ECV's: boats and attraction parking

[DakotaRose]

ECV's are new to me. Mom will need and ECV for WDW due to 80 year old knees.

1. Would someone be so kind as to tell me what boats are off limit to us? All I've found is "small boats", but I don't know what that means.

Boat from MK to GF and Poly?

Boat from MK to WL or Ft. Wilderness?

Boat from POR to DTD?

Boats from DHS to Epcot?

2. She can get on/off of attractions ok. So where would an ECV go if she were to ride, say, Haunted Mansion or watch Beauty and the Beast from the bleachers rather than sitting in the ECV? Are there parking areas in some places as there are for strollers?

Thanks for sharing information! I've picked up a lot by reading so far.

 

[stitchlovestink]

ECV's are new to me. Mom will need and ECV for WDW due to 80 year old knees.

1. Would someone be so kind as to tell me what boats are off limit to us? All I've found is "small boats", but I don't know what that means.

Boat from MK to GF and Poly?

Boat from MK to WL or Ft. Wilderness?

Boat from POR to DTD?

Boats from DHS to Epcot?

2. She can get on/off of attractions ok. So where would an ECV go if she were to ride, say, Haunted Mansion or watch Beauty and the Beast from the bleachers rather than sitting in the ECV? Are there parking areas in some places as there are for strollers?

Thanks for sharing information! I've picked up a lot by reading so far.

I have taken the boats back and forth from the GF to MK but honestly I prefer the Monorail.

I have taken the boats from Saratoga Springs to DTD...I would imagine that it is the same setup for POR but am not 100% certain.

I have taken the Friendship boats back and forth from Epcot to the Studios dozens of times. Never a problem with the boats or CMs...now fellow guests with all the open strollers on the boats, we'll that's a different story. Many guests seem to think the HC parking area is a stroller parking lot even though it is clearly marked. And some proceed to be quite rude about it.

At a ride like HM, she would stay on the ECV all the way thru the queue, and they will have her park it at the exit and board there.
At BatB show, she could ride the ECV down a special walkway and you could sit down front. The CM's will have her park the ECV off to the side and then walk in to the theatre. Depending on the attraction, some she will need to leave the ECV outside (and can switch to a WC if she needs) like Pirates of the Caribbean and Buzz Lightyear. Many she will stay on the ECV until she boards. A few rides she will board in an alternate area... like jungle cruise, splash mtn, big thunder mtn, the speedway (cannot think of its correct name!) CMs will direct you to where you need to go and where to put the ECV if it cannot go in line with you. If you leave it, be sure to take your key!!
Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have done the boat from MK to FW many times with ECV. the boat from FW to Contemp is a small boat

 

[DakotaRose]

Thanks to you both for your replies! Mom has misgivings about using an ECV, but really can't make the trip without it. It will ease her mind to know what to expect. Gracias!

 

[ttintagel]

We have taken the boat from DHS to EPCOT and the one from Port Orleans to DTD with no issues.

Where the ECV goes at attractions will differ a bit from attraction to attraction, and will alo depend on whether she rides it through the queue or not. The CM stationed outside each attraction can help you with that.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I have taken the boats back and forth from the GF to MK but honestly I prefer the Monorail.

I have taken the boats from Saratoga Springs to DTD...I would imagine that it is the same setup for POR but am not 100% certain.

I have taken the Friendship boats back and forth from Epcot to the Studios dozens of times. Never a problem with the boats or CMs...now fellow guests with all the open strollers on the boats, we'll that's a different story. Many guests seem to think the HC parking area is a stroller parking lot even though it is clearly marked. And some proceed to be quite rude about it.

At a ride like HM, she would stay on the ECV all the way thru the queue, and they will have her park it at the exit and board there.
At BatB show, she could ride the ECV down a special walkway and you could sit down front. The CM's will have her park the ECV off to the side and then walk in to the theatre. Depending on the attraction, some she will need to leave the ECV outside (and can switch to a WC if she needs) like Pirates of the Caribbean and Buzz Lightyear. Many she will stay on the ECV until she boards. A few rides she will board in an alternate area... like jungle cruise, splash mtn, big thunder mtn, the speedway (cannot think of its correct name!) CMs will direct you to where you need to go and where to put the ECV if it cannot go in line with you. If you leave it, be sure to take your key!!
Hope you have a great trip!

The boats that generally serve the MK, GF, Poly route cannot handle and ECV, they have a step down and are really to small to maneuver an ECV even if you could get it on the boat(launch). The FW and WL boats should be ok, but on one of the routes you will have one small launch and one larger cruiser, the other will have to cruisers.

