ECV use on ships

[disneyfan19712006]

Current policies regarding ECV on ship. I was told we can not park in elevator lobby anymore. Thanks to their agents mistake we can only upgrade access to mu ECV without having to track down my son to go park it so I can go in the room. And if I want to leave I'll have to wait on him to get back. Not fair to either of us. Where are the parking locations and are there crew members to assist? Anyone sailing recently know of the changes?

 

[lanejudy]

The stateroom hallways on the ships are rather narrow, complicated by the hosts' service carts and room-service trays left out for pick-up. If you don't have an accessible room, the ECV most likey will NOT fit through the stateroom door. I don't believe you can park an ECV in the main elevator lobbies, but there are some areas where they'll direct you to park it. Depending on your stateroom location and whether you can walk a bit, you may need to have someone pick-up/drop-off the ECV to that parking spot for you. I don't believe the CMs will assist, but possibly if one happened to be nearby and you were by yourself; I wouldn't plan on it regularly though.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Mrsjvb]

if it does not fit in your room, there is no where to put it. hallways are VERY narrow. and they cannot be left in public access areas either.. too many were getting damaged or worse by being left unattended.

pretty much all cruise lines have gone to the "you must book a HA cabin if you have an ECV" route. so if you cannot break it down ( 0r don't want to) consider doing the wheel chair route instead.

crew members cannot assist except during emergencies.

 

[Piper]

if it does not fit in your room, there is no where to put it. hallways are VERY narrow. and they cannot be left in public access areas either.. too many were getting damaged or worse by being left unattended.

pretty much all cruise lines have gone to the "you must book a HA cabin if you have an ECV" route. so if you cannot break it down ( 0r don't want to) consider doing the wheel chair route instead.

crew members cannot assist except during emergencies.

Power wheelchairs will not fit in doorways. You need to have a folding manual chair as most rigid chairs won't fit either. You usually have to book a HA cabin way in advance...and may also have a medical form to fill out. Call your line (or if you are using a TA, have them call) and ask about a HA cabin. They are usually NOT the least expensive in each category and there are only a few on each ship.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Power wheelchairs will not fit in doorways. You need to have a folding manual chair as most rigid chairs won't fit either. You usually have to book a HA cabin way in advance...and may also have a medical form to fill out. Call your line (or if you are using a TA, have them call) and ask about a HA cabin. They are usually NOT the least expensive in each category and there are only a few on each ship.

Okay, this is going to come across as rude and it's not meant to be, but have you cruised DCL lately? Are you speaking from first hand experience?
I cruised DCL in the fall Oct/Nov '12 Cruise, it was my fourth time for the record. They did not require a form. True, there are only a handful of HC cabins on each ship but I got one less than 2 months prior to the sail date. They don't necessarily have to be booked that far out and they are required to have some in EACH category and they are the SAME price as any other cabin in that category! All the HC cabins can't be in the more expensive categories.
And for the record...if you have a smaller ecv and can take the arms off, they can fit thru the doors of the other cabins. It can be VERY tight, but depending on your ecv model, it may be possible. Then there is the option of disassembly as a last resort.

The stateroom hallways on the ships are rather narrow, complicated by the hosts' service carts and room-service trays left out for pick-up. If you don't have an accessible room, the ECV most likey will NOT fit through the stateroom door. I don't believe you can park an ECV in the main elevator lobbies, but there are some areas where they'll direct you to park it. Depending on your stateroom location and whether you can walk a bit, you may need to have someone pick-up/drop-off the ECV to that parking spot for you. I don't believe the CMs will assist, but possibly if one happened to be nearby and you were by yourself; I wouldn't plan on it regularly though.

Enjoy your cruise!

Well the areas where they were directing people to park them where right around the corner from the elevators lobbies. It's where there where electrical outlets so that they could be plugged in to be recharged. At least that was MY EXPERIENCE!

Current policies regarding ECV on ship. I was told we can not park in elevator lobby anymore. Thanks to their agents mistake we can only upgrade access to mu ECV without having to track down my son to go park it so I can go in the room. And if I want to leave I'll have to wait on him to get back. Not fair to either of us. Where are the parking locations and are there crew members to assist? Anyone sailing recently know of the changes?

That is what I was told as well and so I was moved to a HC cabin when I told them I would be travelling with an ECV and then low and behold... I saw multiple ECVs parked right around the corner from the elevators!! Seems like there's a communication/enforcement issue! So not so sure that I would worry a whole lot about it because I saw a bunch of them in the hallways on our cruise... Now I wouldn't expect to keep it right outside of your room and the problem with that is there won't be an outlet there to recharge it. Hopefully you have a cabin close to the elevator and you can go and retrieve it yourself?

