Everything ECV

[Becky Mouse]

My trip starts later this week. I injured my knee 2.5 weeks ago and really hoped it would be better in time for the trip, but there is no improvement. I'm able to walk and stand quite a bit with it wrapped, all things considered. I'm still getting about 7,000 steps a day (about half of what I normally do). However, Disney is a whole different ballgame, and so I caved and reserved an ECV for our trip.

I think I understand how buses and Skyliner work. With buses, I'm first on, last off. As for the Skyliner, there is a separate entrance for ECV, and I get a special car for that.

Most rides and attractions, I can just enter with my ECV, right? If it's a shorter line or I have a LL, I might just want to park the scooter and stand in the line. Is that allowed? Do I park it with the strollers? What are the attractions that can't accommodate an ECV in line? I can handle the lines standing unless they're very long. Then what do I do?

Also, are there any attractions that might be hard on the knees, outside of Tron? I'm already planning on asking for the alternative seating for Tron. I can't think of any others, but it's not the sort of thing you pay attention to until you have an injury.

I'm also worried a bit about battery life. Do batteries last the whole day at the park, or do I need to find a place to plug in at some point?

Thanks for your help! I hope I get the hang of driving it quickly. I'll take any advice and tips you have!

 

[Artuitus]

Most rides you can enter the queue with your ECV. Tower of Terror is one that doesn't allow it off the top of my head and I'm sure there are a few others-some you go in a different entrance but you can use your ECV. You are more than welcome to park your ECV whenever you want and walk-I do it often. Depending on your height there are a few rides that are tough on the knees- I was in agony on It's a Small World and also found Space mountain to be a bit rough on the knees. Difference is Space is over fairly quickly and It's a Small World lasted forever. I'm 6'2 and pooh shaped though so it may not be to bad for you.

Battery life is going to vary model to model and person to person. The scooter I rented for a week was likely one model too small for me and I only got about 6 hours max out of it. I actually rented a scooter from Disney and had them hold the other one I rented for this reason-not economical but the only way I could make it work on short notice. Regardless of scooter chosen though I'd bring the charger with you-just have something to store it in to keep it out of the rain. When you take a break for lunch-plug it in. If not riding it-turn it off. Turn it off when waiting in queue if the lines aren't moving too. If it starts to get weak look for somewhere to plug it in. In a pinch since they are lead-acid batteries you can turn it off and let it sit for a while and maybe get enough juice back to make it to the bus. (I had to do this at AK one day). Make SURE to charge it up overnight every day or you will not make it long.

Other than battery life the scooter is going to be amazing-very easy to drive and you will LOVE having the storage basket so you don't have to throw away your drink everytime you want to get on a ride. I think even after I finally cave and let them operate on my hip I'll use a scooter just for the storage-though at that point I'll be mobile enough to just rent one from Disney for the day.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Two others where the ECV isn't allowed in the line are the Pooh ride and Pirates. Both of those have wheelchairs you need to transfer to and be pushed (I've wondered about self-propelling, for those of us traveling solo, but haven't tried it yet). I'm not sure about the Aladdin ride-I had a CM once tell me I had to park my ECV, so I think that's a third.

 

[elvispursley]

ToT and PotC both have loaner w/c you can use. My mom, who uses one due to balance issues, tends to just suck it up and walk, with me hanging tightly onto her.her. Thinking I might bring a rollator and push it and then she'll have it for when she needs it.

Another knee-killer is FoP. You ride similar to Tron. I find Test Track to be really hard to get out of with my bad knee (although I think it will be closed).

 

[Simba's Mom]

Have you considered the effect that attempting to climb out of some of the boat rides might have on your knees? I remember how difficult it was last time I did Test Track and Pirates to get out at the end.

 

[jo-jo]

Bring a collapsible cane, handy for getting in and out of rides.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Bring a collapsible cane, handy for getting in and out of rides.

Good idea! I've got the "bring a collapsable cane" part down-I've found that 2 canes fit into my cane holder. But I don't remember to bring one on rides (at Test Track, I was in the closest line to where I left my ECV so I just got off my ECV, and grabbed the handrails of my row to steady myself). Gotta remember that part next time.

 

[Becky Mouse]

Thank you all. I didn't think about the difficulty of getting out of the boat rides. That might be something I struggle with. Shoot.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

You might have an issue with Avatar: Flight of Passage with the way you sit and how tight it is.

 

[smrice95]

My mom uses the ECV. She can't walk long distances. She has never had an issue with an ECV. We rent one from a retailer outside of Disney. They dropped it off at the hotel and pick it up there. We do not go rope drop to closing though. We only charged it at nighttime too. She struggles to life her legs too high. We just share with the cast members and they are very patient. Just move slowly. I hope this helps and you enjoy your trip.

 

[CanucksRock]

My mom has rented a scooter a few times before and after double knee replacement. She can walk a lot more now, but slow. She often just parks the scooter with the strollers and will walk into lines. There are a lot of places to do this, and a CM well direct you if you need help finding a place to put it. (I actually usually have her bring it into the longer lines and will drive it as I get SI Joint pain from standing for extended periods (yet can walk for days)