ECV During Mickey's Very Magical Christmas Party

[2Poodles]

Hi everyone on the Disability Board. I'm new to this board. We plan on visiting WDW first week of December and will be taking my 75 year young Mom with us. Mom has severe arthritis in one knee and will need an ECV. I have the following questions:

1.) Has anyone here done the MVMCP with a wheelchair or ECV?
MVMCP looks great but is it feaible to think my Mom could get thru the crowds (40,000) at night in the Magic Kingdom with an ECV?

I know she would love to see this but if it's unmanageable we'll skip it and go to the Candlelight Processional at Epcot and see the lights at MGM. She loves Christmas time as do my sister and myself.
We decorate every room in her house and her mantle has the Dickens Christmas Village houses and people.

Any suggestions and experiences of people here on the Disability Board regarding MVMCP will be appreciated. As I said if it's unmanageable we'll skip it. I don't want to stress her out as we had a hard enough time trying to manipulate thru the crowds with Mom in an ECV during first week of May (it was her first time in an ECV). She didn't want one for 1 1/2 days in Disney. Then pain and common sense took over. Once she agreed to an ECV she loved it. It seems many people are inconsiderate and walk right in front of the ECV's.

Thank you for your help.

 

[pugdog]

My DW uses a WC and we have done it several times with no problems. the times we hacve gone were sold out but it never felt that bad except for main street for parts of the night. So go and enjoy. inkbounc inkbounc

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The MK at night is no worse than during the day. As far as MVMCP is concerned, I have heard that tickets are limited to 20,000 (and that seems reasonable based on the times I have gone). Also, nomally only Fridays are sold out, so the other days of the week are not as crowded. I hope that you are doing the renting from outside of Disney, that way you don't have to fight at the rental counter.

 

[2Poodles]

Cheshire Figment:
Can you tell me the names of the companies where I can rent my Mom an ECV for the week. We were in WDW in May for five days and just rented the ECV's from WDW each day in each park. I forgot to ask this as part of the first question -- probably all ECV's would be taken on MVMCP. I don't want to fight at the rental counter. If you have the names and/or numbers of the companies who rent out ECV's it would greatly be appreciated. Do they bring the ECV to your hotel (we will be staying at Dixie Landings) and pick it up the day you leave? Do you know how much they charge? Thank you so much.

Pugdog:
Hi, I assume you own a "Pug". I have two babies "black Standard Poodles" the loves of my life. On these boards I've seen a lot of names with breeds of dogs ie. samoyed, wheatenwalker, greyhoundmama. My husband and I have no children so our Poodles are our kids. I'm allergic to dogs (asthma) but Poodles I'm okay with. I love all breeds of dogs just can't pet dogs with fur. Poodles have hair. My youngest Poodle 3 years old plays with a Pug named Luke at one of the dog parks here in Connecticut. Luke thinks he a big dog and plays with any dog big or small. Luke's a cutie and loves to give kisses to women.

 

[teri]

Here are a couple of websites:

Walker Mobility
Randy's Mobility
Care Medical Equipment

MVMCP is no busier than a normally busy day. The crowd issues are most serious during parade and fireworks times, when large masses of people are moving all at once to find a place to stay or to leave. Best thing to do is to get there early to find space, and wait 5-10 minutes after a show or parade ends out before leaving.

 

[Wheelsie]

HIYA POODLES!!! and welcome!!!

I have done MVMCP in my chair...

Actually compared to having gone to MK that afternoon I didn't feel it was QUITE as bad....but in WDW speak that's a relative term!

If your mom has used an ECV before she should do just fine (again a relative WDW term LOL) If she hasn't tho she may find it a tad on the iffy side....esp like everyone else said around Main Street (during parade time uggghhhhh) I know what you mean about inconsiderate people tho.....I have had more people in my lap at WDW than I do my own cat!! LOL

the rest of the park is almost practically dead...(least on the Monday we went) and it was sold out...

All I'm saying is if your going BUY NOW!!! They do sell out quickly but even at 20,000 (the MVMCP limit) it was to me anyhow dead by comparison of any given day time at MK.

I recall you said something about going to the processional.....Id go to MVMCP with my chair b4 Id do the processional again....

You have to wait in a HUGE (even if you get the dinner package like we did) line for it that stretches half way round WS....and if you've EVER been to WS in Epcot you know the hills in a start n stop line are HORRIBLE even in an ECV

So my suggestion go to MK...and HAVE A BLAST!!!! any more questions feel free to PM me

 

[2Poodles]

Thank you all for your replies and the links. Everyone on the Dis Boards are wonderful people giving out information which is so helpful to others.

Couple of questions -- Can my Mom bring the ECV on the bus and monorail? We are thinking of a dinner at Grand Floridian or the Polynesian. If ECV's are allowed on the buses does my Mom wait in the regular line with her ECV? Do all the Disney buses accomodate ECV's?

Do we bring the ECV into the hotel room at night?

Sorry for so many questions. This is all new to me. Trying to get Mom around Disney easily. She absolutely loves the place (her two daughters too). She doesn't have much trouble walking around town but at a shopping mall or Disney her knee is extremely painful.

Wheelsie: Mom's first ECV was in May. She loved it after getting used to it so she does have experience.
People at Disney need to be more considerate of others in ECV's and wheelchairs.

 

[Wheelsie]

YES the busses (altho I'm not sure all) and the Monorail WILL accommodate ECVs and wheelchairs...

