First time to Disney w/grandma and ECV-QUESTIONS!!

[trampslady]

Hello! My husband and I are taking my grandmother and mother to WDW in December. My grandmother has severe arthritis in her back and can only walk VERY short distances. We have decided to rent an ECV from Walker Mobility (thanks for the info). She has been testing them at Walmart, Target. It's been interesting since she doesn't drive vehicles either. Actually, she is doing great with it. I am pleased because, as unfortunate as it is, she will soon be forced to use a mobility aid to get around as her disability is advancing.

I have many questions about the use of the ECV and hope you guys can help.

1. What do you do with the ECV while on rides or at shows? Obviously she won't be riding Space Mountain, but I think she will be able to ride some things like water boat rides, etc. She can walk short distances so what to do with the ECV?

2. We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Will a standard savannah view room have enough room for the ECV to charge?

3. What about Candlelight Processional and/or Fantasmic? Where do you suggest we sit? I was thinking of doing the Fantasmic and/or Candlelight Processional Dinner Package but if she will be sitting in a designated area anyway I don't know if we will do a dinner package.

4. What is a GAC?

MANY THANKS!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

She's off to a good start if she can drive the ecvs in the stores. I've never driven an ecv, but it looks to me like the store ones are much harder to drive than what you will have from Walker.
To answer your questions:

1. What do you do with the ECV while on rides or at shows?

For almost all the shows, she will be able to take the ecv right in with her and sit on the ecv during the show. For most rides, she will be able to ride the ecv right up to boarding. Here's a link to the DIS page about mobility disabilities. If you scroll all the way toward the bottom of the page, you will find a list for each park of the attractions where she can stay in the ecv for the whole time.

2. We are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Will a standard savannah view room have enough room for the ECV to charge?

We have never stayed there, but I don't think you will have a problem. Other people who have stayed there have said they had no problem. You may have to move a chair or table to make room near an outlet, but is should not be a problem.

3. What about Candlelight Processional and/or Fantasmic? Where do you suggest we sit?

We have not been to the CP, but I'm sure you'll get advice from people who have (I'm also sure that they do have handicapped seating).
For Fantasmic, there is some handicapped seating in the front and the whole back row is reserved for people who need special seating. The view is really good form anywhere in the theater. We have gotten there anywhere from one hour to 15 minutes (during Spring break!) and still have gotten good seats. You can ask the CMs at the status board (at the entrance to the "street" that leads to Beauty and the Beast, TOT, etc) what time to arrive and still get seats.

4. What is a GAC?

GAC stands for Guest Assistance Card. You can request one from Guest Services if you need special assistance to board or wait in lines. A GAC might allow someone who does not use a wheelchair or ECV to use the wheelchair boarding area, so they can avoid steps or have an easier time loading. Some other things a GAC might allow would be a quieter place to wait, a waiting place out off the sun or for someone with a child to use their stroller as a wheelchair. Your grandmother will be able to use the wheelchair entrances because she has an ecv. She wouldn't need a GAC unless there are other problems that would make waiting in lines difficult.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The ECV comes with a key. Unlike the Disney ECV's which all use the same key, the ones from Walker have a different "ignition" key for each. Usually at restaurants or attractions where I walk on I just park the ECV with or near the strollers.

At Candlelight, you can either park in the wheelchair area or I have parked in an ECV parking area near the side and then walked to a regular seat (but I had a package, which is well worth the money because of the meal included and more important, as a celloector, the 15% discount on purchases at Epcto that day)

I haven't stayed in the AKL, but will be on my trip starting 8/17. My experience is I have never had a problem in any room, but then the smallest room we have stayed in has been CBR which is a moderate. Normally it is not difficult to find a parking place in the room for the ECV which is not in the line of traffic, and the charger has two approximate six foot cords (one to the wall at the other to the ECV). Sometimes in the room I will flip the two switches to both disconnect the automatic brake and disconnect (internally) the wheels from the drive and move it by hand inside the room. (Note that flipping EITHER switch will shut off power; sometimes after putting the ECV back together if it will not run you have to check both switches.)