Good Luck and Let me know if you have any other questions... I am cruising again in about 65 days!

 

[Piper]

Okay, this is going to come across as rude and it's not meant to be, but have you cruised DCL lately? Are you speaking from first hand experience?
I cruised DCL in the fall Oct/Nov '12 Cruise, it was my fourth time for the record. They did not require a form. True, there are only a handful of HC cabins on each ship but I got one less than 2 months prior to the sail date. They don't necessarily have to be booked that far out and they are required to have some in EACH category and they are the SAME price as any other cabin in that category! All the HC cabins can't be in the more expensive categories.

Yes, I also cruised DCL late in 2012. We booked In April 2011 (the first day the cruise was available) and told that although they have cabins in most classes, that they weren't the least expensive in each class...ex. not on the cheaper lower decks, but only on the more expensive higher ones. I did fill out a form. I was also told by another resident in my apartments that she was not allowed to park her ECV by the elevators when she went in July. Now--this is the Disney Magic, leaving from Galveston. Maybe others ships are different.

 

[mdvlprof]

Was on Fantasy in Dec. Didn't notice ECVs parked near elevators. May be an enforcement issue, or even training cabin stewards it's a no-no.
I, for one, am glad. Pushing DS wheelchair can be a tight squeeze, and if ECV in hallway - NO way he's gonna fit thru.

 

[disney david]

Here it is on Disney cruise line web site




http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/services/guests-with-disabilities/

 

[stitchlovestink]

Yes, I also cruised DCL late in 2012. We booked In April 2011 (the first day the cruise was available) and told that although they have cabins in most classes, that they weren't the least expensive in each class...ex. not on the cheaper lower decks, but only on the more expensive higher ones. I did fill out a form. I was also told by another resident in my apartments that she was not allowed to park her ECV by the elevators when she went in July. Now--this is the Disney Magic, leaving from Galveston. Maybe others ships are different.

hmmm...that's interesting because the Wonder is sailing out of Gaveston...
Well I would say whoever gave you your information misinformed you! Because it is clearly incorrect...
Just because the cabins are on upper decks doesn't mean they are more expensive! An 11B is on an upper deck (deck 6 for example) which is an inside stateroom ($1963 for 2 adults on 10/5) but it is still cheaper than say a 9D which is on deck 1 ($2355 for 2 adults on 10/5). Now granted, they don't offer a HC 9D but they do offer HC 9A....So again, they offer HC cabins at pretty much EVERY level. So I don't understand your comment??? You make it sound like they are taking advantage of the disabled! The price is Absolutely Identical for a HC accessible cabin. And quite Frankly, I don't know why anyone who NEEDS a HC cabin would want to be on one of the lower decks and if you have cruised I would think you would understand why as well!!
Right now, there are TONS of availability for HC cabins for cruises out of Galveston on all levels! In Oct, Nov, and I EVEN found availability in Dec!!

 

[mb187143]

hmmm...that's interesting because the Wonder is sailing out of Gaveston...
Well I would say whoever gave you your information misinformed you! Because it is clearly incorrect...
Just because the cabins are on upper decks doesn't mean they are more expensive! An 11B is on an upper deck (deck 6 for example) which is an inside stateroom ($1963 for 2 adults on 10/5) but it is still cheaper than say a 9D which is on deck 1 ($2355 for 2 adults on 10/5). Now granted, they don't offer a HC 9D but they do offer HC 9A....So again, they offer HC cabins at pretty much EVERY level. So I don't understand your comment??? You make it sound like they are taking advantage of the disabled! The price is Absolutely Identical for a HC accessible cabin. And quite Frankly, I don't know why anyone who NEEDS a HC cabin would want to be on one of the lower decks and if you have cruised I would think you would understand why as well!!
Right now, there are TONS of availability for HC cabins for cruises out of Galveston on all levels! In Oct, Nov, and I EVEN found availability in Dec!!

I thought the Magic was sailing out of Galveston until May 2013, and then the Wonder will begin sailing out of Galveston in September. Did that change?

We took a cruise on the Dream in November 2012, and there were never ECVs parked in the elevator lobbies on our cruise.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I thought the Magic was sailing out of Galveston until May 2013, and then the Wonder will begin sailing out of Galveston in September. Did that change?

We took a cruise on the Dream in November 2012, and there were never ECVs parked in the elevator lobbies on our cruise.

I was on the Dream as well in Nov...and there were a few (not on the same deck) parked around the corner from the elevators at various times (esp late at night). I don't sleep well...so I enjoy wandering the ship (looking at door decorations and delivering FE gifts) when it is super quiet, kinda like a ghost town!
I guess this is a case of YMMV!!!

