ECV Tips

[mathdisney]

We will be visiting WDW next week. This will be our first vacation since my husband's accident last September left him permanently disabled. We are renting an ECV for him to use on the trip. Since we are new to all of this, any tips you can offer for using an ECV at WDW would be greatly appreciated.

 

[olwyngdh]

One of the big things to remember is that because you are sitting down, and everyone is distracted, there are a lot of people who don't see you on the scooter. He needs to make sure he is aware of his surroundings and able to stop quickly, because people will cut right in front of him without seeing him.

Remember to charge it every night.

Carry the charging cord with you even though it is charged--if you have it, you are less likely to need it.

Turn it off when stopped for shows, parades, etc, to conserve power.

Always take the key with you when you are off the scooter. This is a good excuse to buy a cool new Disney Keychain.

Yes, rabbit speed is more fun than turtle, but turtle is a lot safer-- I generally set it somewhere between.

Don't leave anything in the basket that you will be upset about losing if it is stolen.

I have a canvas bag that I got a number of trips ago that has handles that will slip over the steering column and rest on the floor of the scooter between my feet--I keep rain ponchos for me, my family, and the scooter in it (a childs poncho covers the column and basket and lets you stick your hands in the armholes to drive). I also keep a towel in there to either dry off a wet seat, of shield my bum from the hot seat.

Scooters make comfortable places to nap during Lights, Motors, Action.

I carry a collapsible cane in the basket to use when I am off the scooter.

 

[zzyzx409]

Rent from one of the Disney approved vendors. They will bring the scooter to your hotel.

Be sure to get a 3 - wheel scooter as they have a much tighter turning radius which makes it easier to load and off-load on buses and there is more leg room.

Get the smallest scooter that is comfortable as it is easier to manage in tight spaces, not too small as too small will not be comfortable either.

I wrote an essay a number of years ago when I first started using a scooter about using a scooter at WDW. Some of the info may be outdated, much of it still applies. It can be found on anaheimtoorlando.com towards the bottom of the entry page.

Have a great trip!

Andy

 

[The Hunchback]

I think if you look at the posts for the last few weeks you will find a bunch of tips but these are mine,

Stay on the sidewalk in Magic Kingdom on Main Street. If you fall into the trolley track with a wheel, you are stuck. Three+ people will be needed to lift you and the scooter out.

The hardest attraction to get into with a scooter is Micky's Philoharminic. Have your party stay behind you and keep traffic behind them. You need to wind from one side of the line to the other. You will need a lot of space. It is a good show but a real challenge to enter.

In many attractions you will need to transfer to a wheelchair or take a few steps. Others you ride the ECV right in. Ask a cast member which is the correct process.

The safari is a really good ride. Rough but great. The CM are the least kind of any in the four parks. Do not know why. They change the place they want ECV riders to park, how to mount the ride, and the directions they give several times a day. Just smile and try to comply.

Renting from Walker Mobility is a good bet. I do not carry my charger with me as the Walker Scooters hold charge for the full day.

Hope these help. Enjoy yourself.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Rent from one of the Disney approved vendors. They will bring the scooter to your hotel.

Rent from any reputable company you choose. See the FAQ for companies used by DISers.

They will all deliver the medical equipment to your WDW resort. The featured - not approved - vendors have paid a fee to Disney to be able to drop off and pick up the equipment at Bell Services. The other companies need to meet the customer at both ends of the transaction.

 

[zzyzx409]

Rent from any reputable company you choose. See the FAQ for companies used by DISers.

They will all deliver the medical equipment to your WDW resort. The featured - not approved - vendors have paid a fee to Disney to be able to drop off and pick up the equipment at Bell Services. The other companies need to meet the customer at both ends of the transaction.

For me this is the key to renting from one of the Disney featured vendors...

They can drop off and pick up from bell services without my needing to be there. That way I can rent and have the scooter waiting for me and drop off at the last moment.

There are advantages and disadvantages to either way, no right way, just the way that is best for each individual.

My choice should I need to rent again (I take my own now) I would rent from one of the Disney featured vendors.

To each his/her own.

Andy

 

[kaytieeldr]

Which is fine. But again, they're featured vendors. They get this status by paying Disney a fee for the privilege. To label them "approved" implies the many other reputable companies that chose not to pay the fee are disapproved.

