Expert Opinions Needed

[TroyandDabs]

We're counting down the days till our next trip 'home'.

We are bringing my husbands Mother and Great Aunt. They will both need ECV's to get around the parks. MIL specifically asked to see EPCOT. So, I am trying to book at 2 bedroom at either BCV or BW. But, I would save the points and go for the larger rooms at OKW if I thought it was just as easy to get back and forth from the parks.

If you have traveled with ECV's did you find it difficult getting to/from the parks? Is there a DVC resort that you'd recommend above another for ease with ECVs?

Any tips and/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. only 117 days and counting!

 

[JimMIA]

Last December, we took DW's mother and Great Aunt. GA, who is in her 80's, could probably have run circles around us, but MIL requires an ECV. We have one for her and we took it with us.

I can't give you any hints about transportation to and from the parks, because we drove to the parks, carrying the ECV in the back of our rented SUV. We parked in disabled, of course, and found it very easy. MIL did very well on the transportation we used (ferries from TTS to MK, the OKW-DTD boat, and the monorail). We did not take buses.

MIL was in good company in the parks -- there are a ton of people on ECVs. The only place she had trouble was in the crowds of MVMCP, because people walking don't see ECV's. But those were shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, not normal throngs. MIL didn't really care, just ran over them and said, "What was that 'thump-thump?"

Not really, but the crowds were tough and lessened her enjoyment several times. But every time she cussed the ECV, I reminded her that she would not be enjoying DD4goingon24's excitement if it weren't for the ECV. That gave her a little perspective and she was fine for the rest of the trip.

MIL in the ECV slowed us down quite a bit, of course. But in the end, I think the slowness allowed us to really enjoy things more. I think you should plan on doing 30-50% less than you might do without someone in an ECV, but their enjoyment of the experience will more than make up for the slowness.

As far as accommodations, we were in a ground-floor 2BR at OKW. We did not request HA because MIL really doesn't need or want it, and she did fine. The spaciousness of the OKW 2BR really made things a lot easier for her, I think.

Even though we did less, that was our best trip ever to WDW, and certainly one of the highlights of the two ladies' Golden Years.

 

[thelobstershanty]

If MIL has expressed an interest in Epcot, I would definitly book an Epcot resort.
If you can get a standard view at BWV it will be only a pt or two more per night than OKW. However, the 1 & 2 br's at BWV, are smaller than at OKW. The studio and GV are basically a wash, size wise but the studio at OKW has 2 queen beds vs 1 queen and a double sleeper sofa at BCV & BWV. The Epcot resorts have location , location, location vs the larger 1 & 2 br OKW villas--so they all have their pluses and negatives.
BCV pts are higher than BWV standard but basically the same as BWV's preferred view villas.
It will be much easier to be able to walk or take a boat to 2 out of 4 major parks vs bus transportaion to all parks, especially at park closings.
Also all the Epcot resorts have elevators,dining and shopping just an elevator ride away, which is convenient for those in a wheel chair. Only 3 OKW buildings have elevators, so make sure your request on of these buildings or a ground floor villa; if you decide to say there.
Happy planning and have a great trip!

 

[TroyandDabs]

If you can get a standard view at BWV it will be only a pt or two more per night than OKW. However, the 1 & 2 br's at BWV, are smaller than at OKW. The studio and GV are basically a wash, size wise but the studio at OKW has 2 queen beds vs 1 queen and a double sleeper sofa at BCV & BWV.

Ah ... good point as to not book BWV. I had completely forgotten that the second bedroom only has a sleeper sofa! However, if we get a dedicated two bedroom at BCV it will have two queens.

Man ... I havent been gone that long, but long enough to forget some minor details!

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have had ECVs at WDW and OKW on three different trips, and found the bus service with an ECV to be very good. The drivers are great at loading them, and it goes very quickly. The only possible problem could be that sometimes the bus might already have another ECV on it, so it would not be possible to put more than two on the same bus. Most buses will hold two ECVs though. I guess I would go for the extra space in the 2 bedrooms and the two real beds.

 

[spiceycat]

make sure that the people who you are getting the ECV for - will use them.

Mother hates those things and refuses to use one.

the regular wheelchair are free from any WDW resort (this includes DVC) just ask at bell services/front desk.

kept in mind there are 25 2-bedroom at BCV that has 2 queen beds - the others are like BWV 1 queen and sleeper sofa.

I would go with OKW - everyone of the 2-bedroom has 2 beds.

I have brought mother to all the parks from OKW - we use the lift for the wheelchair access - not a problem. THe buses can carry 2 wheelchairs (or ECV). So unless there is someone on before you - everyone can ride the same bus.

I like OKW because I like relax between my theme parks adventures. but I have stayed at both BCV and BWV they are great too....

 

[SueM in MN]

If you go to the disABILITIES Board, there is a disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board that has information about getting wheelchairs and ECVs, buses and more.
You should be able to get a wheelchair lent by a WDW resort, but there is not guarantee, so it's a good idea to take along the phone number of some of the off-site rental places just in case (the phone numbers and website links are on the FAQs thread).