ECV for my sister

[disneyholic family]

We are taking my sister to WDW in September. It just dawned on me that she's going to need an ECV.

She has 3 primary cancers (ovarian, small-cell lung and now breast).
She'll be just after yet another operation and possibly in the midst of radiation/chemo.

So she'll definitely need an ECV (she would have needed it even before this latest round as she's lost most of the feeling in her feet from earlier rounds of chemo).

Anyway, my ECV questions, since i've never rented one before.

1. Is there a chance the parks will run out of them in September when we're there?

2. if i rent one from an offsite company, how in heavens name will i be able to carry it from the hotel to the park? Isn't it way too big to be lifted? and what kind of vehicle is required? I've reserved a minivan. Will that be large enough?

I'm sure there are other questions, but i can't think of them right now.

maybe a non-ecv question.

Regarding lines - are there alternative lines to the regular lines? I've been to WDW over 50 times, but never paid attention to special lines.
I know there is often fastpass, but even those lines can be terribly long for someone who has difficulty walking and standing.

i'm very concerned that i'm making a mistake taking her.
Perhaps i should cancel this trip.

I really don't know what to do.

When i first scheduled it, she only had 2 primary cancers. The 3rd one reared its ugly head last month.

i don't know what to do. And i have to make a decision since i have to fly from overseas to get to orlando. My mom and sister will fly down from detroit to meet us (DH, DD and me). But maybe it's just too much.
But on the other hand, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

 

[peemagg]

I would rent from an off site company for her. There are ECV's out there that break down real easily. When you rent one make sure that it is one that breaks down. It should fit fine in the back of the van and not be to heavy to lift when broke down. Mine easily breaks down into 4 parts and none weighs over 35 pounds.

As far as lines go she would just ride the ECV through the lines with the rest of you. If the line is not meant for an ECV, the CM's will direct you to what you need to do.

If your sister is up for it I would go ahead with your plans. Like you said you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Read the sticky post at the top of the topics about ECV use. It should answer many of your questions.

 

[Nanajo1]

Where are you staying? If you are at a WDW resort then use the busses, boats and monorail. I you are off-site then tell the rental company you need an ECV that is easy to break down for transport. Having the ECV to use off the parks is a great relief. Your sister can see and do so much more. I vote fot an off-site vendor. I've used both Walker and Care Medical with great results.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

The majority of attraction lines in WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that a wheelchair or ECV will use the regular entrance and line all the way to either a show seating or ride load area. If a line is not mainstreamed there will be signs and/or Cast Members to direct you where to go.

If a show, normally there will be spaces to park a chair or ECV and there will be seats next to the space for other members of the group.

If a ride, usually you will have to transfer to a ride vehicle, although some rides will allow a person in a wheelchair to remain in their chair. If you have to transfer to a ride, and unload is not at the same location as load, your ECV will magically appear at the unload area.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Note that Post #2 discusses mobility and equipment. Post #3 had a wide variety of information and links; it might be a good idea to look at the various park "Guidebook For Persons With Disabilities" for more detailed information.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

If you are staying on property just about all of the transportaion options between a resort and park is accessible for people in wheelchairs or ECVs.

 

[SueM in MN]

We are taking my sister to WDW in September. It just dawned on me that she's going to need an ECV........

Also, keep in mind that even though she will be saving energy by not walking, it does still take a certain amount of energy and concentration to use an ECV. For some people, the concentration can be quite tiring.
If she needs to take a rest, she can go to First Aid in any of the parks. The staff are very nice and will provide her with a quiet, private place to lie down and rest.
You may also want to talk to her about how she feels about using an ECV. Some people would not like to be pushed in a wheelchair and like the independence an ECV gives them.
Some people don't care whether or not they will be pushed by someone in a wheelchair and prefer to not spend any energy driving.

1. Is there a chance the parks will run out of them in September when we're there?

If she needs one in the parks, chances are good that she would benefit from having one at your resort too. If you rent at the parks, you will only have it while in that park.

2. if i rent one from an offsite company, how in heavens name will i be able to carry it from the hotel to the park? Isn't it way too big to be lifted? and what kind of vehicle is required? I've reserved a minivan. Will that be large enough?

As was already mentioned, post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has information, including links to companies that rent ECVs and wheelchairs. Some of them even have pictures or videos of loading/unloading the ECVs from a car or van.

