ECV questions

[Wadecool]

On our upcoming trip to WDW, I will be renting an ECV for the first time. I am 50 and have foot and knee issue that don’t allow me to walk great distances. However, I do not qualify for a handicapped plate so we will be parking in Standard parking. We are staying
off property and I will be transporting the ECV in my vehicle. A couple of questions:
1) we are rope droppers so getting a parking spot close to entrance shouldn’t be an issue, but once I do park, do I just ride my ECV through the parking lot to the entrance?
2) if we leave the park for a break at mid day, is it safe to park ECV just inside entrance so that I don’t have to load and unload into my vehicle later?

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[Her Dotness]

A couple of questions:
1) we are rope droppers so getting a parking spot close to entrance shouldn’t be an issue, but once I do park, do I just ride my ECV through the parking lot to the entrance?

Yes.

2) if we leave the park for a break at mid day, is it safe to park ECV just inside entrance so that I don’t have to load and unload into my vehicle later?

There aren't usually any stroller/ECV parking areas near park entrances, so I wouldn't count on doing that. You'd need to ask a gate CM if it's okay. I think only the Disney in-park rentals can be left for a later return.

Even so, you never know what roaming kids might decide to do on one. We've observed kids playing on ECVs, messing with the controls, jumping on the foot platform, doing all sorts of things that could easily damage one.

Take it with you to be safe. DH always did that when renting one.

 

[DisneyOma]

I'd never leave a rented ECV anywhere, except where a CM told me to. Leave it at the park and go back to your hotel? What if something happens and you can't get back to the park? And as Her Dotness said - people may mess with it. I saw kids pour a slushie on an ECV left outside a room at a Disney resort.

 

[Bete]

Remember you are financially responsible for a rented scooter. Leaving a scooter parked for a restaurant reservation would be as far as I would go. Even then you have to be careful to park it where it doesn't interfere with the flow of traffic in the parks.

Also, most scooters have a manual drive option and you could find your scooter gone.

You have the option of renting a park scooter. Then, you don't have to deal with transporting it. Being rope droppers you should be okay getting a park scooter. Yes, you pay more for a Disney rental. When you leave the park you get a slip from Disney to show when you return back to get your scooter again. You n Ed to tell Disney you will be returning later. If you park hop then you have to hope a scooter will be available at the second park. You can be put on a waiting list at a second park.

If walking from the Disney parking lot to the entrance is a problem for you then someone from your party can drop you off closer and park the car for you.

 

[Her Dotness]

If walking from the Disney parking lot to the entrance is a problem for you then someone from your party can drop you off closer and park the car for you.

Unfortunately, this isn't workable for MK where you must park in the huge MK lot and take Disney transportation from the TTC to the MK gate area. There's no unloading zone for private vehicles near the MK gate.

It's quite a distance from handicap spaces up to the Epcot gate, too. DH can park in one of those but always uses his powerchair to get to the ramp leading to the gate. Since the OP hasn't disabled placard or plates, being dropped off near handicap spaces wouldn't make sense. Park wherever CMs designate, unload ECV and roll on into Epcot.

DHS parking lot is even further from the gate. There's no dropoff point near its gate either.

No idea about AK. We don't go there. I'd be surprised if it's not similar.

Even though staying off-property, Wadecool, I don't think there's much reason to drive to each park, particularly if going to more than one per day, unless you prefer to for some reason. You'll unload and load that ECV much less by using Disney transportation.

Unless there's a particular reason for driving to each park, do consider parking at the MK lot and taking Disney transportation from the TTC to whichever park.

 

[Bete]

It's been a while for us but they use to have Disney wheelchairs for public use in the parking lots; so, you could get pushed by someone in your family to get to the transportation.

 

[Wadecool]

Thanks for all the replies! We don’t park hop, just one park per day. We are bringing our dogs down from KY this time so staying off property is required in addition to taking a midday break to let dogs water the lawn. The ECV I’m renting is supposed to be able to handle 19 miles per day so hopefully it can handle the distance to and from the car in addition to touring the park.

 

[iuki]

On our upcoming trip to WDW, I will be renting an ECV for the first time. I am 50 and have foot and knee issue that don’t allow me to walk great distances. However, I do not qualify for a handicapped plate so we will be parking in Standard parking. We are staying
off property and I will be transporting the ECV in my vehicle. A couple of questions:
1) we are rope droppers so getting a parking spot close to entrance shouldn’t be an issue, but once I do park, do I just ride my ECV through the parking lot to the entrance?
2) if we leave the park for a break at mid day, is it safe to park ECV just inside entrance so that I don’t have to load and unload into my vehicle later?

Thanks in advance for your help

Why don’t you qualify for handicap parking? Even if your condition is temporary, you should be able to get a temporary placard.

