Very nervous about ECV and buses

[PeachPrincess]

I have Fibromyalgia and cannot handle being on my feet or walking for more than 20 mins at a time. If I even try I will be down for at least 3 days. I will be renting the Pride Victory 10 Super Deluxe Scooter during my stay at WDW. I have read so many horror stories about evc's and people who get ticked off because you are taking up room on the buses, etc; and just the general idea of trying to get the evc on the bus just worries me to death. I was thinking of just driving to the parks and transporting the evc myself. We have a rather large family going but not sure if it will be possible to get help loading and unloading it all the time if we don't get parking spaces near each other. And we also want to go back to the resort at lunch to rest because I know I will need it, my autistic son will need it, and my grandbaby that will be 7 months when we go will also need it. I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with transporting this type evc and how hard it was. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan...wondering if I can just remove the back seat of my van and just load it right up. Or if we will have to break it down each time we want to transport it, which I can imagine will be a huge pain in the rear. I am just worried sick about trying to get on the bus with that scooter and embarrassing myself and my family and inconveniencing others.

 

[disney david]

I have Fibromyalgia and cannot handle being on my feet or walking for more than 20 mins at a time. If I even try I will be down for at least 3 days. I will be renting the Pride Victory 10 Super Deluxe Scooter during my stay at WDW. I have read so many horror stories about evc's and people who get ticked off because you are taking up room on the buses, etc; and just the general idea of trying to get the evc on the bus just worries me to death. I was thinking of just driving to the parks and transporting the evc myself. We have a rather large family going but not sure if it will be possible to get help loading and unloading it all the time if we don't get parking spaces near each other. And we also want to go back to the resort at lunch to rest because I know I will need it, my autistic son will need it, and my grandbaby that will be 7 months when we go will also need it. I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with transporting this type evc and how hard it was. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan...wondering if I can just remove the back seat of my van and just load it right up. Or if we will have to break it down each time we want to transport it, which I can imagine will be a huge pain in the rear. I am just worried sick about trying to get on the bus with that scooter and embarrassing myself and my family and inconveniencing others.

First don't worry about other inn other or inconveniencing anyone you have the right to board the bus and ride on the bus safely your their to enjoy and have fun with your family. The driver will help you board and park the ECV they are their to make sure you get on and off safely you find that 99 percent are great and will do their best to get your n as quickly as they can. If you want to drive then you can but please don't do it just because what others will think for mk it be easier to take the bus. Since they let you off right in front. People complain because they have nothing better to do so if it not the ECV issue then you have guest saying they waited 2 hours for the bus when it was only 30 min. Go have fun enjoy your time your on vacation don't let those fools that pay all that money to go to Disney just to make comments to other it your vacation not theirs.

 

[disneyfan485]

*DON'T YOU DARE* worry about being in an ECV!!! It's your Disney vacation, too!!!

Disney is one of the best regarding accessibility. I have never personally required the accessibility offered by the buses/other transportation, but I have been witness to each.

If you're in an ECV, the "kneeling buses" provide excellent accommodations as they have a ramp that allows easy access into the bus where they have additional connections to secure your ECV. Each boat, too, offers accommodations to secure your EVC to the vehicle.

The boats offer the same accessibility options/security for the mobility device as much as possible.

That said, please take note of: disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713 and disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2319538

 

[Piper]

When I went with a large group, I waited and loaded at the back and the rest of my party went through the regular line. We were always together because we always got to the bus stops in plenty of time for the next bus. If they had been way back in line, I would have just waited until I knew they were going to be able to board. But as I said, that was no problem.

 

[PeachPrincess]

Thanks y'all! I just hate confrontation and really dread the thought. I am sure once I actually do it it won't be that bad. I always worry and worry and then find I actually had nothing to worry about...lol.

 

[Bete]

The ECV you will be using is bigger than the go-go travel scooters (smallest one); so, it's heavier. I doubt very much you can wheel it or lift the whole scooter into the car. It comes apart and the heaviest piece will be about 40 pounds.

