I went to Disney with my mother while she was undergoing Chemo around four years ago. While everyone is different, and energy levels vary, the
ECV was a life saver for us.
I highly recommend renting an EVC from an off-site company so you have it for the entire trip, thats what we did.
The resorts can be large, and while my mother probably could have walked from parking lots to the parks/hotel room, it was very helpful having the EVC available anytime she wanted to use it. The EVC allowed her to pick up and go most places with us, even if we were doing something outside of the parks. We definitely did less this trip than previous trips, but the EVC allowed her to accompany us most of the time, regardless of whether we were going to the parks or doing something else. Im sure she could have used another nap here or there (and shed probably tell you that she found my asking her every five minutes how she was feeling very annoying), but her priority was spending time with her grandchildren, and I think having the EVC for the entire trip, not just the parks allowed her to spend the maximum amount of time with them. It also helped reduce my stress about whether something was too much for her. No matter where we were, she was assured of having somewhere to sit down.
As others have said, most EVCs will breakdown to fit in cars, and they can go on all Disney transportation. We had a car and had no issues getting the EVC into the trunk, and also took it on Disney transportation.
While the EVC needs to be driven onto the Disney transportation, my mother was not comfortable with this, so others in our group drove it on the bus or monorail (and stayed with it on the monorail), and she simply walked onto the vehicle sat down.
When she felt like walking she did, and others drove the EVC for her.
Like your mother, my mother didnt need any assistance getting around at home, but used the EVC at Disney. For what its worth, my mother was completely opposed to using an EVC before the trip, but I told her I was renting one, and she could choose to use it or not, but we would have one. Other than a few dinners she used it almost the entire time we were at Disney, and at the end of the week admitted that she really needed the EVC.
Unfortunately I dont remember what we did about the parking lots. If youre able to get her a temporary handicapped parking permit, I would do that. Your states department of motor vehicles website should have the information needed to apply for one.
Enjoy your trip and your time with your mother.
