ECV in the parks with grandparents?

[iixheartxyouxox]

I'll be going to the parks next week with a big group of my family including my grandparents. We've been talking about renting an ECV at the parks to help them get around. I think we are only going to rent one so they can switch on and off when they get tired. They are able to walk some distances but i fear AK in this aug heat will be unbearable for them.

My question is what is the procedure when getting in the quene for rides? since they can walk short distances can they leave the ECV outside the line and just stand in line if we decide its short enough for them? Also when going on rides like the safari at AK, i believe i remember seeing a seperate entrance for ECV and wheelchairs, can the rest of the family go with them thru that entrance or do we have to wait on the regular line?

Also, in general do u think getting an ECV will be worth it for my grandparents even though they could walk if they had to? I dont want them to get tired and feel bad for holding the group back. Thanks for any advice and info!

 

[Piper]

At most rides, everyone (including the ones with ECVs ) wait in the "regular" line. Most of WDW is mainstreamed. There are a few older rides (mostly in the MK) where there is a separate entrance. Sometimes that ends up actually taking longer than the "regular" entrance.

You can park the ECV and walk in, but some of the lines are very slow and long. You are better off using fastpass as much as possible.

 

[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.

 

[dclfun]

I think it's a great idea to rent an ECV and you may want to think about one for each grandparent if they are comfortable driving them. There's alot of walking between attractions and it's very, very hot out right now which adds to fatigue. The lines for attractions can be deceiving and seem shorter at first glance than they actually are. They'd probably be better off taking the ECV's in the queue lines to save their energy. When you stop at your first park, pick up the Guide for Guests with Disabilities for each park which will have info on each attraction and how to proceed. I don't see much downside to renting ECV's other than cost and if someone isn't familiar or comfortable driving them in a crowd. In either case, alternatively you could rent one ECV and one manual chair and have them switch off. This way if one of them wants to walk, they can push the empty chair.---Kathy

 

[At World's End]

My mom went with us last January and she used an ECV. I totally recommend it! It was much easier than I expected. There will always be an attendant at the ride entrance so you can ask about where to enter. On the rides where they direct you to a different area, you can (generally) bring your entire group with you (we had 10 people). For the safari, you all go into the main line, then someone will direct you to a different loading area just before you get to the trucks.

As mentioned above, MK is the park with the most separate entrances. I believe there is a handout that describes them. For example, at IASM, you enter the main line, then when you get to the bridge, you go over the bridge (where people are exiting) and enter the ride that way. At BTMR, you go to the exit and they bring you in that way.

Finally, if you feel that the walking (especially in the heat) will be too much for them, please encourage BOTH of them to get ECVs. I think it will truly make their experience more enjoyable.

 

[iixheartxyouxox]

thanks everyone for the information! i will def. talk to them about getting an ECV for each of them. The info makes me feel better about getting on the rides because i wasnt sure how easy it would be..i remember the heat there last aug and i could barely stand it so im glad they have the option to get an ECV and hopefully it will make the trip go much smoother! thanks again!!

 

[KPeveler]

My wife's grandmother and great aunt decided there were going to walk in WDW in Oct when they were there for my wedding... They lasted half a day! We ended up renting a wheelchair since we had young, strong grandsons to push them, but they definitely needed something! They live next to Disneyland, but WDW is a lot bigger.

You can try one at a time, but you may want to think about renting two.

I suggest keeping them in line as much as possible - Most lines are mainstreamed, and it is more than a 1/2 mile round trip into and out of Soarin alone!

Have a great trip!

 

[KingRat]

I have my own that I bring to the parks and have been thankful for 18 years. Get one for each, you won't regret it.

 

[iixheartxyouxox]

thanks! im going to suggest that they get two and hopefully they will take my advice! im sure by noon time on the first day they will agree with me! haha

 

[SueM in MN]

I think it's a great idea to rent an ECV and you may want to think about one for each grandparent if they are comfortable driving them. There's alot of walking between attractions and it's very, very hot out right now which adds to fatigue. The lines for attractions can be deceiving and seem shorter at first glance than they actually are. They'd probably be better off taking the ECV's in the queue lines to save their energy. When you stop at your first park, pick up the Guide for Guests with Disabilities for each park which will have info on each attraction and how to proceed. I don't see much downside to renting ECV's other than cost and if someone isn't familiar or comfortable driving them in a crowd. In either case, alternatively you could rent one ECV and one manual chair and have them switch off. This way if one of them wants to walk, they can push the empty chair.---Kathy

The current Guide For Guests with Disabilities is a special park map - available with the other park maps in the front area of the park. Look for the maps in the bin with a blue wheelchair symbol. The maps themselves have a black border on the top.
They do list the entrance for each attraction - it normally says “Enter the regular queue” because, as was already posted, most attractions have Mainstream (accessible) queues. Post # 11 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread actually has a list of the attraction entrances from the new disability maps.

My mom went with us last January and she used an ECV. I totally recommend it! It was much easier than I expected. There will always be an attendant at the ride entrance so you can ask about where to enter. On the rides where they direct you to a different area, you can (generally) bring your entire group with you (we had 10 people). For the safari, you all go into the main line, then someone will direct you to a different loading area just before you get to the trucks.

As mentioned above, MK is the park with the most separate entrances. I believe there is a handout that describes them. For example, at IASM, you enter the main line, then when you get to the bridge, you go over the bridge (where people are exiting) and enter the ride that way. At BTMR, you go to the exit and they bring you in that way.

Finally, if you feel that the walking (especially in the heat) will be too much for them, please encourage BOTH of them to get ECVs. I think it will truly make their experience more enjoyable.

The usual number of guests allowed to accompany the guest in the wheelchair is a total of 6. For some attractions, they may not enforce it. At others, they will make you split into 2 smaller groups - one that goes with the person in the wheelchair and one goes thru the regular line. That is usually when there is not much space at the accessible boarding area or when there is a special ride car/boarding area (like Toy Story Mania) where the ride car will only hold a total of 6. This can happen for shows too, where there will be at least one seat next to the wheelchair space, but the rest of your party will sit nearby. If the party is larger than 6, they may ask the ‘excess’ people to sit somewhere else so that there is room for the other guests with wheelchairs and ECVs to have some companions sit with them. (We were in American Adventure when the first people in parked their ECV and then took up ALL the companion seats for the whole row. So there was no space for anyone else to sit.)

So, be prepared that you MAY have to split into 2 parties.