ECV-How hard to disassemble/reassemble?

[carj]

We are headed to WDW in late July. Our party will consist of me, my two chldren, ages 9 and 7 and my mom and step-father.

How hard is it to take an ECV apart and reassemble? Also, is it reasonable to think that I can lift the pieces with assistance from my mom? I read somewhere that the heaviest parts are 30-35 pounds. I can easily lift that amount. But...I am wondering if there is something that I am missing in this scenario.

We are staying in a WC accessible cabin at FW and I am trying to avoid the bus system if we can. We will have a car and a golf cart. I just think that my step-father may become frustrated by the ECV and the bus. This will be my parents first trip for more that a day and his first using an ECV. Plus, I don't really enjoy the busses either!

 

[videogal1]

We are headed to WDW in late July. Our party will consist of me, my two chldren, ages 9 and 7 and my mom and step-father.

How hard is it to take an ECV apart and reassemble? Also, is it reasonable to think that I can lift the pieces with assistance from my mom? I read somewhere that the heaviest parts are 30-35 pounds. I can easily lift that amount. But...I am wondering if there is something that I am missing in this scenario.

We are staying in a WC accessible cabin at FW and I am trying to avoid the bus system if we can. We will have a car and a golf cart. I just think that my step-father may become frustrated by the ECV and the bus. This will be my parents first trip for more that a day and his first using an ECV. Plus, I don't really enjoy the busses either!

It's not really too difficult. Imagine putting together a bicycle that has a motor. The hardest part is lining up the clip that holds the back wheel/motor assembly to the deck/tiller assembly. The wheels will want to wander while you're holding the deck/tiller assembly 6 or 7 inches off the ground trying like crazy to get the clip halves aligned...takes two or three strong agile hands, unless you can back it up against a wall or a curb to hold the wheels in place. Sometimes the seat is difficult to pop off the mount, too...There have been a lot of people sitting in that seat, squashing it into the seat holding apparatus. I recommend that you ask the vendor to disassemble and reassemble it before you take possession just to make sure there are no loose or broken pieces that will interfere with disassembly. Taking a can of WD-40 is a nice touch, too. Actually, gaining enough skill to board the bus with an ECV can be acquired before the trip by taking a few spins around your local market in one.

You'll get tired of taking the thing apart and putting it back together pretty fast. Let's see, once to leave the resort, once to return, once to leave each park or restaurant and once when you get where you're going and then again, coming back. That's a lot of everyone standing around in a hot parking lot over and over again...(When did you say you were going? July? Holy smokes, that's a hot parking lot!) waiting for the thing to be unloaded, put back together, repacked with the day's supplies, or whatever you can think of to hang on it to avoid carrying it around by hand....The bus could actually save a lot of time, tempers, sweat, and pinched fingers. If you're a pre-vacation list-maker, put ECV practice at the top and plan on taking the bus.

 

[Bete]

The biggest problem is the base of the unit. It's big; so, it's hard for one person to handle it in and out of the trunk. If you have a SUV or similar; it's easier. I think the two of you could probably do it. There's a heavier end to the base of the scooter; so, make sure this is your end to take in and out.

Putting it together and apart is really a breeze. I don't like the two battery ECVs; so, I would stay away from those models. They have a longer charge, but I just don't like them when it comes to putting it together.

Remember, the Golden Rule: Recharge your scooter every night! and if you take a break during the day it's a good time to do it again. You should be a lot safer this way. Check the gage through the day to see how well you are retaining your battery charge each day.

Make sure you take the scooter charger into the park with you. If you have to do an emergency recharge inside the park you need it. You need to make sure the scooter is off when you are enjoying a show, parade, fireworks, eating a snack, etc. I always remind those with me with scooters to shut them off. Many times they would be left on if I didn't say something about it. First time users are the worse in this regard. Your step dad will have enough fun dodging the crowd, etc.; so, give him a break on the other counts. Sitting in long ride lines is another time to shut the scooter off. If you don't follow these practices you could be in trouble on your battery charge. That's were the two battery scooters help more; they are more forgiving if you forget to turn them off. There are places in the parks (a little hard to find) where you could use an outside outlet to charge the scooter up.

