ECV rentals off property ? how?

[gramto2boys]

we are going this fall, I can not walk more then 20 feet with out severe pain, and my legs give out. I want to rent a scooter off property but I am lost and confused as to how to get them from my motel ( pop century) to the parks. I heard you have to wait for a special bus, do they call them for you? and also will a rented one fit this special bus? I know I can rent them in the parks, but I am concerned I will need it getting to and from the parks.
If you could help direct me to this info, and rentals, and how one acually gets from point A to Point B with them it would be wonderful!!
Thank you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs on Page 2. Page 3 discusses riding Disney Transportation with an ECV or wheelchair. Note that all Disney buses are equipped to carry up to two wheelchairs and/or ECVs. The older ones have lifts and the newer ones have ramps and even kneel. All the standard off-site rental ECVs will fit in the rooms and the buses with no problems.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[gramto2boys]

Thank you so much!!
I was wondering, are people mean when they have to wait until you load the chair? I heard this and am worried . I do not want to hold people up, but do need one. I worry it will be hard on others to wait for me, but more importantly I am worried my children will be hurt by others.
When we went to disneyland it was not a problem as we stayed across on harbor, but this is a whole new ball game.

 

[Vemnox]

Don't worry about what other people do. There's inevitably going to be some impatient looney who can't wait 15 seconds, but don't fret about it - it's not worth it and you paid the same as him/her to be in WDW.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I also started a thread like this last week. Thanks to DIS I contacted Care Medical for an ECV rental for our November trip. They had the best rates, and plus I liked the idea of them dropping off the ECV at the hotel instead of waiting for me to get there.

Don't worry about other people's opinions. This is your vacation your hard earned money is being spent like everyone elses. Keep your head up and have fun!!!!!

 

[gramto2boys]

Thanks for relaying my fears! your right, I worked sooooo hard for the money I am not going to worry. oh going up on a lift scares me, but I look forward to enjoying the parks and not having pain!! I feel better now!!
Now to choose the best place for a chair LOL!
Have a great day everyone!!

 

[HonnyDipp]

Sometimes, I use the medical bus to take me to physical therapy. I have my own ECV for home. Its a funny feeling using the lift, but you will be alright. No worries!

Call Care Medical, I spoke to Gretta, she was really nice the ECV's will come charged and ready to use, just make sure you charge them overnight!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Don't worry about what others think if they have to wait for you to board. If you want to respond to them, you might mention that you will also be the last one off the bus.

But generally just ignore them. You have never met them before, you don't know them, you will probably never meet them again, and they are showing that they have mental and/or emotional problems.

 

[gramto2boys]

Thank you Your right, I do not know them and will never see them again!!
I was wondering, what chairs go for longer times? I would like to have one that goes at least 12 hours, is this possible? When I used them in disneyland they went well ( the park ones) but I also plugged them in at times when we ate.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Thanks for relaying my fears! your right, I worked sooooo hard for the money I am not going to worry. oh going up on a lift scares me, but I look forward to enjoying the parks and not having pain!! I feel better now!!
Now to choose the best place for a chair LOL!
Have a great day everyone!!

The lifts can seem a bit scary. Just listen to the bus driver and they will assist you and make sure you are on it correctly before they move it.

I was terrified of the lifts when I was there last fall! They made me so nervous, but really everything was fine. I did happen to mention to one bus driver that riding on the lift was scarier than Tower of Terror so he decided to have some fun with me-- He started making the lift go up and down like ToT! It was hysterically funny and made for one of the best memories (and photos) of the entire trip! I had the pic in my siggy but here it is--I was doing my best ToT impression:

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The rental ECV specifications tend to give a 20-25 mile range. It would be extremely rare for a person to go more than 12 miles in a day, even if in a park from opening to closing.

Two important things. One is to make sure that the ECV is plugged in whenever you are in your room. The other is when you are stopped for more than a minute, such as when you are eating or in a show, be sure to turn the key to the off position so there is no use of electricity during that time; even when you are not moving with the key on you are using the battery.

