ecv vs wheel chair

[dizzi]

I am helping a family plan a trip to Disney World.

They will have 2 People who could possibly require some assistance in walking all day

The grandmother who had knee surgery and the father (recently retired military) awaiting knee surgery.

I had first suggest and ecv not knowing they were not available right in WDW, so now I am thinking wheel chair and I think one for them would be good they 2 could switch on and off as needed.

Does this sound feasible?

And do they need a note from the Doc, they can get it, I just wasn't sure if they needed it.

 

[dizzi]

I am helping a family make most of their plans which I thinknk now will include a wheel chair.

I feel a bit weird asking because I know of the craziness of people renting disabled people for front of line access .....

But just so I can make their plans better,

Is their front of line access for those in wheel chairs who really need them?

Is their particular parking areas for the wheel chairs ( I have only ever noticed stroller parking as this is what I always needed)

Any other things I should tell them about parking or using the wheel chairs

 

[lanejudy]

Check out the FAQ sticky at the top of the disAbilities forum for information about renting wheelchairs or ECVs. They can be rented on-site at the parks, on a first-come first-served basis; wheelchairs are generally not a problem but they will run out of ECVs by mid-morning. Off-site rental will allow them use of the chair (or ECV) around the resort, DTD or anywhere off-property, to/from the parks, etc. And it's usually less expensive off-site.

There is NO front-of-the-line access by using a mobility aid. That is a misconception, worsened by recent media reports. The only people to SOMETIMES get FOTL are children on Make-a-Wish trips. Most lines at WDW are mainstreamed, meaning if the w/c or ECV is the only "need" then the regular line will be used.

Wheelchairs or ECVs can be parked in the stroller parking if the person wishes to walk for a bit.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am helping a family plan a trip to Disney World.

They will have 2 People who could possibly require some assistance in walking all day

The grandmother who had knee surgery and the father (recently retired military) awaiting knee surgery.

I had first suggest and ecv not knowing they were not available right in WDW,

ECVs and wheelchairs can be rented at the parks - limited number of ECVs available and they can't be reserved ahead of time.

ECVs and wheelchairs can be rented from off-site rental places that will deliver to you at your resort.
You can find out more information in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. It includes information about renting in the parks and also links and phone numbers for off-site rental places.

The advantage of renting from off-site is that they would have it wherever they are - the resorts are large and anyone who thinks they would have trouble walking in the parks is likely to also have issues with walking around their resort.

All buses, monorails and most boats are wheelchair and ECV accessible.

so now I am thinking wheel chair and I think one for them would be good they 2 could switch on and off as needed.

Does this sound feasible?

Some people do rent just one mobility device and switch off.
I would suggest asking them how they feel about that and also how they would feel about an ECV vs a wheelchair.

An ECV gives much more independence. A wheelchair means the user needs to be depending on someone else to push them. (The rental wheelchairs are heavy and not really meant for the user to propel.)

And do they need a note from the Doc, they can get it, I just wasn't sure if they needed it.

No.
They don't need a note from the doctor.

 

[lanejudy]

I just replied to your other post, you might want to request these 2 be combined as the questions could be answered together. Please check-out the disAbilities FAQ sticky, you seem to have a few misconceptions...

There are ECVs available for rent in the parks, but they may run out. Offsite rental might be better.

Yes, 2 people could "share" an ECV, alternating 1 riding and the other walking.

No doctor's note is required to rent an ECV from either in-parks or off-site.

 

[SueM in MN]

lanejudy already answered most of your questions and pointed you toward the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Post 1 of that thread is an index that lists where to find specific information.

Many people decorate their rental wheelchair in some way to make it stand out a bit from the other similar wheelchairs.

All attractions are wheelchair accessible to the point of boarding except for a couple that require guests to be ambulatory - Tomorrowland Transit Authority (Peoplemover), Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Tom Sawyer's Island.

Peter Pan is also listed as 'must be ambulatory' because guests must walk a few feet and step onto the moving walkway (which can't be stopped) to enter their pirate ship.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If both people drive cars, then I would definitely recommend an ECV. If grandmother's reflexes have trouble with a car, then she shouldn't try to navigate an ECV through the crowds at WDW. Has she driven a motorized shopping cart through Costco or other large store? If she has a chance for a "rehearsal" then you'll know if she can handle a scooter in WDW.

That said, an ECV is fun to drive, and if both your relatives are capable, you may end up with two ECV's running circles around the rest of the family at the parks.

 

[SueM in MN]

Merged 2 threads with similar questions