For the MK park it's a real hassle taking the car. You go to the transportation center first and park the car. Then you have to go over to the ferry (preferable over the monorail with a scooter) and get the scooter on there with the massive crowds getting on board. In this case, I would have your dad walk onto to the ferry boat with you driving the scooter and then let him sit on the scooter for the ride over. If you wait for many to clear off the ferry your step dad can probably drive it off on his own.

I don't think the small boats that go to MK at the cabins are suited for the scooters or I would suggest that mode to getting to MK. Some of the smaller boats can do it, but I don't believe the ones there can do it. Someone else may chime in on this count. I really would consider taking the bus for MK. Again, you can drive the scooter on and off the bus and your dad can walk on and off the bus.

Please, pretty please don't make this feel like a great chore when you are doing this for your step dad. You'll make him depressed if you do. It's not easy taking the scooter in and out of the car everyday, etc. but don't show your displeasure and make him feel worse.

The scooter should be a great help at the resort, too.

 

[carj]

Please, pretty please don't make this feel like a great chore when you are doing this for your step dad. You'll make him depressed if you do. It's not easy taking the scooter in and out of the car everyday, etc. but don't show your displeasure and make him feel worse.

See...that is my biggest worry. I know that somehow or other, I can make it work. I just want to work out as many kinks and questions as I can ahead of time. I don't want him to feel bad for "slowing us down". We won't care, but he may feel bad. Does that make sense.

My step-father has had back surgery and cancer in the last year and I want this to be FUN without killing him!

What about this option?

Bring a push wheelchair for getting around at the resort and in non-park places. Rent a scooter from WDW at the parks. At our resort, we will have a golf cart so that will cut down on walking a lot, at least I hope it will.

This would be easier to get in and out of the car. Once we enter the park, we could park our wheelchair and get the scooter. He is also planning on going to the parks on 2 days for sure, not certain he can do more. BUT...what he can do is enjoy the resort and spend the afternoons and evenings having dinner and entertainment with us.

Here is our general plan if this helps answer my question.
Day 1 arrive, check in FW, pick up rental golf cart- Sing-a-long and dinner at FW
Day 2 MK in the morning- break- dinner at Chef Mickey's
Day 3 AK in the mornging- break- HDDR
Day 4 EP in morning- break- 1900 PF dinner
Day 5 DHS - possibly Fantasmic
Day 6 MK- morning- afternoon head to Ocala for the night


So.. would that work if we just brought a push chair and then rented a scooter for the parks?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

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. Post #5 discusses breaking down and reassembling an ECV.

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

A lot depends on what you arer renting. for most standard size ECVs the heaviest part is usually the rear wheel and motor assembly at around 40 pounds, while the part that includes the front wheel and tiller, base and seat socket is also very close (but not as compact).

 

[lovetoscrap]

When you call to rent one let them know specifically that you want to be able to take it apart and put it in a car. Some are easier than others.

I would recommend you rent from Randy's simply because he will meet you personally and walk you through how to take it apart and put it together (take photos of each step to make it easier to remember). The other companies drop the scooter off, and while I am sure you can call them and have you talk you through it, it is nice to have someone right there to show you what to do.

If you do want to try the bus and you think you or someone else may be better at getting it into the correct spot then by all means go ahead and drive it on and off for him.

 

[clkelley]

FYI, the large boats going directly from FW to MK CAN handle ECVs. The smaller boat going from FW, WL, Cont cannot handle ECVs.

To reduce the car usage AND the buses here is what I would recommend.

For MK, boat to MK.

For Epcot, boat to MK, then two monorails to Epcot.

A little extreme, but also to Studios, boat to MK, then two monorails to Epcot, then walk through Epcot, out the IG, then walk or boat to Studios. (You must have a park hopper to do this).

Animal Kingdom and DTD would be the only places you would HAVE to use your car or the bus.

To get to Contemporary, take the boat to MK, then a short walk over to Contemporary. The reverse the process going back. Or if he can walk a short distance, then just leave the ECV, take the golf cart to the marina, walk the short distance to the small boat direct to the Contemporary, then a slightly longer distance to the building and up the elevator or escalators to Chef Mickeys.

