Advice for 1st time with ECV

[aws70]

We are taking my brother-in-law with us this week and have rented an ECV for him. He is in his 20s and doesn't use a wheelchair/ECV in his daily life. However, due to an accident that shattered his ankles a few years ago, he can only walk short distances and is always in pain.

This will probably be an awkward experience for him and I want to make him as comfortable and at ease as possible. I have read a lot on these boards and it has been very helpful.

My main question is about ride queues. I've reviewed the list of rides with mainstream access, etc., but I'm still a little confused about the right thing to do. He will probably want to try to walk on as many rides as possible, parking the ECV outside. He will in fact try to do this more than he should, so I'm looking for how to minimize his "overdoing it". I know the stroller parking can sometimes be fairly far away from the ride entrance. Is there a place that you can park the ECV near or inside the rides? If he rides the ECV through the queue, would he then be expected to board with it? So many rides, you don't get on and off in the same place.
I'm sorry to throw out so many different questions, and I know each ride is different - but if anyone can offer some advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[Carnator]

My main question is about ride queues. I've reviewed the list of rides with mainstream access, etc., but I'm still a little confused about the right thing to do. He will probably want to try to walk on as many rides as possible, parking the ECV outside. He will in fact try to do this more than he should, so I'm looking for how to minimize his "overdoing it". I know the stroller parking can sometimes be fairly far away from the ride entrance. Is there a place that you can park the ECV near or inside the rides?

When you say you reviewed the list of rides with mainstream, were you talking about this thread?

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

go to post 11.

 

[Carnator]

Just remember that if there are long lines and waits he might want to stay on his ECV through the line ques. I think just the other day Cheshire posted someithing about Soarin line being 1/4 mile long.

 

[aws70]

When you say you reviewed the list of rides with mainstream, were you talking about this thread?



go to post 11.

I had just seen the list of rides, but when I went back just now I found the link to the thread with all the specific ride info by park. Looks like tons of info - just what I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[mechurchlady]

10 rides walking 10 minutes is 100 minutes of walking and 10 rides waiting in line is 100 minutes standing. It does add up slowly and sneaky so that you suddenly are too tired to go on.

As for the ECV and lines one of the following will happen.

1. He will take the ECV all the way through the line and then board the ride while in the ECV like the train to the Conservation Station.
2. He drives the ECV all the way through the ride then he can stop and walk a few steps. Most rides allow the wheelchair or ECV to pull right up to or within a few feet of the ride vehicle. A CM will then park the ECV for him. The ECV will be waiting when he exits the ride vehicle and he can have the ECV brought to him.
3. He takes the ECV to a point where he will transfer to a WDW wheelchair. His ECV will be waiting for him when he gets off the ride at some point but he again will not have to walk.

Show him videos from youtube on how much walking is needed just to get to the ride vehicle. It can be a quarter mile from where he parks the ECV to where the ride vehicle is. He can do one of the three things above which is best for him or he can park the ECV in the stroller parking lot. CMs can and will move any stroller, rollator, wheelchair, scooter, or ECV that they deem to be blocking traffic, a safety hazard or needs to be in the proper parking space.