ECVs and Loved ones

[Forevryoung]

DBF brought up the big question tonight that I have been dreading. I attempted to answer it respectfully (without emotion) and then sent him an email:

He asked "what if after the first day my legs swell up and I'm in pain and need to stay back at the resort for the rest of our 5 day stay? What would you do?"

My answer was that I would go to the parks for some time each day and just travel back and forth for meals and whatnot. I was planning on taking it easy because it's his first trip anyway and because of his physical capabilities.

My email suggested the use of an ECV- told him that it was his decision either way, that we could see how it went, that I would prefer he not be in pain due to whats supposed to be a vacation... I told him that they weren't uncommon due to all the walking involved.

Our trip isn't for awhile (Jan 08) but there is a STRONG possibility that his legs will swell and knees will cause serious pain due to chronic problems. I'm not going to mention it again (except if he has a question in response to my email). We can rent them at the park and I will make sure I have Randy's, Care, and Walkers numbers with me in case we need one all the time (even getting to dinner at other resorts and stuff).

Anything else for me to say? Do? Should I send him to any particulary informative threads?

Thanks guys,
Forevryoung

 

[KKCannon]

I have the same types of problem as you described. I can walk for a while but eventually the pain just takes over and makes me miserable. I have been renting ECVs from Care Medical for many years now. I started about 10 years ago when my kids were young and told them if I didn't use one we wouldn't be able to stay at the parks very long. They had no problem with Mom being in an ECV. Now they're 18 and 16 and can come and go as they please when we're at WDW. I just hop in my ECV and do what I want to do. Having it delivered directly to the hotel is the best way to do it. $30 a day and you have it with you 24/7. Sometimes the walks from the room to the lobby or wherever were too much for me so having it lets me do and see more than I could ever do without having it. When I stay at the Boardwalk or Beach Club I love having the ECV and just going to Epcot to watch the fireworks at night. It is well worth the expense to have the convenience and to not be in pain. Good luck.

 

[Forevryoung]

Thanks KKCannon (we're on LI too! )

I think we would both be happier if he used one. It's just a matter of convincing him that it would be better for both of us (or just me ). He's only going because he wants me to be happy and share the experience with me. It's far from his idea of a vacation.

He's not the type of guy who gives a hoot what others think of him- very comfortable being himself. But it will be difficult to convince a 41 year old male that he needs some help sometimes. Especially one as confident and cocky as my DBF (I say that with love)

I think convincing him that having it 24/7 would be better is just a dream. It probably would be better for him to have the choice to have it all day, every day- even if he left it in the room while we were at the resort or just going to dinner.

I have time to get him warmed up to the idea which is a plus but I don't want to bring up my concern too much. Definitely considered canceling the trip if he flat out refuses- I would much rather go alone than worry about him sitting in the room while my goal was to SHARE the experience WITH him. Especially since he has no desire otherwise to go. <sigh>

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You can ask him a variety of my six standard questions (shown below for convenience).

The first time I rented an ECV Judy told me how my using it improved her enjoyment of the park, as we did not have to stop and I could keep up with her.

Another thing is to rent one from off-site and then tell him (in no uncertain terms) "It is here, it is paid for, now use it!"

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are travelling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[kmjmom]

I must thank you for your list of questions. I recently visited WDW and thanks to your list, I confidently got myself a wheelchair and enjoyed myself. I have been in a walking cast awaiting ankle surgery and am not able to stand for any length of time without extreme pain. I highly suggest the initial poster convince her friend to get an ECV and enjoy the trip. There is so much to enjoy outside of the resort!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I have the same types of problem as you described. I can walk for a while but eventually the pain just takes over and makes me miserable. I have been renting ECVs from Care Medical for many years now.
Having it delivered directly to the hotel is the best way to do it. $30 a day and you have it with you 24/7. Sometimes the walks from the room to the lobby or wherever were too much for me so having it lets me do and see more than I could ever do without having it. It is well worth the expense to have the convenience and to not be in pain. Good luck.

