Back from WDW with EVC

[monami7]

Just got back from WDW this morning. I had a hysterectomy a month ago so we rented a ECV from Randy's. They were GREAT!!! Also the cheapest 1 week rental price. Thanks for everyones advice on the Disabilities board!
Anyway I just wanted to say that the EVC was great. It really saved me. I however had a huge problem with people walking in front of me. I mean my Mom would walk within a foot of the front to try and block them and they would cut in between us. I would of course would run into them, I AM IN A MOVING VEHICLE PEOPLE!!!! I cannot stop in 6 inches at the drop of a hat.
The first few days I felt bad them I would just tell them that if they walk in front of a moving vehicle they would probably get hit! Yes I really would say this. What is wrong with people.
I really feel for all of you who have to due this every trip. God Bless you! Those people are vicious!

 

[RNMOM]

It is amazing isn't it? People do it to those pushing strollers too and wonder why they get banged in the legs. Moving objects don't stop on a dime. Scooters are pretty good but you can not outrun me if I am not able to see you first.

I have been tempted to get one of those orange rotating signal lights and mount it on a pole on my scooter. Think they would notice it? Nah, probably not.

 

[SueM in MN]

One person used to post that when she got on her ECV, she became invisible.
We have noticed the same thing with DD's wheelchair.

 

[mrmagicmph]

Oh, there's no question that once you sit in an ECV, you turn invisible. Proof of it? Well, I'm (standing) 6'1" tall & broad (yes a bit Pooh-sized too, but, for my shoulders to fit in a suit jacket, we're talking about me wearing a 52!) Additionally, when I was down there in October for my hunnymoon, I attached my 38" long cane on the back of my ECV and the top of the handle was approximately 12" OVER my head. Still, did people of ALL ages cut in front of me like madmen and madwomen? Absolutely. Did people get annoyed at me for taking up space that they wanted to occupy? Certainly. Did people just plain not see me or start to cut in front of me and then stop dead RIGHT in front of me? Yup, count on it. It got to be that my wife was trying at times to more or less run blocks for me like you'd see on a football team, just so I could get through.

We attended MK in the evening, we were over by CP to watch Wishes. After the fireworks show, we wanted to leave that area, but we waited a while before even THINKING about moving. However, that doesn't mean that we wanted to spend the whole rest of the night there (it was an EMH night). Luckily, the people we were next to & chatting with asked where we were hoping to go next and we told them. Mind you, at that point, I'd have happily taken a line lowered from a helicopter to get us out of where we were stuck by the crowds. The people next to us said that they were going the same direction as we were and, in addition, were former CMs who were unfortunately all too used to the fact that ECVs are NEVER allowed through to ANYWHERE. So, they told us to follow them and they REALLY ran as blockers for us so that we could finally get away from CP and enjoy EMH before the whole thing closed for the night. They were absolutely WONDERFUL and I am SO grateful to them!

So, are ECV's invisible? Not really... but are people blind (intentionally or unintentionally)? Unfortunately, the answer is OFTEN (not always) a resounding "YES!"

FWIW, my wife a few times considered trying the line from Fezzig from "The Princess Bride". After his partner was unable to get through a heavy crowd, Fezzig (played by the late Andre the Giant) just suddenly yells "EVERYBODY MOVE!" and spreads his arms wide. Needless to say, from Andre the Giant, it worked like a charm. My wife, happily, didn't press her luck and give it a shot, no matter HOW much she wanted to.

 

[monami7]

I wanted so many times to scream GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!! at the top of my lungs. No I did not do it.

 

[evedein]

I took my Mom in October for her 74th birthday. She can walk short distances with a cane but could never have managed in th parks. I rented an ECV from Randy's & posted a large orange sign on the front & back of it that read:" WARNING: ROOKIE DRIVER
How do I stop this thing?"
It worked like a charm. People would point it out to each other - then get out of her way. It also helped when loading on & off the bus. Instead of complaining about the delay while we manuvered it in place, they would read the sign & laugh. It made my mother a lot less self-concience & gave her a lot of positive attention & offers of help.

 

[BillSears]

I guess I've had alot more experience because I really don't have much trouble pushing my wheelchair in crowds. I've been using a wheelchair for 30 years and it's all second nature to me. Plus I'm doing the pushing, not a motor or someone else, so I react quickly. I just make sure I'm matching the speed of the crowd and I keep my eyes moving watching every little change in the ebb and flow. I can't remember the last time I clipped someone. On this past trip I went down mainstreet twice right after Wishes ended, exited EPCOT right after Illuminations and went straight from Fantasmic to the Osbourne Lights with no problems.

I know it's not a nice thing to think and I do apologize but everytime I see a rented wheelchair/ECV all look at the person and label them in my head as an "amateur". Basically most ECV/wheelchair users at WDW are amateurs, they don't use them on a day to day basis in all conditions. I've had 30 years of experience and they've had 30 hours and sometimes just 30 minutes.

 

[shovan]

Bill, some of the scooters are really non-responsive! One of DH's old scooters had a delay, that the company told him was designed for safety purposes!!!! When you would let go of the forward or backward toggle it would continue to move!! He tried to mechanically override the control but couldn't. Even after driving it for years, he still had trouble with it in crowds! Thank goodness, his new power chair's controls are much more responsive.

I stopped trying to run interference for my DH, in WDW. The last time I tried to walk in front of him, someone pushed me into my DH & I hurt my hip, & he rolled over my foot! If they choose to ignore him & get rolled into, on, etc., maybe they'll pay more attention to the ECV's!!

 

[BillSears]

Bill, some of the scooters are really non-responsive! One of DH's old scooters had a delay, that the company told him was designed for safety purposes!!!! When you would let go of the forward or backward toggle it would continue to move!! He tried to mechanically override the control but couldn't. Even after driving it for years, he still had trouble with it in crowds! Thank goodness, his new power chair's controls are much more responsive.

Yep, we wouldn't want someone to be able to stop if they need to. Lets add in a delay!!! <sigh>

I do apologize to anyone who might have thought I was trying to be mean about this. My Mom is an amatuer too when she uses an ECV. It's not her fault but it does explain some of the problems. WDW is huge so you get alot more people using an ECV for the first time.

It's all cool though because we get to go to WDW!!!!!!

 

[steffali]

Usually we take my DD wheelchair, this will be our first time taking a scooter I feel bad for anyone that cuts her off. Maybe I should make a sign for her on the back too.