ECV or wheelchair for my upcoming Disney trip?

Hi all,

We leave for Disney August 6th. 3 days ago I fell a broke one ankle in 2 places and severely sprained the other. As of today I can only walk a few feet with aircasts on both feet and using a walker. By the time we leave the Dr hopes the sprained ankle will be in a brace instead of the cast, but my broken ankle will still be in a cast - so possible I will be on crutches by the time we leave. Regardless he highly recommends I use either a wheelchair or ecv for the trip because of the amount of walking and it would be too painful. So my question is, which one would you recommend? I was leaning toward an ecv as it would give me more mobility and not have to slow down my group (there are 5 others going, all boys) and be a "bother" to them. For some reason my husband keeps pushing a wheelchair. I'm not excited about a wheelchair because I really don't want to rely on the 'boys' to push me around without leaving me or hitting something! I think he's thinking I'll have more flexibility getting on buses and such if we can just fold up the WC and I hop in and then unfold it when I need it. I was hoping some other folks out there with experience could give me some of the pros or cons of using either. Thanks!

I could see this going either way.

With so many pushers you certainly could do a wheelchair. With a wheelchair you can be more laid back. The pusher is the one that has to watch for everything. It is cheaper to rent a wheelchair and I agree it's more portable. I would strongly suggest using family restrooms with the wheelchair in case you need help.

With an ECV no one has to push. ECVs are a little difficult to get on and off the bus. You have to charge the battery every night. It costs more to rent one. I do like control of my own destiny. ECVs may be difficult to maneuver in most restrooms. Also, certain rides don't allow them, either. You would need to transfer to wheelchair at the ride in some cases. You need to bring the scooter in your room each day and that's a little bit of a task, too.

I had the same dilemma a couple of trips ago. My husband kept insisting that there would be much more ease in using a wheelchair. I figured since he was offering to push, I would go with his wishes. No regrets ...... It was easier to board buses and we never had to worry about recharging. If your guys are offering, take advantage of it.

@Bete makes some good points.

I would advocate for the ECV for this reason only: I think it might protect your poor ankles a bit better than a wheelchair. (And I send you best wishes for a speedy recovery!)

Tell your hubby that the ECV is a tool - just like any other tool he may encounter. Use a calculator to do math? That's a tool for the multiplication-impaired, like me. Use glasses to see better? Yep, those are a tool! Use an ECV at Disney World? That's just a tool to help you move around and maintain your independence while you are healing. Nothing less.

Overall, dealing with an ECV shouldn't be too difficult for you, since you will have so many "helpers". And because no one will have to push you, you will remain in control of where you go - so if Mama wants to go over there, and do a bit of shopping while the boys go that way and do a bit of something else... well, she can!

Main thing to know about the ECV in your room is this: if you are staying in a Standard Room (i.e. 2 beds + 1 bath, or king bed + 1 bath) then you might want to stop at the Front Desk and ask to have the table and chairs removed from the room. That will give you plenty of room to park the ECV. Otherwise, getting it in and out of the room just requires someone to hold the door. At Values & Moderates, there will be a threshold to "bump" over; at Deluxe's the entrance should be a bit smoother.

Poke around here (use the "Search" box at the top of every page that has a little magnifying glass in it) to look for tips for ECV users. And let us know if you have any other questions!

Thanks for all your replies. To keep family harmony I think what I'm going to do is start out with the wheelchair since they are the ones who want it for me with the understanding that if my ankles get smooshed or I get left or I get an eye roll because I want to shop and "they" don't, then we rent an ecv. From what I've been reading it sounds like we can get one pretty easily last minute if need be. We will be there for 10 days. We'll be renting a wheel chair at home for a buck a day, I'll need it for work anyway, so we'll take that one with us to use and see how it goes. Let's just say we are only a few days into Mama being bedridden and I don't think any of them have a future in healthcare. If not for my youngest I would be starving.

crackerjack21 said:

Thanks for all your replies. To keep family harmony I think what I'm going to do is start out with the wheelchair since they are the ones who want it for me with the understanding that if my ankles get smooshed or I get left or I get an eye roll because I want to shop and "they" don't, then we rent an ecv. From what I've been reading it sounds like we can get one pretty easily last minute if need be. We will be there for 10 days. We'll be renting a wheel chair at home for a buck a day, I'll need it for work anyway, so we'll take that one with us to use and see how it goes. Let's just say we are only a few days into Mama being bedridden and I don't think any of them have a future in healthcare. If not for my youngest I would be starving.

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Awwwww You are going to have to make like a squirrel, and start hoarding snacks in your bedside table! LOL

Maybe as a bit of time passes, and your family begins to see that you *are* going to be OK, they will begin to relax a bit! I think it is always tough for the family when it's Mama that's "down"; as lousy as my hubby is as a patient, he is just usually totally freaked out if I'm sick, or hurt in an accident, or anything out of the ordinary.