 

[iuki]

Treat your rented ECV as though you owned it. When leaving it unattended, cover it with a poncho. You never know if it’ll rain while at an attraction. Leaving it at a park is something I personally would never do. My electric wheelchair cost me $3,000. I worry about it when I leave it just to get on a ride.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

It's been a while for us but they use to have Disney wheelchairs for public use in the parking lots; so, you could get pushed by someone in your family to get to the transportation.

if there are any in the parking lot. I have never had any luck at MK even at rope drop and only once on way back to parking has one been for use back to car. park one are not allowed out the gate

 

[SueM in MN]

As you get to each CM directing traffic, let them know that you have an ECV, but don’t have a handicapped parking permit. They will direct you where to park. There are overflow lots for the ‘Medical Parking’ in each parking lot. If you are directed there, don’t park in any spots with handicapped parking signs/symbols OR blue paint. Those are all designated handicapped parking spots and people parking without a permit can get ticketed.

I agree with other posters to check into getting a temporary handicapped parking permit. Many states have the permit form available online; your doctor’s office may also keep copies in their office to fill out.

I also agree with the other posters that it would not be a good idea to leave the ECV in the park while you go back to your resort. Even if you find what seems like a safe place, there is no guarantee the ECV will be there when you get back. And if you don’t come back to the park, it will be stuck there

 

[Her Dotness]

Why don’t you qualify for handicap parking? Even if your condition is temporary, you should be able to get a temporary placard.

An injury or other issue affecting mobility has to be pretty substantial to qualify for handicap parking.

For instance, I had a knee injury a few years ago that sometimes caused my knee to collapse unexpectedly. I walked with a cane for several months and often had substantial pain. Worked with a PT doing exercises and TENS unit treatments regularly for 6 weeks.

No way I could have walked at Disney beyond short distances in our resort. In fact, I needed a cane at Disney for each of the next 2 years after that but did the walking then.

What is enough to qualify for handicap parking can vary somewhat. That's why I take the OP at his word: He doesn't qualify.

 

[Wadecool]

An injury or other issue affecting mobility has to be pretty substantial to qualify for handicap parking.

For instance, I had a knee injury a few years ago that sometimes caused my knee to collapse unexpectedly. I walked with a cane for several months and often had substantial pain. Worked with a PT doing exercises and TENS unit treatments regularly for 6 weeks.

No way I could have walked at Disney beyond short distances in our resort. In fact, I needed a cane at Disney for each of the next 2 years after that but did the walking then.

What is enough to qualify for handicap parking can vary somewhat. That's why I take the OP at his word: He doesn't qualify.

I actually ran into my doctor yesterday and was telling her about all this and she said she’d write me a temporary permit.

 

[maxiesmom]

An injury or other issue affecting mobility has to be pretty substantial to qualify for handicap parking.

For instance, I had a knee injury a few years ago that sometimes caused my knee to collapse unexpectedly. I walked with a cane for several months and often had substantial pain. Worked with a PT doing exercises and TENS unit treatments regularly for 6 weeks.

No way I could have walked at Disney beyond short distances in our resort. In fact, I needed a cane at Disney for each of the next 2 years after that but did the walking then.

What is enough to qualify for handicap parking can vary somewhat. That's why I take the OP at his word: He doesn't qualify.

I had what sounds like a very similar injury and twice was issued a temporary permit.

 

[lanejudy]

I had what sounds like a very similar injury and twice was issued a temporary permit.

It can vary by state, with some states more/less likely to grant a temp tag. Anyone in this situation should still look into it, no harm in asking.

 

[RoseGold]

These responses are a little dramatic. There are ECVs parked everywhere, all over WDW. It's very obvious. No one will care if you leave it parked to go for a few hours, no matter where you go.

 

[Her Dotness]

I actually ran into my doctor yesterday and was telling her about all this and she said she’d write me a temporary permit.

Great! Glad to hear that.

As a pp said, what qualifies varies from state to state and certainly from doctor to doctor.

You'll find handicap parking helps somewhat.

 

[maxiesmom]

These responses are a little dramatic. There are ECVs parked everywhere, all over WDW. It's very obvious. No one will care if you leave it parked to go for a few hours, no matter where you go.

I think it is more worry that someone may mess with it.

 

[Wadecool]

I love the DIS! You guys are always amazing with all the invaluable info!

 

[Her Dotness]

I think it is more worry that someone may mess with it.

Yes, we learned an expensive lesson while dining at CRT once when told that a CM would run DH's powerchair downstairs to park it for him in the area near BB Boutique used for that.

Had always left the pouch containing his "pool cue" screw-together cane in the chair pouch for 3-4 years, no problem.

Discovered upon getting back to our room that some heartless person had neatly removed the center segment with a screw embedded in one end (an attractive weapon, of course, as it was sturdy, nicely finished wood) and put the cane pouch back just as it was positioned.

This excuse for humanity stole his Disney poncho to wrap it in. Took the grocery bag he used to cover the joystick in rain, too. Likely to stash the wrapped cane section in the bag unobtrusively.

Fortunately, I'd insisted he bring one of his regular canes, too, or we'd have had to try finding one long enough for him somewhere.

And yes, we knew people on these forums warn, "DO NOT leave anything of value with a parked scooter or chair." It was dumb of us.

We're smarter now. Everything goes with us on rides since then, and he refuses to transfer out of the chair in restaurants.