EVC/Scooter Friendly Vacation Spots

[fostrmom2mny]

Good Sunday morning and Merry Christmas! I just completed my Disney Dream vacation (I actually got my DH to go to Disney with me) He really enjoyed himself and a large part of it was because of us renting a EVC for him. He's never been one who liked to travel and since we've been back he's actually asking where we can travel next that is scooter friendly. I know that all Disney locations are, but I would appreciate any additional locations that would be accommodating a lot for scooters and person's of size. I look forward to other suggestions!!!TIA

 

[kaytieeldr]

Most major/modern cities?

 

[charmed59]

Las Vegas? I was there in a wheelchair and it was very wheelchair accessible. The airport even had a wheelchair only TSA line.

 

[mamabunny]

One place *not* to go is Silver Dollar City. The Park is laid out across hills and "hollers" and even their heavy-duty, sturdy park rentals are banned from certain pathways because the hills are too steep to accommodate mobility devices going up or down. The rest of Branson is relatively "friendly".

 

[Selket]

I live near Washington, DC and - I've not done it - but I'd think visiting the Smithsonian museums downtown would be quite doable. They are all free as well so that's a money saver (a few are affiliated with other groups and do charge - like the Newseum or Spy Museum, etc). I'd also think you could scooter around The Mall (the giant green space with the monuments - most museums surround this space). There's a lot of open space. Although I rent a scooter at WDW I don't when I go downtown - mostly cause it would be inconvenient to rent one for a few hours. Since I live here I usually just go down to see one thing and know how to get there and back with the least amount of walking - haha! (or if my knees are really bothering me I just go another time). Even if it means uber, etc., I manage it that way. DC reminds me more of WDW in terms of a relatively confined area with a lot of wide open space and being able to scooter from a hotel is a plus. I think our metro system is friendly to mobility devices but always make sure the stop where you're headed has a working elevator (they sometimes go out of service for repair).

There's also a great bus I use called the Circulator which has an amazing downtown loop and is $1 a ride at most. If you can walk some but not the long distances - this can work great. They also have accessible busses: https://www.dccirculator.com

I've been to NYC a few times since my knees have gotten terrible. I cannot imagine trying to use an ECV there downtown or a WC - just cause of the crowds. I usually book at hotel where I want to be (Times Square are which is bloody expensive) and use a taxi/uber for anything else. However in comparison I'd think Washington, DC would be much easier to navigate. You could also find hotels within scootering distance of the National Mall.

https://washington.org/dc-information/washington-dc-disability-information
https://wheelchairtravel.org/washington-dc/monuments/

I don't know anything about this site but it looks interesting: https://wheelchairtravel.org

 

[arminnie]

This site http://wheelchairtraveling.com/ looks like it has some good information.

 

[cmwade77]

Honestly, Disney doesn't do near as good of a job with being ECV/Wheelchair friendly as the following locations in my opinion:

• San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo's Safari Park (Although I would recommend a heavy duty chair at either place and make use of the shuttles and elevators, they will save your battery)
• SeaWorld San Diego
• Universal Studios Hollywood

In my opinion all four of the parks above make Disney look second rate at how they handled ECVs/Wheelchairs and that isn't saying Disney is terrible, they do a decent job, they just get put to shame by the other places.

Now here are a couple of places that are not ECV/Wheelchair friendly:

• Knott's Berry Farm
• Six Flags Magic Mountain

I do live in California, so my list is obviously California heavy, but this gives an idea.

 

[musicmom3331]

I actually did Silver Dollar City with my ECV in October. There are only a couple of hills you can't use, but there are other ways to get where you need to go.

 

[mamabunny]

I actually did Silver Dollar City with my ECV in October. There are only a couple of hills you can't use, but there are other ways to get where you need to go.

