ECV queue line anxiety help

[Lizgistix]

I've been going to Disney every quarter (or so) for almost 2 years now and was just today made aware that my mom gets major anxiety going through queue lines in an ECV. We rent a 3-wheeled ECV because of the better turning radius but I guess some of the turns in queues make her anxious about damaging the scooter and mom is a nervous wreck by the time we get to the loading area. (she just told me this today, I had no idea!). I've taken an ECV through the queue lines myself with no problems, and I've even tried coaching her in turns on how to do it properly to not get caught on anything. She now wants to walk through the queue and have me drive the ECV instead but these lines can be a bit long. For reference, we rent 3rd party so it's not the behemoth for rent in-park.

Any tips or ideas on how to help her with this ECV queue line anxiety?
(I do get the damage waiver, just in case. )

 

[Bjkandma]

This may work. My disabilities include not being able to use my wrists. They are fused and have plates and screws in each. I ride the scooter through the lines (as well as any where in the park. My adult daughter actually walks on either the right side through the line, using the controls. If it seems narrow, she actually stands in front and controls the scooter. She also drives the scooter on the right side when walking through the park. She also "drives" while I ride on and off the bus. We have been doing this for at least the last four trips.

Just returned a cast member in the emporium kept announcing "make way for the queen". We all were laughing including guests who actually moved out of my way.

I've asked her numerous times if she preferred this vs, pushing a wheelchair. She said this is much easier. Hopefully this is something that might work for you. (We rent from Gold Mobility and the insurance waiver is included in the rental cost.

 

[ttintagel]

They don’t have them at every attraction*, but wherever possible it may be easier for her to transfer into a manual wheelchair for the length of the queue.

*Heck, they don’t even always have them at attractions where you’re *required* to transfer, so obv this strategy won’t work everywhere.

 

[mamabunny]

One tip that might help her feel more in control of the scooter is to make sure that the speed is turned all the way down to "turtle" (most rentals have a "turtle to rabbit" scale that indicates the relative speed of the scooter) when entering a queue. By going to full turtle mode, she does not have to worry about the throttle, only steering. It's great that y'all rent a 3-wheeler; those do have the best turning radius. The other thing she can always do is to practice queues at any of the Resort Hotels (often in the QS locations or sometimes the bus stops) and at Disney Springs. Disney Springs is a great place to practice, especially during the day, because folks there are not in "Park mode" where they want to go go go, and it can be intimidating to some people.

Also, please remind Mom that using an ECV at Disney (or anywhere) is just like using a tool to get a job done. I bet at home, if she was hanging a picture on the wall, she would grab a hammer, right? If she needs to do math, she might pick up a calculator. And to see better, she might use glasses, or she might use hearing aides to help her auditory skills. Those are all *tools*. Just like an ECV helps someone walk further, or increase their stamina. Also, apparently in your Mom's case, she can add "Disney Royalty" to her list of things it helps with! (I *love* that so much!)

It's possible for y'all to bring along a walker, or a Rollator (fancier walker with a built-in seat, and typically storage underneath) that can be carried on the seat back of the rental ECV (let your rental vendor know in advance that you need to be able to carry along an additional device, and what kind)

Then, Mom parks the ECV outside the ride or attraction, and uses the walker/Rollator through the line (Rollator gives her a place to sit if the line gets "stuck") and there are no worries about the ECV.

I understand her concerns - even after *years* of using an ECV at WDW, there are some queues that just feel a bit too tight. I have long said that the folks who lay out the queue lines should have to *personally* traverse the line - and it's tight corners! - themselves in both a wheelchair and an ECV to make sure that it works for everyone.

I hope y'all have the best trip you can - I love the mother/daughter trips that my daughter and I go on; they are some of my most precious memories!

 

[DisneyOma]

If she doesn't want to bring the ECV into the queues, could she use a rollator? If you could attach it to the ECV, she could just haul it around and then use it for the queues.

