ECV rental questions

[dawnball]

I apparently have pertussis (whooping cough) and we have a WDW trip scheduled for early May (2nd - 15th). It's impossible to predict how much coughing I'll be doing in a month, but right now just walking at a slow pace indoors, in air conditioning, for 15 minutes is enough to trigger a coughing fit that lasts more than a minute. When I'm not coughing I feel fine though. I don't really expect that I'll be up for walking around the parks, but I might be. If I'm not in good enough shape to walk around the parks with reasonable breaks I'll probably rent an ECV.

When am I likely to need to decide if I need an ECV? I know that I can gamble on WDW having an ECV available when I get to the parks, but off site rentals are cheaper - are they likely to sell out that time of year or would it be reasonable to try walking for a day and call to arrange for a an off site rental if that doesn't work out?

What precautions do I need to take if I rent an ECV? Some sort of rain cover so it doesn't get soaked? Do I need to worry about it being stolen? Charging the batteries? Can I safely park it in Fantasyland, poke my way through fantasyland and then collect the ECV again like I would a stroller?

I have a 3 year old daughter who would normally be in a stroller. Is there any way to easily handle her myself in an ECV? I could arrange to always be with another adult, but I'll need to figure that into our planning. I know that I can't hold her while the ECV is moving, but can I hold my DD in my lap while stopped? I'm thinking of parade watching and such.

Any given coughing fit has the potential of causing me to vomit, although that mostly has only happened in the evening/at night, when the coughing is worst and I plan to avoid the parks then. At home I'm always close to a trash can, just in case. The best solution I've come up with for parks is ziplock bags and double-bagging the results. What do I do with it then? Obviously, if I had any sort of warning I'd head for a bathroom, but currently I have a coughing fit that keeps me from moving and then 5-10 seconds warning before I need to contain something. On the bright side, they aren't violent and my aim has gotten *really* good.

Any other suggestions for making this trip a little easier? I won't be contagious (or else I'd cancel the trip) but the coughing fits do sound and look somewhat alarming.

Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

I apparently have pertussis (whooping cough) and we have a WDW trip scheduled for early May (2nd - 15th). It's impossible to predict how much coughing I'll be doing in a month, but right now just walking at a slow pace indoors, in air conditioning, for 15 minutes is enough to trigger a coughing fit that lasts more than a minute. When I'm not coughing I feel fine though. I don't really expect that I'll be up for walking around the parks, but I might be. If I'm not in good enough shape to walk around the parks with reasonable breaks I'll probably rent an ECV.

I used to be a Public Health Nurse and did followup on patients who had diseases like whooping cough. You have my sympathy and I think you are wise to consider an ECV. A really old name for pertussis is the "100 day cough" and it does live up to that for many people.

When am I likely to need to decide if I need an ECV? I know that I can gamble on WDW having an ECV available when I get to the parks, but off site rentals are cheaper - are they likely to sell out that time of year or would it be reasonable to try walking for a day and call to arrange for a an off site rental if that doesn't work out?

Other people with more experience may have different advice, but I'd probably suggest calling some of the places listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread to see what they thing for the time you are going/

What precautions do I need to take if I rent an ECV? Some sort of rain cover so it doesn't get soaked?

Yes. You have to make sure the controller doesn't get wet. You would also want to protect the seat. Some of the companies send a small plastic cover to put over the controller. A poncho works well to keep the seat dry.

Do I need to worry about it being stolen?

They have keys. When you park it, take your key with you. Sometimes, CMs need to move them while parked (there is a way to disable the motor so it can be pushed). So, if it's not in exactly the same place as you left it, look nearby.

Charging the batteries?

The batteries should easily last all day. If you need to recharge it, there are places you can plug it in. There is a link to a thread about charging in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

Can I safely park it in Fantasyland, poke my way through fantasyland and then collect the ECV again like I would a stroller?

yes

I have a 3 year old daughter who would normally be in a stroller. Is there any way to easily handle her myself in an ECV? I could arrange to always be with another adult, but I'll need to figure that into our planning. I know that I can't hold her while the ECV is moving, but can I hold my DD in my lap while stopped? I'm thinking of parade watching and such.

