ECV rent from Disney or outside?

[queenie1]

I know it would save money to rent an ECV for a week from an outside company and that is what we were planning to do for my mother in law, but after reading some very poor reviews on Disney transportation with an ECV I am wondering if it is simply easier to rent one in the parks. I know my mother in law will feel terrible if we have to wait longer for a bus because of the ECV. We had a hard time getting her to accept that she needed one and I want her experience to go as smooth as possible.

I would appreciate advice from those who have had experience with either or both. I think the pros to getting one for the week are: She can practice at the resort before entering the parks, it cost less money, we don't have to wait at guest services or worry they don't have any left to rent in the parks. The cons are: Disney transportation and recent poor reviews of treatment of those with ECVs, which really is something Disney should be ashamed of.

It almost seems I'm willing to give Disney extra money and rent from them instead of a hard working local company because I afraid of trouble caused by Disney employees. This really makes me mad, but I want the best experience for my MIL so I will do what is easier for her. Any advice?

 

[merrymac]

I am in the same situation. Our family is going for a week in april easter break which includes my 75 y/o mom and my 78 y/o dad. My Dad is fine walks 5 miles daily. My mom on the other hand will not be able to walk the 8-10 miles a day which I have read here is not uncommon. She does not consider herself disabled nor do I consider her disabled. She walks the dog. Takes her car to the grocer or mall and is able to get around perfectly well, but disney is different. I talked her into an ECV by comparing it to her car, it will get her from point a to point b so she can park it and walk, browse around or enter an attraction. I really see no need to rent offsite unless there is the possibility they will run out (we aren't real early get up and go people) But after reading some of the horror stories concerning transportation I am very concerned. The parks will certainly be crowded over Easter week hence the buses will be crowded. I really dont know what to do. I wish the ECV could just be mainstreamed in the bus lines so there would be no concern over who was getting on ahead of another, or even better I wisk Disney had little buses that went around the parks with designated stops like the San Diego zoo she had no trouble there. sorry this is so long but I am worried about this trip my parents aren't the biggest Disney fans as it is and are coming because the grandkids want them to.
Merrymac

 

[Cheshire Figment]

In less than two weeks I am going to be going to a small event where one of the people attending is a very high level manager in bus transportation. There are three threads, two in this forum and one in another which I will have printed out to give to him for some light reading.

Years ago when I worked for the Red Cross I had an interesting discussion with a very high level manager who said it was unfortunate but some of the lower level managers felt it was necessary to "protect" him from bad news, and a particular report I had written was the first time in a few years that he was aware some of his decisions made life difficult for people to do their jobs correctly.

And when I worked for the Federal Courts, one manager included in my job description that I would provide him with information related to problems in the Central Accounting System so he would not hear about them first by his superiors.

So I think making him aware of some of these threads may be very useful.