ECV Questions

[cbeardtx]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and I have a couple of questions about using ECV's that I know someone on this board can help me with. I am headed to WDW in 2 1/2 weeks and have finally decided that I am going to have to have an ECV for this trip. I was in a car accident in March and I am dealing with herniated disks as well as fibromyalgia. My family has urged me to go ahead and rent an ECV for several months now, but I kept holding off thinking maybe I could make it. I have never used one before, so remember this is all new to me if I sound really stupid. When I looked at the Buena Vista Scooter rental site I saw that they have 3 wheel and 4 wheel scooters available. What is the difference? Also, can a scooter go up the ramp for the Monorail or is it too steep?

I am planning to got to Target or Walmart a couple of times (late at night - less likely to injure someone) to practice before our trip. Also, we will have some time the afternoon we arrive for me to try it out at the resort before I have to brave the buses and parks.

Thanks for your help. It has been really hard for me to decide that I need to rent one. I'm already nervous about it, and all the threads about the transportation/bus driver problems are making it worse. Wish me luck!

 

[mechurchlady]

FAQs and lots of threads and trip reports have been posted but I will answer some questioins.

Busses and poor service: It is random and some people say they had no problems. Ask yourself at the transportation place the following:
1. Am I in the right place to board and waiting? Some people might get upset if they are denied boarding when they were busy yakking on the cell phone, in the restroom, or come up after the driver is approaching the loading zone.

2. Is there room for the ECV or wheelchair? There is a limit of 2 per bus and if people refuse to move then they cannot put an ECV in that spot. Is the bus full of standing people before as the bus pulls into the loading zone?

3. Is the bus or boat able to take on disabled passengers.

If there is room, you were waiting and everything is working then you have to document the situation and complain politely to a supervisor. I would not hold off a trip for bad bus services as I want to ride the rides and see the shows even if I have to pack lunch and prepare for a 3 hour bus tour. (insert Giligan's Island theme song)

There are few ramps or bridges that are too steep for ECVs. The old time drivers, like 70 year ago, had a method for getting up steep hills. Take a running flying charge up the hill and when you are almost at a stop you turn 90% to the right or left. Set there for a spell and then turn back onto course and charge again up the hill. I have used that method when pushing mom up hills in her wheelchair. That method works. The ferry to MK is not bad on ECVs and can take many disabled people.

The 3 wheel can tip easier but I like those better as they tend to turn in tighter circles. Read FAQS on the various comments on scooters.

 

[Chuck S]

Since you have no experience with an ECV, you might want to use one next time you go to Wal-Mart. Most grocery stores provide them now, too. While there will be differences between models, you'll at least gain some experience in turn radius and stopping/starting.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The three wheel are much easier to maneuver than the four wheel. I can turn my three wheeler in a circle where the radius is very close to the length of my ECV, but for a four wheeler it is much larger as the front wheels can not be turned as far.

Many of the heavy duty ones (designed for more than 350 pounds) are four wheel.

And I never have any problems with the monorail ramps, either up or down.

 

[zumbergc]

Definitely practice at a big box store. However, the one I was helping park after mom used at walmart was nothing like the ones you rent offsite. I say this because the walmart one, was old, hardly charged, 4 wheels, bad turning, etc. So, what i'm saying, if they look hard to manuever, the ones you rent offsite are probably in better condition, since they aren't for the random public, who sometimes doesn't treat the machinery very nice.

If your looking at things to practice. Essentially practice parallel parking, you can also practice back at your resort, before you head to the parks too. The parallel parking helps get you parked in the correct position when getting on the bus . Practice going forwards, backwards. Be aware there is a speed dial on the ecv's. So you turtle slow, think tighter spaces more people, shopping in stores. rabbit speed (fast). think wide open space, no one around.

You'll have a great trip, and the ecv's are easy to learn how to use. You just need to become a mind reader for those people who just stop in front of you or dash out in front of you and stop, while your at the park.

Connie

 

[bzzymom]

My parents have always been "disney people" and vacationed there numerous times in the last 30 years. Back in 1999, my mom started having pain in her feet and the inability to stand for long periods. She endured the parks, taking frequent breaks to sit and rest. Then, she hurt and the "fun" of disney went away, and she didn't want to go back. Finally, she said she would go, but that she would not go to AK because of the terrain and size. I begged her to go along, and rent an ecv at that park. She reluctantly did, and then she found that she could enjoy going to WDW again.

She will not rent a scooter off site though, because she doesn't want the issues with the bus. They rent a car, use the disabled parking tag she has, and then they get a courtesy w/c from the lot to the park, which can be a pain because there have been times, the CM hasn't brought them back, so dad walks to the gate, and back with the chair, and then pushes her to the gate. It is also a real pain a MK to do this, so they usually take the bus there, or avoid going there unless we are there with the kids too.

 

[honugirl]

I just got back from there, first time on an ECV. I had a three wheeled one and loved it. I rented off site from Randy's and had a good experience with them. They meet you and show you how to set it up, etc. Loved using the monorails EXCEPT for the fact that you drive on and have to back off and at several stations I was forgot about and almost didn't get off!!!!!!!!!! One time the doors almost closed on the cast member trying to get me off, FINALLY!!