 

[SueM in MN]

This information is copied from post 8 of the disABILITIES FAQS thread in case you can't find this thread again.

Boats
These boats are wheelchair/ECV accessible:

• Ferryboats to and from the TTC to MK
• Motor Cruisers are large boats that go to and from resorts at MK are usually accessible, but may not be if the water level is very high or very low (which doesn't happen often).
  Boat captains have some interesting ways to overcome this if the difference is not too large. We have been on boats where all the other passengers were unloaded first; the almost empty boat floated higher in the water. That made the distance close enough that a small portable ramp could be used to get off the boat.
  If there is too much difference in water level between the dock and boat, wheelchairs and ECVs can't be driven on. They do provide alternate ways to get the the parks if this happens.
  
• Friendship Boats at Epcot, MGM and the Epcot resorts

The Disney Park Rental ECVs can not get on the Friendship Boats in the Epcot Lagoon. The bumpers keep locking up on the connecting ramps, and they have been trying for months and cannot solve the problem. This only applies to the Disney park rental ECVs.
This is a picture of the Disney Park ECVs; note the bumpers

Driving a wheelchair onto a Friendship Boat

Friendship boat inside wheelchair area (you can also park outside). Sorry the picture is so dark

• Large roofed boats that travel between OKW, SSR, PO-Riverside, PO-New Orleans and Downtown Disney.

Picture of large roofed boats that go to Downtown Disney:

Ramp at boat from OKW to Downtown Disney

Wheelchair space on OKW boat

Boat dock at OKW

These boats are not wheelchair/ECV accessible:

• Motor Launches - Small boats that go between MK and the MK area resorts.

Link to thread about MK boats (WL and FW)

Specialty Cruises:Fireworks Cruises at MK and Illuminations Cruises at Epcot
There are pontoon boats at MK and pontoon boats and a special cruiser at Epcot. ECVs can be parked and left at the dock or may be able to fit on the pontoon boat.

The pontoon boat door is wide enough for a standard width wheelchair.
The chair can be placed on the boat in the front center between the seated party. The maximum number of guests is 10 including adults, children and the wheelchair.
Policy is that all children 12 and under must wear a life vest.

The special cruiser is called the Breathless and is a reproduction of a 1930s classic run about boat. It is not wheelchair or ECV accessible. It is similar to a speedboat, rides low in the water and requires a step down into the boat.
Here's a link to a page with information about the Specialty Cruises.

 

[DakotaRose]

Thank you for the information!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Would someone be so kind as to tell me what boats are off limit to us? All I've found is "small boats", but I don't know what that means.

Boat from MK to GF and Poly?
. . . nope

Boat from MK to WL or Ft. Wilderness?
. . . yep

Boat from POR to DTD?
. . . yep

Boats from DHS to Epcot?
. . . yep

She can get on/off of attractions ok. So where would an ECV go if she were to ride, say, Haunted Mansion or watch Beauty and the Beast from the bleachers rather than sitting in the ECV? Are there parking areas in some places as there are for strollers?
. . . park with the strollers

 

[stitchlovestink]

Would someone be so kind as to tell me what boats are off limit to us? All I've found is "small boats", but I don't know what that means.

Boat from MK to GF and Poly?
. . . nope

Boat from MK to WL or Ft. Wilderness?
. . . yep

Boat from POR to DTD?
. . . yep

Boats from DHS to Epcot?
. . . yep

She can get on/off of attractions ok. So where would an ECV go if she were to ride, say, Haunted Mansion or watch Beauty and the Beast from the bleachers rather than sitting in the ECV? Are there parking areas in some places as there are for strollers?
. . . park with the strollers

I have taken the boats from MK to GF on more than one occasion at the direction of Cast Members in the Dept that handles travel throughout property. So it can be done. They may have more than one type of boat servicing this area (I am not sure about that) but I have done it!!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I have taken the boats from MK to GF on more than one occasion at the direction of Cast Members in the Dept that handles travel throughout property. So it can be done. They may have more than one type of boat servicing this area (I am not sure about that) but I have done it!!

Normally only the small launches run that route, so I would not count on being able to take an ECV on that boat. From time to time Disney will adjust boat routes to meet unusual needs(such as monorail maintenance) but the 3 large cruisers that are ECV accessible normally are working the WL and FW routes.

 

[rtilner]

I rented ecv for several years and I've had no problem. I even stayed at the poly last November. The Poly has very small boats that don't take ecvs or wheelchairs. I rather take the monorail. Why don't you check the Disney website directly and check out the hotel you are staying at. If you still have questions send Disney a email with a specific question and they get back to in a couple of days.