ECV ease

[sweetbambi]

We will be leaving in six days and we have our scooters (for my brother and for me) reserved from Randy's. My question is the following: Will it be easier for us to take Disney transportation--we will have 11 others with us or would it be easier for my brother and I to drive to the parks (he has a handicap tag) and let the others take the bus? If we go on the bus transportation do they seat the others with us--only five of them will be children or let them go on their own. I'm a worryholic and I can't believe the trip with the 13 of us is actually going to work around our disabilities.


Kathy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I can't answer much about the bus. However, a couple of years ago we had a group of six (four adults and two teenage girls) travelling together. It was necessary to have TWO ECVs.
We could not find any rental car, including a Cadillac, that could handle both ECVs.

Also, the minivans and SUVs would have had to have the back seats taken out two handle both, but there would have been a person limit of five with no back row.

It pretty much takes a Buick Century (or equal) to handle an ECV completely in the trunk. On our last trip we had our own car, a 97 Ford Taurus 4 Door Sedan. We found it necessary to put the ECV seat on the car's back seat so it would fit.

You definitely need to consider car sizes when using an ECV.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

First up,

Eleven is a big party to keep together all day, even if *NONE* of you is disabled. You might want to consider splitting up for most of the time & just making rendevous to meet up every once in a while.

Second:

From memory, Disney buses take just two ECVs, which will work OK for most of the time. But be aware that you will not be the *ONLY* ECV users at Disney. Every once in a while there will already be an ECV on the bus, or one waiting.

Third:

Suck it and see... Seeing you will have a car on site, try buses one day, and the car the next. I would just take it one day at a time and see how it goes. Enjoy yourselves!

Andrew

 

[SueM in MN]

I just wanted to agree with both the other posters.

I know that getting one wheelchair into a car takes a lot of room, so 2 ecvs in one car sounds like it would not work well.
The buses can each transport 2 ecvs or wheelchairs. Usually when we go on the bus, DD's wheelchair is the only one on the bus, but you could run into a situation where there is already a wheelchair or ecv on the bus or only one will fit for some reason.
The largest party we've toured with was 9 and trying to keep the whole group - together was such an effort, that by the second day, we split into smaller groups. You can vary who is in each group so you can still see everyone and rendevous for meals or snacks, etc like Andrew suggested. We found that to be much more enjoyable and it was much easier. 2 way radios make the meeting up easy.

 

[JudithM]

I just returned this weekend from a wonderful trip to WDW. I rented an ECV from Walker & everything went smoothly. This was the first time I used the WDW busses with my rented ECV. The busses worked wonderfully ! I was a bit leary since I had read some not so positive posts on this bb about busses & ECVs, wheelchairs, etc. All the bus drivers were absolutely wonderful! I called &/or talked to transportation supervisors to let them know what great service I received.

The WDW busses - both the old ones & the new ones - can accommodate up to two handicapped vehicles. I waited near where the back door to the bus should stop. The bus drivers I encountered were very aware & paying attention . Usually the driver would let everyone off who was getting off at the stop. Then they close the front door & they do not allow anyone to board yet. The driver came to the back door, did whatever they needed to do to get the ramp down & then verbally instructed me to how to get on the bus. Yes, I did have to back on to the bus.

Two thoughts when getting on or off the bus - put your speed in low gear/turle mode & turn off your vehicle while the platform is being raised or lowered.

Every bus driver I encountered was VERY patient & made me feel like I was the only guest. They told me to take my time & not to worry about the other guests waiting to board the bus. Once my ECV was in place, the bus driver tied it down/secured it. Then they went back to the front & opened the door to let the other guests onto the bus.

In the past when I have had the rented ECV, we have driven to the parks. Taking the bus was much easier!

 

[Nanajo1]

I was thinking you may want to have half your group ride the busses with one ECV and the others drive with plans to meet up. I have had times when I could not get on the bus because it already had 2 ECV/WC on board.
Our next trip will include one ECV, 2 double strollers, one single stroller, 10 adults and 5 children under 4. I wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares about getting on the bus. So I think we will go in shifts and meet up at the park.