where do you leave ECV while on rides?

[Jenfrog79]

my DH can transfer from an ECV so we'd be leaving that outside the rides. but when we are on the rides where do we leave it? without feeling that someone is going to come by and take it?

[Nanajo1]

ECVs are usually left near the stroller parking if they are not ridden into the ride. Take your key. Don't leave anything of value. Don't be surprised if the ECV is moved while you are on the ride. CMs "tidy up" the stroller/ECV area to make room for new arrivals. The ECV can be put in a rolling mode so it can be pushed without the key.

[Cheshire Figment]

If he does transfer, make sure you know in advance what you are getting in for. Some of the lines can be very deceptive, even if the wait is short. For example in Soarin' and Safari the lines are very long even if the wait time is short.

Generally the ECVs can be taken all the way to the boiarding area, and it will be available for him when you get off.

[mechurchlady]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/Plain?id=PlainHomePage

That is the official WDW online disabilities guide. It lists most rides and attractions that are ECV accessible. As Cheshire Figment said most rides allows the guest to drive up and then park inside the attraction or near it. Follow the disabled guide for how to enter a ride and the CMs will help you.

If you are not dependent on an ECV and can walk around then you should park it in the stroller parking area. There is a switch in back which allows ECVs to move freely and CMs will move anything not parked in the right area .

Take the key with you to prevent people from taking it or playing with it and letting the battery run down. ECVs all look alike so make sure you leave some junk that makes your ECV unique.

[Jenfrog79]

he just isn't able to stand for long periods of time. so we'd probably leave it in the stroller area.
thanks for the info! we've never been there to use one so i didn't realize there was a key :)

[Mickiethepooh]

he just isn't able to stand for long periods of time. so we'd probably leave it in the stroller area.
thanks for the info! we've never been there to use one so i didn't realize there was a key :)

That is exactly the point though, you might be standing in the lines for 45min to an hour. Stay on the ECV as long as possible.

[KPeveler]

even if you think that the line is 10 mins, sometimes rides break down or something happens... i have been stuck in a 60 min line, when it was supposed to be a walk on... so i would keep the ECV in lines when you can...

[mechurchlady]

My experience is mostly base on Disneyland but the same goes for any park including WDW. Most rides have a limit on how often disabled guests are loaded. It can be a limit based on time or it can be like Grizzly Rapids in DCA has one disabled boat that must cycle completely and be unloaded before more guests can ride. This can mean 10 minutes minimum wait time and I have seen lines for Splash Mountain's disabled guests last over half an hour. I do not recall ever walking up to a CM, showing my GAC and boarding a ride immediately. Even when the ride has few guests in line I still had to wait for a ride vehicle to show up even if it was the regular Small World boats.

After many hours in the park that 10 minute wait on each ride can add up to hours of standing and then there is the exercise from getting into and out of ride vehicles which also adds up to wear and tear. Stress and excitement also adds to the toll on disabled guests. It is best to go as far as you can and then set there and wait for loading instead of possibly ending up standing in line for half an hour or more on some rides.

[SueM in MN]

There is a link to the WDW Guidebooks for Guests for Disabilities in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the thread list on this board.

Besides Soarin' and the Safari that Cheshire Figment mentioned, Fantasmic; Pirates of the Caribbean; Lights, Motors, Action and A Bug's Life are some of the other attractions with a very long walk to the boarding area - and that walk is the same whether it is listed that there is a 5 minute wait or a 50 minute wait.
Another good source of information is the CM at the entrance to the queue. Some attractions have very little of the queue visible from outside, but can wind around and around inside where you can't see them.

[Jenfrog79]

what about on the haunted mansion? will he get to see the room with the paintings or do we go in another entrance? what about splash mountain? he can get in the boat himself but how do we get the ECV back if its on the other side of the river?

[disneynutz]

I just follow the instructions from the CM at the ride entrance. They will tell you what to do and where to go. Sometimes you park outside, other times you ride all the way inside.

