybody is impatient to get where they're going.)

If you have the ability to transport DH in the manner that he prefers and (most importantly) the leisure of doing things at your pace, instead of rushing because of other people, WHY would you choose to do it any other way?!?

That's the way I would look at it.
Good luck
OCDPlanner

 

[Sarahsmom85]

Thanks,

Four times on our last trip to Las Vegas, we had trouble with bus, trolley and taxi people. The bus driver really didn't want to take time out of his busy day to lock my Dh down, he showed a very bad attitude. My SIL ended up have a verbal war with him. She made him call his superviser, the bus was held up a long time, people on the bus got angry. He would not let us off the bus. Then when we tryed to use the trolley we had to wait about a hour for the right trolley then the driver took a break and then when he returned and saw us still there, huffed and puffed under his breath asked why we didn't take the bus. Then we waited 2 hours for a handicap taxi one night, no one wanted to pick us up. Finally on taxis that was going off duty hearing our request came by and did pick us up. Then when we asked for a cab to take us to the airport, called early and asked to have one pick us up they told us we couldn't prearrange call back an hour before we needed it. Called, they said they'd send one. Well we waited, As I was calling back to see where it was, I saw it pulling out of the driveway. It went to the wrong door. We told them which building we where in. Anyway they said it would go around the block and come back. In the mean time my brother ran to the next casino and the bellman saw a handicap taxi in his line and pulled it out. My brother brought the taxi back to where we where and guest what the first taxi still wasn't there. We just made the plane.
This is just one example of why he wants his own transportant.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

As a student, I used to drive $500 cars (actually $75 cars - but that's inflation). Not any more. 30 years later I still have scars on my knuckles from cutting them when changing car parts (a mixture of blood & engine oil running down your arm looks terrible). My days of driving around in a cloud of blue smoke, failed batteries & exhust pipes with holes in them is long over.

I hope you find something safe, reliable and street legal.

Andrew

 

[Talking Hands]

Sarahsmom85,
Disney is not Las Vegas. Yes you get an occasional problem with the transportation but it is really very good and those problems are few and far between. Your husband should really give them a chance.
I called for a taxi at the Polynesian to get back to All Stars and the wait was less than 20 minutes. The driver was polite and efficient and the ride was quick.
I have had a few drivers with attitude but I can count them on my hands. Gotten stuck on a bus twice and both times the drivers were very apologetic about the situation. More often than not I have had really great drivers.
Had one time at EPCOT going back to AKL and the bus that arrived had no key for her lift. She called another bus since it was thundering and lightening although not raining yet. Another driver pulled up, handed her a key for the lift, they got me loaded and he told her to return the key when they both got back to EPCOT after dropping their loads. I got the AKL and was off loaded just before it started to pour buckets! This is just one example of drivers that go above and beyond expectations at Disney.
Sounds like Las Vegas transportation was a bummer but you can expect better at Disney.

 

[Michigan]

You may find a $500 van on ebay with a lift but I bet if you look it says reserve not met, which means that the bid is lower then the seller will take. Also, your $19.99 van from uhaul is not $19.99. They charge you a lot for mileage and there are several taxes for each day that are also added on. The van only has a drivers seat and a passangers seat so if you have more then the 2 of you they won't rent it to you anyway.

 

[dj2]

consider this: assuming you can buy the used van for $500, keep in mind that something that inexpensive must be priced low for a reason. So it is possible that you may have to deal with mechanical troubles.

What would you do if it stops working on day 2 of your vacation? How much might repairs be if, say, the transmission blows? And how would your DH get around while repairs were being made?

I want you to have a great vacation! The villa sounds great, spacious, wonderful! But I think the e-bay van has the potential for adding some stresses that you'd rather avoid.

 

[JudithM]

Sarah'sMom, I am sorry your family had bad experiences in Las Vegas, but I hope your husband will reconsider for the sake of everyone in your group.

