EVC questions (ride lines and monorail)

[Sleepy]

Forgive me for repeating a question, but I have read until I have overload.

For lines that allow an ECV, are all of the turns easy to get through? I mean, are there lines where the turns are really tight and it might be difficult for an newby to maneuver?

Also, I read some lines require you to transfer to an available WC where one is available. WHat exactly does that mean? Do they have WC specifically for these rides or will you be required to go rent a WC?

Getting on the monorail. Again, never paid attention to the cars designated for handicapped, but do you only have to worry about the width of the door opening? Do you have any obstacles once in the car? Do you back into the car or back out?

I'm not the one using the ECV, it will be my dad. Thanks in advance.

 

[Shorty82]

Also, I read some lines require you to transfer to an available WC where one is available. WHat exactly does that mean? Do they have WC specifically for these rides or will you be required to go rent a WC?

"Available Wheelchair" means just that, there are chairs available. Rides that require one to transfer from an ECV to a WC has WCs available for that purpose.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For lines that allow an ECV, are all of the turns easy to get through? I mean, are there lines where the turns are really tight and it might be difficult for an newby to maneuver?

Some of the turns are tight, especially if you have a 4-wheel ECV, such as the ones Disney rents. If you have a 3-wheel ECV, usually from off-site, they are much easier to maneuver.

Getting on the monorail. Again, never paid attention to the cars designated for handicapped, but do you only have to worry about the width of the door opening? Do you have any obstacles once in the car? Do you back into the car or back out?

Several parts to this answer. First of all, they are making the monorails easier, as they are changing the interiors of the cars.

There is never any problem concerning the door width. However, there could be a problem using the ramp, although the ramp is a lot wider than the width of ECVs.

With three exceptions (boarding at MK and getting off at CR, or boarding at either Poly or GF and getting off at MK) you are always going to back off. Normally there is no problem as long as the ECV is being driven slowly; the Monorail attendant will work to guide the person off safely. (Do you know how much paperwork is involved if a guest gets injured?)

 

[SueM in MN]

Forgive me for repeating a question, but I have read until I have overload.

For lines that allow an ECV, are all of the turns easy to get through? I mean, are there lines where the turns are really tight and it might be difficult for an newby to maneuver?

Some are sort of sharp, especially if you have one of the park rental ECVs, which are larger and harder to manouver than the smaller ones you rent from offsite.
Some of the lines that are listed as "must transfer to an available wheelchair" are ones where a park ECV won't fit, but often a smaller ECV will.
The one line that comes to mind as being a tight one is the line to get into the new Nemo ride at Living Seas. That's about the worst one.

Practice doing turns ahead of time, go slow and you will do fine.

Also, I read some lines require you to transfer to an available WC where one is available. WHat exactly does that mean? Do they have WC specifically for these rides or will you be required to go rent a WC?

What Shorty82 said.

Getting on the monorail. Again, never paid attention to the cars designated for handicapped, but do you only have to worry about the width of the door opening? Do you have any obstacles once in the car? Do you back into the car or back out?

I'm not the one using the ECV, it will be my dad. Thanks in advance.

There are monorail cars with wider opening doors that wheelchair and ECV users are routed to wait at. You will board first and the CM will put down a ramp for you (there is not that much of a bump, but you do need the ramp with an ECV). Leaving from the TTC to go to MK, you pull straight on and when you get off at MK, you will exit from the door opposite where you came in, so (without turning around) you will drive straight off. There are some up and down bars that are the same distance apart as the width of the doors, but nothing in your way.
I know taking the bars out to make a direct path was an 'improvement' that was being made. It had been done in the monorail car we rode in, but I don't know how many have been 'improved',

 

[Mickiethepooh]

If they are taking the center bars out does that mean there is nothing for the ECV rider to hold onto? I have always found it necessary to hold on tight once I was in there and the monorail was moving.

 

[SueM in MN]

If they are taking the center bars out does that mean there is nothing for the ECV rider to hold onto? I have always found it necessary to hold on tight once I was in there and the monorail was moving.

No, it shouldn't. The bars they are taking out were dead center of the car and were in the way of pulling in and out. They still have 2 bars at the front and 2 bars in the back that you could hold onto.

