ECV use by a teen?

[3DisneyBuggs]

Me and DS 13 will be at Disney next month. He has had surgery on both legs and feet the past 2 summers. TodAy was his class trip to the zoo. After walking 2 hours, his feet started hurting, They rented a wheel chair and his friend chauffeured him around. I am starting to worry about our trip. If be starts to be in pain I will not be able to push a wheelchair. I had shoulder surgery last year and am not even 80% normal yet. Will he be allowed to drive an ECV? I know we will take it slow and head back to the resort if he is hurting but want to be prepared.

 

[Epeyon]

Disney policy is to allow nobody under the age of 18 to operate an ECV. Nor are two people allowed on an ECV at any time. This goes for any ECV on Disney property.

Is your son able to push himself in a wheelchair? Maybe the combination could take enough pressure off of your shoulder for it to be feasible.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Does your DS have a friend who would go with you as the designated wheelchair pusher?

 

[BillSears]

Disney policy is to allow nobody under the age of 18 to operate an ECV...

I suspect you meant rent an ECV. Since an ECV can be a medical device I would think that if you own your personal ECV you can use it in WDW if you are under 18.

 

[deegack]

I suspect you meant rent an ECV. Since an ECV can be a medical device I would think that if you own your personal ECV you can use it in WDW if you are under 18.

Most rental places will not rent to a child that young.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I just read Disney's policy- it says they can't be rented by anyone under 18. Technically, I would rent it and he would operate it. LOL
We were in Disney last Easter and DS jumped in the pool and hurt his foot. He most likely broke up scar tissue which was good but bad cause he hurt. We did rent a wheelchair but my DH was with us. One time we had my 5yo sit in DS's lap on the wheelchair. A CM came over and said that is not allowed. He got right off but I felt like a bad parent and my 5yo felt bad too. So I know they take safety seriously. To tell the truth I wouldn't be comfortable with him driving one anyway. So I'm going to think positively that his feet and legs will be fine.

 

[BillSears]

Most rental places will not rent to a child that young.

Right but anyone can buy an ECV.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Maybe a Rollator?

 

[Talking Hands]

I just read Disney's policy- it says they can't be rented by anyone under 18. Technically, I would rent it and he would operate it. LOL
We were in Disney last Easter and DS jumped in the pool and hurt his foot. He most likely broke up scar tissue which was good but bad cause he hurt. We did rent a wheelchair but my DH was with us. One time we had my 5yo sit in DS's lap on the wheelchair. A CM came over and said that is not allowed. He got right off but I felt like a bad parent and my 5yo felt bad too. So I know they take safety seriously. To tell the truth I wouldn't be comfortable with him driving one anyway. So I'm going to think positively that his feet and legs will be fine.

In the contract it says that you will not let anyone under 18 drive it. Now if it is your own Disney cannot stop you from letting him us it. My daughter hurt her ankle a few years ago and we ended up letting her use my ECV and renting on for me.

 

[Talking Hands]

I suspect you meant rent an ECV. Since an ECV can be a medical device I would think that if you own your personal ECV you can use it in WDW if you are under 18.

Bill Disney cannot stop a person under 18 from using their own ECV. We have a freshman at our high school who uses an ECV and he is really an expert driver. I do tease him about not speeding in the halls but he can really move around the other kids with skill. I am sure he would be allowed to use it at Disney and any of the other theme parks.

 

[SueM in MN]

In the contract it says that you will not let anyone under 18 drive it. Now if it is your own Disney cannot stop you from letting him us it. My daughter hurt her ankle a few years ago and we ended up letting her use my ECV and renting on for me.

Correct,
We actually noticed on our recent trips that the Disney park rental ECV keyrings actually now have a very large plastic piece that says the ECV can't be used by anyone under the age of 18 and that no passengers are allowed.

The off-site rental companies mostly have the same policy - not rented tobe used by anyone under 18.

One company, Randy's, does sometimes rent for use by teens. This is because they actually come out, demonstrate the ECV and make sure it appears the teen can safely and responsibly operate it. I have mostly heard of them renting to older teens (like 16 and 17 yr olds), but it's possible they may rent for. Very responsible younger teen.

Bill Disney cannot stop a person under 18 from using their own ECV. We have a freshman at our high school who uses an ECV and he is really an expert driver. I do tease him about not speeding in the halls but he can really move around the other kids with skill. I am sure he would be allowed to use it at Disney and any of the other theme parks.

that is true - they would not be able to prevent a younger child from using their own equipment.

 

[crashbb]

Bill Disney cannot stop a person under 18 from using their own ECV. We have a freshman at our high school who uses an ECV and he is really an expert driver. I do tease him about not speeding in the halls but he can really move around the other kids with skill. I am sure he would be allowed to use it at Disney and any of the other theme parks.

