ECV for Mom?

[culli]

My Mom has problems walking and standing for anyting over a short period of time. She has gone through cancer treatment, and a few other situations... she just has not been the same since. It really beat her body up bad and she doesn't have the endurance like she once did. It is not a matter of she is lazy and can't walk she tries to do treadmill etc, she has her good days and bad days. We have a trip coming up and the walking at WDW she wouldn't be able to take and I'm affraid she will just stay at the resort.

I thought an ECV would be good for her to get to the park (walk from the resort not buses) and around the park and she could do the shorter walking. We would not bring it on the Disney Buses but would bring it on the monorail. We wouldn't take up seats on a ride or theater unless she got really bad. But I guess if she got really bad she will probably just stay at the resort. But after reading a few post from people that are limited to an ECV or wheelchair on a perm basis that we might be taking up room or not being respectful (not sure how to write my thoughts but I saw some pretty blunt posts). My wife and I walk with our young kids (bring a double storller for them) and there is no way my Mom could handle the walking. It is not a matter of just waitng for her or take it easy but she get swollen legs, back pain etc. I just want her to enjoy herself and not take a beating, she deserves it at a few really rough years.

She is not overweight but the pounding of the walking would take a beating on her. She is in her upper 60's for age. The Dr. did recomend she should get an ECV especially for WDW but she just is not sure.

So after a lot of explaining.........does this seem like a feasible thing to do or would be one of those that is causing problems for others?

Thank you in advance for your comments.

 

[missnanse]

She should get an ecv and not worry about it. Having an ecv does not put people out nor does it take up any space from other people. You do not take up space on rides or shows, at shows their are spots especially for ecv & wheelchairs and most rides she would transfer to the ride. Ecv's are a blessing for people like your Mom & I & thousands of others and the pleasure you will be giving her by allowing her to be able join you and your family is worth everything. There will be some people(very few) who are narrow minded and hateful, who do not understand the pain & agony some of us go through just to be able to enjoy a trip to this wonderful place and will never understand until they or someone they love goes through it. Just order the ecv and tell her to enjoy every minute of her trip, she deserves it & so do you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

Three parts to this.

One is that you mention you wiln not use it on the buses but on the monorail. Does this mean that you wil be having a car and staying at one of the monorail resorts? Or is there something that is not clear about the transportation.

Second, some information for her. Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

You might pick a location at least a half mile from where she lives and ask her would she like to walk there. If she hesitates, then say "and back", and of she is still not sure then add "at least three times in a row".

Once around the World Showcase Lagoon Promenade is more than 1¼ miles; most people tend to average 8 - 12 miles per day at WDW.

And third, please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[culli]

Oh she will use it, and I have been to the ECV sites offered on this board and think they are very reasonable. The reason I say about the buses is it would be for HS and there is not much walking there and the other is AK. We might use the bus but after reading posts like this one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2266857

I don't want to take up room for people that are limited to a ECV or WC as this would cause them to have to wait for another bus. We spend most of our time at MK and EPCOT. If we go to AK and HS my Mom might make it a resort day as we don't comando the parks we just go with the flow. We go to WDW to enjoy the parks and relax. I'm not the most patient person so the bus system is ok but I prefer to walk. We will walk to MK and monorail to EPCOT - I want to show my Mom the boradwalk area too. There is so much to do and we travel to WDW enough where we never really miss out on anything -but that is a different thread. My hope is the ECV will convience my Mom to come with the family more often.

I want to say what a great board as I have gotten great info for my Mom. Thank you for all who contribute to all the posts and the stickys.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

The reason so many people had problems with the poster in question has to do with the fact that he stated that his only reason for an ECV is that he hated walking and hated doing 12-16 hour days of walking at Disney. To us that sounds like a combination of general laziness and someone who way over does it (12-16 hours of walking is hard on anyone and he could just cut back or prepare better for the walking a head of time).

Your mother, however, has a legitimate reason for needing an ECV. None of us would begrudge her a place on a bus or in a show or on a ride using her ECV. Fatigue from cancer is very different from someone just being tired and not feeling like walking. We understand that. Don't feel guilty at all about her using one.

 

[culli]

Thank you all again for your responses. I learned a lot from what my Mom went through and the last thing we want to do is make someone else wait who might need the spot more than we do. I don't know if this makes sense but I don't want to be looked at as "one of those". Not sure where the "cut off" is so to speak. I feel so much better about getting her the ECV now - thanks again for the responses. If anyone has any tips feel free to post them I appreicate it as this will a first for our family and one thing I learned about the disboards is learn from others experiences.

