ECV Questions for first timer

[Barbruka]

My husband tore his meniscus two weeks ago, and we just found out yesterday he has to have surgery when we return from our trip which starts Saturday. He has been told to stay off of it as much as possible. We have access to his brother's ECV and we're wondering how these work in the park for rides, etc. Does he have to do a certain line by himself? He can transfer to some ride vehicles but some rides he will have to skip this trip. Will our group be allowed to stay with him?

 

[siren0119]

Nearly all of the lines at WDW are ADA-compliant, meaning that ECVs and wheelchairs can go through the line with all guests. There are times when he needs to transfer into a ride vehicle away from where other guests are boarding, or enter using a different entrance, but they should allow your party to stay together regardless.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I had nearly the same experience last year, knee and back injury right before the trip. The ECV was a lifesaver. Disney is extremely ECV friendly, and navigating was not that hard. I was able to do some things but had to sit out others. I would suggest doing looking at some Youtube videos about accessibility at Disney. It's really helpful to be able to see what you will be looking at doing for each ride to decide what you want to try or avoid.

 

[Heather07438]

Here's a handy link that lists the rides and how they work with ECV. For most of them he can stay take the scooter on line. It's not bad, really. DH needs a scooter and I was surprised how easy WDW is to navigate this way. The advantages/disadvantages basically cancel each other out so it won't make a big impact to your trip.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/

 

[Euby]

Just a tip before you go... Have your husband practice driving the ECV at a store. It will help when it comes time to go through the queues (some of which have tight (yet doable) turns. Also when in the queue with the ECV, keep the speed on turtle.

Have fun on your trip! I think you'll see that you will miss out on less than you expect.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just remember-if you bring your own (or your brother's) ECV and you break down in the park, you're on your own. However, if you rent an ECV and break down, the rental company will bring you a new one. However, is that possibility worth the more than $150 rental cost?

 

[Betty Rohrer]

My husband tore his meniscus two weeks ago, and we just found out yesterday he has to have surgery when we return from our trip which starts Saturday. He has been told to stay off of it as much as possible. We have access to his brother's ECV and we're wondering how these work in the park for rides, etc. Does he have to do a certain line by himself? He can transfer to some ride vehicles but some rides he will have to skip this trip. Will our group be allowed to stay with him?

yes they will keep your group together as much as possible depending on size of group. would a cane or crutches help with loading and unloading of rides not for long distances? in most lines you all go thru line together with him and ECV. a few like Pirates he will have to transfer to a wheelchair which is at the ride and then pick up his ECV back at front of ride when he returns the wheelchair. there are ways around all rides that have steps like Toy Story the CM at the ride will tell you how it is done at that ride. as another said are you sure of the brother's ECV not breaking down? one advantage of a rental is help in case of break down even if in the park. been there and had it happen the company was there with a replacement within an hour in middle of AK at no extra cost to me. have a great trip. it is very doable

 

[mamabunny]

I apologize in advance - I know my reply is a bit long, but I hope it answers some of your - and most importantly, your hubby's - questions about using an ECV at WDW

(I'm using "you" and "your" to refer to you, your hubby and your family)

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Don't worry if y'all park the ECV, and you come out of a ride, attraction or meal to find it "missing".

Cast Members routinely have to shift around scooters and strollers to keep walkways clear, and to fill in blank spots. Because there are so many similar ECVs (especially rental ECVs) it can be easy for it to become "lost" in a small sea of similar looking units. So, one of the things we recommend you do is tie a brightly colored length of ribbon, or even a brightly colored cotton bandana somewhere on the scooter. You can even pop a favorite Disney T-shirt over the back of the seat! That way, you ask the CM who is moving scooters and strollers around if they have seen the scooter with the bright green ribbons on the basket - instead of "the black one" or "the one with a captain's chair".

In all the years I have been hanging around here, we have had *one* scooter that was literally taken by accident because it was identical to the scooter that person had rented. (for rentals, the keys are all the same so the rental company doesn't have to keep track of one particular set of keys - they can hand over any key for any scooter). It all got sorted in the end, and everything was OK. But seriously, at WDW, in the Parks, you don't have to worry.