 

[gramto2boys]

The lifts can seem a bit scary. Just listen to the bus driver and they will assist you and make sure you are on it correctly before they move it.

I was terrified of the lifts when I was there last fall! They made me so nervous, but really everything was fine. I did happen to mention to one bus driver that riding on the lift was scarier than Tower of Terror so he decided to have some fun with me-- He started making the lift go up and down like ToT! It was hysterically funny and made for one of the best memories (and photos) of the entire trip! I had the pic in my siggy but here it is--I was doing my best ToT impression:

Oh my goodness, best pic all day!! you are adorable!! this made me laugh so hard. thank you, I needed to see a pic of someone on that lift!!!

The rental ECV specifications tend to give a 20-25 mile range. It would be extremely rare for a person to go more than 12 miles in a day, even if in a park from opening to closing.

Two important things. One is to make sure that the ECV is plugged in whenever you are in your room. The other is when you are stopped for more than a minute, such as when you are eating or in a show, be sure to turn the key to the off position so there is no use of electricity during that time; even when you are not moving with the key on you are using the battery.

oh cool, thank you!!

now what would you say is the best chair for someone 200 pounds? and fits on the busses??

 

[ntsammy5]

I was wondering, are people mean when they have to wait until you load the chair? I heard this and am worried

I've never had to use one, but DW has and several friends also. What we did last visit, was when someone was glaring and making rude comments, we all smiled at them and waved. Took the wind right out of their sails!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Oh my goodness, best pic all day!! you are adorable!! this made me laugh so hard. thank you, I needed to see a pic of someone on that lift!!!



oh cool, thank you!!

now what would you say is the best chair for someone 200 pounds? and fits on the busses??

Glad I could help!

It so happens that what you see there is someone 200 pounds and pretty much any rental ECV you get will be fine for that size. They may ask you when you call what your weight is to make sure they have the right size for you.

My biggest advice for the busses (and those darn lifts) is to always be sure you turn your speed down! Often you are rolling along and get to the bus and don't think to adjust the speed and as you are trying manuveur for the bus you are going way to fast to get the control you need. You can't turn it all the way down or it won't make it up the incline, but the slower you are the better you can control it.

And you have to parallel park on the bus. I can't parallel park my car to save my life! Fortunately if you happen to sort of run into things with the scooter while trying to park it it isn't nearly as bad as when you hit the bumpers of the cars in front of and behind you while parking (geez, people get so cranky about that! ) The slower speed helps and just listen to the instructions of the drivers as they help you figure out the best way to get on and off. You might just practice with the ECV's at a local Target or Walmart. They are really way different from the rental ones in terms of size, speed and handling but you will at least get a better idea of the feel of it and how to make turns and such.

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad I could help!

It so happens that what you see there is someone 200 pounds and pretty much any rental ECV you get will be fine for that size. They may ask you when you call what your weight is to make sure they have the right size for you.

My biggest advice for the busses (and those darn lifts) is to always be sure you turn your speed down! Often you are rolling along and get to the bus and don't think to adjust the speed and as you are trying manuveur for the bus you are going way to fast to get the control you need. You can't turn it all the way down or it won't make it up the incline, but the slower you are the better you can control it.

And you have to parallel park on the bus. I can't parallel park my car to save my life! Fortunately if you happen to sort of run into things with the scooter while trying to park it it isn't nearly as bad as when you hit the bumpers of the cars in front of and behind you while parking (geez, people get so cranky about that! ) The slower speed helps and just listen to the instructions of the drivers as they help you figure out the best way to get on and off. You might just practice with the ECV's at a local Target or Walmart. They are really way different from the rental ones in terms of size, speed and handling but you will at least get a better idea of the feel of it and how to make turns and such.

ALso, when you make your reservations, let them know you will be using the buses and they will make sure that the ECV they choose for you will work for the bus. (It's really not much problem for the rental ECVs - it's more if someone would have a personal one that is unusually wide or long.

One more thing; if you haven't looked at it yet, there is a section of the disABILITIES FAQs thread that talks about buses and wheelchairs/ECVs.