EVC's?

[antkim]

My mom has a really bad back problem and is having a REALLY hard time getting around.She's concerned that the parks might be too much and doesn't want to slow us down.Of course,I told her we would take our time and she can rest as much as needed.
I was wondering what exactly an EVC is and is it something we could rent for her on park days?Is it more like a scooter?And where can we rent one?
Thank you all,
Kim

 

[Nanajo1]

Yes, It is a scooter. The parks have them available for rental on a first come first serve basis. During peak times they rent out quickly. They can not be taken from park to park but with your receipt from one park you will not be charged again on the same day at another park. There is no guarantee that an ECV will be available at the second park though. Many of us rent from an off-site vendor so we have the ECV available to us 24/7. All WDW transportation can accommodate them. If you are staying at a WDW resort it is a great help. Your DM could use the ECV for shopping at DTD, and the water parks. The ECV is easy to disassemble if you have a car. I'm a big fan of having a scooter available to me. If you are interested in the off-site vendors many folks here have the correct links and I'm sure they will post them.
Have a great trip.

 

[antkim]

Thank you so much.I think we will just try to get one at the park because she justs wants to see Epcot and MVMCP.I know Epcot will be the one she would REALLY need it for because of all the walking in WS.We will try to be there early.
Kim

 

[SueM in MN]

Here are the links that Nanajo mentioned:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

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

All of them are off-site places that DIS posters have reprted renting ecvs from. They also have pictures so you can see what they look like.
Also here's a link to the DIS page about touring WDW with a mobility disability.

 

[antkim]

Thank you all again.I think my DM is going to be very relieved!
Kim

 

[SueM in MN]

The people on this board are always glad to help. Let us know how things go.

 

[antkim]

I have 1 more question.When going into an attraction would she just leave it where we leave the stoller?She does not need it all the time just for the real heavy walking.
Thanks again,
Kim

 

[SueM in MN]

If she wants to walk in line (which some people do like to do because it gives them a chance to stretch their legs), the wheelchair or ecv can be left with the strollers. We don't do that, since DD can't walk, but I know other people who have done it. I'm sure if that's not the palce, someone else will post the correct info.
You would probably want to check before getting in line to find out how long the actual wait in line will be and if she has any trouble with stairs, ask about those too. For many of the theater type shows, you enter in one side of the building and come out a different side. For those, she might want to just stay in the ecv because it will be a long walk otherwise. If you are planning to go to Bug's Life at AK, do take the ecv in line. The path to get to the show is quite long and when you get out, it's sort of cunfusing to figure out where you are.

 

[antkim]

I didn't say what was wrong with her back because honestly I don't know how to spell her conditions!I'll give it a lame try! haha
1.she has syatica(I know that's wrong!)
2. she has chronic deterioration of her discs
3.she has a slipped disc somewhere
She is going to see a orthopedic surgeon in January in hopes that they can help her.
She is capable of getting around it's just that alot of walking causes her tremendous pain.I'm hoping that if we get an EVC she can enjoy it a whole lot more.She is kind of fighting the idea though for two reasons.1 she has never had one before-I think she feels like she's giving in to her problem(a little stubborn!) and 2.she doesn't want to take one away from someone who really needs it.I think SHE really needs it.Although,if I'm wrong please correct me.I don't want to take it away from someone else either.
Thanks again for all your replies!
Kim

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by antkim
She is capable of getting around it's just that alot of walking causes her tremendous pain.I'm hoping that if we get an EVC she can enjoy it a whole lot more.She is kind of fighting the idea though for two reasons.1 she has never had one before-I think she feels like she's giving in to her problem(a little stubborn!) and 2.she doesn't want to take one away from someone who really needs it.I think SHE really needs it.

Kim, everyones trip will probably be more enjoyable if your mom uses an ECV. Your group will move faster than waiting for mom to catch up. We talked to a family last week who wished grandpa would use an ECV or a wheelchair, so the family didn't "go 1/4 mile per hour!" Please encourage her to use some assistance - either an ECV or a wheelchair. It will give her a chance to enjoy the parks with her family without getting overtired. She is NOT taking away from someone else .

Nanajo gave you a good description of renting an ECV at a Disney park vs. off site. I have rented from Walker Mobility twice - in October & again last week. I highly recommend an ECV from off site. Not only will you have it available more than just in the parks, but it will be a whole lot more reliable!! I sat next to a lady at Fantasmic last week who was waiting for her 4th ECV for the day at that park because the Disney ECV kept breaking down. Now four may not be the norm, but the Disney ECVs are not nearly as reliable as the ones I had from Walker.

 

[SueM in MN]

She sounds like my FIL. He's had bad knees and bad hips for about the past 15 years. Each yr at WDW he says he'll "think" about renting an ecv. Last year, he graduated to "seriously thinking" of using one. I doubt that he ever will use one, but it's painful for the rest of us to watch him walk. He manages by stopping and sitting on a bench every once in a while, but it has become so slow to go with them, that they no longer go to the parks with us. We may run into them if we are in the same park, but touring together just does not work 9and we are far from speed demons).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

One thing you mother might do beforehand is do some grocery shopping in a large store. I know many large grocery stores have ECVs (with very large baskets) available for customers. This will get her at least slightly used to them. Be aware that the ones in the stores are much larger than the ones in the parks.

I will second (or third) the motion that you rent from off-site. I have never heard of any of the rental companies running out of stock, while it is common in the parks. Also, IMHO, the three-wheel ECVs from the rental companies are MUCH more maneuverable than the four-wheel Disney scooters.