And always always always take the key if you leave the scooter anywhere. Cast Members know how to disengage the brake to move it if need be.

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Remember that you won't park it outside your hotel room - it goes in your hotel room every night to full recharge - and I know it goes without saying that you don't ever want leave anything in/on the scooter that you don't want to grow legs and "walk" away...

There is plenty of room in every Disney Resort hotel room to park & charge a standard scooter.

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Disney Springs merits a quick mention - because it's open to the public with no admission, there is a greater chance that someone *might* try to take it on a joyride, but simply taking the key with you every time you leave it solves a lot of that kind of nonsense!

There should be no problems using the scooter there, either. You can even use the water taxi system to get from one end of the Springs to the other with the ECV.

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Now, let's talk about buses. And ramps. (and Monorails and boats, too - they use portable ramps to get on and off)

Sometimes people worry that other Guests are watching or "judging" them when they use the ramp to drive their device into/out of the bus. I've been using a personal mobility device for *years* at WDW now, and I know that people who appear to be staring at you when you are loading/unloading from the bus really are often just watching out of curiosity.

Think about it like this: The bus pulls up, and everyone gets off. BUT before anyone can get on, the driver closes the front doors, and the back doors, and then walks to the back of the bus. The back doors open again - but only *after* the bus has "kneeled" (with a great huge wheezy gasp) and then barfed out a ramp with all kinds of beeping as well!

It's a wonder that Disney hasn't decided to sell tickets for the spectacular that is the bus deploying/retracting the ramp!

So, often the folks who may (to us) appear to be "judging" or staring, are actually WDW newbies who are startled by all of the commotion. But it's the *bus* they are watching - not the scooter driver.

At the Resort Hotel, make sure you are parked in the white painted rectangle at the bus stop (unless another guest beat you to it) so that the driver sees you, and knows you are waiting to ride. As the bus approaches, I usually try to wave and smile to let the driver know I will be riding their bus.

When the driver says that it's time to board the bus, just let them know that you are a newbie, and will appreciate all the help they can give you. Remember - they are an *expert* at getting folks on and off the bus, so just take a deep breath, and listen to their instructions, and everything will be fine

When the ramp comes down, line up on the ramp, and try to go right up the center. At the top of the ramp you will typically have to turn a bit to the right. GO SLOWLY, especially until you are used to the ECV. Even experienced users take this carefully - the last thing you want is to run over the driver, or hit the side of the doorway going in. The drivers will give you instructions and will help as much as they can, but *technically* it is up to you (or a member of your party) to actually get the ECV up into (or back out of) the bus. You will always board first, and exit last.

If you are just too worried about driving on and off the bus, someone who is with you can do that for you. Again, they just have to follow the bus driver's instructions. You can walk up or down the ramp after the driver tells you it is safe to do so.

When it's time to drive off the bus, the most important thing is to make sure that you don't turn your front wheels (or the "tiller" - the steering mechanism) until AFTER your rear wheels are on the ground, and you are completely clear of the ramp. You don't want to catch the edge of the ramp, and tip over!

Boats: All of the boats, except for the little launches at Poly & WL, are accessible. Most of the boats will have a portable ramp that a CM will place for you to drive on and off the boat. The exception to this is at WL; the bigger boats historically don't use a ramp there, and you just have to hope that the water level (and number of people on the boat) work in your favor! (Makes it kind of exciting LOL!) We have had a CM instruct us to wait while more people board to lower the boat, and then when the doorway is at the optimum height to the dock, they wave us on.

Monorail: You will see the same portable ramps at the Monorail stations that we use at the boats. A CM will tell you which car to drive to, and will place a ramp for you. Sometimes, you get lucky, and you drive on, and drive off - but there will be times when you have to back off down the ramp. Remember to keep your wheels straight, have someone behind you giving you clear verbal cues, and take your time for safety.

Skyliner: You will be directed to a special area for loading where the Skyliner cabins are stopped at all stations (except for Riveria, and that should *not* be attempted by a novice driver because they can't stop the line there)

The Skyliner cabins are all a direct drive-on; no ramp is needed. Once the ECV is in the cabin, the CM will place wheel chocks to prevent the scooter from rolling across the cabin during flight. When you arrive at your destination, your cabin will be sent to the HA loading area, and the CM will enter the cabin to remove the chocks, and you will back straight off the Skyliner. Again take your time, and keep your wheels straight.

