Beginner ECV Advice

[pixiedust33]

I am hoping for some guidance on what to expect for my 60 something year old mom in an ECV, specifically at Magic Kingdom. Happy for any general advice and have a few specific questions too. Please also direct me to any more comprehensive current guides that go ride by ride with guidance for ECVs. I feel like it must exist but I haven’t found the level of detail I would like as a type a planner!

• What are the rides where she would need to transfer to a wheelchair or walk the queue? I’ve seen pirates of the carribean mentioned, but are there others? And for pirates, where do you get the loaner chair to go through the queue?
• In queues where you can take the ECV with you -how do you get it back? Will Disney have it magically waiting where we disembark?
• Are there spots where you drop ECVs on rides with moving platforms (thinking of haunted mansion) or is it better to leave the ECV outside if possible for these?
• I think I’ve seen that It’s a Small World has a separate chair entrance - is that right and any other rides like that?
• Is it generally more hassle than it’s worth to bring the ECV through a queue if the rider *can* walk but at the cost of extra pain? I can see my mom insisting we park it with my son’s stroller and saying she can walk through queues but she often overdoes things so wondering if I should pressure her to take the ECV or if she’ll end up feeling awkward about it and struggling to maneuver in tough spots.

For context, my mom has severe RA with very degenerated joints, is often in significant pain and has a slow and unsteady gait, especially when dealing with a flare, but she does not use a wheelchair in daily life and, on a good day, still does things like grocery shopping and errands. For other trips with more moderate walking, my dad pushes her in a folding wheelchair. She also sometimes uses a cane so we would bring that too for support, and she will be with at least three able bodied adults who can help her on and off ride vehicles. We’ll also be using lightning lane multi pass so not spending a ton of time in lines but I know some of the queues are still long.

 

[elvispursley]

I would keep the scooter on low or “turtle” speed until she gets the hang of it. Ask for help for loading/unloading at buses/monorails/boats. My mom doesn’t back real well or feel comfortable loading onto buses or monorails so I’m usually her designated transportation driver. I know some will say to practice with an electric shopping cart at the store but I’ve found that those are really big and the scooters you rent are easier to drive.

As for rides where she’ll need to transfer to a wc or walk:
Pirates—they have manual chairs at the right of the entrance (where you park your scooter. If she needs it at the end of the ride, tell the CM when you load.
Tree House—walk
People Mover—walk and be careful, the moving walkway is really streep.
Peter Pan—ask the CM. From what I remember (been a minute since we’ve done PP, we had to take a manual chair through the queue. Mixed reports about it being able to stop and load).
HM—if your mom can walk about 150’, she’ll be able to go into the stretching room and they have a different queue for her that bypasses the “cattle shoot” after the stretching room.
Otherwise, they’ll direct her where to go and
she can load at the exit. But you can’t take any scooter onto a moving walkway.
Buzz Lightyear—you have to take a manual wc and they’re usually parked across over by stroller parking.
Big Thunder—when operating, you follow the wc sign to the exit and then walk a short distance.
Tron—transfer to manual wc

I’m sure I’m forgetting something. I’d definitely make sure you prepare for rain. We get giant clips (for attaching beach towel to chairs) and a shower curtain liner to cover the front of the scooter, basket, and your lap. We also like the heavy duty ponchos Disney sells to cover the seat and back of the chair as well as one to wear.

Also leave lots of room and go slow when in crowded areas and people will step out in front of her all the time.

 

[maxiesmom]

If it is hot, push the chair back down over the seat to help it stay cool. Those black seats can get very hot out in the Florida sun.
When scooting thru MK beware of the train tracks. They can grab your scooter wheels and throw you off balance.
If you even think it may rain and you have to leave the scooter behind, take the time to cover it. I take along clothes pins and a couple of ponchos just for that. Plus a poncho to wear. Also, some sort of scarf or something you can tie to the scooter to help you pick it out of the crowd. I take along a bright bandana from my dog's vet. I figure the odds of someone else having an I've been Vaccinated bandana on their scooter is pretty low.

 

[jo-jo]

How does your mom feel about using a scooter? Has she used one at grocery store or home depot? That might be a "training" spot. Go to store during a empty time and try it out.

Now if she can use/willing to use scooter, that's great, but if she is afraid, when I was about 60 I push my DH in a wheelchair through a lot of the parks. Any big hills, like the ramp by the Land building ( I know it as the kraft building) he would walk and use wheelchair as a walker. Or if I just got tired. He now uses a scooter.

There will be some that say wheelchairs are the worst, but for some the stress and worry of not hitting someone or something takes away joy from the trip.

After all that, I'd recommend taking the scooter into the lines. You never know when that 20 mins wait, turns into 40 mins.

Buzz Lightyear—you have to take a manual wc and they’re usually parked across over by stroller parking.
.

The trip we took last month, there was an entrance off the side. You take your scooter to the side and switch to a wheelchair, so only pushing maybe 100 ft vs all through the queue.

 

[pixiedust33]

I would keep the scooter on low or “turtle” speed until she gets the hang of it. Ask for help for loading/unloading at buses/monorails/boats. My mom doesn’t back real well or feel comfortable loading onto buses or monorails so I’m usually her designated transportation driver. I know some will say to practice with an electric shopping cart at the store but I’ve found that those are really big and the scooters you rent are easier to drive.

