ECV for child, first time

[traceycc]

Hi all, I hope someone can help, this is our 4th time in Disney with our kids, we leave next week My 10 year old dd has bone issues with her legs and has had surgeries..anyhow, she is still going thru phys therapy and walking around the parks will be hard on her, we have a ecv at home but were interested in renting a small one down there just to get around the parks..

she can walk but her legs get stiff and it is a long day.. I don't want her getting dirty looks and rude comments with the crowds.. I was wondering how we can maneuver this..i guess we will take the scooter each day to the parks and park it when she is riding rides..I am concerned with her riding around the crowds and getting on and off busses and boats.. We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge Villas..she is too big to use a stroller and she can maneuver her ecv at home fine, I am just nervous about down there???

Any advice or tips??

Thank you all so much in advance

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think any rental companies allow an ECV to be used by anyone under the age of 18. Since she is currently going through therapy, perhaps the therapist can contact a company directly and they can waive the age limit. But, you may need to bring your own, or rent a manual wheelchair for the trip.

I would rent from one of the offsite companies, that way she'll have use of the chair around the resort. She can stay in the wheelchair on the Disney busses, each bus can accomodate 2 chairs or ECVs. They will load either via a lift or ramp.

 

[kimsuenew]

I know that WDW does not allow anyone under 18 on their EVC's. You may want to call all medical rental companies around there to see if they might. If all else fails you might want to bring it along. Otherwise, you may have to rent a wheelchair and take it. I know this does not allow for independance but it might be your only other option. Good luck!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When you rent an ECV from Disney, you have to sign a sheet of paper and one of the items is you will not allow anybody under the age of 18 to drive it.

I know people at several of the rental locations here (including a couple of owners) and they also will require that all users be at least 18. However, if she has an ECV at home you might be able to contact them about making an exception.

However, and related to this, almost all of the rental ECVs down here have design capacities of at least 300 pounds, so if she is small a rental may be a problem.

Also, if you are flying, why not bring it along. Note that an ECV can be gate-checked and any medical equipment does not count against baggage limitations.

 

[Forevryoung]

I went with a 10 year old who had an ECV at the time (in addition to a special needs stroller).

Our experience was that the child's ECV was a disaster in the parks- we were constantly reminding her to pay attention to people (she was enjoying the scenery like everyone else), she was going too slowly because there were too many people and she was nervous... besides, I know her's is pretty tiny and easy to not see/trip over.

We wound up getting the stroller from the car by the first afternoon because she was in tears. We didn't use it in the parks for the rest of the trip-

Just some things to think about... if you do decide on the children's ECV, I wish you better luck than we had!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

How is she driving in crowded areas, such as the mall on a busy weekend? If she's used to driving in crowded areas, it may not be so much of a problem. As far as I'm aware, you've picked a good time to go, as I think it's reasonably quiet around now (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

Some places would be more challenging for her than others. EPCOT, for instance, has fairly wide paths, so would reduce the crowding around her. MK, on the other hand, can get fairly 'close'. You can avoid the worst 'short-term' crowds fairly easily, for instance by hanging back a little after fireworks / parades / shows etc. The main crowds clear fairly quickly at the end of the day, leaving the streets (and the buses) clear for you to able home.

As others have said, you'd probably be best bringing her ECV with you, to avoid any problems that renting may throw up. Also, she's used to her ECV, and would probably feel more comfortable driving that, than having to get used to a new vehicle in a new environment.

Just to warn you, not all of the boats on the lake are accessible. The little dinky ones with railing around the edge are not accessible, but the larger, more 'functional' looking, boats are. Ask about the boats when you get to the resort, and they'll be able to help you out.

You may want to take along the phone numbers of a couple of local rental places that deal with pediatric chairs (see the FAQ), just in case she isn't happy driving in the crowds.

Can't think of much else, other than to remind you to cover the ECV with a poncho (or similar) whenever you leave it outside, in case of rain, and to remember the suncream!

Have a great trip!