I second Care Medical! We use them on every trip and they are wonderful. DH uses an ECV when at Disney (back and knee issues) and it is always waiting for us upon check in at our resort. We leave it back at the front desk when we check out. Doesn't matter if you are staying on property or off property either. Wonderful to have in the parks and at the resorts as well. ECV's with Disney are expensive and you are not always guaranteed they will have them available...plus they are HUGE. Care Medical's ECV are cheaper and more compact (they offer regular and heavy duty for larger sizes if necessary). It's always good to have it there if it is needed and in all liklihood, if you have it and it's already paid for, DBF is probably more likely to break down and use it. Men hate to admit they are in pain or say they need assistance a lot of times. This way he doesn't have to say a word...just hop on it and he's good to go. Maybe you could just go ahead and arrange for the rental and have it there waiting for him as a surprise. He may really see it for what it is...showing that you care about his health and comfort and also that you LOVE him and want to share the whole Disney experience with him.

We never had our rental from Care Medical die on us (although, if yours does, they will promptly come into the park or anywhere else you are and fix or swap out for you...Disney is also accomodating even though they are not their ECV's). My MIL was with us on one trip and she asked to charge hers at CRT and they were more than happy to oblige-she was paranoid her battery was low...but it was fine. We just charged DH's ECV in the room each evening. I probably sound like a commercial for CM, but really, we are just very happy and satisfied customers for years now. Sometimes DH needs to actually get up and stretch (can't sit for too long for the same reasons-back and knee), so I will drive it so he can walk a few minutes and then he is back on board. We are so used to traveling with the ECV that we forget we are considered to have special needs. Disney really makes it so easy! Good luck! I hope DBF decides to use the ECV! For us, it meant the difference between DH staying home or sitting at the resort versus being able to enjoy everything with us as a family.

 

[KKCannon]

One time when at the Magic Kingdom, we took the monorail to the Polynesian Hotel to have lunch or dinner, I don't remember, and when I went to take the key out of the ECV, it broke off in the key hole and wouldn't turn on again. I called Care Medical and Jay came right over, had it replaced and brought the key right in to me at the table before we even finished our meal. Another time I had an ECV that just didn't sound right to me. They brought me a replacement right to MGM. They are truly wonderful. I have referred many people to them. When planning a WDW trip, Care Medical is the third call I make, right after DVC and the airline and it is always waiting when we get to the hotel. I have even seen Care ECVs delivered right to Orlando Airport. So worth it for me.

 

[StephPf]

We just came back from Disneyland (Calif) and my dh who is recovering from a serious car accident used one, very reluctantly. I think we rented from Care Medical ... it was waiting at our hotel when we arrived. By the end of the first hour there he was saying how HAPPY he was to have it. OUr kids are 8 and 10 and it would have been pure torture for them if they had to continuously wait for Dad to catch up. Since he is mobile, most of the time, he parked it and walked onto the rides (cuz lines in Calif were short this week). Also, one time when we separated ... I went to get a fast pass for something while he and the kids rode something else ... it was the perfect meeting spot, no confusion, nobody sitting on the bench where we planned to meet, etc. I got there first, sat down on his scooter and waited ... easy!!

AND ... the basket was a great place for carrying our bottled water and other non-valuables like sun screen and half-eaten snacks. AND ... at the end of the day, after shopping, we could slip our bags on his handlebars and he 'carried' those for us too!!!

