ECV questions

[Zippa D Doodah]

I will be taking my parents (both in their 70s) to MK for a day next month. My Dad has severe rheumatoid arthritis and will be using an ECV,as he always does at home because he cannot walk long distances at all.
I read through some of the posts on this forum but still have some specific questions:

1) My Dad's main issue is mobility, but he also does get tired quickly due to the RA. I am thinking we do NOT need a DAS. Would that be correct?

2) I think he will be doing mostly shows (Tiki Room, CBJ, CoP, HoP, Philharmagic). His neck gets sore so we will try and avoid anything that would jar him. Are there any rides he can do while remaining in ECV? I am thinking Small World has/had boats that could accommodate that. Any others? Jungle Cruise maybe?

3) If he is feeling good and wants to try to transfer on a ride or two I am guessing HM might be a good one. His hands would not let him operate the lasers on Buzz. Other rides I know would be too much of a step down or up for him to transfer. Other would be too jarring. Any suggestions?

4) How do you access the handicap areas for parades? Is that first come first serve for people in ECVs? Do you need a DAS for that?

5) What is the best way to get from the MK parking lot to the TTC? Will they direct us to a handicap parking spot where we can get to the TTC? Do trams accommodate ECVs?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Twende]

I will be taking my parents (both in their 70s) to MK for a day next month. My Dad has severe rheumatoid arthritis and will be using an ECV,as he always does at home because he cannot walk long distances at all.
I read through some of the posts on this forum but still have some specific questions:

1) My Dad's main issue is mobility, but he also does get tired quickly due to the RA. I am thinking we do NOT need a DAS. Would that be correct?

2) I think he will be doing mostly shows (Tiki Room, CBJ, CoP, HoP, Philharmagic). His neck gets sore so we will try and avoid anything that would jar him. Are there any rides he can do while remaining in ECV? I am thinking Small World has/had boats that could accommodate that. Any others? Jungle Cruise maybe?

3) If he is feeling good and wants to try to transfer on a ride or two I am guessing HM might be a good one. His hands would not let him operate the lasers on Buzz. Other rides I know would be too much of a step down or up for him to transfer. Other would be too jarring. Any suggestions?

4) How do you access the handicap areas for parades? Is that first come first serve for people in ECVs? Do you need a DAS for that?

5) What is the best way to get from the MK parking lot to the TTC? Will they direct us to a handicap parking spot where we can get to the TTC? Do trams accommodate ECVs?

Thanks in advance!

I can help a bit but there are others here who will know more.

In MK, Jungle Cruise has a boat that allows you to stay in the ECV. We have found long waits for those vehicles so I would suggest you FP+ those in order to cut your wait time. Jungle cruise seems to have a bit different system and the major wait is for the one non-transfer vehicle. I have corrected this post, Small World will ask you to transfer to their wheel chair and then the wheel chair will be put on the boat. A fast pass here will help with the lines. The handicapped access line is usually very long on Small World.

My DH can transfer but the step down into the Boats at Pirates is difficult for him. He does it in two steps, one on to the seat and the other to the floor. Splash Mountain has a big step down too but the end of this attraction wold jar your dad too much anyway.

Haunted mansion's moving walkway can be slowed down and stopped when necessary just make sure you speak up and let them know. You can also skip the Stretching room and go directly to the exit to enter your Doom Buggy.

The Flight of Peter Pan also has a moving walkway but it does not stop so I would suggest you skip it.

For parades, you do not need a DAS. It is first come, first served and they usually only allow 1 other person to enter that area and they must stand behind the scooter.

When parking for MK with a handicapped placard, you will be directed to a special parking area. The trams do not service this area. You will park and then walk/scooter to either the monorail or the ferry. You go under an over pass and it is quite a walk but scooter users do not seem to mind. Wheel chair pushers (sometimes me) hate it! LOL! We have no preference on either the ferry boat or the monorail. The monorail does have long steep ramps when getting on and off the monorail but again on a scooter it should not matter much.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Bete]

I'm not aware of any ride that allows an ECV. There are are some rides that will let you stay in a wheelchair which Small World and Jungle Cruise will let you do, but not an ECV.

From what you have described I don't think I would chance any ride where he would board on and off himself.

You may want to consider a wheelchair. The Great Movie Ride, Universe of Energy and some boat rides are doable with a wheelchair. Even if he can't shoot it might be fun to go on Toy Story Mania and Buzz which accept wheelchairs.

 

[Twende]

I'm not aware of any ride that allows an ECV. There are are some rides that will let you stay in a wheelchair which Small World and Jungle Cruise will let you do, but not an ECV. ..............

Here is the DISNEY link: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/mobility-disabilities/

I was incorrect about Small World. You need to transfer to a wheel chair. I could have sworn that we took a ECV on it in the past but the current info says to transfer to the attractions wheel chair.

BUT you can stay in your ECV and ride the Jungle Cruise.