If you do get an ECV and he wants to drive it around Fort Wilderness, then I would recommend the ones with two batteries. Need it for the extra distance inside the Fort.

Getting a standard wheelchair then renting from the parks is an option, but WAAY more expensive, and most parks run out very quickly in the morning.

Also, the easiest way to deal with the buses if your dad can make a few steps onto the bus, is have another member of your party drive the ECV onto the bus, or put it into freewheel and push it into place, then dad can board directly afterwards.

 

[mullertwin]

You've gotten some fantastic advice! I would also recommend Randy's as they will show you how to disassemble and reassemble and you can even ask them to watch you do it.

If it were me having to need the ECV (and I do - I have herniated and bulging discs) I would MUCH rather have my own wheels so I can be independent and go and do what I want without relying on someone to push me, especially in the heat of July!

As for loading the ECV on the WDW transportation, once he gets the hang of it, it is really easy! If he is nervous about it - someone else can load it on and off the buses. I actually prefer the WDW transportation - it's much easier to load on and off buses and boats and monoraiils than taking apart the scooter. That said, taking the scooter apart is no big deal once you get the hang of it. It just gets tiring after awhile, that's all.

I'm sure your trip will be magical no matter what!

 

[Bete]

What about this option?

Bring a push wheelchair for getting around at the resort and in non-park places. Rent a scooter from WDW at the parks. At our resort, we will have a golf cart so that will cut down on walking a lot, at least I hope it will.

This would be easier to get in and out of the car. Once we enter the park, we could park our wheelchair and get the scooter. He is also planning on going to the parks on 2 days for sure, not certain he can do more. BUT...what he can do is enjoy the resort and spend the afternoons and evenings having dinner and entertainment with us.

This is basically what we did with my MIL. The scooter rental in the Disney Parks will hold your wheelchair in the back; at least, they did this for us four years ago. I know it's higher priced to rent from Disney, but you never have to worry about taking it apart or putting it together. It's a nicer scooter-better padding, etc. You never have to charge the scooter. If someting bad happens to the scooter you can get a scooter replaced very quickly from Disney. The wheelchair was great to transport my MIL any which way we wanted to do. So, if we took the bus it was okay; if we took the boat it was ok; if we took the car it was ok. This will make it easier on you, too. It's a lot easier taking a wheelchair in and out of a car, etc. It's a little easier on your stepdad, too in that he only has to worry about driving the scooter in the park and not everywhere else. Some of the rental scooters are without lights and at night that can be difficult for some. The Disney scooters have lights. There are park lights on at night, but at night it is more difficult to see.

With renting a scooter at Disney, you do need to be there early at each park to make sure you secure one (I would say you have the first 45 minutes after opening and you should be ok); otherwise, you are on a waiting list and there's no way to state how long that will take. You do have to wait your turn in line to get one. You pay once in a day, but if you leave the park and want to come back and use a scooter again you need a voucher showing you paid alraedy and that you will be back. You do this for park hopping, too. When you do come back there's no guarantee that a scooter will be available. Again, it's first come; first serve. You do have the wheelchair as a back up in case the scooter is not available. Disney requires a deposit (like a security deposit); so, you will return your scooter to them and not leave it abandoned in the park. Again, you have to wait your turn after a tiring day to return the scooter and get your wheelchair back.

By the way, transport wheelchairs run about $100 to $150 and may be worth buying rather than renting one. That way you can always have one available for stepdad.

There are pros and cons to renting a scooter in the Disney parks or getting one from an outside rental. You have to decide what's best for all of your family. We've done it both ways and I honestly feel it's easier to rent at the parks, but there's a price you pay for doing it that way. At night, after a long day in the parks I wasn't so thrilled helping hubby put the scooter in the car and then when we got back to the resort taking it out again. We did it to have more convenience at the resort, but you'll have a golf cart there. Also, the responsibility of charging it, etc will rest on you everyday. With it being your first time I would vote for renting at Disney, as long as, you can get to the parks early and don't take too many breaks and come back to the parks later.