If you want to be on the safe side try to get an able bodied member of your group to be in your car as much as possible to help you. I think it could be difficult doing this on your own with fibro. If you really want to try on your own practice before you go; so, you know for sure if you can do it. I wasn't sure from your post if you have a husband coming along with you. My husband has handled the go-go on his own, but he doesn't have fibro. I could not do this on my own.

The newer Disney buses are easier to load and unload the scooter. We have used scooters many times and I'm glad to report we have never received any bad looks or comments. You may at busy times have to wait for a second bus or so; because, only two or three scooters can fit on a bus at a time. There may be other scooters and wheelchairs ahead of you.

 

[PeachPrincess]

The ECV you will be using is bigger than the go-go travel scooters (smallest one); so, it's heavier. I doubt very much you can wheel it or lift the whole scooter into the car. It comes apart and the heaviest piece will be about 40 pounds.

If you want to be on the safe side try to get an able bodied member of your group to be in your car as much as possible to help you. I think it could be difficult doing this on your own with fibro. If you really want to try on your own practice before you go; so, you know for sure if you can do it. I wasn't sure from your post if you have a husband coming along with you. My husband has handled the go-go on his own, but he doesn't have fibro. I could not do this on my own.

The newer Disney buses are easier to load and unload the scooter. We have used scooters many times and I'm glad to report we have never received any bad looks or comments. You may at busy times have to wait for a second bus or so; because, only two or three scooters can fit on a bus at a time. There may be other scooters and wheelchairs ahead of you.

No I am not married. I will have my dd's dh with us though and hopefully my oldest ds who is pretty strong. I wish I could use the elite go go...lol.
I don't mind waiting for the buses, I will elect to wait awhile rather than inconvenience anyone else..I am just that way.

 

[PeachPrincess]

Oh I just found a Deluxe scooter at Walker Mobility with the higher weight capacity and doesn't look quite so big and cumbersome. I think that one will be better. And its only $5 more.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Use the buses it is so easy. I rent that same scooter and love it. We are usually a group of 7-8 so one person lines up with me on the back door and the others go through the line. Even if you get seperated you can wait at the bus stop for the others to arrive.

 

[disney david]

Thanks y'all! I just hate confrontation and really dread the thought. I am sure once I actually do it it won't be that bad. I always worry and worry and then find I actually had nothing to worry about...lol.

You find most drivers won't put up with other guest saying rude comments to guest in ecv. Your right after the first ride you find it easy and be okay which resort are you staying at.

 

[yoopermom]

I have fibro and use a larger rented ECV when I am there. Let your worries go, and just go with the flow. The one thing I would recommend is that if you are going at a busier time of the year is to have your family kind of "body block" for you, it will make you less apt to run into anyone (not that you would on purpose, but other people tend to not watch where they are going!). You'll feel like a VIP with your own Secret Service !

Also, listen to your body and when you start to feel as though you need a rest, remember that it can take quite some time to get back to your resort. The first aid stations will allow you to use a cool, quiet, area to rest in if you don't want to leave the park.

Stay hydrated, eat on a regular schedule, don't be ashamed to ask for help (from family or CMs) and have a WONDERFUL time, I always do !

Terri

 

[PeachPrincess]

You find most drivers won't put up with other guest saying rude comments to guest in ecv. Your right after the first ride you find it easy and be okay which resort are you staying at.

Thats good to know...I think one thing that horrified me is I saw on youtube once where someone was filming a lady trying to get on the bus with the scooter and they were laughing at her and calling her names. That is sorta what has stuck with me. The driver was oblivious to it because they were only speaking loud enough to be heard on their own phone video. I would die if my efforts ended up on youtube..lol.
So far I have been leaning towards ASMo because of the price and the Toy Story theme for ds 7, but dd(who is 22..lol) wants to stay at AoA in the Ariel suite. I have only stayed at POP before and really liked it. I don't even remember any scooters getting on the buses while we were there but honestly I didn't pay attention to anyone else. This was back in 2007 before the Fibro started hitting me bad, but on the last day I did end up renting one of WDW's scooters.. I have gone down hill big time in the last 4 years. I figured it would be best to rent one off site to have with me at all times this go around.