As you mentioned, as long as it's not moving, is turned off (and probably the key out so it's sure not to start), I have seen people holding their child on their lap.

The best solution I've come up with for parks is ziplock bags and double-bagging the results. What do I do with it then?

There are trash cans in many places, so you would find a place to dispose of it. You may want to contact your doctor again to see if any cough medicines might be helpful at this point. The nasty little Pertussis bug actually releases a toxin that damages the lungs. That's what makes the cough continue for so long. Takes a while for the damage to resolve.

Any other suggestions for making this trip a little easier? I won't be contagious (or else I'd cancel the trip) but the coughing fits do sound and look somewhat alarming.

Thanks!

You might want to look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread in the section about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards). I think in your case, being able to wait somewhere other than the regular lines might be helpful (the other guests would probably like it better).
In your case, since you do have the nasty cough, you might want to have something from your doctor that says you had Pertussis and continue to have a bad cough, but are not contageous. If you are traveling by plane, you may have to have a note that indicates that.
If you took antibiotics, the letter should indicate that and if you didn't, the letter should say that you are past the point of exposing other people. (For other readers, antibiotics are given in Pertussis to protect other people from getting it, by shortening the time the person is contageous. The antibiotics only affect transmission - they don't usually shorten the illness unless given quite early).

NOTE: Right after I posted this, I noticed you said you "apparently have Pertussis". Does that mean you were tested for it and were positive, or the doctor diagnosed it based in symptoms? (there is a test, but it is not accurate if done too late in the illness, so it is not done if it's more than 3-4 weeks after symptoms began). By that point, the person is usually not passing it on any more to others.

 

[dawnball]

There are trash cans in many places, so you would find a place to dispose of it. You may want to contact your doctor again to see if any cough medicines might be helpful at this point. The nasty little Pertussis bug actually releases a toxin that damages the lungs. That's what makes the cough continue for so long. Takes a while for the damage to resolve.

I didn't know if just dropping a ziplock full of bodily fluids in a trash would be considered a biohazard. I know that WDW sorts all their trash for recyclables and that would be a most unpleasant thing to find.

The only cough suppressant that actually works is narcotic. If I take a full dose I'm asleep for 18 hours and then really groggy for another 10. On a half dose taken just before bed I seem to function ok the next day as long as I get enough sleep and enough Excedrin for the migraine it produces. I'd have no hope of taking it during the day and not mowing down innocent bystanders with my ECV. Dh thinks that would be a bad thing...

You might want to look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread in the section about GACs (Guest Assistance Cards). I think in your case, being able to wait somewhere other than the regular lines might be helpful (the other guests would probably like it better).

I hadn't been sure if a GAC would be appropriate - but yes, I wouldn't want to wait in line with me, either. I sound like I'm transmitting the next deadly plague. I'll check with guest services when we get there.

In your case, since you do have the nasty cough, you might want to have something from your doctor that says you had Pertussis and continue to have a bad cough, but are not contageous. If you are traveling by plane, you may have to have a note that indicates that.
If you took antibiotics, the letter should indicate that and if you didn't, the letter should say that you are past the point of exposing other people.

That's an excellent idea, and one I hadn't thought of at all.

NOTE: Right after I posted this, I noticed you said you "apparently have Pertussis". Does that mean you were tested for it and were positive, or the doctor diagnosed it based in symptoms? (there is a test, but it is not accurate if done too late in the illness, so it is not done if it's more than 3-4 weeks after symptoms began). By that point, the person is usually not passing it on any more to others.

The diagnosis was "probable pertussis" so slightly more confident than clinical pertussis. They didn't have the culture kits on hand to do a pertussis swab, but I have textbook symptoms (including the whoop). We decided that assuring I was non-contagious was more important than getting the culture and an official diagnosis. Pertussis is known to be somewhat common here and the health department isn't aggressively pursuing documented cases because most children are immunized and most adults get a mild case.