 

[Mrsjvb]

1: correct

2: not sure if the JC HA boat can take an ECV, it fits my WC pretty snugly side to side. and if they only have one running, the wait can be fairly long. am also almost positive they make you transfer to a WC at IASW just at the turn down the ramp( I vaguely recall some lonely looking Park WCs being staged there) so hey maybe JC is the same way? how is he on transferring on a moving walkway? most of the time I am pretty good as long as I get on early and can work my way up the ride vehicle they selected for me.

3: he doesn't have to play Buzz, he can just ride and enjoy/cheer his seat mate on. I am a sucker for tea cups and you can always not spin the internal wheel.

4: I don't do parades or fireworks but the general consensus is: get there eat least an hour out and only one person can be in the roped off section with you. everyone else will wait behind or nearby.

5: no clue I just use the buses which are pretty good about fitting us all on.

 

[Twende]

On the Jungle Cruise, I know for a fact that you can stay on your ECV. One of my very good friends who was an amputee stayed on her scooter and we rode with her. DH chose to transfer but waited and rode with her on the 1 boat that allows you to stay on your scooter.

 

[gap2368]

I will be taking my parents (both in their 70s) to MK for a day next month. My Dad has severe rheumatoid arthritis and will be using an ECV,as he always does at home because he cannot walk long distances at all.
I read through some of the posts on this forum but still have some specific questions:

1) My Dad's main issue is mobility, but he also does get tired quickly due to the RA. I am thinking we do NOT need a DAS. Would that be correct?

2) I think he will be doing mostly shows (Tiki Room, CBJ, CoP, HoP, Philharmagic). His neck gets sore so we will try and avoid anything that would jar him. Are there any rides he can do while remaining in ECV? I am thinking Small World has/had boats that could accommodate that. Any others? Jungle Cruise maybe?

3) If he is feeling good and wants to try to transfer on a ride or two I am guessing HM might be a good one. His hands would not let him operate the lasers on Buzz. Other rides I know would be too much of a step down or up for him to transfer. Other would be too jarring. Any suggestions?

4) How do you access the handicap areas for parades? Is that first come first serve for people in ECVs? Do you need a DAS for that?

5) What is the best way to get from the MK parking lot to the TTC? Will they direct us to a handicap parking spot where we can get to the TTC? Do trams accommodate ECVs?

Thanks in advance!

1 he dose not need a DAS

2i think others have a seed this

3 I would get the Gide for disabilities to see what rides are like

4 first come first served and you do not need a DAS and I would just find any place and you should be fine

5 handy cape if he had a hang tag is near the front and a very short walk although you do walk under a bridge but if he is in a ECV he should have no problems

 

[Bete]

I stand corrected on the Jungle Cruise. We tried with a scooter and we were refused about three years ago. Maybe, the cast member didn't know how to do it. We were willing to wait for the special boat.

The link for disabilities is a good one to follow.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

So much help! Thanks for all the insightful responses. I will consult Disney's accessibility page.

I am actually pleasantly surprised Mom and Dad wanted to go to MK for a day. I am taking them (and my 18yo daughter) down for a few spring training games. This is a last minute trip I put together because we have talked forever about going back to FL for spring training,and at this point you never know how many "next years" there are left. There was an opening on my calendar and DD is on spring break so I went for it. Little did I know Dad was going to practically insist we all do a day at MK. Bless his heart! I think I will be having fun on this one day at MK, but it will be a different kind of fun than all my previous trips with DW, DD, and DS. It's going to be a privilege to help Mom and Dad as they enjoy MK and spring training baseball

 

[mamabunny]

I'm not aware of any ride that allows an ECV. There are are some rides that will let you stay in a wheelchair which Small World and Jungle Cruise will let you do, but not an ECV.

From what you have described I don't think I would chance any ride where he would board on and off himself.

You may want to consider a wheelchair. The Great Movie Ride, Universe of Energy and some boat rides are doable with a wheelchair. Even if he can't shoot it might be fun to go on Toy Story Mania and Buzz which accept wheelchairs.

The accessible boat at Jungle Cruise allows you to remain on your ECV. I know, I have done it twice in the last year! I love that stinkin' thing so much - it's almost exactly as it was in 1972, the first time I rode it! That boat does typically require a bit of a wait, but the lift mechanism is so cool, it's like getting a "bonus" ride with your jungle cruise!

Toy Story Mania (Buzz Lightyear at MK) is so much fun - but with his neck issues I might be a bit worried. The cars tend to whip around really quickly and you can get jostled around a bit.

At MK, the Enchanted Tiki Room, Philharmagic and Carousel of Progress are all attractions where he should be able to remain on the ECV. The Tomorrowland Transit People Mover is a wonderful 10 minute ride, but he has to leave the ECV at the bottom and ride the escalator-belt to the top, and then step on to a moving car.

The Railroad is a great trip around MK - but you have to park your ECV at the station, transfer on to the train (you can use a wheelchair if you wish) and then ride the full loop back to the station you boarded at to get your ECV.

Hall of Presidents is always a treat, and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor is another huge favorite - no need to transfer unless you want to, and the show is different every time!