Choosing between a wheelchair or an ECV

[SueM in MN]

Something I saw during our trip in December made me think of something I think might be useful information to have somewhere on this board. Here's what I saw:
My DH, my DD (in her wheelchair) and I were in The Land going in to see the movie. Coming into the theater behind us was a woman using an ECV (rented from off-site) and a younger woman, who I think was her DD. The woman on the ECV was very nervous about running into anything and kept driving in fits and starts. When we got into the theater, she needed to back up to get the ECV into the wheelchair spot. She was very nervous about doing that and said she would just drive thru and miss the show rather than have to back up. That is not a possibility in that attraction because the aisle in front of the wheelchair spaces is not large enough to get thru with an ECV.
She tried to back up about 6 times (ramming into her DD's seat most of those times because she would turn the ECV sharply, but then, instead of staying turned and continuing backing slowly until she was in the right spot (then straighten out), she would straighten the front out completely and then really gun it (which meant she was backing sort of diagonally into the spot and she ended up diagonally half in and half out). After a few tries, she was almost in tears and my DH asked if he could assist her - she turned him down (getting more and more frustrated) until she had done it about 6 times and not made it in. He directed her to keep the wheel turned and back slowly and she made it the first time.

Anyway, that got me thinking of 2 things:
1) There are some people who may not be well suited to drive an ECV and instead of making their vacation better, driving one makes them frustrated and more exhausted. What questions can you think of to help people sort out whether an ECV is a good option for them or the person they are traveling with?

2) We have always suggested that people practice before leaving their resort/venturing out in crowds in an ECV. I've said they should be able to go straight, turn both directions, back into a space and sort of parallel park. Can you think of other things people need to be able to do? Are there things you did when you learned to use an ECV that would be helpful to share?

After I get some information, I'm going to make a new entry for the disABILITIES FAQs thread (along with putting Cheshire Figment's questions and answers into the FAQs thread).
Thanks for your help.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

2) We have always suggested that people practice before leaving their resort/venturing out in crowds in an ECV. I've said they should be able to go straight, turn both directions, back into a space and sort of parallel park. Can you think of other things people need to be able to do? Are there things you did when you learned to use an ECV that would be helpful to share?

Sue...not sure if this would help, but getting on and off an elevator...and getting on and off a Disney bus...sometimes these two things are rather difficult!

 

[Grammyof2]

When we were there in December this issue arose.

I have MS and use a cane most of the time so my DH is very aware of others who may need assistance.

We ran into a lovely woman who used an ECV at home but rented from offsite and the controls were different so she had some difficulties.

Her biggest problem was getting on the bus. There really isn't a way to practice this and it can be frustrating when others are waiting.

I do think it is important to practice with a different ECV though. They are just like cars, some are faster, touchier than others. It is worth the 15 minutes or so to get used to the controls without an audience before venturing out.

Plus patience from onlookers is always nice

 

[Belle1997]

Well I just want to point out that I used my scooter first time at WDW. I did really well in crowds, rides, parking etc. However, when I was shopping I can not count the amount of times I ran over my DH foot. I would see something I wanted to look at and unintentionally curve just enough if Dh was not paying attention to get his foot. Fortunately it was a light travel scooter.

It is so easy to loose track of the person beside you. After a while I got better and not running over his foot and he got better at judging my shopping moves.

I never had this problem before but with the crowds in the stores it became an issue. So to remind scooter drivers you still need to be aware of your surrounding even when shopping.
I went to the park with my Prince but some nights I went home with Grumpy LOL. PS If I had a kid near by I was always extra.

 

[cupcake]

And I feel so badly for the woman you describe.

In no particular order, a few thoughts:

(1) 3 wheel offsite rentals are way easier to maneuver than the 4 wheel WDW ECVs.

(2) Practice in your resort if you have an offsite rental. Plenty of room to check things out! Then do Epcot your first day (wide open spaces). MGM is a great 2d day (also nice and open). AK and the MK are both more challenging. AK technically is better than the MK since it was built to be accessible, but I find that it just seems narrow and no one looks where they are going, esp on the animal trails. And we all know that the MK can be a crowd nightmare (see "Cloak of Invisibility" below). It's doable, but if you are a novice and do it on your first day, it may not be the best idea in terms of your confidence and hence your enjoyment.

(3) Think about how you will get out every time you park. Usually, this means you want to back in when parking. If you transfer for an attraction or restaurant, you thus avoid having to try to back up in a crush of exiting people.

(4) You usually want to back into elevators. Again, avoids the issue of backing out into a crowd, and you will have a bit more time to get situated. If you have your ECV at your resort, you can practice! Most elevators are roomy, the pre-ADA ones in the Land and Living Seas are exceptions that come to mind. For the monorail, I never remember the places where you exit on a different side than you enter (thus you would drive on and off w/o needing to back up) so I just ask.