In general: Whenever loading/unloading from Disney transportation of any kind, use the *slowest* possible speed - this may be indicated on the controls by a "turtle" - and listen to the CMs who are there for your safety.

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So that you can have the best trip possible, here's a few more tips, just for you:

- Plan ahead if you are flying. Remember that long lines at TSA - and long concourses inside terminals - can be problematic. You may want to consider bringing along a folding rollator or a wheelchair that someone in your party could push, or arranging for an airport porter service if you will need it.

- If flying in to Orlando, be sure to let Disney's Magical Express know if you will need to use the lift to get in and out of the bus that goes to and from the airport. (you must be seated on/in a wheelchair or ECV to use the lift)

- You can always practice your ECV driving and parking skills at Wal-Mart, Target, Lowe's, the grocery store, etc. and it will help. It's a great way to practice for the inevitable moment when someone *will* walk right out in front of you while you are driving at WDW!

- WDW has a rule - for everyone's safety - that only you ride the ECV. You will undoubtedly see people holding children on their laps while driving their scooters, but it's very dangerous, and I hope you will agree that safety comes first. One ECV, one rider.

- Don't allow the scooter to become your group's personal pack mule. It's a medical mobility device, meant to carry a person, not everyone's bags, coats and "stuff". For the comfort and safety of the rider, try to make sure that they are not overburdened. This is especially true at bag check - ECVs still have to go through security lines, and the person on the ECV is responsible for everything on the ECV, or in it's basket/compartment/bag at security.

- Remember to stay sharp and focused while driving the ECV - people at WDW tend to be doing everything but paying attention to others when they are walking, and many of us here have had folks run right into us, or walk right in front of us as we are moving!

Bipeds don't realize that many scooters can't just stop on a dime; some of them "coast" a tiny bit before coming to a complete stop, even if the driver is hard on the brakes. To help keep everyone safe and whole, I try to make eye contact, smile politely, and offer an cheerful "Excuse me!" when needed. Little kiddos are also prone to running out in front of mobility devices because they are blissfully unaware of the laws of physics.

- If you can, practice a bit with your rental (at the Resort is a great spot for this) prior to going in to the parks. Get used to how it handles, turns, stops and starts. Every ECV is a bit different (just like any other vehicle). I have 2 personal ECVs, identical models and they each have their own "personality" (and name. Because I'm weird like that LOL)

- A few miscellaneous driving tips: anytime at WDW (or anytime using an ECV for that matter) be aware of ramps, hills and slopes. Going up, you will want to lean forward slightly to help shift your center of gravity towards the front of the ECV. Take your time on steep slopes, hills or ramps, and if possible, approach them at a slight angle at the base.

Coming down, be very aware of your speed, and make sure you can brake effectively. Two hands on the wheel!

When crossing the train tracks embedded in Main Street at MK, be sure to cross at an angle. Otherwise, you risk the wheel(s) getting caught, and you could find yourself dumped rather unceremoniously onto Main Street. Everyone wants to have an unforgettable trip - just for the right reasons!

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Let us know if you have any more questions about ECV use at WDW!

 

[Brave Princess]

So I broke my ankle at Disney with 5 days left to our trip. It seriously sucked. I really thought my trip was ruined. We rented an ecv from an outside company that night and it was at our hotel in the morning. Disney made it really, really easy to use. Almost everything was accessible. We also loved taking the monorail as opposed to the buses, when we could. For some rides, usually the older ones, we had to park it outside and they gave us a wheelchair my husband could push me in. The CMs were super patient with me transferring, they'd grab my crutches from me and everything would be waiting for me as soon as I got off. All the CMs were awesome.