 

[mechurchlady]

I hope at Animal Kingdom they changed things but it has been 9 years, sigh.

ECVs can have a hard time in some lines that are 90 degree turns. I had problems in the walking paths near Kilamanjaro Safari because the turning radius was not wide enough in a building. At MGM I had someone help me get around a corner on the walk through area.

 

[Sleepy]

You guys are superfantastic! What a great group of people. Thanks!

 

[Sleepy]

With three exceptions (boarding at MK and getting off at CR, or boarding at either Poly or GF and getting off at MK) you are always going to back off.

So if we want to get on at MK and get off at Poly or the TTC my father can drive straight through? I just want to make sure I understand this correctly.

 

[Sleepy]

You will board first and the CM will put down a ramp for you (there is not that much of a bump, but you do need the ramp with an ECV). Leaving from the TTC to go to MK, you pull straight on and when you get off at MK, you will exit from the door opposite where you came in, so (without turning around) you will drive straight off.

To make sure I understand this fully....
when getting off the monorail, will a ramp still be needed even if you don't have to back out?
For stops requiring backing out (or if applicable, driving off forward), do I have to let a CM know we need a ramp for the ECV for exiting once we get to the final destination?

 

[OneLittleSpark]

To make sure I understand this fully....
when getting off the monorail, will a ramp still be needed even if you don't have to back out?
For stops requiring backing out (or if applicable, driving off forward), do I have to let a CM know we need a ramp for the ECV for exiting once we get to the final destination?

You will need a ramp to get on and off, no matter which way you're driving (it's not too bad a bump for a wheelchair, but I wouldn't fancy it in an ECV). They should come with a ramp, but the attendants are only human and mistakes can happen, so be ready to grab their attention if necessary. They will usually wait until everyone else in the car is out before putting the ramp down, so that you don't get people milling around as you're trying to drive, so don't panic if they're not there with the ramp as the monorail pulls into the station. Just as a final reassurance, I've never yet had the train pull away from the station with me still on it!

Unfortunately, the front bit with the driver is not yet wheelchair accessible (I don't know if it ever will be). We managed to ride up front in September (on my Birthday ), but I had to hobble on and my chair was folded and carried in. There's no way you could fit an ECV in there, but if your DF wanted to ride up front, and he could manage the step, someone else could take the ECV in the main body while he went in the front.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Have a great trip!!

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know if these pictures will work, but here goes.
The first picture shows the CM with the ramp. It is stored in a little slot right by the handicapped access car, so it is readily available.
We have never had a time when it was not put down by the CM when we were getting on and off. In all the years I have been on this board, I have heard of one situation (CM error) where the family had to make another round trip on the monorail because the CM didn't put the ramp down and they could not get out.
It is a fairly big bump, but is doable with a manual wheelchair. Newer power wheelchairs with midwheel drive could probably do it (DD's will try to climb a wall if you bump into one), but not recommended to try. It would not work with an ECV.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In all the years I have been on this board, I have heard of one situation (CM error) where the family had to make another round trip on the monorail because the CM didn't put the ramp down and they could not get out.

Oh? You're about to hear of another one (and I think there's yet another in Bill's "whiney letter" thread, although I don't know how recent that experience was).

Here goes: I had a reservation at Narcoosee's on September 23, at I think 7:10 - timed to see Wishes from the deck. I'd been at Epcot, and my last stop (as usual) was Guest Relations, to compliment a Cast Member. Before I left, I asked if they advised taking the bus to the Grand Floridian, or the monorail to the monorial to...
The CM said I could take a bus, but the monorail was more fun. So, I went for it.
I boarded at Epcot, no problem.
I exited at the TTC, no problem.
Followed the signs to the 'back' way to the Resorts monorail, no problem. Boarded, again no problem.
That Cast Member asked where I was getting out, and when I told him Grand Floridian, he said he'd call ahead so they'd have the ramp ready.
The CM at Polynesian asked if I was getting out there. I obviously wasn't, no problem.
At the Grand Floridian stop, nobody approached the car I was in to lay down the ramp, and the doors closed and we were off to Magic Kingdom!!!
Now, the GF/Poly launch cannot handle ECVs, so exiting the monorail and traveling by water was not an option.
A CM at Magic Kingdom asked if I was exiting there; I briefly (and somewhat hysterically) told him what hadn't happened, and he said he'd call ahead to the GF to make sure I could exit the car.
This scenario was repeated at each of the next three stops, with a CM each time indicating they would call the monorail platform to let them know I needed to exit there. In addition, other passengers in my car - who were probably sick of hearing me repeat the problem said they'd make SURE I was let out at the right place.
At the Grand Floridian, the CM claimed "nobody called him". Five different CMs all did not call the GF to let them know there was a Guest trying to exit there? Really? Thanks for reminding me, Sue - I wanted to write to Disney about this.