(5) "The Cloak of Invisibility" You become invisible in a wc or ECV! You are below eye level for adults, and many kids don't pay attention. So drive defensively and remember that you see others, but they may not see you.

(6) Turtle speed gives you greater control for tight spaces or where you need to be exactly in a certain place (e.g., backing onto a bus).

(7) I like to bring a towel for the seat; comfy and makes my ECV easy to spot.

(8) (reminded by Sue's story above) There is no shame in allowing someone in your party to help you drive! Whether it's getting on a bus or whatever may make you flustered, you are there to have fun, not to win the driver of the year award. If you can transfer and someone can help you, more power to you and them! You'll get confidence as you practice more, and will work up to it.

(9) There is a learning curve, but it's fast. After only a short time, you will be feeling confident and a little after that, you'll be a pro! You just have to get up the nerve to get out there do it, and people here are great at pep talks, regardless of what you are worried about. You can do it! (if I can, anyone can, I am totally freaked by traffic, parallel parking, etc. but am an ace EVC driver if I do say so myself ).

I am not so sure that the store ECVs are a great example of ECVs since I find they are harder to manage than the 3 wheel ones and WDW is so pleasantly accessible (stores so often have stuff all over the place that makes things tight, plus you are in a 4-wheeler). It might scare some people off.

Cupcake

 

[brady961]

For me i guess one big issue about ECV's at the parks whether rented on-site or off-site is has the person ever used one before?

I know WDW can't really ask or require proof you know how to operate a scooter. I wish there was though. Often ppl rent scooters that are not able to operate it safely.

I also understand why WDW has what I call "monster scooters". They need heavy duty, tough taking, esp since anyone and everyone can rent them, crash/bump into things, etc.... I wish there were less bulky, easier to manuever scooters WDW could rent. Maybe that would help in ppl using them in parks.


as others have already stated practice where it's not so crowded, practice backing up as this will be required at WDW on monorail to get off, some buses require backing onto lift, etc... I have experience in using a three wheeled scooter (Revo) for several years but even I can still get little nervous having to back out of the monorail. So I can imagine how someone feels that isn't used to driving scooters.

Use and practice to build own confidence before hitting those crowds at the parks.

For families that have someone in their family that want to use a ECV but you know it will not be safe for them or others. Do whatever you can to discourage their use of ECV, encourage manual letting them know how much you care and will push all day if needed. I often have seen where someone gets the ECV, has no idea how to operate it (esp those onsite), and a family member on the side nervous as all ...... so afraid their loved one or others are going to get run over, or hurt. Then there is more tension, and the tension spreads throughout the family, meaning more stress and less pleasure time enjoying the parks.

 

[arminnie]

Particularly with some of the older guests, I really do believe overall driving abilities affect the decision to get an ECV or a wheelchair. A key question is what kind of a driver (car) the person is.

Someone who no longer drives a car might be less able to manuever an ECV than a confident driver.

A person who is hesitant to drive a rental car or any vehicle other than their own personal car is likely to be less adept at manuevering a new vehicle such as an ECV.

Someone who is not totally confident in their driving abilities might find the ECV more overwhelming.

Driving an ECV is totally different than driving a car, but I think I would be very uncomfortable tackling an ECV if I didn't know how to drive. That doesn't mean a non-driver couldn't learn how to use the ECV.

I had never rented an ECV (or ever driven one even at the grocery store) before I rented last fall. But as a confident driver who rents cars all of the time, I was pretty confident that I could pick it up - so it did not cause me undue stress.

Mine was a very positive experience, but I can easily see how someone could be stressed out by this "machine".

 

[GroovyWheeler]

I know what you mean, Sue. I drive the ECV's at the store when my DH and I go get groceries, and I have my quad cane with me. They are so difficult to manage, even for a slim (110lbs.) person like me. During those times, it makes me wish I had brought my power chair, since I have the seating support in it, that I need. With the ECV, I have a hard time maneuvering it, mostly because my back wants to go in one direction (with the way my scoliosis is) while I'm driving.

I've been talking with my mom about what we're going to do when we (her, DH & me) go to Disney next year, and I told her that for a change, I wanted to take my walker, instead of my manual wheelchair. I did try asking if we could take a rented power chair from the DME dealer we go through, and she didn't think that was a good idea. So, we may end up renting one of the park manual wheelchairs/ECV's. We'll see though.

Samantha

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Particularly with some of the older guests, I really do believe overall driving abilities affect the decision to get an ECV or a wheelchair. A key question is what kind of a driver (car) the person is.

I definitely agree with this point. Last year, when my 91yo mother was visiting, I had her using an ECV. She kept trying to find the brake pedal.