Which is what Bill was saying.

If the OP's question is "Can my under 18 years old son RENT an ECV?" then the answer, as has been pointed out is "no".

If the OP's question is "Can my under 18 years old son BRING his ECV?" then the answer, as you have pointed out is "yes".

 

[rock_doctor]

Go to your doctor and have him write a letter that says he needs to use the ECV if walking more then a certain distance. Such that the ECV is medically necessary, which does seem to be the case. I can't see Disney (rules or not) discriminating against him if his doctor says he medically needs it. In the end it may be easier to rent it from the outside as well as being much cheaper. Have a couple copies of the letter, the rental company will probably want to keep a copy for their own liability. Keep looking i would bet there is a medical loop hole, there has to be otherwise they are also blocking access to those who may need it medically.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Go to your doctor and have him write a letter that says he needs to use the ECV if walking more then a certain distance. Such that the ECV is medically necessary, which does seem to be the case. I can't see Disney (rules or not) discriminating against him if his doctor says he medically needs it. In the end it may be easier to rent it from the outside as well as being much cheaper. Have a couple copies of the letter, the rental company will probably want to keep a copy for their own liability. Keep looking i would bet there is a medical loop hole, there has to be otherwise they are also blocking access to those who may need it medically.

won't work.

one a doctor's note will NOT be read and cannot be used to bypass regulations. plus the kid in question DOES NOT use one on a daily basis so is not going to be trained/comfortable with the operation of one. only an ECV OWNED by the minor may be used.

Best case scenario( and even then I am not sure it would work in FL..based on their laws) is if the teen could produce proof that he owns one at home and is well versed in the operation of one, an outside company MAY be willing to rent one( so that the kid doesn't have to schlep their personal one on the plane or in a car)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

1. Disney will not rent an ECV to, or allow their rental ECVs to be used by, anyone under 18.

2. With the exception of Randy's Mobility, no local rental location will allow the rental or use of an ECV by anyone under 18.

3. Randy's will deliver the ECV directly to the user after arrival and will make sure the person is capable of using it before releasing it to the customer. They will allow the use by an older teen, or a younger one who owns their own and did not bring it, and is able to demonstrate competence in its use.

4. The value of a doctor's note at Disney is approaching zero. Under the ADA Regulations Disney is not allowed to require proof of a disability. In Guest Relations I have no way of knowing if a note from a doctor is actually from the doctor or if the doctor even exists.

5. I would suggest looking into obtaining an ECV locally to where you live. If the company will allow him to use it, or you purchase one for him, there is no restriction. You can then bring that ECV with you to Disney. Note that if you are flying it can be "gate-checked" and is transported at no charge.

 

[rock_doctor]

won't work.

Too bad, pretty much guarantees the OPs son can't go into the parks. How about renting an electric wheelchair???

 

[Mrsjvb]

Too bad, pretty much guarantees the OPs son can't go into the parks. How about renting an electric wheelchair???

again, probably not an option.. electric WC also have a learning curve and unless the kid uses one regularly he will not be allowed to rent one.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Too bad, pretty much guarantees the OPs son can't go into the parks. How about renting an electric wheelchair???

Electric wheelchairs are harder to rent and use than ECVs. Most places won't rent unless you already own an electric wheelchair which you didn't/couldn't bring with you.

My best suggestion for the OP is for her to talk to her son and his doctors about options. It sounds like this isn't something he needs just for WDW and while a truly ultra-lightweight self-propel manual wheelchair custom to him probably won't be covered by insurance, these days you can buy reasonably light wheelchairs on places like Amazon. They won't be as good as the custom one, but they might work if he's in decent shape in general (I think I know someone who bought a Karmen ultralightweight wheelchair off Amazon and had luck with it). It won't hurt him to learn how to propel a manual chair and while he might still occassionally need a push even once he's used to the chair, it's a lot less work than pushing someone around in a park rental wheelchair all day. But talking to his doctors makes sense because they may be able to have ideas for longer term solutions and whether this is something that will go away if he just does more PT or whether looking at something like owning a scooter in the long-run will make more sense. Again, it's unlikely insurance would cover, but there are ways to get cheaper and cheaper scooters these days.

 

[rock_doctor]

If you run over to luggage service (what ever they are called) at your Disney resort they typically have a wheel chair that you can borrow but it is first come, first served. We have done this a couple times for my mom.

 

[livndisney]

If you run over to luggage service (what ever they are called) at your Disney resort they typically have a wheel chair that you can borrow but it is first come, first served. We have done this a couple times for my mom.

Not really a great idea as many on this board have posted. Those chairs (when available) are intended to be used at the hotel in an emergency situation. The chairs at the resorts are not often in good repair or very comfortable. Anyone who knows they need a chair needs to rent one.