With the bus (least in my case the one time I used this) you are usually let on first (backwards. never forwards) and brought into a spot where you and your vehicle of choice are strapped down to the floor and your brakes (or motor) are locked so you won't move...

On the Monorail you will be directed to a special gate where on that door will be places a small metal ramp for easy loading and unloading.
Altho I'm NOT an expert on ECV's I would advise you to bring yours in at night

And Yes it is the general consensus of the disABILITIES board that people need a good lesson in being more considerate to those of us in chairs and ECV's

PS...there are just some days I forget to use spell check LOL *gasp*

 

[SueM in MN]

WElcome from me too. I was going to help with the bus question, but Wheelsie beat me to it.
Most of the buses are equipped with lifts (or the new buses have a type of ramp) that can accomidate an ecv or wheelchair. There are only a small number of buses that can't accomidate wheelchairs and ecvs, so I wouldn't worry about that too much.

 

[lisapooh]

New ramp buses are the best. You go on and off forward not backwards.
Wheelsie, I have done the lift forward. I was having trouble with the angle and one driver told me to drive on forward and turn the chair around on once on the bus. I was shocked he knew that I could do that with the chair. Then he told me his wife uses the same one. He is the only Disney driver I've met whole really knows my Jazzy.

 

[Wheelsie]

Thanks Lisa for the update...maybe its just depending on the driver???

Yeah I do agree that its nice when you meet someone thats familiar with your equipment

 

[Michigan]

I took my oldest DD on 12-1-00. She is in a manual wheelchair and at that time was 10 years old. It was on a Friday night and the event was sold out. I will admit when you first go in you will think oh my gosh what have I got my self into. However once you go past all the people on mainstreet waiting for the parade it is pretty empty. We went to the pooh ride first there was no line and the wheelchair car was right there waiting for us. From there we went on Buzz there was no line but we had to wait for the wheelchair car. Got our picture taken went back and got a spot to watch the first parade 10 minutes before it started. The only ride we waited for was the tea cups. We saw the shows saw the 2nd parade then went on the jungle cruise about midnight again no wait. Boy everyone should do that ride when it is really dark it's a very different experience.

Even though it was a sold out event it was like having the park to ourselves.

 

[Wheelsie]

Thanks Michie!!! just the point I was trying to convey!!

 

[dan-tot]

HI
my sister uses a manual wheelchair to get around Disney she has a hard time walking long distances so this helps. We have been on the monorail and the ferry but have not been on a bus since we have rentals and if we need to go to MGM or AK we then drive. The parking is free after the first time and it doesn't really take as long to change parks. I have seen alot of ECVs on the monorail and people were having no problem with the ramps. The CMs do a good job getting you on and helping you off. You might have to wait alittle to get the ramps at MK but that is good because there is a made rush from the monorail towards the front gate. The esiles going down to the front entrance do not have much room and just as was said during this process some people aren't were disney. Have you got information on the parks for people who are diasabled? They have booklets explaining the rides and I hope they have the companion bathrooms in the books now. I and my brother look after my sister since my parents are gone so it is a little ify taking my sister into the mens bathroom so we use the companion ones. They are big, you can lock them, and they are all around the park. Hope this helps. Don't miss MGM Osborne Lights they are Great! Oh I almost forgot. When the parade is down mainstreet they have areas for people in wheelchairs and ecvs. There is one in front of the train station it was great we saw the elctrical parade twice. The first time there was no body there but the second time there was a crowd but you could still get into the spot and you had no trouble seeing in fact two ecvs came in after us and they had no real trouble putting it next to my sister's chair. It was a lillte tricky but they did just fine.



Dan-tot

 

[SueM in MN]

There is a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities for each park. You can pick them up at Guest Services. They give sort of general information about each ride, not specific enough to be real helpful, but at least it is something. you can always ask the CMs where to go. There is usually one at the entrance to each ride. For most ride/attractions now, the lines are "Mainstream" which means wheelchair and ecv users wait in the smae line with everyone else.
The companion restrooms are listed in the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.

 

[2Poodles]

Hi Again Everyone,


It's 2Poodles (Mary 51 year old daughter) asking another question for 75 year old Mom with severe arthritis in her knee. Chesire Figment suggested outside rental service for the ECV. I researched the links and this seems to be a better idea. Mom would have the ECV with her at all times walk from hotel to bus stop and the long, long walk from bus stop into the parks.

Has anyone on the Disability Boards used these rental companies?

Walker Mobility
Randy's Mobility
Care Medical Equipment

If so, would like positive and/or negative experiences you had with these companies so I can decide which company to rent from.

Thanks so much.
Mary & 2Poodles (Sebastian & Winslow)

 

[lisapooh]

Have had terrific service from Care Medical the half a dozen times I used them
Had a very bad time with Walker and will never touch them with a ten foot pole again. They are downright rude and crude.

 

[SueM in MN]

There have been more positive than negative opinions posted about each of these companies. Someone will post about their bad experience and then someone else will post about their good experience. You could do a search on this board for each of those companies to see what people have posted.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have used Walker twice and have been very satisfied with their service as well as their equipment. For my trip in August I am also going to use Walker. However, I am considering trying Randy's for my November/December trip as the long-term cost is lower; also I want to check out their service.

One thing is I am losing weight (intentionally) and expect to be able to use the "standard" ECV instead of the heavy-duty (more expensive) in the future.