ECV Question

[Lollipop's Mom]

I may have to rent one for a couple of days. I have had being having some health issues and just had an intensive treatment that is leaving me exhausted. I leave in 3 weeks and am not going to ruin the trip because I get too tired after 3 hours of walking around.

Question - we were in Disneyland about 4 years ago and I hurt my ankle badly while there. I rented an ECV. I was ok enough to leave it at the entrance to the smaller dark rides, walk the line (it was dead when we were there, so no waiting really) and then ride, get back to the ECV.

Well at one point I came out of the ride and my ECV was gone! It turns out the same key is used for all of them and someone took mine (and I have no idea where theirs was? I am thinking they left it somewhere else and mine was more convienent at the time).
I had to walk all the way to the front of the park to get a replacement - and my ankle.....OUCH.

So my question is - does this sort of thing happen at WDW too if you leave it for a bit? I would like to still walk lines a bit just to move a bit, but use the ECV for those long hauls in Epcot and AK between attractions.

Anything I can do to prevent my ECV from being taken??? Etc.....
I have never had to rent one, and not sure if I will, but want to be prepared.

 

[merryweather20]

First off, remember that you'll still be driving all day with the ECV, this might end up pretty tiring! Not sure if a wheel-chair is an option for you, but its something to think about.

Someone else will probably know about the keys, but I have honestly never heard of an ECV being swiped. That said, with wheel-chairs and strollers we tend to leave something small and inexpensive->spare plastic bags, balloons. That way its harder to mistake it for someone else's.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

The key on many ECVs, isn't a 'key' in the sense of the key that opens your front door or starts your car. Mostly they are the same plug & socket that you would find on a guitar or piece of Hi-fi kit, with the positive & negative terminals shorted together. Plug it in and the power circuit is completed & the ECV work - upplug it and the power goes dead.

I would guess that any such key would activate any ECV.

That said, You are the first person I am aware of, that has reported having their ECV taken. I would gues that having your ECV taken at Disney is very, very rare. I wouldn't lose sleep over it. In the very, very unlikely event that it were to happen again, explain the situation to any CM. I am sure they will arange for a replacement to be brought to you.

Andrew

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I agree with the other two that you are the first person I have heard of who has had an ECV stolen.

However, at WDW, as opposed to DL, almost all of the lines are mainstreamed and you will be able to taake the ECV all the way to load/unload.

And if you are using a Disney ECV and it vanishes, rather than going to the front of the park all you would have to do is go to the nearest Cast Member and show them the key with the tag and they can call rental and they will bring a replacement to you.

 

[mechurchlady]

Lots of great advice. There is nothing you can do to stop someone from driving off with a wheelchair, stroller or ECV other than making the item look different and taking the key. This is the first time I have heard of an ECV theft but do know that on ocassion people make mistakes and take the wrong one. I have heard of people taking strollers and that is because they all look alike, they are in a hurry, they want a freebie, etc.

WDW is way different from DLR in that you can take the ECV through most lines. At DLR it is way easier to just walk on if you are in a hurry. Often at DLR during the slow times, the disabled line is a short walk and even the regular lines can be short. I used to be able to use the disabled entrance to Casey Jr. and walk up a ramp and hop the next train on a slow day. WDW is a lot of walking and 10 minutes wait on 10 rides is 100 minutes. I was at a charity billiards event Wednesday night and them bar stools are not short-pooh-sized so I stood up 10 to 15 minutes at a time. I paid for it the next day. It does add up.

If you are really paranoid then you might try one of them locators people use on kids, lol. I saw the ad on television where they say that mom knows her daughter made it to the soccer game.

If your ECV dies or if a wheelchair fails to work then contact the nearest CM who can call for help. They will bring you a wheelchair to get to the rental place. My ECV broke down at Splash Mountain at WDW and they brought me one out to replace it. Even if you rent off site the CMs will help you out.