[SueM in MN]

what about on the haunted mansion? will he get to see the room with the paintings or do we go in another entrance?
If he can stand and walk long enough for the several minutes of the room with the paintings and then walk to the regular boarding area, he will be able to see the stretching room (the room with the paintings).
You wait in the regular line until just before the regular line gets to the building (there is a turnstile just before the line goes into the building and the line from that point is not assessible).
There is a hearse parked to the right of the regular line, with a chain marked with a wheelchair symbol. That's where people with wheelchairs and ECVs get out of line; when you reach that point, park in front of the 'wheelchair chain' and wait for a CM. That puts them on the exit side of the ride; the CM there will ask whether you can walk about 200yds and stand for the preshow (the stretching room). If you can, you will leave the ECV parked there at the exit and go thru a back door into the stretching room. From there, you will board in the usual way.
If you can't, you miss the stretching room. You will directed to park the ECV and when it is time to board, you will go about 100 feet ahead to the exit to board. The ECv will be waiting for you where you left.
For people like my DD who can't walk, we can bring her wheelchair into the exit and as close as we need to the ride car for boarding. The CM then takes the wheelchair just outside of the actual exit area to wait for us.
what about splash mountain? he can get in the boat himself but how do we get the ECV back if its on the other side of the river?
At Splash Mountain, you will wait in the regular line (or Fastpass line, if you have Fastpasses) until the line comes to a part with stairs. At that point there is a chained off pathway with a wheelchair symbol on it. If there is no CM there, wait there for one to come and direct you where to go. You will be brought to a small waiting area with benches that close to the exit (near where people pick up their pictures from the ride). When it's time for you to board, a CM will come from the exit area and lead you to the exit. The ECV will be parked there and waiting for you when you get off.

[LindaBabe]

I would definitely advise taking the ecv to the boarding area on rides like safari - the whole point is - that you are returned to the same area you leave from to collect it - unlike the regular safari which puts you off at a whole different place, quite a walk from the stroller parking. Some Fantasyland rides are the ones where it's obvious you need to leave the ecv with the strollers - Pooh, Snow white, and Peter Pan come to mind. Take it down the hill on small world - they will give you the extra time needed to board and debark.

IF you get back on the ecv after a ride, and it doesn't "go" the first thing to check is the lever on the back under / behind the seat to see if it's been left out of gear. It happens.

Pirates is difficult because they won't let you take the ecv down the queue any longer, you have to transfer to a chair. It's quite a walk.

I use zip ties to put a page protector on the front of my basket with a decorative sign slipped inside it - Mine says "my coach is in the shop" with a picture of Cinderella's coach on it - he might prefer something a little more masculine. lol . I have a zipper duffle hung on the back as a trunk and so far, no one's ever bothered it. If I think it might be vulnerable- I back in to the parking space so it's against the fence or whatever.

OH! That's another hint - if you have to park it with stroller parking, back in. Strollers can be pulled out for the kid to get in, but you can't pull out an ecv, if someone parks to close.

[SueM in MN]

I would definitely advise taking the ecv to the boarding area on rides like safari - the whole point is - that you are returned to the same area you leave from to collect it - unlike the regular safari which puts you off at a whole different place, quite a walk from the stroller parking.
::yes::
Not only is it a different place, but it's also confusing when you get off in the regular exit area. You can feel like you are lost in a maze.

[Jenfrog79]

thanks for all the tips! i think he'll be able to stand for the "stretching room". what kind of thing could we put on the ECV to make it stand out that its ours? we'll be renting from offsite. there won't need to be any valuables in the basket becuae i'll have them in my fanny pack

[Chuck S]

thanks for all the tips! i think he'll be able to stand for the "stretching room". what kind of thing could we put on the ECV to make it stand out that its ours? we'll be renting from offsite. there won't need to be any valuables in the basket becuae i'll have them in my fanny pack


A colorful ribbon should work fine.

[mrmagicmph]

A colorful ribbon should work fine.

One thing we did with our ECV on our last trip was we hooked on a few Lime Green Mickey Heads from Home Depot (the semi-official Mickey Head people to the Dis). Not only did it make it easier to spot my ECV, but it was a way for other Dis'ers to find us too.

Enjoy the Magic!

[SueM in MN]

One thing we did with our ECV on our last trip was we hooked on a few Lime Green Mickey Heads from Home Depot (the semi-official Mickey Head people to the Dis). Not only did it make it easier to spot my ECV, but it was a way for other Dis'ers to find us too.

Enjoy the Magic!
::yes::
I found him

[mrmagicmph]

::yes::
I found him

You sure did, Sue! & I'm very glad you did! Just wish I'd have noticed you earlier, since we were standing next to each other for what, an hour? :lmao:

Enjoy the Magic!

[SueM in MN]

You sure did, Sue! & I'm very glad you did! Just wish I'd have noticed you earlier, since we were standing next to each other for what, an hour? :lmao:

Enjoy the Magic!
Yeah, I couldn't believe that I didn't see your green Mickey ears earlier.

