Anyone with experience using an ECV at DL?

[Sleeping Becca]

We are leaving in a few days for our first DL trip!

My mom has some health issues and will be using an ECV. I'm kind of nervous about what it will be like. I printed out the disabilties guide book from the DL website. From reading the guide it looks like the procedure changes depending on the ride, sometimes your party waits in the regular line and you join them when they reach the front, sometimes your party is given a fastpass, sometimes you can wait in the regular line etc. I also looked at the disabilites board, but that info looks like it is strictly for WDW. So if anyone has any experience with this, please help.

I'm looking for a little insight. Does having an ECV increase or decrease your wait time or was it about the same? I subscribed to ridemax, I want to know if I will still be able to fit everything in or will my wait times be increased, or if maybe... fingers crossed, decreased? What are the CM's attitude toward you in the ECV, were they understanding or aggravated? I guess, I'm really over analyzing this, and I'm probably worried for nothing. It is a mother's day weekend trip for my mom, me, and my mildly autistic highly functional DD(9) who also has Tourette's. I'm just a little nervous, I know we will have a great time! But any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[ShawnaF]

CMs are great from everyone I've heard who had them, you shouldn't get any aggravated or annoyed attitudes! So, does your mom have a doctor's note for using this? If so or if you can get one (for your mome or your child), you can get a special pass at City Hall too that will assist you even more in accommodating your needs.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Thanks for the tip, I didn't know about the card. I thought that was only at WDW. Yes, she does have documentation from her doctor. She was told she could go on the trip as long as she had the ECV and was not doing extensive walking.

Leaving tommorrow!!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ShawnaF]

Fantastic, go straight to City Hall when you enter and you can get the permit. They should treat you very well - at least from what I've seen that was the case!

 

[PryncessChrysty]

For most of the rides at DL, you can go through the exit - which will greatly reduce your wait times. However, because DCA is newer, just about all of the rides have lines that can accommodate the ECV, so she'll have to go through the regular queues.

As for manuevering through the parks (I've had to use an ECV several times), DL can be a bit tricky because the walkways are more narrow in some areas and some places can get really crowded. I've found it's best to avoid Adventureland and Fantasyland early in the day because they can get P-A-C-K-E-D, and if you're planning to leave right after the fireworks, it's actually better to wait at least 15 minutes if at all possible - everyone goes out in a cattle herd formation and it can be really frustrating with the ECV. Also, for some shops it's easier to park the ECV (if she can). Tinkerbell's Toy Shoppe in Fantasyland and Candy Palace on Main Street are two good examples - oh, and a few of the shops in New Orleans Square. DCA is pretty easy to get around because it's more open and less crowded. I do have one tip for DCA, though and that's if you're going into any of the shops in the Hollywood Backlot area, try to have her get on the sidewalk as you enter (under the elephants ). There are dips in the sidewalk throughout the middle but they are steep and the ECV will scrape and she may get stuck (this happened to me and I was SO embarassed because the noise was like nails on a chalkboard and EVERYONE turned around). If she ever needs to get down one of the dips toward the center of the sidewalk, have her get off the ECV, release the lever in the back and manually push it down onto the street.

A few other handy tips: DL has a LOT of ECV's, but they get VERY busy, so I like to go over to DCA to rent it when I can (you probably already know, but you can take the ECV back and forth between the parks, and if you rent it at one park, you are able to return it to the other). If you're going to be there on a Saturday, rent it as early as possible because they might run out. If you're planning to watch any of the parades or the fireworks, the seat has a lever so that it can rotate if she'd like it too, as well.

If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to post.

I hope this helps and I hope you all have a GREAT time!!!

ETA: I also wanted to add that the CM's are always really helpful whenever I've been in an ECV - and was as recently as this past weekend. I've never been treated like I was a nuissance, in the way or a thorn in their side. So you should have nothing to worry about....which is good, because that's how it should be when you're at Disney!!

 

[arliepooh68]

here is my question, we got the dream fast passes once and I ended up needing to use an ECV or these would have went to waste. . . when we went to space mountain they were not accommodaing the fastpasses for the "handicap" area and these people had been waiting the full length of time of the "normal" line. . . anyone experience that???? I am going this weekend and my have to use one again if my leg acts up, again, but I will suffer through the pain to go have fun with my kids!