 

[Bete]

If you drive through the ride queue your mom may be able to sit on the ECV here and there as you wait in the queue. It's hard to judge how well this will work. Usually after a move in the queue there's a stop before the line starts moving again. She would have to get on and off a few times for this to work. If she is slow doing this it might be aggravating for those behind you.

 

[Selket]

Are there only some lines that make her anxious but others are ok? Little Mermaid (MK) has very tight switchbacks for example but many lines (Soarin, Safari) are sort of straight shots. Some are mixed (Mine Train when you get inside is switchbacks and also dark). FoP would be an example of a line that I'd think would be difficult for her to walk (hills and long) if she used a walker or more challenging to push her in a WC but I don't remember the line being difficult to maneuver.

I think maybe getting the Rollator and attaching it to the ECV would be the best bet. If she gets to a part she doesn't want to drive you could trade off. Also walking with someone in your party in front of her and someone behind her may make her feel more comfortable. I do sometimes (pre-covid anyway) get kids who come up beside me from the party behind me cause they are just being kids - so she may feel more comfortable knowing that it's just her family around her.

I suggest identifying which lines bother her - some are just very well lighted and easy (Soarin) - cause I'm thinking maybe the combo of going into a darker space and tight turns could be the issue? I know my eyes take awhile to adjust to the dark (and as we age we may not see as well in the dark... or maybe she has on sunglasses and needs to stop and take them off) so coming in from outside in the Ariel line to the indoor tight turns I feel like I'm blind and going to hit the walls. I always need to go especially carefully there.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I often travel solo and have issues with tight turns sometimes as well... especially when lightening in the queue is dim. It definitely helps if I have someone walking in front of me since I I can see when a turn is coming up. I'd suggest that you be sure to walk in front of her and use the flashlight... maybe the one on your phone to illuminate the area. The turns come up quickly for those of us using an ECV... I can plan better if I anticipate the turn.

 

[keishashadow]

RoTR has some really tight turns in quite dim light that can make it challenging

people tend to be so excited about getting to ride, they tend to crowd behind you, social distancing factored in…it can indeed get stressful for an occasional user of a scooter

 

[Lizgistix]

RoTR has some really tight turns in quite dim light that can make it challenging

people tend to be so excited about getting to ride, they tend to crowd behind you, social distancing factored in…it can indeed get stressful for an occasional user of a scooter

Oh, that's okay, we're not doing Rise. Well, I might do Rise one more time. Maybe. I've been on it twice, and mom doesn't care for Star Wars so we will probably skip it. I agree tho, those turns can be a little tight! And the crowding is for real! I was trying to do some Galaxy's Edge missions in the Play Disney Parks app where I had to scan crates through the queue and people were crowding around me, so I just gave up. (same thing in the Smuggler's Run queue)

 

[cobright]

Any tips or ideas on how to help her with this ECV queue line anxiety?
(I do get the damage waiver, just in case. )

Rent a power chair instead. They have smaller footprints and much tighter turning displacement. Something like the Whill Ci.

 

[SueM in MN]

Rent a power chair instead. They have smaller footprints and much tighter turning displacement. Something like the Whill Ci.

important to note, many of the rental companies will only rent to people who are already experienced at driving a power wheelchair - for example someone who is afraid of airlines damaging their own power chair and choose to rent one at their destination instead.
Power wheelchair do have a longer learning curve than an ECV because a single joystick/controller controls everything at the same time.
I’ve read posts from several people on various sites without Experience who rented a power chair and returned it for an ECV because they found it too difficult to learn.

 

[Evita_W]

important to note, many of the rental companies will only rent to people who are already experienced at driving a power wheelchair - for example someone who is afraid of airlines damaging their own power chair and choose to rent one at their destination instead.
Power wheelchair do have a longer learning curve than an ECV because a single joystick/controller controls everything at the same time.
I’ve read posts from several people on various sites without Experience who rented a power chair and returned it for an ECV because they found it too difficult to learn.

DH prefers the extra space the ECV gives him over a power chair, but knows how to use both, basically enforcing a bit of social distancing.