Many, many, many thanks!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I have a 3 year old daughter who would normally be in a stroller. Is there any way to easily handle her myself in an ECV? I could arrange to always be with another adult, but I'll need to figure that into our planning.

I think it might be a wise move to take another adult with you. Even if she could manage to walk the 5 to 8 miles a lot of people rack up in a day (and that's a lot of walking for little legs) you'd not have many options open as to how to keep her close. Holding her hand would keep her too close to you and put her in danger of having her toes run over, and I can't see any way you could manage a stroller. You would have thought ECV manufacturers would have thought of this by now and developed some sort of clip-on child seat, but I've never seen one. The only thing I could think of would be child reins, but I'm not sure how you'd hold them, and you might be at risk of tripping some idiot who tried to walk between you (though in that case, I'd be tempted to say they got what they deserved )

 

[SueM in MN]

I didn't know if just dropping a ziplock full of bodily fluids in a trash would be considered a biohazard. I know that WDW sorts all their trash for recyclables and that would be a most unpleasant thing to find.

We usually don't have anything to recycle, so I can't remember if they have separate recycling containers. The trash cans all have plastic bags in them; the CM doing trash just ties them shut and takes the trash bag. Anyone actually sorting trash would be garbed up with protective equipment - gloves, mask, etc. (OSHA requires that)
You don't have much of an option except for the trash if you are coughing outside the bathroom (into a toilet is the best and if you dispose of it in the trash there, I imagine that trash is mostly trash, not much to recycle).
And, you don't have to worry about pertussis being in the bag since you are no longer contagious for that (although there are other yucky things in there).

The only cough suppressant that actually works is narcotic. If I take a full dose I'm asleep for 18 hours and then really groggy for another 10. On a half dose taken just before bed I seem to function ok the next day as long as I get enough sleep and enough Excedrin for the migraine it produces. I'd have no hope of taking it during the day and not mowing down innocent bystanders with my ECV. Dh thinks that would be a bad thing...

No, it would be a bad thing.
I am hoping by the time you go that something less than that might be effective. You've got a whole month left before you go, and the average for the paroxysmal cough stage (with the 'runs' of coughs like you have now) is about 6 weeks (but can last up to 10). So chances by the time you go of it being much better are pretty good.
That brings up another question, would you be able to safely operate the ECV if you do get a sudden coughing run? Would you have enough warning to stop and pull over so you can deal with the cough?
You might end up needing instead to rent a wheelchair, which would mean someone to push you, plus someone to help with your child (which you would need anyway, since you can't manage an ECV plus a child).

I hadn't been sure if a GAC would be appropriate - but yes, I wouldn't want to wait in line with me, either. I sound like I'm transmitting the next deadly plague. I'll check with guest services when we get there.

Also think about things that might make your cough worse, like getting overheated.

The diagnosis was "probable pertussis" so slightly more confident than clinical pertussis.

Health Departments only count the ones with a confirmed culture as actual cases. The rest are either counted as 'probable' or not probable as all.

They didn't have the culture kits on hand to do a pertussis swab, but I have textbook symptoms (including the whoop). We decided that assuring I was non-contagious was more important than getting the culture and an official diagnosis. Pertussis is known to be somewhat common here and the health department isn't aggressively pursuing documented cases because most children are immunized and most adults get a mild case.

Many, many, many thanks!

You are maybe somewhat lucky they did not have the correct culture kit.
WARNING - EXPLICIT DESCRIPTION OF NASTY TEST AHEAD.






