ECV at DCL

[prlady13]

Hi! I'm sorry, I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post since I have a question pertaining to DCL and not WDW. But, I couldn't find a disabilities thread in the DC forums so here goes My mom travels with us and we're planning a land and sea trip in Sept 2015. She has her own ECV, which is the 3 wheel, Go Go Elite travel ECV. She's good with it at WDW, but this will be our first cruise and I'm wondering if she'll have any issues with it on the Dream. I've read that if traveling with an ECV or wheel chair you have to book a handicap accessible stateroom. But, Im pretty sure her ECV would fit in a regular stateroom. The entrance to the doors is 24in, mom's ECV is 21in wide at the wheelbase. It's pretty narrow and can be taken apart for traveling and even fits in a small car trunk. I don't feel comfortable leaving it in the hallway as I've read some do. She can get off and walk inside the room, but can't walk long distances. So, I'd prefer to take it apart and bring it in our stateroom for the night. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[lanejudy]

You are correct, there is no specific forum for DCL with disabilities.

Generally speaking, the stateroom door on most rooms is narrower than a typical door way and most wheelchairs/ECVs will not fit -- hence the suggestion for an accessible stateroom. Does her ECV have arm rests or anything that sticks out wider than the wheelbase? I think it's often chairs with armrests that have problems with the doors. But if you feel it will fit, and/or you are willing to dismantle it to get it into the stateroom, that's ok. Just note that the vast majority of staterooms are laid out such that you enter into a narrow "hallway" with closets on one side and bathrooms doors on the other withe the queen bed directly in front. I don't believe you will be able to get the ECV past the queen bed unless you literally carry it, lifting it high over the bed. If you have an interior stateroom, or some of the more "squarish" shaped staterooms on the Dream or Fantasy, the room layout is different so there is room to get the ECV into the room and out of the way.

Correct about not leaving it in the hallway. DCL actually frowns upon this, despite what some people do or try to do. The stateroom hallways are rather narrow, and anything parked in the hall will block passage for others with wheelchairs/ECVs, strollers and the stateroom hosts' carts. Also note that your mom may have trouble getting through if someone else has left something out, and you may need to request a stateroom host to move a cart so she can get past.

Other than that, I've heard occasional mentions that the "lip" at doorways can be challenging to get across. Also doors are heavy and often do not have a button to push for automatic opening. If you are with her, she'll probably be fine.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Jacqui8374]

I will not fit through a regular cabin door you need an accessable stateroom I have one the arms are too wide, the only way you would be able to do this would be to break it down at the door and carry the pieces in, its not worth it given you can book an accessable cabin which is much wider
Jacqui

 

[prlady13]

Thank you both so much for your replies!
Jacqui, do you have the Pride mobility Go Go Elite traveler ECV? Is it the same ECV that you couldn't fit with through the doorway? I measured the chair with the armrest down and it's 20in wide. It's pretty narrow and easy to take apart.

We are a party of 5 and would like 2 staterooms. Are there any HA staterooms that have a connecting door to a regular stateroom? If we decide to just take it apart every night, would there be any issues booking 2 regular staterooms? Thanks again!

 

[Jacqui8374]

Yes it is and frankly its not worth the effort! Remember as well that the doors are heavy HA cabins have automatic doors.
Yes I am sure the verandah cabins do as I remember seeing doors not sure about the others I have oceanview next week and can look then but all you need to do is call them and they can tell you. The cabin is of course bigger space in order to be able to accommodate the ECV and as I said has automatic doors does not have a split bath though its a bath and a walk in shower. Any other information let me know If youa re interested I am in 6686 ne4xt week. I have also been at the front of the ship in oceanview ast year but prefer the back. Prior to this I was in verandah cabins (am platinum) but they just got too expensive Never been in an inside but they do have inside HA rooms
Jacqui

 

[RubySue]

I'm so glad OP asked about this. I'm thinking of booking a 4 night Bahamas on the Dream (my first cruise) and I also wondered if I really needed an HA room or could I break down my travel ECV and use a regular stateroom. I didn't know that HA rooms had automatic doors.

Jacqui,
Can you explain more about the bathrooms? I've seen several pictures of HA staterooms, but not the bathrooms. What is the walk-in shower like? I can step into a tub if it is not too deep. What I need most are grab bars to steady myself. Do regular rooms have grab bars in the bathrooms or just HA?

TIA

 

[stitchlovestink]

Also keep in mind that the HC accessible staterooms on the newer ships do NOT have the deadbolt style lock that a non accessible room would have. So technically the stateroom host could potentially enter the room while it is occupied. whereas you have a deadbolt you can fasten while you are in the cabin of a 'regular' stateroom to keep someone from entering while you are in the cabin. Also keep in mind that the automatic door isn't all it is cracked up to be! Anytime anyone goes out of the room you need to stand there until the door closes and fastens or someone walking by could quickly enter the room. They can become rather annoying IMHO.
Those scooters will fit in a regular room. I KNOW. You only need to take it in at night or if you're going to be in your cabin for an extended period of time. If you come back to your cabin for just a little bit, you do not have to take it inside. The biggest problem with this model is the higher thresholds that divide the ship into partitions (in the event of a water issue). They can scrape the bottom of the unit. That was a pain because some I actually had to get off to get it over.
Good luck and feel free to ask specific questions.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I'm so glad OP asked about this. I'm thinking of booking a 4 night Bahamas on the Dream (my first cruise) and I also wondered if I really needed an HA room or could I break down my travel ECV and use a regular stateroom. I didn't know that HA rooms had automatic doors.

Jacqui,
Can you explain more about the bathrooms? I've seen several pictures of HA staterooms, but not the bathrooms. What is the walk-in shower like? I can step into a tub if it is not too deep. What I need most are grab bars to steady myself. Do regular rooms have grab bars in the bathrooms or just HA?

TIA

PM an email address and i can email you actual pictures of the bathroom. It isn't really a walk in shower. It is an open area and the shower curtain goes around it. The drain is slightly lower but chances are you will end up with some water on the better part of the bathroom floor. So we learned anyone using the bathroom for awhile after you shower, should wear shoes or your socks are going to get wet!
I tend to take my shoes off the minute I get in the cabin!

 

[Jacqui8374]

Sorry I am going to flame. I cannot believe that an ECV user would be so inconsiderate as to say leave an ecv in the corridor so that people like me in ECVS cant get passed. Tell you what I do if I find one! Put it into freewheel and stick it wherever. You should know better
Jacqui

 

[stitchlovestink]

Sorry I am going to flame. I cannot believe that an ECV user would be so inconsiderate as to say leave an ecv in the corridor so that people like me in ECVS cant get passed. Tell you what I do if I find one! Put it into freewheel and stick it wherever. You should know better
Jacqui

Good luck getting passed the DOZENS of HUGE bulky double strollers that people leave in the Hallways overnight. The people who never bother to fold their strollers and leave them sitting blocking the hallway for hours on end!! My point was if you were going back to your cabin briefly to use your own restroom, change into/out of swimwear (not shower and get ready for dinner), take something back to your cabin that you purchased....you don't have to take it in!! There is NO RULE about that!! And you touch my ECV being rude like that and we will be talking to the ship's security people together!! You are nasty!