 

[PeachPrincess]

I have fibro and use a larger rented ECV when I am there. Let your worries go, and just go with the flow. The one thing I would recommend is that if you are going at a busier time of the year is to have your family kind of "body block" for you, it will make you less apt to run into anyone (not that you would on purpose, but other people tend to not watch where they are going!). You'll feel like a VIP with your own Secret Service !

Also, listen to your body and when you start to feel as though you need a rest, remember that it can take quite some time to get back to your resort. The first aid stations will allow you to use a cool, quiet, area to rest in if you don't want to leave the park.

Stay hydrated, eat on a regular schedule, don't be ashamed to ask for help (from family or CMs) and have a WONDERFUL time, I always do !

Terri

Thanks! It really is hard on a body isn't it! I do plan to go back to the resort for lunch around 1pm because I know I will need a break from it all, and so will my son who is autistic. I hope it won't be too bad. The rest of the family will probably enjoy the pool while we rest. Then we will go back around 4 or 5.

 

[disney david]

Thats good to know...I think one thing that horrified me is I saw on youtube once where someone was filming a lady trying to get on the bus with the scooter and they were laughing at her and calling her names. That is sorta what has stuck with me. The driver was oblivious to it because they were only speaking loud enough to be heard on their own phone video. I would die if my efforts ended up on youtube..lol.
So far I have been leaning towards ASMo because of the price and the Toy Story theme for ds 7, but dd(who is 22..lol) wants to stay at AoA in the Ariel suite. I have only stayed at POP before and really liked it. I don't even remember any scooters getting on the buses while we were there but honestly I didn't pay attention to anyone else. This was back in 2007 before the Fibro started hitting me bad, but on the last day I did end up renting one of WDW's scooters.. I have gone down hill big time in the last 4 years. I figured it would be best to rent one off site to have with me at all times this go around.

Yeah if that happens which it won't just let the driver know at the parks you my see other drivers waiting to switch out drivers if someone being disrespectfully to you talk to them maybe they could talk to the guest in question. Well maybe the first day you could get to the first stop and then ride it to the next and get off so you could see it not bad and get it out of the way. With the new low floor buses it much quicker to load and unload not like the older buses where you had to use the lift and it took a little longer to load they still have some but very few so hopefully about the you go they got rid of them.

 

[FortForever]

I will be renting the Pride Victory 10 Super Deluxe Scooter during my stay at WDW.

I rented this exact same scooter just last week from Apple Scooters. It was my first time ever using a scooter and I was terrified of taking it on the buses. I worried about it every single day and dreaded what I thought was going to be a huge, embarrassing deal.

Turns out, I was worried for nothing. The drivers were fantastic and fast. The other guests were nothing but kind and helpful. Not once did I get so much as a dirty look.

There was always a scooter or two in just about every bus line. People were so used to it, I don't think anyone thought anything of it. I know I never noticed before I had to use one myself.

Thats good to know...I think one thing that horrified me is I saw on youtube once where someone was filming a lady trying to get on the bus with the scooter and they were laughing at her and calling her names. That is sorta what has stuck with me. The driver was oblivious to it because they were only speaking loud enough to be heard on their own phone video. I would die if my efforts ended up on youtube..lol.

Thankfully, these kind of people are few and far between...even more so at Disney.

Using a scooter was such a positive experience. I wasted lots of worrying for nothing.

The scooter was not large and cumbersome. It was easy to drive and didn't appear over sized at all. When lined up parked along side others, I never saw one that was smaller looking. I only saw some that were larger.