I have found WDW transportation CMs to be VERY helpful & friendly. They have been so helpful that I have taken the time to stop by Guest Services at the parks & to call WDW Transportation to compliment bus drivers, boat CMs, monorail CMs, etc. Since I started renting an ECV from Walker Mobility, I use the busses from our resort to the parks. Every bus drivers makes me feel like I am the only guest - they encourage me to take my time getting on the bus & getting settled. They have never rushed me. Other guests waiting for the bus wait until I am settled before the bus drivers lets them on the bus.

Please tell your husband that I encourage him to reconsider& to give the WDW transporation CMs a try! Have fun!

 

[Sarahsmom85]

Unfortunately, Disney transportant is out because we are already committed to an offsite Villa that we really want to stay in. We are also doing alot of non-Disney things.

I would only need a Van for 2 weeks, and only driving around the Orlando area. Hopefully it won't break in two weeks time.
If it did I won't put any money in it, it would go to the nearest junk yard.

I guess we will just have to rent the wheelchair van and grin and bear it. Just justify it as all that we saved on the villa rental and eating offsite and at the villa. Look at the whole picture and not at the individual cost.

$645 for 14 day villa tax included
$45 Holiday inn DTD one night tax included
$1230 van rental plus tax - don;t know what tax rate is
$100 grocery
$300 for other eating out -- rest of the food is Gift cert. or already paid for
$0 gas gift certs
$0 using Friends AP for parking fee (Sheeee don't tell anyone)

Comes to about $134 a day for 4 adults so in the long run I guess that isn't too bad. Including food. Guess I don't feel so ba now.

I don't think i could get a 3 bedroom on site for $46 a day tax included. We need at least a 2 bedroom w a couch. I have my self, DH, DD and her boyfriend who will not be sharing a room. DH need his own room.

 

[Sarahsmom85]

P.S.

I just want to say my poor husband spends so much of this time waiting for us, since he cannot get out of his chair. Alot of the attractions are not doable for him that the least I can do is ride him around in comfort. Although he would like to save some money, he has is eye on a 40 in TV. LOL Van rental would cover the cost of the TV. He's getting it we return anyway. He just doesn;t know it yet.

I have saved a lot on this trip so i'm just trying to justify the rental cost compared to all the other saving I did. I'm fine with it now. Really I am. I have to keep saying it. I really am.

 

[dj2]

ok, here are a couple more things to think about....

Peace of mind is one of the most important things to have with you on any vacation. how else would you be able to relax and enjoy yourself? if you have the ability to rent the van, think of all the benefit you'll be getting from it!

some people pay a premium for hotel/meals to stay on property, partially for the peace of mind that it brings to the vacation. in your case, the premium is for the transportation. as long as it doesn't mean that you'll not be able to feed/clothe your family for a year, it sure sounds like it might be a good idea to spend the money on the van.

my dad once told me that when we went to wdw we shouldn't flinch at all about buying those $5 ice creams. we don't go there that often and we should enjoy it while we're there w/o feeling like we're depriving ourselves, sacrificing, compromising. (That happens the rest of the time when we're not on vacation!)

I know a $5 ice cream is a far cry from a $1400 van, but it's kind of the same principle. do you do this every year?? or is this a special treat for a family that needs one? and you're already saving so much by staying off site (the villa sounds great).

i've seen many of your other posts and i can tell you've been doing a lot of planning to have the best trip possible for the best price. for some things, there just don't seem to be any discount codes. that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't rent/use them if you can.

you are going to have an awesome time.

i sure wish i was going back soon, too....

dj

 

[Sarahsmom85]

I told you all it was a crazy idea. LOL

We where at Disney in 2000. Went on a crusie in 2003 and Las Vegas in October. Before that our last vaction was 1995.

I think it just hit me the other day when Martin was looking for a new TV and the rental was more than the big screen TV.

I have already reserved the van and put a $100 deposit so renting a van it is. I have to just look at it as the whole total and not an individual item.