 

[shovan]

We have noticed this situation much more often lately in WDW. We were in the Bear in the Big Blue House Show, where everyone sits on the floor. The parking area was very roomy, but one elderly lady in a rental ECV had a great deal of difficulty parking & caused parents to pull their seated children out of the way. She very nearly rammed several people with the scooter. I really feel the rental companies need to take the time to "train" the person renting the ECV. I think it is actually becoming a dangerous situation for the driver and for guests around them.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for all the input. Keep it coming.

 

[Lachesis00]

When I rented one in Disneyland they would not let me drive off with out praticing for 15 minutes, proving I could indeed drive one. If I couldn't prove it, I couldn't use it. I also had to leave my drivers license. An ID was not enough. Seaworld was the same.

 

[SueOKW]

This is very interesting to me as we just purchased a totally different beast ourselves - bought it JUST for WDW, but it may have other benefits.

We won't have my son's wheelchair anymore, rather an adult stroller, which takes up more forward space (don't know how to say that) than his wheelchair. I worry we won't be good at driving this and it's MANUAL!! I feel we will run the front wheel into people's heels.

I can't imagine owning / driving anything like an ECV.

 

[disneynutz]

We plan on renting a ECV for my DW 89 year old M. This will be her first and only WDW trip and probably her last vacation. She has a hard time traveling.

We chose early Dec. so she can enjoy all of the decorations. A few hours out, one day rest. I currently take her to WalMart to practice on their ECV. She does pretty good but tends to cut the corners close. I have no problem walking with her and taking over the controls if needed. She doesn't seem to mind.

Pushing her in her wheelchair for a few hours out and I would need two days of rest.

Does anyone see a problem with my plan?

 

[SueM in MN]

We plan on renting a ECV for my DW 89 year old M. This will be her first and only WDW trip and probably her last vacation. She has a hard time traveling.

We chose early Dec. so she can enjoy all of the decorations. A few hours out, one day rest. I currently take her to WalMart to practice on their ECV. She does pretty good but tends to cut the corners close. I have no problem walking with her and taking over the controls if needed. She doesn't seem to mind.

Pushing her in her wheelchair for a few hours out and I would need two days of rest.

Does anyone see a problem with my plan?

Practicing at Walmart is a good idea.
Those big store ECVs are hard to drive. They are big and besides that, you have a cart in front of you, so I've seen lots of people cut corners with them. Even if you rent one of the park ECVs for her (those are big), it would be easier to manouver than the ones from Walmart.

I'd suggest Ecpot for a good first place to go. It has a lot more open space than the other parks, so it's easier for a new driver to go.

A couple other things to think about.
Is she able to stand and walk for a few minutes? If you are going to any attractions, most of the shows require you to back into a spot. Would she be able to stand for a few minutes so that you can back it? Or possibly, she could sit down on a theater seat for shows while you back it in.

My DD has power and manual wheelchairs and my FIL used an ECV (but didn't need any assistance), so hopefully some other ECV drivers will be able to help with advice.

 

[Chuck S]

Since Pooh's Pal mentioned elevators...

How about a list of the elevators at WDW? For instance, for the Land pavilion, it is best to back into that elevator. At Dinosaur, pull into the elevator before boarding, as you will exit straight ahead, when you exit the ride, back onto the elevator as you need to exit through the same door.

For POC, (if they still allow ECVs in the unload area?) pull into the elevator.

 

[disneynutz]

Double Post

 

[disneynutz]

Practicing at Walmart is a good idea.
Those big store ECVs are hard to drive. They are big and besides that, you have a cart in front of you, so I've seen lots of people cut corners with them. Even if you rent one of the park ECVs for her (those are big), it would be easier to manouver than the ones from Walmart.

I'd suggest Ecpot for a good first place to go. It has a lot more open space than the other parks, so it's easier for a new driver to go.

A couple other things to think about.
Is she able to stand and walk for a few minutes? If you are going to any attractions, most of the shows require you to back into a spot. Would she be able to stand for a few minutes so that you can back it? Or possibly, she could sit down on a theater seat for shows while you back it in.

My DD has power and manual wheelchairs and my FIL used an ECV (but didn't need any assistance), so hopefully some other ECV drivers will be able to help with advice.

She can walk short distances. I before her wheelchair I would take a folding chair along. When she got tired, I would unfold and she would rest. The ECV just seemed like a easy answer.

 

[freemore]

I would re-emphasize that it is important to go slow especially when backing up. I have problems backing up because I can't turn my neck very far so a lot of the time when I have to park at an attraction and the space is tight, I get off and my husband parks it for me.....He's a good parker! My husband also always pushes our ecv's on to the ramps for the buses, he is getting better and better at this with practice. But won't the bus drivers push or drive the ecv on the bus if you can't? I was thinking that the bus drivers would put the ecv on the bus for you if you asked...maybe not.

 

[freemore]

I just asked dh and he said the bus drivers will help you put the ecv on the bus if you ask them to.