Please try to relax! You will have a wonderful vacation and Disney transportation will take excellent care of you!

 

[PeachPrincess]

Yeah if that happens which it won't just let the driver know at the parks you my see other drivers waiting to switch out drivers if someone being disrespectfully to you talk to them maybe they could talk to the guest in question. Well maybe the first day you could get to the first stop and then ride it to the next and get off so you could see it not bad and get it out of the way. With the new low floor buses it much quicker to load and unload not like the older buses where you had to use the lift and it took a little longer to load they still have some but very few so hopefully about the you go they got rid of them.

Hopefully yeah they will have all the newer buses. Thanks for all the help! I am feeling a bit better. I know it's a long way off still but I have been so excited about going ever since we decided last month that we will definitely be going. And I want to learn all I can between now and then.

 

[disney david]

Hopefully yeah they will have all the newer buses. Thanks for all the help! I am feeling a bit better. I know it's a long way off still but I have been so excited about going ever since we decided last month that we will definitely be going. And I want to learn all I can between now and then.

Yeah just focus on the fun stuff after your first ride your get the hang of it. It be a small part of your day.

Your at the right place to find info and help we here if you have any more questions.

 

[smidgy]

you go and have fun with your grandkids and don't worry what anyone else thinks. Most people understand. have fun!!!!!

 

[scdak]

You have been given alot of good information and encouraging thoughts, two things that I learned when my mother used a scooter a year ago for the first time is : Although the drivers aren't supposed to help, they often would put the scooter in manual and move it into place once it was up the ramp, not only to ease my mother's fear of parking it but it helped speed things up for others, if they offered, we accepted. Secondly, it was far easier for me to drive it in for her and let her board with the 3 year old that was with us through the front door, every time but once the driver would have them enter the front while I drove it in the back door and park it or if it was already crowded on the bus they would just manually park it. This way she and my nephew got a seat and if the bus were to fill up, I would stand, I only wanted her to be able to sit due to balance issues.

So maybe an adult in the family would feel more comfortable driving it on and off the bus for you if you are able to enter the bus on foot? Even if you drive it on the bus, in most cases they ask you to move to a regular seat for safety reasons , so if you have to get up anyway, let one of the young folks with you do the parking when possible.

One last thought - try to travel to the parks and back to the resort at non peak times if at all possible, it was far more upsetting to my mother to try to deal with the scooter in the morning heading to the park when all the other early birds wanted to be on the bus too, and the worst times were after the fireworks at the various parks if that was also park closing time, we either skipped the fireworks and left early or stayed until after the fireworks, shopped our way out the park and let the worst of the crowd get ahead of us.

In any event, use the scooter, don't worry about what people think or even say, more people are nice than mean. I am sure there were negative thoughts and remarks as I drove from the mansions in POR to the food court every morning for coffee and diet coke, and in the evenings for supper for the 3 of us on the scooter because I am a pooh sized woman and "should be walking", this was 2 months before back surgery and at the time I could only tolerate walking a short distance without stopping due to pain, the distance I had to travel was bad enough without having to think about getting food back to them hot (they were too beat to go that distance at night), so scootering was the smartest choice

 

[I Love Pluto]

Disney's bus drivers are some of the kindest & most helpful people in the world! You will NOT have any issues that they cannot handle. And - they will take care of everything with a smile.

They will ask you if you need help parking the ECV on the bus. They are used to this, and won't complain if you do need help. They will also ask if you need any help getting the ECV off of the bus.

Put your speed control to the lowest setting when going down the ramp to exit the bus. It automatically holds you back so that you feel safe.

No one knows how you feel physically. They shouldn't make nasty comments. I haven't ever had this happen to me. If someone does, ask them if you can please "borrow their legs"!

One last tip. Don't sit ON the ECV when the bus is in motion. There is another thread about someone who fell completely over on the ECV in the bus aisle, even while using a seat belt.

You will be fine. Stop worrying. Worry will ruin your vacation! Don't worry!