ECV Blindness

[HappyGramma]

A while back I read a post about how people seem to egnore you when you are on a ECV. Well last Wednesday I decided to rent an ECV. I have arthritis in my knees and I really needed to give them a break and when I arrived at Epcot I just knew my knees would never carry me around the park that day. I talked with the CM at the rental place because I have never used one before and was afraid that I would have difficulty handling it and I didnot want to mow anyone down. He let me take one for a test drive and it was quite easy to drive so I went for it. Anyways I have to say that I can understand why people get hit by ECVs. I had more people walk right in front of me like I wasn't even there. Not many even had the manners to say excuse me either. I tried to stay close to the right of the walkway while riding and I would have people on my left cross right in front of me to go to the right. The little horn on the ECV wasn't much good, made me wish I had an air horn to blast at them. I really wish people would remember to bring their manners with them when the go to WDW. Thank you for letting me vent.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and welcome to the world of ECV users. Other than almost running down people (which really would not have been you fault) did you feel that using the ECV gave you a better visit?

And don't forget that at WDW a majority of the people there any time are on their first (or possibly only) visit and are paying more attention to their surroundings than what is going on near them. We have to worry about their mental disabilities.

 

[SandrainNC]

I have seen that happen. But I have also seen some people driving a bit wild on their ECVs. And I do mean not paying a bit of attention and going pretty fast in crowded situations. Both are bad news. I have seen both with the strollers too (I am a stroller driver myself). My oldest and I were almost rammed (actually it did hit me) with a stroller back in November. She wasn't paying a bit of attention. So pretty much it comes down to nobody is paying attention, the walkers and the drivers. I just try to watch out for everybody so my kids don't get hurt.

Sandra

 

[Shannon G]

Hi and welcome to the world of ECV users. Other than almost running down people (which really would not have been you fault) did you feel that using the ECV gave you a better visit?

And don't forget that at WDW a majority of the people there any time are on their first (or possibly only) visit and are paying more attention to their surroundings than what is going on near them. We have to worry about their mental disabilities.

Using the ECV certainly gave my knees a much needed rest but it was a bit of an inconvienence to have to get on and off it. I did not feel right taking advantage of handicapped entrances to rides and such. I would definitly rent one again if I needed to.

 

[LGH1946]

Does anyone know if there is a way to use an ECV to go all the way to the bus for people who really need it? When you turn in you evc, it is still so far to walk to the buses. I have wondered if you could rent a fold up wheel chair and use it to get to and from the buses and then store it somewhere. i know it won't fit in a locker but could it be stored? I just don't have my own electric scooter and have to rent one.

thanks

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you have your own wheelchair and rent an ECV, they will store the wheelchair for you at the rental locaztion. (They also do this for walkers and crutches.) But to save money and have a better ECV you might look into renting off-site (See Post #2 in the disABILITIES FAQs).

 

[LGH1946]

Is it possible to rent a regular wheel chair at the Port O. Fr Qt.? Just to fold up and use to get from the bus to the parks to rent an ECV.

 

[seashoreCM]

A while back I read a post about how people seem to ignore you even when you are not on a ECV. Anyways I have to say that I can understand why people get hit by other people. I had more people walk or skate right in front of me like I wasn't even there. Not many even had the manners to say excuse me either. I tried to stay close to the right of the walkway and I would have people on my left cross right in front of me to go to the right. The little blow into noisemaker I got at the birthday party wasn't much good, made me wish I had an air horn to blast at them. I really wish people would remember to bring their manners with them when the go to WDW. Thank you for letting me vent.

It's not just ECV users (hint, hint).

But if you feel you can't walk all day, by all means go ahead and get an ECV or wheelchair.

 

[gon2wdw55]

Idid put a car horn on my personal ECV, O' what fun, and the cast members loved it would blow it every night leaving MK at the train station and they would all hoop and hollow.

 

[honugirl]

Nothing got me more mad than the ECV blindness while I was there. I was expected to stop for all baby brats running in front of me (unattended by "parents" of course. No, I do not think that little Johnny or Suzie is cute toddling around the Magic Kingdom, darting out in front of wheelchairs and ECV's, they should be leashed or in a stroller if you're not going to keep a CLOSE eye on them), all strollers, pre-teens chasing each other, etc., but no one could be bothered to stop and let me go where I needed to or would watch where they were going. I can't count the number of times I couldn't get to where I needed to go because people wouldn't let me out into traffic or would cut in front of me. They would block the curb cutouts, force me into the tracks on mainstreet, etc. I had more parents give me the evil eye because I got close to their little precious one who just happened to jump out from behind the fastpass stand into traffic. Not to mention how many parents let their baby brats crawl all over my ECV when it was parked. The ECV is NOT a jungle gym!!!!! Several times I had to resort to sitting their sighing loudly and saying, "excuse me" over and over again while they strapped little Suzie and Johnny in and fed them a snack, read them a bedtime story, and searched for their blankie.

Not everyone was bad, but I encountered enough that I was really frustrated by the end of everyday.