ECV/wheelchair help

[ChiTownZee]

I'm not sure what to do. We are traveling with my MIL who has very bad knees. She CAN walk for some distance, but I think the mileage required at Disney is just going to kill her. We were thinking about renting and ECV by day in the parks, but I'm worried about one not being available in the morning, or afternoon if we park hop, and we are staying off property, so as you know, there can be quite a trek from the car to the park entrance. DH was talking about renting her a wheelchair today, that way we can put it in the car and she can use it to and from the parking lot. But then someone would need to be pushing her, and I don't want it to be me, I'm pregnant. Plus what happens if someone takes it in the park?
So now I'm thinking about maybe renting an ECV? I understand you can break them down without toooo much trouble. But what do you do on the trams/monorail? Like I said, we're staying off site (at Vistana) and I'm just lost as to what the best thing to do would be.

 

[Figaro]

Hi ChiTownZee!

We are going to be at the Vistana Resorts in December and will have a wheelchair and ECV. The ECV's break down and fit nicely into the back of a van or trunk of a regular sized car.

It sounds like your MIL might qualify for a handicap sticker, which would mean that you could park in the handicapped spots at the parks, which in most cases mean that you don't need to worry about the trams. As for the monorail, they have ramps that they put down and there are cars on the monorail that are designed to hold wheelchairs and ECV's. Even my mother, who was not all that good at using an ECV the first time, was an absolute pro about driving on and backing off of the monorails and getting on and off the buses.

And if she doesn't qualify for a handicap sticker, I think you can drop her and the ECV off at the front of the parks (Ticket and Transportation Center at the Magic Kingdom), go park and then meet her there, since the ECV won't fit on the trams.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[ChiTownZee]

Is it possible to get a temporary sticker? She's coming in from Philly the day before we leave, which is in 4 days. Short notice, I know. How does one go about that?

 

[Figaro]

ChiTownZee, I honestly don't know what the rules are in Pennsylvania. In Minnesota there is a form that the physician fills out and then I just take it down to the Department of Motor Vehicles and they give me a paper temporary "sticker" that I use until the heavy plastic hang tag shows up in the mail.

Maybe someone here will know more about it than I do!

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.
Here's a thread that should answer your parking questions.
Most states have information about getting a handicapped parking permit on their Department of Motor Vehicles website. I don't know if 4 days is enough time, but if you don't get one, the parking lot CMs will help you to get a parking spot that will work. With an ecv, you won't be able to ride the trams, so do let each CM you see know that you have it.

 

[Nanajo1]

My town issues temporay H/P placards, they have been honored outside of my town. Your MIL should check with her town/city to see if they have something like this. You could check as well.But four days is a little close. If you don't get an H/P placard then do as Sue said. Tell the first parking CM that you have an ECV but no placard . You should be directed to a spot that is close enough to the entrances so you don't need the tram. Have a great trip.