Another AKL question plus ECV/car question

[cupcake]

Just made our reservations-- whoo-hoo!! We will be staying at the AKL before a conference my dh has in Orlando (which will be at the Peabody Orlando by the Orlando Conference Center). My dh is going to drive me & my ECV to the parks on his two conference days as they don't seem to have transportation to WDW.

Question 1: what size car will we need to fit the disassembled ECV? It's just the two of us and we want to go with the smallest possible car to save $ as we won't be in it much. My dh will be taking it in & out and he is very fit & can lift easily.

For the AKL, I requested a close-in room so I can walk more easily if I want to go and sit downstairs or whatever w/o the scooter (I can walk, just not lots). I don't need the roll-in shower and while I like the extra grab bars, I hate to take the fully accessible room from someone who needs it more.

But now I am concerned about the comments about room size and fitting the ECV at night w/o blocking everything. So . . .

Question 2: Do you think I should ask for the fully accessible room, which from the comments appears to have more room for the ECV?

Thanks! I am really looking forward to staying at the AKL, everyone's comments have been so favorable!

Cupcake

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have found for rentals that a Buick Century (smallish but still full-size four-door sedan) will hold a broken down ECV in the trunk. A Le Sabre or Park Avenue has no problem.

On our last trip we drove our own car, a 97 Ford Taurus 4-Door Sedan, and found that It was easy to fit if I put the seat itself in the back seat of the car. It was possible to get the entire ECV into the trunk, but difficult.

As long as you are willing to keep the ECV seat in th back seat of the car, a large intermediate (4-door) should work.

As far as a standard room at AKL, we stayed there last summer; along with the ECV we had a refrigerator. I forget exactly where we put the ECV for overnight storage, but it was not in the way. It helps to have two people to get it out; one for the door and the other for the ECV. If I remember correctly, normally I would put it in "freewheel" and push it out of the room rather than trying to drive it backwards in a close space.

My only unfavorable comment about AKL is that the rooms are very dark. However, if requested they will bring additional floor and table lamps, although they will not increase the bulb wattages that are there.

 

[doombuggy]

I just got bak and I rented a Toyota Corrolla LE (intermediate class) from national. I had no problem getting the stuff in the car, like CF said, I put the seat assembly in the back seat. Precaution, though - the "pole" that the seat is attached to has grease on it, so be careful. Try not to get it on you, or on the car seat!

 

[JudithM]

We have a Nissan Altima & it is a tight squeeze getting the ECV in the trunk. I second the comment about being careful of the grease on the bottom of the seat .