[jm-mom]

I totally agree with what others have said, stay on the scooter as long as you can. Many of the wait times can be deceptively long or the waiting area a longer walk than you expect. I have bad knees and can't stand for very long so I took my scooter into just about every line. Every single time the cast member saw me coming and directed me where to go and could not have been nicer. I have the full ability to get on and off every ride, I just can't walk or stand for long periods. The scooter was a lifesaver! In some cases it allowed us to avoid a long wait in line although I think that is not the standard practice anymore. There were plenty of times I was able to take my scooter to the front of the line and then had to wait there several minutes. Thankfully I had my seat to sit in! When using the scooter bring your family members with you if you enter a ride through a wheelchair area. The castmembers will ask you if you are with anyone and they totally expect there to be others with you and are very nice about letting the entire party on the ride at the same time. Also when waiting for Disney buses, take your whole party with you to the wheelchair appointed waiting area. The bus drivers will always load scooters and wheelchairs first followed by the families that belong with those people. If you roll up to a very, very long line at the end of the day, you will still be put on the bus first. I considered it one of the "perks" of scooter use although I have been met with a few unhappy looks by those that sprinted to the bus after the fireworks only to be told they have to wait for me. I just ignore it and do what I'm supposed to do.

Have a great trip. Scooter use has made the trips possible for me and the Disney folks were all very, very nice and helpful.

Garland

[SueM in MN]

In some cases it allowed us to avoid a long wait in line although I think that is not the standard practice anymore. There were plenty of times I was able to take my scooter to the front of the line and then had to wait there several minutes.
AK and the Studio are pretty much totally accessible lines (called Mainstream Lines) where people with wheelchairs and ECVs wait in the same line as everyone else. As they renovated or added attractions at MK and Epcot, they made the lines Mainstream as much as possible.
There are very few attractions where there is a wheelchair entrance or where you end up waiting less than other people.
When using the scooter bring your family members with you if you enter a ride through a wheelchair area. The castmembers will ask you if you are with anyone and they totally expect there to be others with you and are very nice about letting the entire party on the ride at the same time. Also when waiting for Disney buses, take your whole party with you to the wheelchair appointed waiting area. The bus drivers will always load scooters and wheelchairs first followed by the families that belong with those people. If you roll up to a very, very long line at the end of the day, you will still be put on the bus first. I considered it one of the "perks" of scooter use although I have been met with a few unhappy looks by those that sprinted to the bus after the fireworks only to be told they have to wait for me. I just ignore it and do what I'm supposed to do.

Have a great trip. Scooter use has made the trips possible for me and the Disney folks were all very, very nice and helpful.

Garland
Just a little addition:
A 'party' usually is considered to be a total of 6 people (5 plus the person using a wheelchair or ECV). If you have a party larger than that, the 'extra' people may be asked to wait somewhere else.
There are some attractions with a very small wheelchair accessible area, where you will be asked to split into smaller groups (like possibly one or 2 people stay with the person using the wheelchair/ECV). This is especially likely in shows. They often have a row of wheelchair/ECV seating with only one seat for a 'companion' for each wheelchair spot. The rest of your party would usually be directed to sit in the sit in front of the wheelchair row.

Boarding the bus first with a wheelchair or ECV is not really a 'perk'; it's the way that makes the most sense. There are only 2 ECV/wheelchair spots on each accessible bus. Putting the wheelchairs/ECVs on first makes getting them on much easier, faster and safer to both the person using the ECV and the other guests. I'm kind of making the distinction that it's not a 'perk' because some people feel bad about getting a 'perk' like that.

[TLSnell1981]

I have never had to use an ECV, but feel I will probably need one this trip. I have fibromyalgia and a lot of walking not only hurts, but leaves me exhausted. What do I do with the ECV when I go on a ride? I know people leave wheelchairs and stollers outside, but I wouldn't feel safe leaving an ECV. I know this may seem like a silly question, but I can walk some.....just not everyday.... all day.

[SueM in MN]

If you haven't read it, you might want to look at this thread, which is pretty much on the same subject. (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1602582)

Basically, you can choose to park the ECV outside the rides in the stroller parking area it you want to. Especially for the attractions with moving walkways, you may want to bring it into lines with you. There are very few attractions where you would not be able to bring it in and use it thru the whole line.