ECV with Wilderness lodge boats?

[LynJ]

I've been inching my way towards double knee replacements since a bad car accident almost 30 years ago. I also have vascular and achilles issues in 1 leg. My last few Disney trips have been with my rollator, which has helped a lot, and I typically haven't needed it in day to day life.

However, steroid shots aren't helping the knee anymore, and I've had to moving to use a cane daily (I'm not yet 50). Waiting to see how much gel injections and physical therapy help, but we're 2 weeks out, and I'm looking at potentially renting an ECV for the first time.

I'm hoping that I will be able to walk part of the trip with the rollator, but I'm not sure about pain levels. We have park hoppers, and we go hard early and late, with a mid-day break. I'm wondering, since we usually take the boat to magic Kingdom, from Wilderness Lodge if it makes sense to try to walk that park and then use the ECV for the other half of the day when we park hop elsewhere? I know they have occasional larger boats, but I don't know how often they run.

Do you know if they also run MK busses from wilderness lodge for the sake of ECVs? Or how often the larger boats run? I'm trying to plan ahead, and I don't want to be stuck at a dock for ages waiting on the larger boat.

I may not have a choice, if the knee rebels. I might be using an ECV all day anyway. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to plan, so I know hours to plan transportation. Thanks!

 

[mamabunny]

I've been inching my way towards double knee replacements since a bad car accident almost 30 years ago. I also have vascular and achilles issues in 1 leg. My last few Disney trips have been with my rollator, which has helped a lot, and I typically haven't needed it in day to day life.

However, steroid shots aren't helping the knee anymore, and I've had to moving to use a cane daily (I'm not yet 50). Waiting to see how much gel injections and physical therapy help, but we're 2 weeks out, and I'm looking at potentially renting an ECV for the first time.

I'm hoping that I will be able to walk part of the trip with the rollator, but I'm not sure about pain levels. We have park hoppers, and we go hard early and late, with a mid-day break. I'm wondering, since we usually take the boat to magic Kingdom, from Wilderness Lodge if it makes sense to try to walk that park and then use the ECV for the other half of the day when we park hop elsewhere? I know they have occasional larger boats, but I don't know how often they run.

Do you know if they also run MK busses from wilderness lodge for the sake of ECVs? Or how often the larger boats run? I'm trying to plan ahead, and I don't want to be stuck at a dock for ages waiting on the larger boat.

I may not have a choice, if the knee rebels. I might be using an ECV all day anyway. So I'm trying to figure out the best way to plan, so I know hours to plan transportation. Thanks!

Plan on using a rental ECV from a local vendor for the Parks and Disney Springs; the Rollator might be great for around the hotel, except…

WL has what my family calls “the ramp of DOOM” which is that big ol ramp that goes down from the lobby level to Roaring Fork and the elevators (and the laundry too).

Depending on where your room is located in the Lodge, you may find that the ramp is just too much for the Rollator. It’s a *climb* going back up, and I can’t imagine trying to wrangle a rollator on the downhill of that, either.

Now, I will say that I have a rollator that we keep just for travel, and I use it mostly in the room. Otherwise, I use either my personal ECV or my personal power chair at WDW. Distances can be deceptive at WDW; I think we all tend to wear rose colored glasses when we are not there. It’s easy to remember everything as close together, and just a few quick steps away. You may be best served by using the ECV outside the hotel room, and keeping the rollator for the hotel room

°o° °o° °o° °o° °o° °o° °o°

Bus vs. boat at WL is no worry - you can ride either! The boat that goes to the MK dock from WL is a drive-on boat; you will be asked by a CM to wait until the boat is as close to level on the dock as possible, and then they will indicate when to drive on.

There is a “larger” boat - this runs between FW/WL/MK, and there is a smaller boat that runs FW/WL

The buses to/from WL run to all 4 Theme Parks, as well as Disney Springs. You may share a bus with Contemporary during “slow” times at the middle of the day, but it’s does not add a lot of time to the trip.

You can do the “park and walk”, which is where you park the ECV (while in a Theme Park or at Disney Springs) and then walk around an area. Be sure to park in either designated stroller/ECV parking (just ask any CM at the Parks) or find an out-of-the way spot at DS. ALWAYS take your key when parking, and NEVER leave anything in the basket(s) or on the ECV that you don’t mind losing.

Many of us here use a folding cane that we can easily store on our personal mobility devices; it gives us some support, while being compact when not in use.

Hope this helps; I love WL so much; it is my personal favorite Deluxe!

 

[LynJ]

Plan on using a rental ECV from a local vendor for the Parks and Disney Springs; the Rollator might be great for around the hotel, except…

WL has what my family calls “the ramp of DOOM” which is that big ol ramp that goes down from the lobby level to Roaring Fork and the elevators (and the laundry too).

Depending on where your room is located in the Lodge, you may find that the ramp is just too much for the Rollator. It’s a *climb* going back up, and I can’t imagine trying to wrangle a rollator on the downhill of that, either.

Now, I will say that I have a rollator that we keep just for travel, and I use it mostly in the room. Otherwise, I use either my personal ECV or my personal power chair at WDW. Distances can be deceptive at WDW; I think we all tend to wear rose colored glasses when we are not there. It’s easy to remember everything as close together, and just a few quick steps away. You may be best served by using the ECV outside the hotel room, and keeping the rollator for the
°o° °o° °o° °o° °o° °o° °o°

Bus vs. boat at WL is no worry - you can ride either! The boat that goes to the MK dock from WL is a drive-on boat; you will be asked by a CM to wait until the boat is as close to level on the dock as possible, and then they will indicate when to drive on.

There is a “larger” boat - this runs between FW/WL/MK, and there is a smaller boat that runs FW/WL

The buses to/from WL run to all 4 Theme Parks, as well as Disney Springs. You may share a bus with Contemporary during “slow” times at the middle of the day, but it’s does not add a lot of time to the trip.

You can do the “park and walk”, which is where you park the ECV (while in a Theme Park or at Disney Springs) and then walk around an area. Be sure to park in either designated stroller/ECV parking (just ask any CM at the Parks) or find an out-of-the way spot at DS. ALWAYS take your key when parking, and NEVER leave anything in the basket(s) or on the ECV that you don’t mind losing.

Many of us here use a folding cane that we can easily store on our personal mobility devices; it gives us some support, while being compact when not in use.

Hope this helps; I love WL so much; it is my personal favorite Deluxe!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Wilderness lodge is our favorite, and we're splurging points on a 1 bedroom this trip, so it should be fabulous! The boat was my only worry, because we love taking the boat over to MK. Thanks for all the suggestions! ECV is booked, and now I just need to decide how to decorate it. (My rollator is covered with Mickey heads and usually wrapped in Christmas lights and Christmas ribbon at this time of year).

And the ramp of doom is right! Lol! I've used the rollator on that ramp before. Great reminder.