 

[clkelley]

One more note about the Disney Park rental ECVs. They way they are made, you really have to bend your knees to sit in them. They have this really high hump on the front of the base. (They have four wheels, so they are wheel wells). The three wheel ECVs that you rent have a flatter base, so you can stretch your legs on either side of the wheel.

DH rented an in-park ECV one time and found it very uncomfortable due to that. Having his knees bent at a 90 degree angle all day hurt him almost as much as walking.

 

[carj]

One more note about the Disney Park rental ECVs. They way they are made, you really have to bend your knees to sit in them. They have this really high hump on the front of the base. (They have four wheels, so they are wheel wells). The three wheel ECVs that you rent have a flatter base, so you can stretch your legs on either side of the wheel.

DH rented an in-park ECV one time and found it very uncomfortable due to that. Having his knees bent at a 90 degree angle all day hurt him almost as much as walking.

Thanks for this tip. I will check and see what he says about the angle. I believe that it is more fatigue and breathing that will be the issue. I appreciate your input though and I will definitely check into that.

 

[carj]

What about this option?

Bring a push wheelchair for getting around at the resort and in non-park places. Rent a scooter from WDW at the parks. At our resort, we will have a golf cart so that will cut down on walking a lot, at least I hope it will.

This would be easier to get in and out of the car. Once we enter the park, we could park our wheelchair and get the scooter. He is also planning on going to the parks on 2 days for sure, not certain he can do more. BUT...what he can do is enjoy the resort and spend the afternoons and evenings having dinner and entertainment with us.

This is basically what we did with my MIL. The scooter rental in the Disney Parks will hold your wheelchair in the back; at least, they did this for us four years ago. I know it's higher priced to rent from Disney, but you never have to worry about taking it apart or putting it together. It's a nicer scooter-better padding, etc. You never have to charge the scooter. If someting bad happens to the scooter you can get a scooter replaced very quickly from Disney. The wheelchair was great to transport my MIL any which way we wanted to do. So, if we took the bus it was okay; if we took the boat it was ok; if we took the car it was ok. This will make it easier on you, too. It's a lot easier taking a wheelchair in and out of a car, etc. It's a little easier on your stepdad, too in that he only has to worry about driving the scooter in the park and not everywhere else. Some of the rental scooters are without lights and at night that can be difficult for some. The Disney scooters have lights. There are park lights on at night, but at night it is more difficult to see.

With renting a scooter at Disney, you do need to be there early at each park to make sure you secure one (I would say you have the first 45 minutes after opening and you should be ok); otherwise, you are on a waiting list and there's no way to state how long that will take. You do have to wait your turn in line to get one. You pay once in a day, but if you leave the park and want to come back and use a scooter again you need a voucher showing you paid alraedy and that you will be back. You do this for park hopping, too. When you do come back there's no guarantee that a scooter will be available. Again, it's first come; first serve. You do have the wheelchair as a back up in case the scooter is not available. Disney requires a deposit (like a security deposit); so, you will return your scooter to them and not leave it abandoned in the park. Again, you have to wait your turn after a tiring day to return the scooter and get your wheelchair back.

By the way, transport wheelchairs run about $100 to $150 and may be worth buying rather than renting one. That way you can always have one available for stepdad.

There are pros and cons to renting a scooter in the Disney parks or getting one from an outside rental. You have to decide what's best for all of your family. We've done it both ways and I honestly feel it's easier to rent at the parks, but there's a price you pay for doing it that way. At night, after a long day in the parks I wasn't so thrilled helping hubby put the scooter in the car and then when we got back to the resort taking it out again. We did it to have more convenience at the resort, but you'll have a golf cart there. Also, the responsibility of charging it, etc will rest on you everyday. With it being your first time I would vote for renting at Disney, as long as, you can get to the parks early and don't take too many breaks and come back to the parks later.

The more I think about it, the more I think that this might work. We already have a transport wheelchair available and will not need to rent that.

Our plans are to go to rope drop most mornings and then only head back into the park, possibly for Fantasmic. The rest of the days shouldn't be an issue if we are there before they open, at least I hope!