ECV question

[CSHaydt]

Hi i've been reading threads about the ECV's and i still have a few questions. My DFIL will be joining us -he recently had a hit replacement. We are staying at the fort and will have a golf cart and we have our car so he can drive to the parks and drop him up front (so we don't have to depend on buses) but... He can walk some but is struggling more then he thought he's 75

1. If my DH and DS and i get to the parks early - can we rent him an ECV and then it's ready for him when he and my DMIL get to the park and hour or two later. Kind of reserve it for him or do we need to take it right away - i'm sure we will be at the parks very early and the need more time to pull themselves together in the morning and meet us for lunch and then spend the rest of the day in the parks.

2. Is there anyway to reserve an ECV a head of time?

3. How may do the parks usually have?

4. How do we handle him in lines? are there handicap lines for our whole family or do we need to wait in line and he can join us when we get up front? How does that work.

Thanks everyone... any help would be appreciated.

 

[KPeveler]

Hi i've been reading threads about the ECV's and i still have a few questions. My DFIL will be joining us -he recently had a hit replacement. We are staying at the fort and will have a golf cart and we have our car so he can drive to the parks and drop him up front (so we don't have to depend on buses) but... He can walk some but is struggling more then he thought he's 75

1. If my DH and DS and i get to the parks early - can we rent him an ECV and then it's ready for him when he and my DMIL get to the park and hour or two later. Kind of reserve it for him or do we need to take it right away - i'm sure we will be at the parks very early and the need more time to pull themselves together in the morning and meet us for lunch and then spend the rest of the day in the parks.

2. Is there anyway to reserve an ECV a head of time?

3. How may do the parks usually have?

4. How do we handle him in lines? are there handicap lines for our whole family or do we need to wait in line and he can join us when we get up front? How does that work.

Thanks everyone... any help would be appreciated.

1 and 2. You cannot rent a scooter onsite ahead of time. If you rented one, you would have to take it.

3. The parks usually have quite a few ECVs, but during busy times they can run out. If you want to be sure he gets an ECV, you should rent one from off-site.

4. Most lines are mainstreamed, so everyone will go through the main line together. The few rides that are not mainstreamed, he and up to 5 others will be directed to the accessible line. The CM at the entrance to each attraction will tell you where to go. You can also get a Guidemap for Guests with Disabilities, which will also tell you where the entrance is.

I really suggest renting an ECV off site. It is less expensive and you are guaranteed to have one. You can reserve it off-site ahead of time, so you don't have to stand in the line at the rental counter every day.

If you switch parks during the day, you have to hope that the next park has an ECV - renting one in the first park does no guarantee it for the second one.

He may also want the ECV for the resort - the last time I was down there, if I went to the pool, then to the main building, and then back to my room, it would have been a mile and a half! Plus he can use it at DTD and other such places.

All buses and monorails and almost all boats can take the ECVs, and there are several models which can be broken apart and put in trunks of cars. The off site ones are a LOT easier to handle as they are smaller.

Check out the FAQs at the top of the page to find the names of several rental companies that have been recommended here on the DIS.

 

[peemagg]

Here are the answers that I know for your questions.

1. If my DH and DS and i get to the parks early - can we rent him an ECV and then it's ready for him when he and my DMIL get to the park and hour or two later. Kind of reserve it for him or do we need to take it right away - i'm sure we will be at the parks very early and the need more time to pull themselves together in the morning and meet us for lunch and then spend the rest of the day in the parks.

Yes, you can rent it for him and then you take it with you. I don't think they will allow you to rent it and leave it there until he arrives. You will have to meet him somewhere and give it to him.

2. Is there anyway to reserve an ECV a head of time?

Yes from an off-site vendor. From Disney no you can't.

3. How may do the parks usually have?

Not that many.

4. How do we handle him in lines? are there handicap lines for our whole family or do we need to wait in line and he can join us when we get up front? How does that work.

Most lines are now mainstreamed, which means everyone uses the same line. He would just ride the ECV in the regular line with the rest of you. For those few lines (mostly at MK) that need an alternative entrance, the CM at the will tell you what you need to do. As long as your party is less than 6 people (driver of ECV, and 5 others), you should all be able to go together.