 

[Piper]

I sailed on the Disney Magic out of Galveston. I didn't ask my neighbor which ship because she said Disney. Now that I think of it, I remember that Disney is changing ships. She also didn't say she sailed out of Galveston--I will ask her.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I sailed on the Disney Magic out of Galveston. I didn't ask my neighbor which ship because she said Disney. Now that I think of it, I remember that Disney is changing ships. She also didn't say she sailed out of Galveston--I will ask her.

But My Bigger points were: 1. that the deck is of less importance...it more about the category. Because if that was the case then the 11B's would (which are about the lowest category available) wouldn't be on an upper deck (deck 6). They would be on the lowest deck, deck 1. And Disney offers HC rooms across various categories at the same price. They are NOT just available in the most expensive categories 2. you don't necessarily need to book Months in advance to get a HC cabin (ESP out of Galveston!) 3. a form may NOT necessarily be required, I have never been asked for one. It is possible, but not a definite...again another YMMV situation.

I guess it would have been helpful if the OP posted which ship they intended to sail, if they knew which one...but maybe they don't know yet.

 

[Mrsjvb]

They are usually NOT the least expensive in each category and there are only a few on each ship.

a HA interior on deck 4 is the same price as a regular interior on Deck 4. they cannot make them more expensive than a normal cabin of the same category.

but yes there tends to be very few HA in any category and they do tend to book up immediately.

 

[DSquare]

3yrs ago when we booked our cruise for Sept 2011 our travel agent from Dreams Unlimited required us to fill out a medical form to send into Disney for our HA room. When we booked again for our cruise coming up in Sept 2013 the agent said nothing about filling out the form. Disney's site still says a medical form may be necessary:

" You have indicated that you or a member of your party has a disability that requires the features of a wheelchair accessible stateroom. You may be required to provide written confirmation of this need.

To agree to this term, please click the "I Understand" button. Otherwise, please deselect this stateroom option."

Also in our experience it is a lot harder to get a HA room sailing out of Florida. Booking over a year out we still were unable to get the sailing date we wanted due to the HA rooms being sold out.

 

[Jacqui8374]

Not all of this is totally true the verandah issue makes cabins in this category more expensive. On the wonder and the magic its not a problem on the new ships it is. I traveL with an ECV which is mine and need HA always haD A VERANDAH UNTIL THE TRIP THIS YEAR (TWO WEEKS YEAH) I don't need or want a bigger balcony but that's how they come. Then they reclassified all of this which means they are more expensive than normal verandah cabins and I have no option. In fact in two weeks I am in a HA cabin with a porthole (hate the idea) as I simply cannot justify the cost of a 5A which is all that's available so I am being penalised
Jacqui

 

[mdvlprof]

Jacqui - don't know which cabin you're in. Dec were in 6014-8A on Fantasy and loved, loved it.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Not all of this is totally true the verandah issue makes cabins in this category more expensive. On the wonder and the magic its not a problem on the new ships it is. I traveL with an ECV which is mine and need HA always haD A VERANDAH UNTIL THE TRIP THIS YEAR (TWO WEEKS YEAH) I don't need or want a bigger balcony but that's how they come. Then they reclassified all of this which means they are more expensive than normal verandah cabins and I have no option. In fact in two weeks I am in a HA cabin with a porthole (hate the idea) as I simply cannot justify the cost of a 5A which is all that's available so I am being penalised
Jacqui

Again, not necessarily...on the Dream, if you are in a category 4, your verandah will be 1.5 times bigger (i.e. 8090) than the traditional verandahs (just a cabin or two away) but the cabin prices are identical! (Unless you luck into a deal like a FL resident rate and you neighboring cruiser doesn't!! Then you got a bigger verandah & a cheaper cruise!)

 

[stitchlovestink]

3yrs ago when we booked our cruise for Sept 2011 our travel agent from Dreams Unlimited required us to fill out a medical form to send into Disney for our HA room. When we booked again for our cruise coming up in Sept 2013 the agent said nothing about filling out the form. Disney's site still says a medical form may be necessary:

" You have indicated that you or a member of your party has a disability that requires the features of a wheelchair accessible stateroom. You may be required to provide written confirmation of this need.

To agree to this term, please click the "I Understand" button. Otherwise, please deselect this stateroom option."

Also in our experience it is a lot harder to get a HA room sailing out of Florida. Booking over a year out we still were unable to get the sailing date we wanted due to the HA rooms being sold out.

I agree if you must have a particular cruise it is probably best to book as early as you know about your trip. But that said, with flexibility, there are HC cabins to be found on the ship. We got one with less than two months notice out of PC too on the cruise we wanted!

 

[Jacqui8374]

I am in 6504 restricted view
Jacqui

Jacqui - don't know which cabin you're in. Dec were in 6014-8A on Fantasy and loved, loved it.