 

[traceycc]

Thank you all for the great tips..Ididn't realize you had to be 18 so if we do bring ours I am not sure we will use it, I thought of the crowds and yes her not paying attention etc..I didn't realize it would not count as baggage limit, something else I thought of..

I am unsure as to what to do..she will get tired, but she will not ride in a stroller..maybe I will get a wheelchair or wagon?? I just know she will start hurting and not be able to walk all around the parks..

Ugh, thank you all for the tips, much appreciated

 

[Chuck S]

Wagons are also not allowed in the parks. ECVs and wheelchairs only.

 

[Schmeck]

You'll see lots of older kids (older than kids that would use a stroller at home that is...) in the rented strollers at WDW, sometimes they get a double one for more room.

If she'll need transportation to/from the resort, you'll need to either rent a wheelchair from an offsite vendor, or try your luck getting one from the resort - no guarantee there though. Strollers and wheelchairs rented at a park stay at that park.

 

[SueM in MN]

Another thing to think about is her size. Even if you can get one of the companies to waive the 18yr age limit, the ECVs the have to rent will be adult size and may be too big for her to drive.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

A wheelchair is probably the easiest route for you. My DS12 has an orthopedic impairment and although he can walk, he can't walk or stand for extended periods of time and climbing stairs are hard for him as well. We rent a wheelchair each time and it makes for a much more enjoyable day at the park for him.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If you do go for a wheelchair, she'd probably be better off in a chair specifically designed for children, as an adult wheelchair would be too big and pretty uncomfortable for her after a while. Some of the rental agencies listed in the FAQ rent pediatric chairs.

You could always take her ECV to use when she feels comfortable. That way she'd be able to get herself around the hotel if she wanted, to go to the pool, for meals to buy a drink from a vending machine etc. She may also feel that she could cope with some of the less crowded parks on quiet days (e.g. EPCOT in low crowd periods).

If you are gate checking a mobility device, I don't think you have to forewarn the airline, but I find it makes things go a little smoother.

 

[disneymarie]

Thank you all for the great tips..Ididn't realize you had to be 18 so if we do bring ours I am not sure we will use it, I thought of the crowds and yes her not paying attention etc..I didn't realize it would not count as baggage limit, something else I thought of..

I am unsure as to what to do..she will get tired, but she will not ride in a stroller..maybe I will get a wheelchair or wagon?? I just know she will start hurting and not be able to walk all around the parks..

Ugh, thank you all for the tips, much appreciated

Your daughter will not be the only child in a wheelchair in the park. I also agree how challanging it is for the crowds in the park. I was in an EVC and there were so many times a child would just dart out in front of me. I was tense and watchful instead of relaxed, I can just imagine for a child how stressful.

My daughters legs gave out one long day, she has short tendons in the achilies area, and the walking did her in. With me next to her we menuvoiured through the croweds to get her out of the park. IT was far too much stress on her too. She is 12 years old.

The same thing the kids darting, adults stopping or changing directions. She could not stop and smell the roses. I had a rollator that is not really a walker, it is like a seat with the push handle bars, a basket under and for the rest of the trip I used that and she was able to catcha ride on the seat.

For your daughter I think it willl be so much more relaxing to have the wheelchair. She may not think so, but I saw the faces of the kiddos in chairs and remember the stress we had all too well.

Have an enjoyable trip.
Oh, maybe her scooter chair may work around the resort to allow her a little independance too.
di

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

My first trip to WDW I was 7 and used my pediatric scooter (I now use a customized electric wheelchair full time). I didn't run into anyone or anything-though people ran into me. Granted, I had been driving it for over a year.

Personally, I would've been miserable in a stroller or manual wheelchair. I needed the independence of movement.

My advice would be to ask your daughter. Also do a little test of tolerance. Go to Wal-Mart and put her in a wheelchair and push her around. How ancy is she? Does she keep getting out?

If you bring her personal pediatric scooter she can use it. She just can't use the huge adult ones they rent.