As for rides where she’ll need to transfer to a wc or walk:
Pirates—they have manual chairs at the right of the entrance (where you park your scooter. If she needs it at the end of the ride, tell the CM when you load.
Tree House—walk
People Mover—walk and be careful, the moving walkway is really streep.
Peter Pan—ask the CM. From what I remember (been a minute since we’ve done PP, we had to take a manual chair through the queue. Mixed reports about it being able to stop and load).
HM—if your mom can walk about 150’, she’ll be able to go into the stretching room and they have a different queue for her that bypasses the “cattle shoot” after the stretching room.
Otherwise, they’ll direct her where to go and
she can load at the exit. But you can’t take any scooter onto a moving walkway.
Buzz Lightyear—you have to take a manual wc and they’re usually parked across over by stroller parking.
Big Thunder—when operating, you follow the wc sign to the exit and then walk a short distance.
Tron—transfer to manual wc

I’m sure I’m forgetting something. I’d definitely make sure you prepare for rain. We get giant clips (for attaching beach towel to chairs) and a shower curtain liner to cover the front of the scooter, basket, and your lap. We also like the heavy duty ponchos Disney sells to cover the seat and back of the chair as well as one to wear.

Also leave lots of room and go slow when in crowded areas and people will step out in front of her all the time.

Thank you so much for the detailed reply!

 

[pixiedust33]

If it is hot, push the chair back down over the seat to help it stay cool. Those black seats can get very hot out in the Florida sun.
When scooting thru MK beware of the train tracks. They can grab your scooter wheels and throw you off balance.
If you even think it may rain and you have to leave the scooter behind, take the time to cover it. I take along clothes pins and a couple of ponchos just for that. Plus a poncho to wear. Also, some sort of scarf or something you can tie to the scooter to help you pick it out of the crowd. I take along a bright bandana from my dog's vet. I figure the odds of someone else having an I've been Vaccinated bandana on their scooter is pretty low.

Great tips - thank you!

 

[pixiedust33]

How does your mom feel about using a scooter? Has she used one at grocery store or home depot? That might be a "training" spot. Go to store during a empty time and try it out.

She has used a scooter a couple times before, at a local amusement park. It was about five years ago and she said it was fun But she does get anxiety when she feels like she’s in people’s way and I feel like Disney is going to be more crowded that anywhere else she has used the scooter, so trying to manage what we can with good planning.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The trip we took last month, there was an entrance off the side. You take your scooter to the side and switch to a wheelchair, so only pushing maybe 100 ft vs all through the queue.

I'm hoping you mean at Buzz Lightyear. Was this on the left or right side? Since I'll be solo, do you think they'd let me use the wheelchair as a walker for that 100 ft?

 

[bluecruiser]

I'm hoping you mean at Buzz Lightyear. Was this on the left or right side? Since I'll be solo, do you think they'd let me use the wheelchair as a walker for that 100 ft?

Although it's been a couple years for me (so things might have changed), they directed me around the left side and to the back of the attraction. I don't remember where I parked, but it wasn't a long walk to get to the ride vehicle. I'm sure they'll let you use the wheelchair as a walker, just explain you have no one to push you.

 

[LoveToDisney]

You also need to transfer to a wheelchair for the Pooh ride at MK.

 

[jo-jo]

She has used a scooter a couple times before, at a local amusement park. It was about five years ago and she said it was fun But she does get anxiety when she feels like she’s in people’s way and I feel like Disney is going to be more crowded that anywhere else she has used the scooter, so trying to manage what we can with good planning.

She should be fine then. It’s that first day that’s has the most jitters.

If she is concerned about boarding buses,etc,some here have said the parent walked onto bus and someone else did the driving of the scooter onto bus. The CM are usually very helpful.

 

[Bete]

If you use Disney transportation to get back and forth from the parks then it might be easier if one of you take the scooter on and off the bus or whatever for her.

Disney World is more crowded than most other amusement parks. Unfortunately, this means people especially kids will be darting out in front of the scooter. You need to be very alert not to hurt someone. The excitement catches everyone off guard at times.

Around the castle in front at MK there are curbs and ramps. You need to use the ramps with the scooter; you don't want to jump a curb with a scooter.

For the parades and fireworks scooters can use the handicap areas for viewing. You need to arrive very early to secure a spot in these areas.

For some rides like A Small, Small World and POC it's best to have someone in front and in back of your mom to help her on and off those rides.

For shows like Hall of Presidents scooters can be in the handicap area to watch the show.

For any restaurants it's easier to park the scooter outside. Between the eating tables and people and tight quarters it's just better to walk in and out.

Keep an eye on the scooter battery charge; so, you don't run out of juice. Outlets are plentiful for doing a recharge especially during a show or eating. Conserve your battery by shutting the scooter off when you are watching shows, parades, and fireworks. Don't have your scooter on when getting to the parks or the resort on the Disney transportation. If you plan long days in the parks you may want to get a stronger scooter with two batteries. Make sure you recharge the batteries every night in your accommodations.

 

[elvispursley]

Around the castle in front at MK there are curbs and ramps. You need to use the ramps with the scooter; you don't want to jump a curb with a scooter.

This!!! We were at HS and in the area by muppets courtyard and the entrance to galaxy’s edge when my mom did not see the curb and flew off of it, tipping the scooter and getting hurt when the scooter tipped and landed on her. It really was tough to see those curbs so I now make sure she’s actually at a curb cut before she gets off the sidewalk/walkway.