3 wheel vs. 4 wheel ECV - which should I choose?

[disneyfool_1202]

I have really bad knee's that need replacing (UGH! I'm only 46!!) and my doc is recommending I get an ECV for my trip to WDW in 3 months. I can walk short distances - more than 1/2 mile and my knee's are toast. I'm looking at renting from Apple or Walkers. I can't decide between a 3 wheel vs. a 4 wheel. I rented in park 10 years ago (for a different reason) and I can't remember if those were 3 or 4 wheel scooters.

Also, we are staying in a studio villa at Disney's Wildernes Lodge. Should I ask for a accessible room or should I be okay? I don't need the scooter to get around the hotel (we've been there many times). I know I need to fit the ECV in the room for charging it at night though.
Does anyne know what my transpotation options are from VWL to the parks? I know we always take the ferry for MK but I'm guessing the bus will be my only option... Forgive my ignorance, but I've never rented from outside of the parks before.

Also, for those of you who have rented from outside the parks, do you bring the charger and where do you find a place to charge mid park (perhaps while at lunch / dinner?) if you are at the park for a long day? If I charge all night will I be oka for a full day/evening at the park??

 

[Carnator]

A 3 wheeler will have a better turn radius than a 4 wheeler. If you charge ECV all night you shouldn't have to charge it at the parks. If you feel like you need to bring the charger to the park there are places to charge. Restaurants are a good place. Also ask CM's they are usually very helpful letting you know where you might charge ECV.

 

[Buckimion]

A four-wheeler is generally more stable if you worry about tipping over, although it takes a combination of angle and body weight distribution to do this. Most important, the four-wheeler has limited foot space. A three wheeler usually has a bit more foot room as you have space on either side of the tiller. This may be important with knee problems.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

3 wheeled chairs are more appropriate for inexperienced drivers. 4 wheeled chairs are extremely sensitive and react quickly. I recommend a 3 wheeled chair

 

[bedogged]

I have really bad knee's that need replacing (UGH! I'm only 46!!) and my doc is recommending I get an ECV for my trip to WDW in 3 months. I can walk short distances - more than 1/2 mile and my knee's are toast. I'm looking at renting from Apple or Walkers. I can't decide between a 3 wheel vs. a 4 wheel. I rented in park 10 years ago (for a different reason) and I can't remember if those were 3 or 4 wheel scooters.

Also, we are staying in a studio villa at Disney's Wildernes Lodge. Should I ask for a accessible room or should I be okay? I don't need the scooter to get around the hotel (we've been there many times). I know I need to fit the ECV in the room for charging it at night though.
Does anyne know what my transpotation options are from VWL to the parks? I know we always take the ferry for MK but I'm guessing the bus will be my only option... Forgive my ignorance, but I've never rented from outside of the parks before.

Also, for those of you who have rented from outside the parks, do you bring the charger and where do you find a place to charge mid park (perhaps while at lunch / dinner?) if you are at the park for a long day? If I charge all night will I be oka for a full day/evening at the park??

I was at WL for nine nights in May using my ECV. Please don't worry, WL works just fine for those of us using an ECV. From your description, I don't think that you will need an accessible room. but someone else may be able to comment with more authority. You can use the ferry to MK with your ECV, but you will have to use the bigger ferry. There are two, a big one and a small one. Usually they run every other one, but I never waited very long for the bigger one. You will not be able to use the ferry that goes to CR. The boat is too small.

Unless you are a very large person, I would recommend that you look at renting one of the small Go Go scooters. Three wheel models are easier to maneuver than 4 wheel models. That means that they are easier to get on the bus and go through lines. They have really good batteries so you shouldn't have to recharge at the park. Just keep an eye on the battery level. You do need to recharge every night.

 

[digiMom]

I went with my mom last January and rented a three wheel Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus by Pride Mobility from Apple. She had never used one before. She loved it. It was small enough to maneuver, light enough to move around by hand if needed and kept an all-day charge (although there was a "backpack" behind the back of the seat that we kept the charger in just in case).

We had an accessible room at POP with a roll-in shower. She needed it because she had knee surgery in the past and can't really bend her knee to step up well. Sometimes the kneecap will get out of alignment and will "lock", and she can't even bend it. If this was not an issue, she would have requested a room with the support bars instead. She was also pretty fatigued from getting in and out from the rides she did and had to use the handicapped restroom stalls in the parks with the support bars.

If I were you I think I'd at least request a room with an HA bathroom with support bars just in case you need them for support. If you think you'll have an issue with balance or with stepping up, request a HA room with a roll-in shower. I'm not sure how many VWL rooms have that available???

My understanding is you can use the larger boats to get to the MK as long as the water level isn't too low. You can also get to MK and all the parks using buses.

Hope you have a great trip!