A few ECV questions

[littlebit0863]

I am the trip planner for the group, and it is my mother in law who will be driving an ECV. I'm sorry if all these questions have been asked a million times, she recently joined our trip and this is all new to us. My mother in law is going to be renting from an outside company and we have a car so buses will not be an issue. My mother in law isn't disabled per say, but she has a foot condition (flat feet and weak bones) that makes walking for a while difficult. She can't walk for more than 20 minutes or so without terrible pain, but standing isn't hard for her. For her ECV will she park it with our strollers and stand in line with us, or will she be on her ECV in the line? She really wants one to travel between attractions, but she is very embarrassed to be thrown into a handicapped line when she isn't handicapped. She also wants to know for shops, do most mobile ECV users drive them into shops, or do they park them outside and then walk in? What about counter service restaurants? Another question she has for mobile ECV users is how other park guests react to them? She is a bit heavyset and she tried to drive one at the grocery store to practice. A woman saw her walk from the parking lot and climb on and then made a comment about her "fat cart" so now my mother in law is terrified that if she steps off of her ECV to walk a little while or stand in a line that people will just start hurling insults at her. Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated!

 

[Carnator]

I am the trip planner for the group, and it is my mother in law who will be driving an ECV. I'm sorry if all these questions have been asked a million times, she recently joined our trip and this is all new to us. My mother in law is going to be renting from an outside company and we have a car so buses will not be an issue. My mother in law isn't disabled per say, but she has a foot condition (flat feet and weak bones) that makes walking for a while difficult. She can't walk for more than 20 minutes or so without terrible pain, but standing isn't hard for her. For her ECV will she park it with our strollers and stand in line with us, or will she be on her ECV in the line? She really wants one to travel between attractions, but she is very embarrassed to be thrown into a handicapped line when she isn't handicapped. She also wants to know for shops, do most mobile ECV users drive them into shops, or do they park them outside and then walk in? What about counter service restaurants? Another question she has for mobile ECV users is how other park guests react to them? She is a bit heavyset and she tried to drive one at the grocery store to practice. A woman saw her walk from the parking lot and climb on and then made a comment about her "fat cart" so now my mother in law is terrified that if she steps off of her ECV to walk a little while or stand in a line that people will just start hurling insults at her. Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated!

This link to a sticky will give you most of the info you might need. #2

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

Most of the lines are mainstreamed and do not have have "handicapped lines". There are some lines that might break off and go a different route because of stairs or ect. She can park the ECV with strollers and walk through line if she wants too. Tell her not to worry about what other people think or say. I'm sure some others will come along and answer some of your other questions.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A lot of ECV users have stamina issues. DH isn't totally disabled, but his joints take turns giving him fits. When he moans I sing a chorus of "head, shoulders, knees, and toes) and he fills in the blank. I'm in somewhut better condition but there's no way I could walk/stand or keep up with him and his ECV in WDW all day so I rent an ECV as well. No one has ever hassled us about using an ECV, tho an occasional CM has warned us to slow down and not race. ahem.

DH drives into the shops, but the aisles are so narrow I get frustrated trying to steer around the displays and other cusstomers, and just park outside.

The rental ECV should be fully charged when you receive it, but make sure your mother-in-law takes the charger into the parks (in the basket or a pouch behind the seat), just in case. Also turn off the key whenever you stop for more than a few secs. If the ECV starts to get sluggish, plug in at a restaurant while you have a meal. The WDW and DTD restaurants have been very accommodating. Each night at the hotel, the charger/battery needs to be plugged in all night so it will be good to go the next day.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

The majority of attraction lines in WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that a wheelchair or ECV will use the regular entrance and line all the way to either a show seating or ride load area. If a line is not mainstreamed there will be signs and/or Cast Members to direct you where to go.

If a show, normally there will be spaces to park a chair or ECV and there will be seats next to the space for other members of the group.

If a ride, usually you will have to transfer to a ride vehicle, although some rides will allow a person in a wheelchair to remain in their chair. If you have to transfer to a ride, and unload is not at the same location as load, your chair or ECV will magically appear at the unload area.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Note that Post #2 discusses mobility and equipment. Post #3 had a wide variety of information and links; it might be a good idea to look at the various park "Guidemap For Persons With Disabilities" for more detailed information.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[memakwed]

I couldn't believe someone would call your MIL names....well in this society I could but didn't want to. At Disney so many diffrent types of people with different health concerns come to vacation. Some health issues are visible and some aren't. My son's health is similiar to your MIL's as far as the foot pain and not much ability to walk the parks. We have never had anyone say anything negative to our son and I don't think you MIL shoud be worried. Once there she will probably see more people with not so obvious helath issues than she had imagined. Everyone do not matter you health wants to be able to enjoy a vacation and we find Disney is very adaptable to those people.

My son would be in his chair in line up until the attraction and then we would be asked if he could walk to transfer and then he would transfer to th ride no prob an then chair would be there waiting at the end of the ride.

Some shops are narrower than others so she may just want to park it outside since she could manage for a little bit. It's the walking in the park and standingin line that is the hardest part of the day.

Enjoy your trip. It will be fun.

 

[Earstou]

Your MIL can either park her ecv with the strollers or take it in line, whichever she prefers!
My experience (only one trip) with shops was that it was easier to leave it outside. Between narrow aisles and crowded conditions, I felt it was too difficult to get anywhere on the ecv in shops. Same with restaurants.
The only comment we had was someone asked my husband if I got front-of-the-line priveleges with the ecv (he was in a roller coaster line and I had just left him to do a gentler ride). He told her no and also explained why I was on the ecv. She was very sympathetic and wished us all well.

 

[Glittercat]

I avoid shops in my chair when they are crowded, just too dangerous with narrow aisles, and limited visibility. During parades or outdoor events are great times to pop into the shops for a moment!

Often for CS type restaurants I'll wait with one of the kids while my husband orders, again just a case of not wanting to have the chair in the way or bump into anybody. Most TS restaurants are great about having room for mobility vehicles! There she'll be able to choose to park or drive in. I often wheel right up to a booth or chair, transfer into it, then my lovely husband folds the chair and places it out of the way. If it is a bad pain day though I'll just stay in the chair.
Most with ECV's seem to transfer into seats, but I do not know if this is out of choice or necessity.

There will be a very small percentage of the population that gives angry looks or says a harsh word, but she just needs to know that people are often reacting to their own insecurities and questions, and to try not too take it too personally. Also, please let her know that this would happen sometimes regardless of whether or not she is a lil' Pooh sized. I'm a medium sized female and I get it too, and did when I was a little girl as well. There are many more kind and gracious people out there though so she should try and focus on the positives! The great majority of the CM's are friendly considerate folks and will work with your family to help her find places to park her vehicle or to assist her onto rides. Overall WDW is vast and wonderful and I think she'll be very glad she has the ECV so she doesn't have to miss any part of it. ~Rebecca

 

[bidnow5]

Very little problems in Disney with looks or name calling most people are too busy having fun. Back at home it's a different story I have a bunch of stories about cruel people. One of many reasons I love Disney soo much

 

[littlebit0863]

Thank you all!