ECV with Child Onboard in Disneyland

[fairy8i8]

Does anyone have experience with CMs in the Disneyland Parks - whether or not they will let me have a child on the ECV (off property rental) with me or if they will say he has to get off? The girl at Bell Services at the Disneyland Hotel says she sees children ride with their parents on the ECV all of the time and thinks that it would be ok (though if someone were to ask her, she would say no).

I went to WDW last spring in a wheelchair. I loved it because my indefatigable DH wheeled me everywhere and DS4 sat on my lap, which gave him stamina to last all day (we even planned breaks, but he never took a nap). I decided not to get an ECV because then it would be me in an ECV and DH pushing DS4 in a stroller-- much too bulky for comfortable travel and hard to be close together and talk about the parks, etc. Plus, all the curbs!

Fast forward to 3 weeks from now. DH has a conference at the Disneyland Hotel, so of COURSE DS(now 5) and I are tagging along for the fun! However, DH will be in conference sessions for half of the trip. Ideally, he could drop me off in the morning and pick me up at the parks in the afternoon/evening where he would spend time with us.

I called Disneyland Hotel Bell Services. They said they only have about 2 chairs available to rent, and strongly recommended renting from Deckert's to guarantee that I have a chair. She also said that with the hills, etc. in the parks, she really thinks that I should have an ECV for the days where it will be just me and DS5 in the parks.

My worry is that DS5 is an easily distracted child, and being on an ECV, I might run over him if he stops suddenly, or he could easily get lost in the crowd. If that isn't enough, I allow him to ride on the chair with me at Walmart and Costco, and I can see him melting down into a pile of tears because he is tired and can't ride with me.

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[rtilner]

I don't know of any rule. But first the ESV go by weight. Second the adult allows the child to run the ESV(I think that a no no). This can become a problem especially if the park is crowded.

A couple of months ago there was story on the thread about a situation DW. The adult let the child run the ECV. The ECV ran down another child and the child was pinned under ECV. Common sense what say you and the child get the ESV and lift it off the pinned child. No the kept running the ECV and that how they got off the child.

I wasn't there so I can't say what the story was. I allow my grandson who is 12 to ride at the hotel in an open area. Or ride with his parent at the hotel. He handle the ECV very well.

Another factor is people who have no problem walking can be a big problem when you run the ECV. They jump in front of you for no reason.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) ECV's are ONE PASSENGER vehicles.
2) It is very unsafe to carry a child with you.
. . . the kids can wiggle and fall off while in motion
. . . the kids could distract you and you run into others
3) Why would someone ever want to risk such?
4) Kids are old enough to walk.
5) At least since 1955 they have been . . . . . . . . .


PER WDW: "ECVs can support weight up to 450lbs and are not designed to hold more than one person."

 

[fairy8i8]

Yeah. It's not my first choice. I was thinking of just keeping the wheelchair and using that while DH is not with me. It would be difficult and slow going, but I could at least have my DS5 hold on to the handlebars so I know where he is, and he would be a bit protected walking behind me. However, the girl at bell services said that she has been there a long time and she has almost always had people come back and ask for an ECV because with the hills and ramps, a wheelchair is just too much.

Of course I would never let DS5 steer. I have heard of people walking in front of you and stopping. What can you do in any situation like that? Yell watch out! ? I don't know. I can see how having DS5 on my lap and having to stop suddenly could be a problem for my son getting jostled. I really don't know what to do.Unfortunately, because I have been injured this last year, our trips to the parks and other active things for him have diminished, so I do worry about his stamina.

As for weight allowed, I'm small- we don't even weigh as much as an adult male between the 2 of us. I was just wondering if this was even allowed? I thought I read that it wasn't in WDW, just wanted to know if anyone had experience with it in Disneyland.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you are renting, the rental agreements generally say that you may not have a passenger on the ECV.
So, it doesn't really matter what the person at Bell Services says. The biggest issue is that if something happens, the liability will be yours since you signed the rentál agreement where you agreed not to have a rider.
I have seen riding kids getting distracted and pointing at something, which pushed the driver's hand, making them run into something. I've also seen kids jump off the ECV suddenly and almost get run over. It's just not a very safe thing to do.
Do people do it? Yes, but it still is not safe.
(And, I have seen people at the Walmart in our area stopped from having a child tide with them, so I'm kind of surprised yours doesn't).
The rules at Disneyland are the same as at WDW.

I don't know what your disability is, but many people who can walk, but don't have stamina, do well using a rollator. It's like a walker with a gold down seat. You can hold onto it and push it to add some support while walking. If you are stopped, you can fold down the seat and push

 

[Coonhound]

At five he he should be old enough to be trusted to stay by your side and not run off. I wouldn't worry about it. If you get there and find that he is not staying by your side, running off etc then you can warn him we'll have to leave the park if you're not listening. I would not have him ride. It may be safe 99 times but it just takes 1 time for something to happen. Kids shouldn't be riding on these things...if you rent, you'll have to sign an agreement saying you won't put him on it. Remember Disney is not the same as every day life because at Disney there will be a lot of stop-start-stop etc and trying to get out of people's way as they dart right in front of you. It can be crowded and people often don't look where they are going.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I really don't know what to do . . .

1) Let the kid walk.
2) Just don't put the child on the ECV with you.
. . . common sense
. . . safety
. . . good for kids to walk (rather than being mollycoddled)

 

[LilIrishBlessing]

My two year old holds my left hand and walks next to me. I control the throttle and steering with my right. This is my first time doing this but so far so good. I just keep it in turtle. Just be very cautious of his feet. Ymmv.

 

[Gracie09]

Op look at kid handle. I think they are made by more than two. It's a three foot long fabric cord with a handle at one end (for the child to hold) and it can attach to you or the ecv. They child is far enough away to be safe but if he drops it you will know.
But I will say, having two five year olds, they are at an age where they can understand "danger zones" and can make it most of the day without a stroller

 

[aaarcher86]

Op look at kid handle. I think they are made by more than two. It's a three foot long fabric cord with a handle at one end (for the child to hold) and it can attach to you or the ecv. They child is far enough away to be safe but if he drops it you will know. But I will say, having two five year olds, they are at an age where they can understand "danger zones" and can make it most of the day without a stroller

If you can't find this ^^^ perhaps looks into those backpack leashes?

 

[kaytieeldr]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...eash,aps,246&rh=n:165796011,k:kid+leash&ajr=0
Lots of options. The $14.47 monkey themed one on the first page looks especially adaptable.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

My mum used these back in the early 60s on all of us.

http://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Helper...UTF8&qid=1413739197&sr=1-2&keywords=kid+leash

They were made of leather back then. It was the only way to control larger families when you were out on your own.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Last week at Epcot Food and Wine, I saw a lady letting her young son/nephew ride with her and he kept grabbing at the steering wheel and turning the key off. He looked old enough to know better (7 or 8 years old). He thought it was a fun joke.

I gave them a wide berth before he ran into me.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am going to close this at this time.

The OP's question has been answered