I try to remind myself that it just shows how important I am in his world. That, a nice glass of wine prevents me from committing a "husbandectomy" during those times...

I hope you are well on the road to recovery!

I've used an ECV the past few trips (severe arthritis in my knees - both need replacing). Usually I park the ECV and get up and walk in the stores to shop but this past trip sometimes I just had to stay seated - one knee was just too bad some days. I just wanted to note I had no trouble navigating the shops in the ECV. Of course if you want to see something on a higher rack - well I just stood up but perhaps you'd need some assistance.

I think it would drive me nuts to have someone push me and not be able to go where I wanted and when I wanted but I like your idea of trying the WC. I did like taking the ECV out in the evenings around the resort by myself and just doing what I wanted - looking at the sunset or the beach or whatever. You can always call and rent a scooter for your trip if the WC doesn't work out. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

Scooters are not allowed in restrooms? Is this new? I've been taking mine into the handicapped stall for years and nobody has ever said anything. Have I just been really lucky that no CMs noticed me?

I hope this is a mistake and not a new rule! I can't walk more than a few feet without excruciating pain and I definitely wouldn't be able to stand in a line in the ladies room.

I have a powerchair which is great but when I was more mobile I went with ECV. I can't rate them enough. I never had issue using the bus. Are you staying on Disney property if so then Scooter is fine. If not then a wheelchair would be easier to transport around. One thing though re scooter is when getting on a bus depending on resort get to the bus stop early or the one in the resort that goes first ( for example the Grandstand at SSR ) otherwise the buses fill up and you wait a while to get on. I like the independence of my own power plus in a manual wheelchair pushed by somebody everybody has bashed my feet! They drive you into walls etc. Some of them are low in the park and they don't see them. Ouch! They don't mean to but they can't help it.

chaoslobster said:

Scooters are not allowed in restrooms? Is this new? I've been taking mine into the handicapped stall for years and nobody has ever said anything. Have I just been really lucky that no CMs noticed me?

I hope this is a mistake and not a new rule! I can't walk more than a few feet without excruciating pain and I definitely wouldn't be able to stand in a line in the ladies room.

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its not that they are not allowed. It's that with the tight space and number of people, it can be hard to manouver

I am writing this as someone who fractured his right lower fibula on 6/18, just days before a 7/1-7/16 WDW trip. My travel group was only DW, DS10 and me, so I did not have anyone who could push a W/C. Despite that, I elected to rent an ECV and I am glad that I did. I was in a cast and non-weightbearing (NWB) for the entire trip; I also could not swim!! I would assume that you are NWB on your fractured ankle. The NWB state eliminates several rides, as it makes it impossible to transfer into the ride. Over the course of two weeks, I rode Haunted Mansion, Peoplemover, Nemo, Spaceship Earth, The Land boats, Soarin', Ellen's Energy, Riverboat, Kilimanjaro Safari, and TSMM. I also did the Laugh Floor, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, Country Bears, American Adventure, Canada movie, France movie, Turtle Talk, Nemo the Musical, Tough to be a Bug, Festival of the Lion King, Indiana Jones, and the Muppet Movie. I was also able to do character meet and greets. There may have been a handful of other attractions that I could have done, but the point is, there was quite a bit that I was not able to do. SO, while the DW and DS10 were riding rides, I had to find other things to do.

The ECV made it so much easier to get around than if I was sitting in a wheelchair or trying to propel it myself. While they were riding rides, I was able to quickly motor over to a store or food stand, find a shady place to wait or go watch some street entertainment. Additionally, the ECV was really easy to transfer in and out of, since there were no foot pads to flip up, the armrests could be raised, and the chair could be rotated left and right. I also had a basket on the front and back, so I could carry a 6-pack cooler with ice cold water bottles and sodas, as well as all of the other bags. I had my crutches, and attached them to the back of the seat with bungee cords. Loading onto and off buses was easy. With an ECV, you can either sit on the device or transfer to a seat and your party can board the bus after you and the ECV are loaded. Dealing with a folded W/C is not fun on the Disney buses. I had no trouble with the battery on my ECV and simply plugged it in for a charge every evening when returning to the room.

It is going to be very hot when you are there in another week. Propelling yourself in a W/C will be difficult and even having someone push you will put a burden on that person, who will likely be sweating more than if not pushing the W/C. You should seriously consider an ECV. I called all of the Disney approved vendors and went with the lowest price, which was Scooterbug. They seem willing to meet your lowest price, so if there is vendor who has a device that is more appealing to you, you may be able to get them to match your lowest price.