 

[peemagg]

What Wheeledtraveler said is true. That post was from someone who didn't sound as if they needed the ECV, but just took one because they were being lazy.

Your Mother definetely needs one and would not be looked down upon. Get her one and don't worry about what others think. You should not feel guilty for using anything that makes her trip better. The guy in the other post was more or less bragging about how much he hated walking and enjoyed being able to take advantage of what is intended to be used by those who need the assistance. That is not the case with you or your Mom. Go ahead and take her on the buses if you want to with her scooter or anywhere else you all want to go to.

There is another option you could do if you wanted to. You could use a wheelchair for the buses and then fold it up when on the bus. Then get a ECV when you get to the park, but that would be more costly.

Just go and have a great time and do what you need to do to enjoy your vacation.

 

[CampingBandit]

Get her the ECV.

I'm going to rent one this year. I was diagnosed with RA/Lupus in 2007 and when we went to DW in 08, by the third day I could no longer walk. Even with my GAC card it was all too much for me. It's true what has been stated about not being able to "regenerate" like you normally would. DH pushed me in a manual WC all week - he was wonderful. I was finally able to enjoy the vacation after the miserable start. I have planned better for this trip and know to be prepared this time (by renting an ECV). I also know what to expect - the ECV makes things tolerable for you but it doesn't necessarily make things "easier"... though DIS and the CMs were all more than accommodating.

 

[HolidayScooter]

My Mom has problems walking and standing for anyting over a short period of time. She has gone through cancer treatment, and a few other situations... she just has not been the same since. It really beat her body up bad and she doesn't have the endurance like she once did. It is not a matter of she is lazy and can't walk she tries to do treadmill etc, she has her good days and bad days. We have a trip coming up and the walking at WDW she wouldn't be able to take and I'm affraid she will just stay at the resort.

I thought an ECV would be good for her to get to the park (walk from the resort not buses) and around the park and she could do the shorter walking. We would not bring it on the Disney Buses but would bring it on the monorail. We wouldn't take up seats on a ride or theater unless she got really bad. But I guess if she got really bad she will probably just stay at the resort. But after reading a few post from people that are limited to an ECV or wheelchair on a perm basis that we might be taking up room or not being respectful (not sure how to write my thoughts but I saw some pretty blunt posts). My wife and I walk with our young kids (bring a double storller for them) and there is no way my Mom could handle the walking. It is not a matter of just waitng for her or take it easy but she get swollen legs, back pain etc. I just want her to enjoy herself and not take a beating, she deserves it at a few really rough years.

She is not overweight but the pounding of the walking would take a beating on her. She is in her upper 60's for age. The Dr. did recomend she should get an ECV especially for WDW but she just is not sure.

So after a lot of explaining.........does this seem like a feasible thing to do or would be one of those that is causing problems for others?

Thank you in advance for your comments.

Many people have special needs that are not readily apparent to the casual observer. Don't feel the least bit guilty about using a tool to help get around making your trip more enjoyable. It doesn't matter what others may think because chances are you will never see these people again. I'm not saying that you should rent one if there isn't a genuine need but in your case you have a valid reason for using one.

Best of luck....

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I vote to go ahead and use the ECV.

You are there to have a fantastic trip and how can you have a good time if one of your group members is hurting? My mom has fibro, a knee replacement, and it a 2 time cancer survivor and I'm stomping for her to use an EVC the WHOLE time they're down there.

You can't tell if someone is "disabled" by looking at them unless they have a huge sign saying "I'm broken here". Forgot other's people's opinions and comments as they should be overjoyed they aren't in pain.

 

[culli]

Thanks again everyone DIS boards is awesome! I ordered one for Mom from Walker because of their DIS boards support. I found a few vendors but went with Walker because of their DIS support, and I told them that and thanked them for their support. I did call them to discuss and found them very helpful especially since we never ordered one before. Now I will see how it goes when we get there! Someone posted they have a $25 deal so I asked about that and they offer it but you have to order before the end of Sept 2009. I will report on our experience.

On another note now that I ordered it my Mom seems excited, I actually saw some concern leave her face when I told her it is a done deal. So thank you thank you thank you