Any solos use ECVs at WDW?

[Simba's Mom]

If so, how easy/difficult is it to get around solo with an ECV? I just returned with very painful knees, seems I have arthritis coming on. I've never used an ECV, but with all the distances in WDW, it's been recommended. But how easy is it to negotiate with one in WDW? Any particular times it's OK/not so good-buses, resturants (and any certain ones), particular rides?
__________________

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I always use an ECV in the parks, and most of the time I am alone. For table service restaurants I will usually park either in the lobby or close by and walk to/from the table. For attractions, most are mainstreamed and I will be able to take the ECV into the theater or all the way to a ride boarding area. If not mainstreamed I will use the alternate entrance. The only problems are Pirates (which I will not do unless someone is with me) and Space (but I will see what happens after the rehab). And when I use Disney transportation I never have a problem.

 

[mickeysaver]

I have gone solo in the spring the past couple of years. I occasionally need a little door help from a kind CM or other guest, so as to not do damage to the door, doorjam, or walls. The biggest problem that I have encountered solo has been in the bakery in Norway, it's not ECV friendly in there. Some of the stores make it a bit challenging with the merchandise layouts, but overall, it's not a big deal.

 

[videogal1]

If so, how easy/difficult is it to get around solo with an ECV? I just returned with very painful knees, seems I have arthritis coming on. I've never used an ECV, but with all the distances in WDW, it's been recommended. But how easy is it to negotiate with one in WDW? Any particular times it's OK/not so good-buses, resturants (and any certain ones), particular rides?
__________________

Yep, doors are my big complaint.....Imagine an accessible room with a door that cannot be opened by a pushbutton either from the inside or outside...or, Downtown Disney, where almost no shop doors, the last time I was there, had automatically opening doors. Wherever you stay ask the manager to disable the hydraulic arm that closes a room door. If they say it's against fire code because the door opens into an indoor hallway ask them if they would rather be on call to let you in and out of your room whenever you need access...Be sure to add that you expect to get immediate assistance in case of fire... EEK!
I finally started packing a door stop with a rope attached to it so I could jam the door open with it while I entered or exited and then trained Cash to fetch the doorstop to release the door. This method, though is not appreciated by other visitors trying to keep privacy in some restrooms. Sometimes, too, you just have to break down and ask for someone nearby to help... My favorite hangout, the
Prime Time Cafe, gets crowded and the ECV parking area is next to outdoor seating for diners awaiting tables so I'm a little nervous about parking my goody-laden scooter there and using Cash to assist me to my table assignment. Unfortunately the tables are so crowded together that maneuvering is extremely tricky, adding to the near impossibility of finding enough room around a table to be able to park and eat without transferring to the restaurant seating...and then there is no room around your table to park the darn thing...What then? You give the key to a wait person so they can stash it somewhere and run the risk of introducing a would-be Mario Andretti to a new power toy...

 

[peemagg]

Hey I ran into one of those Mario Andretti wanna be's this past May at the Norway ride. I was afraid that the woman was going to run it into something as fast as she took off on it. In fact she came very close and my scooter was brand new. Thankfully it was fine on the other end.

 

[Piper]

I have gone solo to WDW and DL with my scooter. I also take cruises and do as much as I can while I can. It is very doable (and fun!)

 

[smithgary]

I always use an ECV in the parks, and most of the time I am alone. For table service rerstaurants I will usually park either in the lobby or close by and walk to/from the table. For attractions, most are mainstreamed and I wil be able to take the ECV into the theater or all the way to a ride boarding area. If not mainstreamed I will use the alternate entrance. The only problems are Pirates (which I will not do unless someone is with me)( and Space (but I will see what happens after the rehab). And when I use Disney transporation I never have a problem.

Hello,
I red your comment.Well nice information sharing,i must say.I am really pleased to see such article sharing at the community,It may remove so many wrong belief among the people.Try to share more like this in future.Thank you for the comment.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Sounds like it's pretty doable. Too bad Pirates has to be one of the few rides to be a problem-that's one of my favorite rides. And I love the 50s Prime Time Cafe.

 

[mom3sonstt]

I don't know what the official policy is at Tower of Terror. On the last day of our trip last year I wanted one last drop on the Tower while the rest of my group was doing their "one last" thing. I couldn't take the ECV through the line, the line was too long for me to walk it, I did't have someone with me to transfer to a wheelchair (they didn't ask if I wanted to go by myself in a wheelchair). I finally told them I would just skip it, they said they would call ahead and send me through the back. I went through the gift shop, met someone at the exit who took me up a regular elevator to where I was loaded on the next available "service elevator". I don't know if that is their standard procedure - they didn't offer it up right away - but that is how it worked that time. Typically we get fastpasses or go when the line is short so I don't have to stand for too long - if they wouldn't have taken me in the back I would have been ok with it, since I had ridden a couple of times that week.

 

[toocherie]

A couple of more tips--

on keeping the hotel door open while driving in and out on a scooter, I have found that a folded up washcloth will "usually" act as a doorstop.

I keep a bag in my scooter basket and to keep it from being stolen I use a travel lock to secure it to the basket (of course someone could steal the whole basket but that may look suspicious to be walking through a park with a scooter basket). If I have something important/valuable in the bag, then I use a second travel lock and am able to take two zipper pulls on the bag and clasp them together (effectively preventing someone from unzipping the bag). It's hard to describe but it really does work! You have to be careful with what kind of bag you get (it has to have two zippers with pulls that have a hole that the lock will fit through).

 

[ZoZo]

Just back from a 10-day solo trip with an ECV. I have significant foot pain if I do WDW without a scooter, but am fortunate that I can park it when necessary and walk onto an attraction or into a restaurant.

I found it very easy to navigate most things. I did have to ask a couple of kind folks to open doors for me (in the walk-through bird exhibit at AK, for example, there are no power doors). Most attractions, I just zoomed in with my scooter; a few, I parked outside and walked in. I also did that at many restaurants; as others have noted, it can be harder to get around tables and through doors at restaurants.

For me, the hardest thing to navigate solo were the crowds. I was (naively) amazed at how many people will simply cut right front of a person on a scooter. And I mean right in front of you, with inches to spare! It happened over and over again, all day long. I had to be very careful not to bump into anyone. It was much easier on my last trip; my friends walked ahead of me, and sort of "blazed a trail" for me.

 

[LindaBabe]

Often go solo - some people are really great - some -eh, not so much. Some CAST members are really great - others, no so much. I DO try to avoid taking the bus at peak times. OKW buses are hard in the evening, especially from EPCOT because so many people use that resort's buses to get a quick transfer to downtown Disney. Those particular crowds can be really rude.

 

[chaoscent]

I went solo 9/30 to 10/3. I stayed at BLT. I had a few problems. Getting off the monorail, there is a gate at the top of the ramp. If the person in front of you doesn't look back, they will let the gate shut. It is hard to open the gate while in the ECV. Twice (you think I would have learned the first time ) I hit my knee trying to get through the gate. Also, I ended up not being able to get into Cosmic Rays as the doors aren't automatic and I was too uncomfortable to just sit there and wait for someone to come along and open the door for me. Then I figured I would be stuck in there, relying on the kindness of strangers, so I went to Pecos Bill's instead.

Also, the BLT elevators are very very fast. Sometimes I couldn't get on the elevator as it kept shutting on me while I was trying to get on.

However, I met many very kind people and had a great time and will do it again.

Penny