Regarding lines - are there alternative lines to the regular lines? I've been to WDW over 50 times, but never paid attention to special lines.
I know there is often fastpass, but even those lines can be terribly long for someone who has difficulty walking and standing.

As was already mentioned, all the lines are wheelchair accessible (many in the regular line and a few have a different access). Most of the lines are also ECV accessible; for the ones that are not, they have wheelchairs at the entrance that someone can transfer from their ECV into. Just talk to the CM at the ride entrance.
We have been to WDW in September and that is usually a good time to go. It is a bit cooler than the summer months and many kids have just started school, so parents are not likely to pull them out. That makes the parks more empty and we have found short waits for things.

But on the other hand, who knows what tomorrow will bring.

If you go, it may be hard, but if you don't go, will you regret it the rest of your life?

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks so much everyone for the responses and information!!!

i've read the FAQ post - so much great information -thanks!

as for deciding - i really don't know. I know i'll feel guilty if we don't go, but at the same time i don't want to make her feel bad that she's so ill now.

one thing i didn't mention, she refuses to use any kind of walking aids at home. Not even a cane, which she really should use because of her balance issues. But she won't.
She refuses to accept that she might need it.

So i'm not even sure if she'll be willing to use the ECV or a wheelchair. Which could upset her even more - given the vast distances one has to walk and how difficult it is for her to walk.

And i didn't even think about the resort. We're staying at the Pop Century.
There's a lot of walking there for sure.

she'll probably be happy just hanging out at the pool all day.
actually, she'd probably much rather go to miami than WDW - she's more of a sun worshipper than disneyholic.

but no way would DH and DD be willing to go to miami (they'd rather shoot themselves)....

this whole thing started out as a disney cruise.
I was scheduled to take her and my mom on the podcast cruise this past May. Then my son decided to get married that same week.
So i postponed the cruise to september (next month).
But then the swine flu issue rose and her doctor said that a cruise would be a bad idea - too easy to catch disease on a cruise.
so i switched the trip from a cruise to WDW.
Which might have been ok, if the 3rd primary cancer hadn't shown up (and the other two have also just metastesised).

i probably should just go to detroit to be with her, but in the meantime, DD and DH jumped on the WDW bandwagon. So no matter what i do, someone will be disappointed.

 

[Bete]

First, here we can get scooters in our grocery stores and such to use. It's a great way to practice with one for free. If you have that available I would insist on your sister trying one to make sure about it all while you're still back home. If she refuses then it may be tough to convince her to do it all the time at Disney.

Will she let someone push her in a wheelchair? I know that can be a drag for the pusher of the wheelchait, but it's an alternative. Again, will your sister do it?

Maybe, you can compromise and take her to the parks on half days. She can stay by the pool for part of the day. You will still be faced with wheelchair or scooter but your sis wouldn't get as tired that way each day.

Also, you can rethink your vacation to somewhere else which would be enjoyable for all.

Good luck.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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!

 

[Schmeck]

Talk to your sister! If she's going to be "in the middle of radiation/chemo" she might either feel too sick to travel, not be available to travel due to chemo/radiation scheduling, or forbidden to travel due to a compfomised immune system.

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks for letting me sound off in here everyone...
where i'm pretty sure no one who knows my sister will be hanging out...

as for decisions - i'm waiting now for what's going to happen to her...

right now it's a waiting game - lots of tests and decisions between multiple doctors deciding on her next steps (what kind of surgery, what kind of radiation, what kind of chemo) and when it will take place...

i really can't decide anything regarding the trip until i know for sure what they've suggested to her and what she's decided...

maybe DH, DD and I will go to WDW and then if my sister can come down from detroit she will....and my mom would come with her...and maybe my nephew (my sister's older son)..
i've reserved enough rooms -actually, it's all paid up since i took free dining packages....but even though it's all paid up, i can still cancel (you can cancel up to 5 days prior with only a $100 penalty - not a big deal at all)...

so maybe we'll go. And if she comes down great. and if she doesn't come down, maybe i'll have DD and DH go back home on their own after WDW and i'll continue to detroit to be with my sister...i've done that for most of her past treatments.

thanks again - it's very helpful to me to talk this out with myself here...while learning all the new info about ECVs and the like...