ECV + Character Meets?

[concertkatie]

I apologize if this has been answered before - I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and haven't seen anything related to my question.

I will be going to WDW in late September (MK and Epcot specifically) and will be renting an ECV. I have mild cerebral palsy so walking long distances and standing for extended periods of time are problems for me.

I have not attempted to meet any characters since I started renting ECVs. I would assume that most characters would be accommodating and if I decide to stay in the scooter to stand next to me / squat down next to me. But what if I wanted to stand next to them? Would I be ok to park the scooter temporarily nearby and get in line if it is short and I know I will stand in it without a problem? Will me riding to the front of the line and then getting up be a problem? (I probably wouldn't do this if the line was very long)

I am also a bit concerned about Ariel in her Grotto - this is who I would most like to meet but it seems like there is a step up to get to sit with her?

Or Anna and Elsa - how would that work? Could I take the ECV through the line? (I doubt we'd do standby if it is too long and we haven't selected FP yet but I'm trying to plan)

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide me!

 

[SueM in MN]

I apologize if this has been answered before - I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and haven't seen anything related to my question.

I will be going to WDW in late September (MK and Epcot specifically) and will be renting an ECV. I have mild cerebral palsy so walking long distances and standing for extended periods of time are problems for me.

I have not attempted to meet any characters since I started renting ECVs. I would assume that most characters would be accommodating and if I decide to stay in the scooter to stand next to me / squat down next to me.

Yes.
They will stand next to you. The 'face' characters have an easier time because they can see just where you are compared to them.
This is a picture of one of the fairies (Vidia) and my daughter.

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I have other pictures where characters have actually squated down next to her. Obviously,ma male 'face' character or one of the fairies would have an easier time squatting, but we have pictures of other characters leaning down to talk.

But what if I wanted to stand next to them? Would I be ok to park the scooter temporarily nearby and get in line if it is short and I know I will stand in it without a problem? Will me riding to the front of the line and then getting up be a problem? (I probably wouldn't do this if the line was very long)

You could take the ECV all the way in one and up to the greeting. Each character has a CM handler that kind of keeps things moving. I would just let the handler know that you want to park the ECV and stand by the character.

I am also a bit concerned about Ariel in her Grotto - this is who I would most like to meet but it seems like there is a step up to get to sit with her?

The queue and the actual greeting area are accessible with no steps.
Ariel is in her fin, so she can't get up. She sits on a bench with space for a guest to sit next to her. My daughter parked her wheelchair next to Ariel.
Someone who is able to get out of their ECV or wheelchair could sit on the bench. It is about chair height.

Or Anna and Elsa - how would that work? Could I take the ECV through the line? (I doubt we'd do standby if it is too long and we haven't selected FP yet but I'm trying to plan)

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide me!

Not an issue - again, the line is accessible, so how to handle it as mentioned above

 

[concertkatie]

Thanks for your reply!

 

[alexrules14]

I would stay in my scooter till I got to the front of the line, then while the next family was going, I would tell the CM I was going to drive my scooter to the other side of the character, and then walk back while my family stayed in line. So with Anna and Elsa, I drove to the exit, and just parked there. I walked back and by the time I got back it was my turn! This was never a problem. The CM's also offered that I could leave my scooter next to the photog and I could go back and forth, or stay in the scooter (I didnt want too). They are really easy and super accommodating! Dont worry! My only advice is that if you have never used the scooter before to try it out in the parking lot, or a walmart before. I was lucky as once we got to our hotel we went to the wal mart and then disney the next day and got some practice! Have fun!

 

[jmartinez1895]

My son uses his wheelchair while we visit and he LOVES characters. He usually does not want his chair in the photos and the characters and the helpers are very helpful with this. We just tell the CM that is directing us to the character that he does not need his chair while meeting. Most of the time they will take it for us and place it to the side. When we meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald at the Epcot character spot they asked if he would need it between characters or if they could take it to the exit for us. When we meet Ariel I took his chair to the exit area ( just behind the photographer). At the outdoor meets we just push it to where we will leave so that the next family will not have to wait on us to get back in the chair to leave.
There have been a few times that he was just to sore or tired to get out and the characters would either kneel down so that they where on the same level as him or they would do some cute pose next to him and often would direct him in doing some sort of pose as well. If you are part of the show for enchanted tales with Belle they take your photo with Belle at the end. My son got to be in it and my husband pushed him. When it came time for his photo belle got on her knees and spread her dress on the floor. ( my sons wheel got her gown dirty, but she told him that she was going to visit Cinderella in short while and the fairy god mother would be able to make the mark disappear).

 

[concertkatie]

Thanks for the added personal experiences. It sounds like as long as I let the CM know what I plan to do we should be fine!

I have used the ECV before - It's been 2 years since my last visit but I am hoping it'll all come back to me!

 

[Gilrond]

Character meet & greets are my favorite! I stay on the ECV until it is my turn and then park it where CM recommends. Sometimes near photographer, sometimes exit side of the character. I can walk with cane to character. My best Photopass picture last year was a shot from behind of Chip and Dale walking me back to the ECV.

 

[Aristomommy]

My daughter does not get out of her wheelchair and Ariel's grotto was the most challenging meet and greet. I was worried of rolling over her fin and couldnt really get my daughter close to her. If you can stand and sit next to her on the bench, it's a beautiful setting for a picture. No one will mind that you take your time.

I noticed that some characters were better at taking pictures with a person in a wheelchair. We have beautiful, interactive pictures and then we have some where the character is just standing next to her. The best one for us was Daisy who took the time, let her feel her (she has some visual difficulties) and they held hands for pictures. It was special