Now, I have to say, as a warning, some guests at Disney were terrible. People were constantly bumping into the ecv and cutting me off, and I was being super duper careful. My husband had to stand in front and the kids at the sides to guard me. At Chef Mickey's, I had to use the accessible bathroom, the other bathrooms, if I remember, were on a different floor. Some lady with her kid, who both appeared to be completely able to go to the other bathroom, literally cut in front of me and said the other one was too far. However, the characters went out of their way to come over to me. They didnt make me try to stand up. So, like I said, the CMs were amazing. Also, people got really annoyed when they had to wait for me and my family to load on the buses, and God forbid someone had to stand up because they were sitting in the seats that raise up so the ecv could be secured in.

So there were times I was really uncomfortable. And there were a few things I had to sit out, but for the most part, the ecv saved our trip.

 

[Brave Princess]

So I broke my ankle at Disney with 5 days left to our trip. It seriously sucked. I really thought my trip was ruined. We rented an ecv from an outside company that night and it was at our hotel in the morning. Disney made it really, really easy to use. Almost everything was accessible. We also loved taking the monorail as opposed to the buses, when we could. For some rides, usually the older ones, we had to park it outside and they gave us a wheelchair my husband could push me in. The CMs were super patient with me transferring, they'd grab my crutches from me and everything would be waiting for me as soon as I got off. All the CMs were awesome.

Now, I have to say, as a warning, some guests at Disney were terrible. People were constantly bumping into the ecv and cutting me off, and I was being super duper careful. My husband had to stand in front and the kids at the sides to guard me. At Chef Mickey's, I had to use the accessible bathroom, the other bathrooms, if I remember, were on a different floor. Some lady with her kid, who both appeared to be completely able to go to the other bathroom, literally cut in front of me and said the other one was too far. However, the characters went out of their way to come over to me. They didnt make me try to stand up. So, like I said, the CMs were amazing. Also, people got really annoyed when they had to wait for me and my family to load on the buses, and God forbid someone had to stand up because they were sitting in the seats that raise up so the ecv could be secured in.

So there were times I was really uncomfortable. And there were a few things I had to sit out, but for the most part, the ecv saved our trip.

I'd like to add that when I had special ride or show entrances, they never separated our family. We always waited in line, rode together, sat together, etc.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

So I broke my ankle at Disney with 5 days left to our trip. It seriously sucked. I really thought my trip was ruined. We rented an ecv from an outside company that night and it was at our hotel in the morning. Disney made it really, really easy to use. Almost everything was accessible. We also loved taking the monorail as opposed to the buses, when we could. For some rides, usually the older ones, we had to park it outside and they gave us a wheelchair my husband could push me in. The CMs were super patient with me transferring, they'd grab my crutches from me and everything would be waiting for me as soon as I got off. All the CMs were awesome.

Now, I have to say, as a warning, some guests at Disney were terrible. People were constantly bumping into the ecv and cutting me off, and I was being super duper careful. My husband had to stand in front and the kids at the sides to guard me. At Chef Mickey's, I had to use the accessible bathroom, the other bathrooms, if I remember, were on a different floor. Some lady with her kid, who both appeared to be completely able to go to the other bathroom, literally cut in front of me and said the other one was too far. However, the characters went out of their way to come over to me. They didnt make me try to stand up. So, like I said, the CMs were amazing. Also, people got really annoyed when they had to wait for me and my family to load on the buses, and God forbid someone had to stand up because they were sitting in the seats that raise up so the ecv could be secured in.

So there were times I was really uncomfortable. And there were a few things I had to sit out, but for the most part, the ecv saved our trip.

sorry your trip ended like it did. glad you were able to save most of it.

 

[Brave Princess]

sorry your trip ended like it did. glad you were able to save most of it.

Thanks. Believe me, I was having a total self-pity party the day it happened. But my husband made sure we had the ecv first thing the next morning. And as soon as I got back out there, I couldn't help but get back in the Disney magic.

 

[Barbruka]

So wanted to let you know how our trip went. Actually great! The scooter saved my husband's life! There is no way he could have walked all over. We put in over 20 thousand steps a day! We were allowed to stay together all the time, all fifteen of us! Cast members were fantastic! Now comes the fun part. Surgery for the torn meniscus in a few weeks! So glad our trip wasn't a wash out. Been planning this for over 4 years! Thanks everyone for your advice!