Some other advice: you can call the front desk (or Housekeeping) to bring a shower chair to the room. Get some white kitchen bags to quickly put over your cast when an afternoon storm comes along. Consider taking an umbrella to block the sun.

Whatever you choose, have a great time. I was a little bummed to be taken out of doing most of the rides, and not being able to swim, but it turned out to be a great trip!

Kidanifan08 said:

Whatever you choose, have a great time. I was a little bummed to be taken out of doing most of the rides, and not being able to swim, but it turned out to be a great trip!

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I loved your report - you really commando'd the park - lol! I totally agree that once nice thing about the ECV is being able to go off and do things while your family is riding/doing something else. I just loved having the freedom of going where I wanted. Best of luck on your recovery.

If you are planning on going on rides at all I would go with the wheelchair. First, there are a few rides where the wheelchair can go on, but the scooter cannot. Some examples are the Universe of Energy and the Living Land boat ride in Epcot and the Great Movie Ride in HS and Small, Small World in MK.

Second, with a scooter it has to be parked and then you walk a little distance to get to the ride. Can you walk 20 feet each time you do a rideable? If you are in a wheelchair you may be able to get to the ride first and then another person park it.

I'm not sure but I believe you can stay in your wheelchair on Disney buses, but with the scooter you would have to get off of it and get a bus seat.

Please be aware there are rides with a big step in and out. I think this could be rough in your case.

The manual wheelchair must be strapped down and the user seat belted in if the user wants to sit in it on the bus.

Selket said:

I loved your report - you really commando'd the park - lol! I totally agree that once nice thing about the ECV is being able to go off and do things while your family is riding/doing something else. I just loved having the freedom of going where I wanted. Best of luck on your recovery.

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Thanks. Without the ECV, I didn't have a chance of doing the parks commando. DW would never have been able to wheelchair me around all day. The ECV really does give you freedom to move around without the pain of propelling a W/C. Obviously, doing the parks with crutches is not even an option. So far, the recovery is good. Cast is off after 5 weeks and now I am in a walking boot for 3-4 weeks.

Bete said:

If you are planning on going on rides at all I would go with the wheelchair. First, there are a few rides where the wheelchair can go on, but the scooter cannot. Some examples are the Universe of Energy and the Living Land boat ride in Epcot and the Great Movie Ride in HS and Small, Small World in MK.

Second, with a scooter it has to be parked and then you walk a little distance to get to the ride. Can you walk 20 feet each time you do a rideable? If you are in a wheelchair you may be able to get to the ride first and then another person park it.

I'm not sure but I believe you can stay in your wheelchair on Disney buses, but with the scooter you would have to get off of it and get a bus seat.

Please be aware there are rides with a big step in and out. I think this could be rough in your case.

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To address your points, we found that the attractions requiring transfer from an ECV to a W/C usually had Disney W/C's available for use near the ECV parking. I can't speak for all of the rides requiring W/C use, but it seemed like most did. There is a great summary of mobility accessibility on wdwinfo HERE. With regards to walking form the ECV to an attraction, I agree, it can be a challenge. I used crutches and for the rides I was able to go on, I could keep the crutches with me on the ride. I believe a CM can take crutches from a guest after they transfer to a ride and keep them at the end of the ride for use upon return. The rides with a moving walkway can be slowed down (except for Peoplemover), which helps, but it still requires a fair bit of coordination to manage the moving walkways with crutches. For the buses, you can still sit in your ECV while on the bus. They have a seatbelt that they strap around your waist. I did this several times, particularly in the evening when the buses were crowded. I hated to take up a seat when I could just sit on the ECV. Your last point is the biggest reason why I skipped most rides; I was not able to put any weight on my casted foot, which made it virtually impossible to step into, and out of, the cars on coasters, etc. Additionally, those rides are so rough and bumpy, that even if I could get in, I did not want to chance bumping the cast and causing pain! Some of those rides are painful enough without a cast!!

OP, if you are non-weightbearing, I would very seriously consider renting an ECV. In your case, your sprained ankle is still going to be tender and somewhat unstable when you get there next week, which is going to make getting in and out of a W/C difficult, particularly on the buses. Transferring to and from and ECV is easy, as it is stable and the chair can be positioned with the armrests out of the way. The freedom that you will have when everyone else is riding rides will be well worth it.

Glad to hear you had a great trip and thanks for your complete report. I'm going to add some additional information that should be helpful.

Kidanifan08 said:

Thanks. Without the ECV, I didn't have a chance of doing the parks commando. DW would never have been able to wheelchair me around all day. The ECV really does give you freedom to move around without the pain of propelling a W/C. Obviously, doing the parks with crutches is not even an option. So far, the recovery is good. Cast is off after 5 weeks and now I am in a walking boot for 3-4 weeks.

