ECV's....where are they parked?

[SDSorority]

Hi all. DFIL and DMIL will be going to the world in June and getting an ECV from an outside company. We have never done this before- where are the ECV's parked if you can't take them through the queue or on the ride- outside by the strollers??

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Most of the queue's are "mainstreamed", where a wheelchair or ECV can go through the regular line until the actual boarding area. At that point you park right at Load and when you get off, it is there waiting for you. If Load and Unload are in different locations, the chair or ECV will magically appear at Unload.

If the queue is not mainstreamed, you will be directed (either at the start or partway through the queue) to go to the alternate entrance.

There are a few attractions where you do have to switch from an ECV to a wheelchair; you leave the ECV there and pick it back up on return.

Many restaurants you can park an ECV in the lobby or right outside the entrance. And parking in a stroller parking area is always acceptable.

 

[SDSorority]

Most of the queue's are "mainstreamed", where a wheelchair or ECV can go through the regular line until the actual boarding area. At that point you park right at Load and when you get off, it is there waiting for you. If Load and Unload are in different locations, the chair or ECV will magically appear at Unload.

If the queue is not mainstreamed, you will be directed (either at the start or partway through the queue) to go to the alternate entrance.

There are a few attractions where you do have to switch from an ECV to a wheelchair; you leave the ECV there and pick it back up on return.

Many restaurants you can park an ECV in the lobby or right outside the entrance. And parking in a stroller parking area is always acceptable.

THANK YOU!! I know that DMIL and DFIL are getting a little nervous about having an ECV this trip since they have never used one at WDW before! I won't be there with them to help, so I'm trying to gather as much information ahead of time for them as I can!

 

[GrammyJudy]

You can park them in the stroller parking areas if you want to walk abit.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

i needed my ecv for lines as standing is my problem. rode right up to ride most times. was able to park near ride then return to it as i got off. hardest part of trip was ts meals not set up for ecvs. bus drivers were very helpful with loading and unloading. was not allowed to stay on ecv on buses, had to take a seat. if time before leaving have ecv riders pratice at stores or malls to get used to driving and backing up. tell them to enjoy themselves.

 

[Bete]

You can always skip some rides, etc. that are too hard or difficult to manage with a scooter. It won't affect your overall experience. CMs will help you at each attraction; don't be afraid to ask. Watch how others are doing it, too.

As far as parking a scooter, just make sure you are not blocking anything and keep in mind some parade routes, etc. that come into play each day. At AK we got caught once with leaving our scooter at the beginning of the parade route. Well, they manually overrode the scooter and moved it to a place we didn't see. Luckily, a CM knew were it was. I was very careful after that experience. You can ask a CM if it safe whereever to make sure. Some things are obvious, like you can't block an entrance to a restaurant. Also, where you leave a scooter on the ride may not be where you pick it up. The CMs move them to the exit area. Other rides go in a loop and they are not a problem.

 

[tobikaye]

Have your parents pick up the disability map when they get to each park. It is at the front with the other maps that are in various languages. If it is not there, they can check with GR. It includes instructions on what to do at each ride. It was very helpful on my trip last May with my sister who was using a rollator. In a few weeks, we are going and this time she will require an ECV. When I was last at WDW in February, I made sure to pick up some of these maps again to double check so she would have some idea of what to expect again.

 

[SueM in MN]

Have your parents pick up the disability map when they get to each park. It is at the front with the other maps that are in various languages. If it is not there, they can check with GR. It includes instructions on what to do at each ride. It was very helpful on my trip last May with my sister who was using a rollator. In a few weeks, we are going and this time she will require an ECV. When I was last at WDW in February, I made sure to pick up some of these maps again to double check so she would have some idea of what to expect again.

The only park where I have not consistently found the Disability Maps with the other maps is at MK.
The disability map is usually in a bin marked with a wheelchair symbol. The map itself has a black bar across the top, with the title indicating it is a map for guests with disabilities.

I do have the “Mobility Entrances” for the disability maps listed in a post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. In most cases, the map does say to use the regular (Mainstream) queue because most attractions are accessible.

If you are concerned about rides that require a transfer, there is more information in posts 18-22 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find that thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.