We'll be in Disney in just a few weeks! My mom, nephew(12), DH, and DS(nearly 3) will be with us. My mom has mobility issues and will be renting the big scooter from Apple Scooters.(Pride Victory 10 Scooter)
We're driving down from MD and will have our rental minivan. We'll need to take the scooter, diaper bag, and stroller...and other stuff into the park daily. Will be better for us to drive to the parks daily or use Disney Transportation?
I think using Disney will be best, but the DH says driving. Anyone with experience want to chime in here?
Thanks
Susan
Hi, Susan. There are many people here that I am sure have more experience than me, but I will try and give you my personal experiences.
I think that many people here either prefer to drive and never use the WDW bus transportation, and there are others that like to use the WDW transportation not drive while on vacation.
If you are by yourself, it may be too difficult to disassemble/reassemble the
ECV every time you want to go to a WDW park and back to the resort or other places. It may be necessary for them to use the WDW transporation system instead of driving.
But if there are other people in your family to help you, that may not be an issue.
Some people don't have a car/van/suv with special helping equipment to help mechanically lift an ECV on the rear or inside their vehecle. It may be necessary for them to use the WDW transporation system instead of driving.
Some people have a car/van/suv with a lift on the rear of their vehicle to easily lift an ECV without having to physically lift the ECV or take it apart. But if there are other people in your family to help you, it may even be easier.
Some people just dread using the WDW bus, monorail, boat launch transportation because of issues with how to get on and off and possible dealing with the few other guest making one feel like the ECV rider is holding the rest of the people in line.
Others just hate waiting in line for a bus to get to a bus stop and maybe having to wait for another bus because there are not enough spaces on the bus.
Originally, the buses only had two space per ECV/wheelchair. I am starting to see some buses with three and even four spaces. But they were few and far between when I was there last year.
Still other people may have young kids or even adults that cannot tolerate the waiting for buses all vacation.
Just so many different reasons for so many different people for so many different circumstances.
So I think that there are so many reasons why people may want to drive on their own or use the WDW Transportation system.
For me personally, I have been trying to do research on trying to find out what kind of economical car or suv I could buy that could easily carry my ECV in the future. I would certainly like that choice to easily drive my ECV up to my vehicle and have it mechanically lifted up and get in my car and go. I don't have that option for now.
I have not had many suggestions, here other than maybe four people.
I travel by myself.
I own my own ECV. Years ago, I thought it was cool that I could take it apart and put it in the trunk of my car and go where ever I wanted.
But now it has become increasing impossible for me to get around.
To travel to from just one place, any place, and return; I have to disassemble and reassemble my ECV four "4" times.
I drive my ECV to my car, take it apart. Put each piece in the trunk and drive to where ever I need to go.
Then when I arrive at my destination, I take each part out of my trunk and put it together and do what ever I need to do.
After I am done, I drive my ECV back to the car and take it apart and put it in the trunk again and drive home.
When I get home, I again take everything out of my trunk and reassemble my ECV.
I can longer do this. It is just too difficult for me. Sometimes, I lose my balance and fall trying to put the heaviest piece in the trunk or taking it out of the trunk.
I would never be able to visit WDW without the bus, monorail, and boat launch transportation system that allows my ECV to go anywhere on WDW property.
I love the WDW transportation.
I used to use local bus transportation to travel before I owned a car. I remember what might have only taken me 25 minutes to drive to work, might take me almost two hour by bus.
I would sometime have to make two transfers.
I would look at all of the bus schedules and try and plan the best route from home to work. Sometimes I had to wait almost 30 minutes for the next bus to arrive. But that allowed me to get to work. That is what I expected of the system. I had no choice.
So this is just my personal opinion, but I just am so grateful for WDW transportation that allows me to drive on and off without having to disassemble/reassemble my ECV.
And the ECV allows me to go everywhere at WDW.
So, I guess everyone will have there own reasons why they take their own car or use WDW transportation.
And that is okay.
It is not okay for anyone to be made to feel bad because they are using an ECV/wheelchair or to be verbally or nonverbally made to feel bad because they are who they are and doing the best that they can.
I think that it is great that you are getting an ECV for your loved one to use.
So here is some information for the
ECV that you are renting that may help you make a decision about what you have to do.
The Pride mobility scooter comes in a three or four wheel model as shown below. But you did not mention which you would be renting. I like the three wheel for easier manuvering in tight spaces like on buses and the themepark queue lines as you turn back and forth with the rest of the line and people. But other people like the stability of have an ECV with four wheels.
Here is a link to the Pride Victory-10, 3-wheel mobility scooter specifications below to give you an idea of the weight of the pieces, etc.:
http://www.pridemobility.com/includes/SpecsNew.asp?Model=Victory 10, 3 wheel
It can be disassembled/reassembled. The foot print is only 22 inches by 45 inches. The heaviest piece of the scooter is 54 pounds and completely assembled is 176 pounds total.
Can you tell me you thoughts about what I have said above?
Will you be able to handle loading and unloading this ECV?
I think that if you just use the WDW transportation and come with an open mind and plan to arrive to the bus early and allow enough time to get to whatever place you need to get to, you should be fine with using the bus.
But that is a personal decision for you and your family.
Taking the bus from point A to point B is not the same as taking the car.
You just get in the car and go.
With the bus you may want to plan 30 minutes early for a bus arrival. Sometimes you are lucky and you get right on a bus. Somtimes you may have to wait for a second bus or third. But this usually happens to me on very busy times like at park closings or openings or bad luck.
Good luck.
On a side note. I wish some others would respond to my thread about their cars/suvs and their mechanical ECV lifts or whatever.
Thanks.