electric scooters

[msmouse]

Headed for DW in Jan 02, and need info on the electric carts(scooters) you can rent. Anyone familiar with the price and the method of obtaining and operating one. Have a Dad who will probably fight me on this one, but I think if we can convince him that it would be to useful to have one to carry our belongings, he may be able to stay in the parks longer.
Thanks!

 

[lisapooh]

Come over to the disabilities board where you will find links to faqs about ECVs and lots of info and help.
Meanwhile here is a link to the offsite company I have used in the past.
Care Medical

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's some other links:
Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

I want to invite you to take up lisapooh's invitation to come to the disABILITIES Board. You can follow the link in my signature.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

There are several reasons I would recommend the old fashioned wheel chair:

1) the "scooters" are so quiet that no one hears you coming and they walk out in front of you;

2) you sit so low that if someone does happen to look before stepping off the curb, etc. they are not likely to see you;

3) there are no brakes on these things you have to release the accelerator button and hope you cost to a stop in time to avoid running someone down;

4) the horns aren't loud enough to be heard if someone steps in front of you (which happens dozens of times an hour);

5) the head lights are so close to the ground that they don't catch anyone's attention before they step in front of you at night.

In short, my Dad was a nervous wreck by 2:00 pm on the first day. He was ready to leave by then. Since that trip, we have always rented a wheel chair and pushed him. Like your father, he doesn't like the idea of using one, but he is 74 and can't hold out to keep up with his grandchildren. My Mom pushes him and it isn't too bad. A little more of a hassle than pushing a stroller, but not too bad.

By the way, the electric vehicles are $30.00 per day and wheel chairs are $6.00 per day.

 

[lisapooh]

First of all you are wrong when you say there are no brakes on the ECVs. They are automatic when you remove your hands from the controls.
If you want a person toatlly dependant on you a standard wheelchair is fine but for many people one of the greatest fears is being dependent on others. ECVs eliminate this.
Yes they are quiet but so are manual chairs. They are no lower to the grown than a manual chair. Manual chairs have no horns and no lights. People step in front them just as much often as ECVs, are just as rude and just as careless. Your reasoning if very faulty. You have the exact same problems with a standard wheelchair with an ECV when dealing with the ablebodied world. But you do have your independence. You just have to be observant with either and not feel guilty when someones ankles do get nipped when they don't watch out for themselves.
You learn through experience that there are idiots everywhere and Disney is no exception. In my time first using an ECV and now a power chair I have never purposely hit a person but I have had people jump in front of me, fall over me, stop abruptly in front of me and in general act like fools. A few have gotten their ankle hit. Would I give up my independence because of them. No way.
I would say if you need to use one and want your independence use one and use it prudently.

 

[robinb]

My family has used both Care Medical and Walker Mobility. I think my mom likes Walker a bit better. They scooters are delieverd to your resort and are your to use for your entire stay. My mom and MIL are both ahem late risers and all the EVCs at the parks would be gone if they waited to rent them.

 

[mary01]

Just used Care Medical and can only rave about the service. The ECV was in like new condition, they delivered it to our hotel actually before the stated time and we dropped it back to the hotel on our way back to Tampa for them to pick up the next day. Rental for two days was $60.00. It was easy to operate and load into the trunk. There is an adjustment knob to control the speed and they stop the split second you lift your thumb off the control. Very easy to operate. I believe Care when they say customers want to buy them once they've used their equipment.




Please check the disAbilities board for more information.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I certainly agree that independence is the most important factor in a decision to use a manual wheelchair vs. an ECV. However, for those who are not accustomed to using one, and for those whose reflexes are a little slower in older age (my MIL is 76 and my Dad is 74), the evc may not be the most comfortable solution.

I just wanted to relate the experiences we have had and why we don't recommend using evc's to those who are unaccustomed to them. Yes, my MIL felt dependent on me and thanked me daily for pushing her (this led me to believe she was uncomfortable with the dependency), but she was more comfortable with a manual chair than the nervousness that she experienced using the evc and trying to avoid running over the "idots" that persist throughout the world (both Disney and Real).

By the way, we had a problem with one of the evc's and were brought a replacement by a CM. This was after the electrical parade. The CM was able to determine the problem (someone standing behind my MIL watching the parade had decided to use the evc as a foot rest and pushed the on-off lever down into the off position). The CM left the extra evc with us because even he didn't want to negotiate the crowd again. This gave me the opportunity to "try one out" I found out why my Dad and MIL didn't want to return to the parks the next day if they had to use and evc again!!!

Just beware of the downside and weigh it against the independence achieved using the evc when making a decision.

 

[SueM in MN]

For someone who has never used an ecv before, using one at WDW may be very intimidating, especially if the person doesn't drive a car. My DD recently got a power wheelchair, which looks very simple to drive if you are watching someone who is familiar with it. When I sat down and tried it, I found I would need some driving time to get comfortable.

I have suggested before that people try out an ecv while shopping. Stores like Target and some grocery stores provide them for their customers with mobility needs. Most people who would possibly use one at WDW would also benefit from one while shopping, so don't feel shy about using one; that's what they are there for. The ecvs at WDW (and the outside rental ones) are a little different than the ones stores have, but the general principles of driving it are the same.

One you get to WDW, practice a little with the ecv before going out in the "World". Get a feel for how it turns, how fast you can stop it, etc.
And, if you don't think an ecv is for you, don't feel bad, some people don't like driving a car either. That's one reason they rent wheelchairs.

 

[nab486]

my dad comes with us and he uses one all the time. He brings his own so yes he is used to it but, his reflexes are VERY slow. He is also the type to let people walk in front of him until THEY let him in. This of corse seldom happends so we ususally go single file or two in front of him and clear a path so to speak. as long as our family kind've makes a road for him to follow in it works fine. This time of year is not so crowded that is was a problem. It is most aggravating in a large moving crowd like exiting the park after Illuminations or something so we just avoided that situation. We have done WDW in a wheelchair a couple of years ago and my DH and mother pushed him. I don't know about you guys but they were exhausted and he didn't have the independence of going wherever he wanted. So my suggestion is to rent one.

Have a great trip

 

[lisapooh]

One suggestion for getting out of places like EPCOT after Illuminations is flashers. You can buy clip on flashers at Home Depot and other such places as well as some sports places. They make you very visible.
Another tip for the mediocore horns (also for power chairs which have no horns) is a bike horn like the kids have. Very annoying toot but it serves the purpose of making people aware you are there.
I hook flashers to the back of my back pack and to my shoes. I carry the horn in my non-controlling hand and use it frequently.

 

[Debi]

Lisapooh and SueM are right; this is a more appropriate discussion for the disABILITIES board. All replies will be redirected there. Thanks, and have a great (and comfortable) trip!