Anyone have experience with ECVs and Universal parks?

[Sleepy]

We will be going to Universal parks and Dad will be in ECV. Wondering if anyone has any experience. We will be staying onsite at PBH so most likely using the water taxi (if this is even possible). Since staying at PBH we will have Express pass for all rides, so regular lines will not be an issue, but curious how the Express line would work. Dad cannot stand for long periods of time, so even with Express Passes, the line can sometimes be more than 5 or 10 minutes long. We will be going late Aug if this helps.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, one of the last posts in that thread has a link to the Universal Rider's Guide, which should be helpful to you. It does a pretty good job of explaining access to their attractions.

 

[phamton]

They also have a GAP family room. He can sit there with one other family member and then when the rest of the group gets ready to load on the ride, he can join you. You need to go to Guest services to get the GAP- Family room.

 

[LindaBabe]

I would definitely recommend the ecv! I don't feel Universal is quite as mobility friendly as Disney. There is less shade and less seating. I wish I had taken a book because I spent a lot of time waiting for others to ride.

 

[evenpar4me]

Universal has ECVs and unlike Disney you can call ahead and reserve one.

 

[Belle1962]

They are very hard to use in the Amity and new York areas. ROUGH streets that will rattle your brains out! I have to have someone else in my party drive through these areas.

 

[MulanMom]

Husband used an ECV at Universal parks and hotel last year during Christmas week. The staff doesn't seem to be as adept at handling folks with disabilities. My DH has MD but can walk with the aid of braces. He can't stand for long or walk long distances. I guess he doesn't "look" handicapped as there were times employees insisted my husband park his ECV and stand in line (hour wait). We had to emphasize he could not do that type of wait. Another woman was standing in line behind us and regretted that she did not question the employee when she was told to turn over her ECV. If you run into the same type of situation, stand your ground!

We did use the water taxi to and from RPH, but found it easier to use the walkway. I think the boat was only able to accommodate one or two ECVs at a time, and that led to some long waits when the parks closed.

Other than the above mentioned, we really had a great time touring the Universal parks. have fun!

 

[phamton]

The lines aren't ECV accessible so you either have to stand in line or transfer to a regular wheelchair. if you can't stand in line, the you need to stop by Guest Services when you first enter the park and let them know. You may be given a GAP express for a shorter wait or a GAP family room where you can sit down while your party waits in line. Then right before they load the ride, you can get on with them. The team members were correct in asking you to park the ECV as it can't go through the line. If you can't stand or transfer to a wheelchair, you need to get a special pass (GAP) from them. The team members can't allow the ECV in line.

 

[MulanMom]

The lines aren't ECV accessible so you either have to stand in line or transfer to a regular wheelchair. if you can't stand in line, the you need to stop by Guest Services when you first enter the park and let them know. You will either be given a GAP express for a shorter wait or a GAP family room where you can sit down while your party waits in line. Then right before they load the ride, you can get on with them. The team members were correct in asking you to park the ECV as it can't go through the line. If you can't stand, you need to get a special pass (GAP) from them. The team members can't allow the ECV in line.

The attraction I remember this happening on was Jimmy Neutron. Asked my husband about it and he recalled there was a sharp turn in the FOTL line that would've been difficult for a 4wheeled ECV to navigate. his had 3 and he was able to do the turn. At the point where he was asked to leave the ECV, no offer was made to transfer to a wheelchair or be led to a different entrance. Nor were we instructed as to the availability of a GAP. It was the height of the XMas crowds (midday), so maybe they were a bit overwhelmed.

By no means is the experience limited to Universal. We had the same go 'round with Space Mountain at MK. Didn't think our circumstances required GACs and GAPs, but we're learning differently. Thanks for the insight.

 

[SueM in MN]

By no means is the experience limited to Universal. We had the same go 'round with Space Mountain at MK. Didn't think our circumstances required GACs and GAPs, but we're learning differently. Thanks for the insight.

Space Mountain is listed in the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities this way:
Guests must transfer from motorized scooter or ECV to an available wheelchair, then from the wheelchair to the attraction/ride vehicle.

You might have to wait for a wheelchair, if all their wheelchairs are already in use, but should not need a GAC.
We gave run into some individual unreasonable CMs, but getting a manager or showing the information in the Guidebook has almost always done the trick for us.

 

[MulanMom]

Space Mountain is listed in the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities this way:
Guests must transfer from motorized scooter or ECV to an available wheelchair, then from the wheelchair to the attraction/ride vehicle.

You might have to wait for a wheelchair, if all their wheelchairs are already in use, but should not need a GAC.
We gave run into some individual unreasonable CMs, but getting a manager or showing the information in the Guidebook has almost always done the trick for us.

The manual wheelchair and the steep long incline present a significant problem for my husband as he does not have the enduring arm strength to manuever the wheelchair. If the wheelchair were powered or if there was a CM to push him, then that would not be an issue. The ECV was always accommodated before, so the attraction is capable of handling an ECV. Their enforcement of transferring to a wheelchair is not consistent. On our last trip, it was actually a manager who suggested obtaining a GAC.

 

[SueM in MN]

The manual wheelchair and the steep long incline present a significant problem for my husband as he does not have the enduring arm strength to manuever the wheelchair. If the wheelchair were powered or if there was a CM to push him, then that would not be an issue. The ECV was always accommodated before, so the attraction is capable of handling an ECV. Their enforcement of transferring to a wheelchair is not consistent. On our last trip, it was actually a manager who suggested obtaining a GAC.

If it's very steep, I wonder if they had a problem with an ECV tipping or something going up the incline. I know they had that problem on Ellen's Energy Adventure; because the weight on an ECV is almost all over the back tires, they can tip over backwards when going up steep inclines.
The assumption they have (which I know isn't always correct) is that the guest or someone else in their party will push the wheelchair. WDW is not required to provide someone to push the wheelchair in the line, so they don't.

Another expectation (which I also know is not true) is that people using power wheelchairs probably can't walk and that people with ECVs can walk, but probably not long distances.

Some of the CMs also have a very bad awareness of estimating distance. Someone wrote once that the CM at Pirates told them it was about 100 feet from the queue to the boarding area!
It's probably close to that distance before you get to the first turn.

 

[MulanMom]

I checked the online Guests with Disabilities at Disney.com. For Space Mountain, it notes transfer from wheelchair to board the ride which I interpret to mean transferring at the point of boarding the cars rather than at the Space Mountain entrance. As for the inclines within Space, I think you are correct in that they've had problems with ECVs tipping. However, DH is a civil engineer who works with municipalities and has some knowledge of ADA regs etc. and he questions some physical aspects at SM. He is adamant about being able to maintain his independence and autonomy.

For some queues, he uses his cane and will walk through. As his disease progresses and increases his disability, he needs the ECV more. Guess we better get a copy of the Disabilities guide and study!