We where there in the fall, on a rainy day... there were leaves on the ground *everywhere* (they were out and about with leaf blowers, but apparently every.tree.in.the.park. had decided to shed it's leaves that day. LOL)

Wet leaves, and ECV tires just aren't a good mixture for traction - or braking - so I was probably being a bit more cautious than I needed to be. But I still likely won't go back; overall I feel like SDC *could* be much more "wheels friendly" than it currently is. (and I get to have that opinion because I am a "local" to that Park LOL; we live less than 4 hours away, and spend lots of time in Branson proper)

At SDC, the First Aid station is "timed" - you are allowed to stay for (on a slow day) for 30 minutes - in-season, it's 20 minutes - before you have to leave, regardless of what's going on with your health as a Guest. They charge - even for generic Tylenol (2 to a pack), and they really don't want you to lie to just to rest; I was told that they prefer you go back to your hotel for that.

One thing I *do* think is cool is that they do a lot of "preventative" first aid - they always have at least one Medic out in the park with a walkie-talkie that is trekking about with a backpack full of basic first aid supplies.

One of the things I love most about WDW (and I have said this before) is that once I get there, I don't have to drive... I don't have to worry about housekeeping, or cooking. I rarely have an "adult beverage" outside of WDW because I don't drink and drive (I'm usually the designated driver), but at WDW, I can sit in the lounge at our hotel, and have a nice glass of wine or drink in the evening without worrying about how I get back to the hotel. ( And no, I don't get drunk, and then drive my ECV, either. I'm just super cautious LOL) It is literally my respite.

 

[NYCrules]

Come to NYC! Always something to do and very ECV friendly.

 

[cmwade77]

While the attractions in NYC may be ECV friendly, I am not sure how a person would get around NYC in an ECV, the sidewalks are a mess and uneven, taxis won't even help those with a service animals, let alone a wheelchair or ECV. Maybe I am missing something.

 

[Bete]

Most zoos and amusement parks offer scooter rentals.

We like Dollywood. We go during their festivals. The festivals are not just country music.

If you have a way to transport a scooter you can go to any museum that has a ramp. Mobility stores across the country rent scooters. You can visit many gardens and parks, too.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, Selket. Thank you for the info and links.

I live near Washington, DC and - I've not done it - but I'd think visiting the Smithsonian museums downtown would be quite doable. They are all free as well so that's a money saver (a few are affiliated with other groups and do charge - like the Newseum or Spy Museum, etc). I'd also think you could scooter around The Mall (the giant green space with the monuments - most museums surround this space). There's a lot of open space. Although I rent a scooter at WDW I don't when I go downtown - mostly cause it would be inconvenient to rent one for a few hours. Since I live here I usually just go down to see one thing and know how to get there and back with the least amount of walking - haha! (or if my knees are really bothering me I just go another time). Even if it means uber, etc., I manage it that way. DC reminds me more of WDW in terms of a relatively confined area with a lot of wide open space and being able to scooter from a hotel is a plus. I think our metro system is friendly to mobility devices but always make sure the stop where you're headed has a working elevator (they sometimes go out of service for repair).

There's also a great bus I use called the Circulator which has an amazing downtown loop and is $1 a ride at most. If you can walk some but not the long distances - this can work great. They also have accessible busses: https://www.dccirculator.com

I've been to NYC a few times since my knees have gotten terrible. I cannot imagine trying to use an ECV there downtown or a WC - just cause of the crowds. I usually book at hotel where I want to be (Times Square are which is bloody expensive) and use a taxi/uber for anything else. However in comparison I'd think Washington, DC would be much easier to navigate. You could also find hotels within scootering distance of the National Mall.

https://washington.org/dc-information/washington-dc-disability-information
https://wheelchairtravel.org/washington-dc/monuments/

I don't know anything about this site but it looks interesting: https://wheelchairtravel.org

 

[kaytieeldr]

While the attractions in NYC may be ECV friendly, I am not sure how a person would get around NYC in an ECV, the sidewalks are a mess and uneven, taxis won't even help those with a service animals, let alone a wheelchair or ECV. Maybe I am missing something.

People who live and work in New York City and use mobility devices are able to navigate the city. Tourists surely can we well?
https://www.nycgo.com/plan-your-trip/basic-information/accessibility
http://wheelchairtraveling.com/top-...s-in-new-york-ny-for-wheelchairs-and-seniors/
https://wheelchairjimmy.com/newyorkcity/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/...ential-guide-getting-New-York-wheelchair.html
Even https://wheelchairtravel.org/new-york-city/