? about ECV rentals

[rach2674]

My mom has had major back and leg problems lately and will not be able to walk very far when we go to EPCOT next week. She at last got a handicapped parking sticker this week, but I'm thinking we'll have to rent an ECV for the park. My question is, are these things huge? Do they have more than one speed..since she hasn't used them before, I don't want her running anyone over! LOL I usually push my daughter in a stroller. I don't think they allow kids to sit on or stand in front of (laps) of people on the ECV's. Of course I also don't know if my mom could take her being "on" her all day either.

And also, for the rides, can they drive these right up to the place where you get on, because I don't think she'd make it even from the entrance to the front of the line. We were in Home Depot last week and she couldn't even make it from the Garden to the register.

Thanks for all the input. I certainly hope this will the one of the only times she'll have to do this because she's getting a second opinion and if it's the same having back surgery. Hopefully if she does, she'll improve.

Rachel

 

[BillM]

I have used my own ECV for ten years at DW. They do come in different sizes depending on the weight of the rider. The 3 wheel ones are easier to handle. They do have different speeds. You did not say if you would be on property to have Disney transport. If so all the buses are equipped to load the ECV. Yes you can ride them right up to most of the rides and then walk on.
If you are renting you can look at the Facs links above for the rental companies. If you are staying off property you would have to load one into your auto or van. If you rent at the park that could be a porblem. The walk from the parking lot to the entrance can be a loooge walk.

 

[rach2674]

We are planning to rent at the park. We are also staying at the Pop Century. I completely forgot about the walk to the front gate. Sometimes she can make it a little while if she hasn't really gone anywhere else. It used to help her to push the stroller to have something to hang on to. So she may be able to make it from the bus if she pushes the stroller.

From what I remember, the ones you rent at the parks are pretty big. I told her she should check on getting one at home, but then she'd have to get the attachment for the car and all that. I think she's waiting until she finds out about the surgery before she takes that next step.

Rachel

 

[SueM in MN]

The ones you rent at the parks are rather large, have 4 wheels and are kind of slow and cumbersome to drive.

As BillM mentioned, there is information about renting ECVs in the disABILITIES FAQs thread (located near the top of the board). It includes ECV rental in the parks and also has phone numbers and links to local Orlando area companies that will deliver ECVs to your hotel.

Most people find those 'off-site' rental ECVs to be easier to drive than the park ones. They are smaller and more manouverable. Many of them can be taken apart to fit into a car trunk.

To get some practice, I'd suggest she drive one at places like Walmart and Target that have them for guests to use (sounds like she would have a more pleasant time shopping with one). If she can get to a point where she is fairly comfortable driving those in the stores, any she rents at WDW would be a piece of cake. Even the park ones would be smaller (plus they would not have a shopping cart stuck on the front).

When she actually rents one in Florida, she should take some time getting comfortable driving it. They all have some ways to control the speed - usually they have a small lever or knob that can be moved from 'turtle' (very slow) to 'rabbit' (the fastest speed).
She will need to be able to drive forward in a straight line, turn to the right and left and back straight and while turning right and left (usually only a short distance). It would also be helpful to be able to sort of 'parallel park' for buses and some attractions. I'd suggest Epcot as a good park for a beginner ECV driver. It has a lot of large spaces and is usually not as congested as some of the other parks. The Studio is next easiest. MK and AK are the hardest because they are congested and crowded and have some narrow walkways with people traveling in both directions at the same time.

If she rents one from offsite, as BillM mentioned, the buses are accessible (there is a section on the disABILITIES FAQs thread about buses). The bus is the best way to get to MK because it drops you off right near the entrance. If you drive, you will need to take the monorail or boat from the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) to get to the same place where the bus leaves you off. Using the monorail involves going up a long, steep ramp (and down a long steep ramp when you get to the park). The boat is a little farther distance, but doesn't involve a ramp.

You should also be aware that the handicapped parking areas do not have any tram service and some of them are a pretty long walk to the park turnstiles. There are courtesy wheelchairs in the handicapped lots, but there is no guarantee that there will be any available when you get there (plus you have to find the 'corral' where they are parked.)
The distance from handicapped parking lot to the entrance won't be a problem if she rents an ECV from off-site and has it with her, but if she doesn't, you may be better off parking in the regular lots if she is able to step up onto the parking lot tram. Mention to the CM directing traffic that you have someone with mobility problems; they do save some spots on the ends of rows for situations like that.

 

[SueM in MN]

I moved this thread from the disABILITIES Community Board (which is more for questions that are not related to the parks) to the disABILITIES Board. I think you will get more answers on the disABILITIES Board since it is devoted to questions about the parks.

 

[rach2674]

Well, I guess we'll be getting one of the big ones from the park. I don't think any of the outside vendors offer a one day rental. What a bummer, because from what I've read, they can be hard to maneuver and sometimes very slow. I guess if it gets really bad, we can exchange it for a wheelchair and my dad can push my daughter in the stroller and I can push my mom in the wheelchair.

Rachel