 

[zzyzx409]

Which is fine. But again, they're featured vendors. They get this status by paying Disney a fee for the privilege. To label them "approved" implies the many other reputable companies that chose not to pay the fee are disapproved.

I did not mean to say that one vendor was reputable and one not reputable, I was trying to stress the importance (to me) of renting from a vendor that could drop off and pick up from bell services without my needing to be present. I have since changed the wording in my post to reflect this by taking out approved and using featured instead.

I remember back when this change was made. Disney had noticed that many vendors were dropping off scooters to Bell services and Disney was allowing their employees to take on this extra duty (managing scooters) without Disney getting paid. I can see Disney's point that if their employees are going to assume extra duties Disney should be compensated in some way.

Just MHO, YMMV

I guess a couple of posts by me and kaytieeldr both went OT here from the original question, but I feel the explanation does fit with the topic as well.

Andy

 

[mathdisney]

Thanks so much for all of your tips. I really appreciate you taking the time to help us. Hope you all have a magical day!

 

[ttintagel]

If you do find your battery running low in the parks, and you've wisely brought your charger and cord with you, flower beds and areas near food carts are often a great place to find an electric outlet. If you can't find one on your own, CM's have always been great at steering us toward the nearest one (especially custodians). In the MK, there's one in the arches under the train station and one just outside the gates by the newsstand.

We also put pirate flags on ours by sticking the flagpoles into the pocket on the back of the seat. It was not only easier to identify them quickly, it put something at other peoples' eye level when we were in a crowd.

 

[siemprekelsey]

Just came back from our family's first (hopefully only) vacation using an ECV, here's what we found out!

1.) They're pretty simple to use, the only thing that took adjusting when I rode it was the fact that when you let up on the gas it kinda stopped abruptly instead of slowing down like a car (considering it's not a car). Of course, it could be different between scooters.

2.) The seat should fold down so that it's a bit smaller, but this also helps keep the sun off the seat as that thing will get HOT. No one told us about it but we figured it out on the first day after seeing the ECV next to ours folded like that.

3.) We always left water bottles in our basket along with a tarp in case it rained. They were all cheap so we wouldn't be bothered if they were stolen, but it never happened.

4.) Make sure to check where to actually park the things. Sometimes we assumed we were in a correct spot because others were parked there, only to come back and find it was moved! It's always simple to find them, though. Parking near a designated stroller spot is always safe.

5.) Consider the crowds! My dad had the luxury of not having to take his ECV all of the time (just most) so he left it when we went to MK for the fireworks so that we wouldn't get caught in the madness. Of course, you may not be able to do that so just be prepared for some really tough driving conditions. Look for the back route to the exit on the left side of Main Street, it helped us a lot!

 

[mathdisney]

All of you have been so very helpful to us. I am so thankful for the disboard. I would have never been able to get such good, helpful, and necessary information without all of you. We are all super excited about our vacation next week. And I feel so much less stressed about our trip with a new disability because of all of you.

 

[Pats Dragon]

I hated the thought of a scooter but it is nice to be able to enjoy the park without pain. My tips are: Beware the scooter backlash on rides. Especially safari and haunted mansion. safari makes you wait in a scooter line and no yoou cant park them once you take in the regular line. Park it near a restroom before you get there. Ditto Haunted Mansion.

I like apple scooters because of the free insurance. Nice to not worry when you leave it somewhere.

Dont get the smaller scooter if wt is close to the limit. Charge stays better if there is more battery strength.

Put something in it so you can see it easily but know that it may be stolen so think dollar store something. Have fun!

 

[Gracie09]

If it's his first time using one spend some time outside the parks getting use to it. Going forward, backwards, parking etc. you can have the employee from the rental agency who drops it off show you how to use it and get you all set up. IMO it's worth the extra 15 minutes to do so

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Tip I discovered after trial and error. Put the speed down to very slow when manoeuvring in and out of lifts (elevators to you Americans) and also in hairpin turns in queues. If you leave the speed on fairly high you will lurch forward, possibly hit someone (as I did) and dent a few lift walls (lol).

You will also need to turn the speed up if you're going up hill or up a steepish ramp, otherwise the scooter will slow to a crawl.

I think it has already been said, but every time you stop and know you're going to be motionless for a few minutes or more, turn the power off. This will help the battery stay at full power for most of the day. I don't think I dropped below full at all - even when leaving the park at gone midnight!