 

[SueM in MN]

Oh? You're about to hear of another one (and I think there's yet another in Bill's "whiney letter" thread, although I don't know how recent that experience was).

Here goes: I had a reservation at Narcoosee's on September 23, at I think 7:10 - timed to see Wishes from the deck. I'd been at Epcot, and my last stop (as usual) was Guest Relations, to compliment a Cast Member. Before I left, I asked if they advised taking the bus to the Grand Floridian, or the monorail to the monorial to...
The CM said I could take a bus, but the monorail was more fun. So, I went for it.
I boarded at Epcot, no problem.
I exited at the TTC, no problem.
Followed the signs to the 'back' way to the Resorts monorail, no problem. Boarded, again no problem.
That Cast Member asked where I was getting out, and when I told him Grand Floridian, he said he'd call ahead so they'd have the ramp ready.
The CM at Polynesian asked if I was getting out there. I obviously wasn't, no problem.
At the Grand Floridian stop, nobody approached the car I was in to lay down the ramp, and the doors closed and we were off to Magic Kingdom!!!
Now, the GF/Poly launch cannot handle ECVs, so exiting the monorail and traveling by water was not an option.
A CM at Magic Kingdom asked if I was exiting there; I briefly (and somewhat hysterically) told him what hadn't happened, and he said he'd call ahead to the GF to make sure I could exit the car.
This scenario was repeated at each of the next three stops, with a CM each time indicating they would call the monorail platform to let them know I needed to exit there. In addition, other passengers in my car - who were probably sick of hearing me repeat the problem said they'd make SURE I was let out at the right place.
At the Grand Floridian, the CM claimed "nobody called him". Five different CMs all did not call the GF to let them know there was a Guest trying to exit there? Really? Thanks for reminding me, Sue - I wanted to write to Disney about this.

did you post this somewhere else?
because I think the one I read was yours.

I don't think it happens often, but it's something that should never happen.
At any rate, if you did post the one I read before, I'm glad that I reminded you so you can write your letter.

EDITED TO ADD: I checked again where I thought I saw it and it was someone else.
See post #80 on this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1587074&page=6

So, it's even more important to get the letter in.
2 things that should never happen happening so close together is a problem.

 

[mechurchlady]

Due to the design of the monorail cab there is a weight limit. The only way the cab could be made to carry an ECV would be to extend the cab a lot. Even widening the doors would require major modifications to the cab.

I am sorry that you had a problem with the monorail.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is a try at posting my picture of the accessible monorail car viewed from the entrance ramp.
I could not attach it before because the file would not load.

 

[kaytieeldr]

did you post this somewhere else?
because I think the one I read was yours.

I don't think it happens often, but it's something that should never happen.
At any rate, if you did post the one I read before, I'm glad that I reminded you so you can write your letter.

EDITED TO ADD: I checked again where I thought I saw it and it was someone else.
See post #80 on this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1587074&page=6

So, it's even more important to get the letter in.
2 things that should never happen happening so close together is a problem.

Whew! I thought I was losing it! Two reasons: One, I didn't remember relating this experience before (repeating it at every monorail stop was enough for a while ); and two, I thought I'd posted it in that thread - and then couldn't find it! Time for a nap...

 

[SueM in MN]

Whew! I thought I was losing it! Two reasons: One, I didn't remember relating this experience before (repeating it at every monorail stop was enough for a while ); and two, I thought I'd posted it in that thread - and then couldn't find it! Time for a nap...

I was in the same situation.
It was like - "I'm sure I just read that, it sounds familiar, but there is something different..... No, I must have just forgotten that."