 

[Haley Whippet]

We use Scootarama for my Dad and I own my own scooter. what a difference it makes in our trip to have a ECV.
I am happy and (almost) pain-free! I also have a 2 baskets and everyone likes that! I am the "water girl"
Scootarama is $25.00 a day with free delivery and pick-up.
It is well worth the money to have a pain-free trip..
Deb

 

[Stellaluna]

I have some lower back issues from a car accident several years ago. If we're just going for the day, and I can take it my own pace I'm fine. If we're doing multiple days using an ECV makes a huge difference in my vacation. I used to be very self conscious about it and wouldn't get one until I was already hurting. I have now learned not to wait until I'm already in pain, and I get one for the length of my stay. The point I'm trying to make is, if you think your DBF is going to have problems at any point during the vacation, it would be best if starts off using the ECV rather than waiting until the pain kicks in. Let him know he doesn't have to use it every minute just because he has it. He has nothing to feel self conscious about it, these people don't know him and probably won't remember having seen him by the time he leaves their sight... they're too wrapped up in their own magic stay! It took some convincing from DH for me to come around, but I am so glad now that I did.

 

[StephPf]

Ooops ... just asked dh, he used Scootarama, too. Somebody recommended them when I asked the question back in Feb. Everything was done via phone, we never saw these folks. It was newer and less clunky than what we could have rented at Disneyland.

 

[Forevryoung]

Thanks guys, as of right now, DBF is claiming he can walk if we stick to shorter days (which I was sort of planning on anyway).

I walk faster than him naturally- he's a major stroller. I always seem to be dragging him along and this seemed like the solution for me too I know he walks slower than an ECV easily.

I'll still take numbers with me of course- I'm not that naiive

 

[kimkatmom]

This is great information, given the topic at dinner tonight. We have friends that are leaving for WDW on Tuesday. They might need a scooter while there. Can you give me the telephone number for Care Medical. Sounds like they are very responsible people. I assume free delivery, etc.?

Leslye

 

[KKCannon]

Their toll free number is 1-800-741-2282 and their website is http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/. Orlando number is 407-856-2273. I keep both their numbers stored on my cell phone should I have to reach them while I'm at the hotel or at a park. They are the best. Delivery is free to any resort. They will even drop off at one resort and pick up at another. If I go to a park on our last day, depending on which one it is, I will leave it at the closest Disney resort to that particular park and then get to the airport from there. I have never had any problems with them and I've been using them for over 10 years. Good luck. Tell them Karen Cannon referred you. Thanks.

 

[KPeveler]

Also if he has strong upper body strength, and his only problems with his legs, he can also look at getting a manual chair (there are places that rent light-weight ones) and pushing himself when his legs get bad, (or sitting in lines!), and just pushing it in front of him when he doesnt need it.

i say this because personally i use a manual chair sometimes, and i hate ECVs. I feel they are too difficult for me to move (that is just my personal opinion!!!), but i like the feeling of exerting physical strength to get myself to move.

there may be a place in your local area that rents wheelchairs, (a place near me rents for $48/month) so he can give it a shot, and he can try an ECV at walmart or target, and decide if he is comfortable driving it.

but, really, it is disney world, and even though it is the happiest place on earth, it is no fun if you are in a lot of pain (believe me, i've done it)

 

[kimkatmom]

Thanks, Karen, for your help.

Leslye

 

[Forevryoung]

Also if he has strong upper body strength, and his only problems with his legs, he can also look at getting a manual chair (there are places that rent light-weight ones) and pushing himself when his legs get bad, (or sitting in lines!), and just pushing it in front of him when he doesnt need it.

i say this because personally i use a manual chair sometimes, and i hate ECVs. I feel they are too difficult for me to move (that is just my personal opinion!!!), but i like the feeling of exerting physical strength to get myself to move.

there may be a place in your local area that rents wheelchairs, (a place near me rents for $48/month) so he can give it a shot, and he can try an ECV at walmart or target, and decide if he is comfortable driving it.

but, really, it is disney world, and even though it is the happiest place on earth, it is no fun if you are in a lot of pain (believe me, i've done it)

If you are referring to my boyfriend still, there is no way that he would go for a manual chair. He wouldn't push himself (physical effort is not his friend) and I can't push him if he gets tired. He weighs 2x me. I'm going to stick with the ECV idea. Thanks