To address your points, we found that the attractions requiring transfer from an ECV to a W/C usually had Disney W/C's available for use near the ECV parking. I can't speak for all of the rides requiring W/C use, but it seemed like most did. There is a great summary of mobility accessibility on wdwinfo HERE.

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Attractions that require a transfer from the ECV to a wheelchair for the line should have a wheelchair available. Occasionally, the attraction wheelchairs are all in use or someone kept it instead of returning it after use in line.
Just ask the CM at the entrance to the attraction.
You can find a lot more specific information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. There is a link in my signature or you can look near the top of this board. These posts will be most helpful (with 18-22 and 28 the most helpful)

• Post 2: Wheelchair, ECV, Equipment and Accessible Van Rental

• Post 4: Riding WDW Buses with a wheelchair or ECV

• Post 5: ECVs and Cars

• Post 8: Parking, WDW Boats, Monorails, Specialty Cruises at the parks

• Post 11: Basic accessibility lists for each park. Includes Mobility Access entrances from WDW Disabilities park maps, attractions requiring a transfer from wheelchair or ECV.

• Post 18: MK attractions and Accessibility. Lists which have a difficult step on and which have a wheelchair car

• Post 19: Epcot attractions and Accessibility. Lists which have a difficult step on and which have a wheelchair car

• Post 20: Disney Hollywood Studios and Accessibility. Lists which may be difficult to board and which have a wheelchair car

• Post 21: Animal Kingdom and Accessibility. Lists which may be difficult to board and which have a wheelchair car

• Post 22: Attractions where guests must stand unless they have mobility device

• Post 23: Attractions with Warnings

• Post 28: Attractions with moving walkways and stairs

• Post 34: Mobility seating for shows - list of shows/theaters are the location of mobility seating

With regards to walking form the ECV to an attraction, I agree, it can be a challenge. I used crutches and for the rides I was able to go on, I could keep the crutches with me on the ride. I believe a CM can take crutches from a guest after they transfer to a ride and keep them at the end of the ride for use upon return.

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Depending on the attraction, you will either bring crutches with you on the ride car or the CM will take them and store them for you while you ride.

The rides with a moving walkway can be slowed down (except for Peoplemover), which helps, but it still requires a fair bit of coordination to manage the moving walkways with crutches.

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post 28 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread lists those that have moving walkways.
Peoplemover (AKA Tomorrowland Transit Authority) and Peter Pan can't be slowed or stopped. In general, they try to slow rather than stop them.

For the buses, you can still sit in your ECV while on the bus. They have a seatbelt that they strap around your waist. I did this several times, particularly in the evening when the buses were crowded. I hated to take up a seat when I could just sit on the ECV.

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It is actually recommended to not sit on the ECV while on the bus. They are not meant for riding on during transport and are more likely to tip if someone is on them, even if they are properly tied down. This is less of a problem for the 4 wheeled ones than the 3 wheeled ones, but DIS posters have reported their ECV tipping on the bus.
So, don't feel guilty taking a seat - there are even signs on the bus telling people they should transfer.

Your last point is the biggest reason why I skipped most rides; I was not able to put any weight on my casted foot, which made it virtually impossible to step into, and out of, the cars on coasters, etc. Additionally, those rides are so rough and bumpy, that even if I could get in, I did not want to chance bumping the cast and causing pain! Some of those rides are painful enough without a cast!!

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Posts 18 - 22 have more info about the exact stepping to get on or off a ride car. If you are using an attraction wheelchair, you can use the wheelchair accessible ride car for those attractions that have them.
Attractions with warnings are listed in post 23.

OP, if you are non-weightbearing, I would very seriously consider renting an ECV. In your case, your sprained ankle is still going to be tender and somewhat unstable when you get there next week, which is going to make getting in and out of a W/C difficult, particularly on the buses. Transferring to and from and ECV is easy, as it is stable and the chair can be positioned with the armrests out of the way. The freedom that you will have when everyone else is riding rides will be well worth it.

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I agree that getting out of a wheelchair can be more difficult than getting off an ECV.
The rental wheelchairs do not have swing away armrests or footrests. You need to make sure to lock the brakes and fold the footrests up out of your way. With the brakes locked, a wheelchair is as stable as any other chair.
With an ECV, it is heavier, so more stable. It is important to realize that a 3 wheeled ECV is less stable than a 4 wheeled one and you need to be more careful about tipping when getting off.

Guests DON'T need to get off of a wheelchair on the bus unless they choose to. Wheelchairs can be securely strapped down and with 4 wheels, they are not going to tip. Guests can choose to get out of the wheelchair and hold it on the bus, but don't need to.