It's a pretty nasty culture to get/do. It's a nasal-pharyngeal swab, which means they have to go thru the nose all the way down the back of the nasal passage to the throat. Not just a nasal swab or throat culture.
For all that, the culture is only about 30-50% accurate and takes 2 weeks for the results to come back. Since it takes so long, it doesn't really make much difference in how the doctor treats you. It's more important for the first few cases, so the Health Department knows they are actually dealing with pertussis.There are blood tests, but they are not standardized, so the health department doesn't usually use them.
The whoop along with the paroxysmal cough is pretty much diagnostic since you don't see them with other infections. It's common for kids to have the 'whoop' because they have small airways; adults don't usually get the whoop because their airways are bigger. Some who do might either have small airways or very reactive airways. Most adults get diagnosed with bronchitis and pertussis isn't thought of until much later, so in a way, it was good you had the whoop.

 

[dawnball]

No, it would be a bad thing.
I am hoping by the time you go that something less than that might be effective. You've got a whole month left before you go, and the average for the paroxysmal cough stage (with the 'runs' of coughs like you have now) is about 6 weeks (but can last up to 10). So chances by the time you go of it being much better are pretty good.
That brings up another question, would you be able to safely operate the ECV if you do get a sudden coughing run? Would you have enough warning to stop and pull over so you can deal with the cough?

I'm really hoping that it will be much better. I'm hoping to be better and planning for the worst case.

Currently I just don't use a cough suppressant during the day since the spasms are less severe. I might have 5 true spasms beween 9am and 6pm. In between I'll have clusters of coughing that sound unpleasant, but aren't any worse than a bad cold/bronchitis.

Today is my third morning after the narcotic cough syrup and I seem to be doing fairly well overpowering the antihistamine with coffee so I have high hopes for figuring out how to manage the side effects of my medication before the trip. I'm hoping to have a better idea of the triggers for coughing by then too.

It's my understanding that if you take your hand off the throttle of an ECV they have automatic brakes, so I don't think that running around uncontrolled during a coughing spasm will be a problem. Pulling over/getting out of the way would be slightly more difficult. We vacationed about this time last year and I don't recall any really tight crushes other than AK waiting for opening as you all squeeze onto the bridge. I'd just meander extra slowly through the oasis I think and meet my party later.

It helps that I'm not really interested in many "headliner" rides. Other than Soarin and Kali I don't usually repeat the big rides. I'll go once or twice on BTMRR, once on TT and I might have been brave enough to go once on MS, but I think I'll save that for another trip.

Mostly we're jungle cruise, magic carpets, teacups kind of riders and we tend to repeat rides a lot. We had interest in seeing a lot of parades and shows we usually skip on this trip, so maybe I'll volunteer to stake out parade spots extra early since I'll have a chair.

For OneLittleSpark - the party is pretty set. We'll be a total of 6. Me and DD3, my sister and her DD3, and our parents. We tend to plan to rotate child-minding so that the non-minding adults can ride adult rides, fetch fastpasses, etc. I make up a schedule for who is responsible for the kids and where we'll meet up again and such. We gleefully ignore it every visit, but it works well as a default. I'll just have to exempt myself from child-watching this trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

It's my understanding that if you take your hand off the throttle of an ECV they have automatic brakes, so I don't think that running around uncontrolled during a coughing spasm will be a problem. Pulling over/getting out of the way would be slightly more difficult. We vacationed about this time last year and I don't recall any really tight crushes other than AK waiting for opening as you all squeeze onto the bridge. I'd just meander extra slowly through the oasis I think and meet my party later.

ECVs don't actually have traditional brakes, but they do stop when you are not activating the throttle.
I was thinking about situations where you are in a path of traffic that is moving forward and all of a sudden, you need to stop (think of heading up the 'Main Street' or the street in Frontierland). One of the things people get really mad about is people who stop suddenly in front of them. That's where I was thinking of pulling off. If you stay close to the right side curb, you should have less problem though - people will be more likely to go around you than if you are in the middle.

 

[dawnball]

That makes sense. I will be sure to stay to the right. I expect to be making great efforts to avoid peak traffic too, since I won't have a lot of experience driving an ECV and I've heard the horror stories from both sides about ECVs and crowds. I've been looking for the smallest scooter I can rent, too.