First time trip with an ECV to Universal and Disney - my experience

[elmoandzoey]

we just returned from our trip to Disney and Universal. I had rented an ECV from Walker and if I had any doubt before going that I wouldn't really need it, I can now say I was very glad I got it!

We started our trip at Universal. None of the queues there are ECV accessible except for the Hogwarts Express. I brought my crutch since I knew some queues were long. I had no issues at all anywhere! Except for maybe Gringotts because I could not find any spot to park the ECV closeby so they sent us down the side hallway inside to bypass the queue. Or at High in the Sky Trolley when I asked the CM if there was an incline up or stairs and he told me neither. When I asked him how you got up to the boarding platform, he said you walk up. Again I ask if there was an incline and he said again no. I let it go and we came back later when another CM told us yes it was going up and incline and If I had an issue he'd send us up the elevator.

WDW was equally wonderful, especially since the lines are mostly ECV accessible. And not counting in the few times when waiting for parades or fireworks when people would shove their kids to stand in front of my scooter... Kids that were standing taller than I was sitting down! I am trying really had not to be prejudiced at all but every time that happened and I called out the parents, they were speaking Spanish or Portuguese. And not ONE told their kids to move to stand behind me even though they clearly could have looked past me sitting down. I was so frustrated at one point I sarcastically told the guy who had shoved three kids in front of me if maybe I should move my ECV and my kids so they all could seen better - he just said yes, thanked me and moved in front of my daughter's stroller. Really now?

We had one incident though with a CM which left me a bit... Angry. We had the Fantasmic dining package and when we got to the Mickey section, I was told I could not park and sit in the wheelchair section because it was for non-transferring wheelchair users only, not ECV users. I would be welcome to pick any other seating or go to one of the other sections with the ECV. I was a bit flabbergasted. So I asked if we could take the ECV down front if I can sit at the top. Again I was told no, there was no wheelchair seating in the front. Since I had paid for the dining package, I just parked the ECV and walked down the stairs slowly and carefully with the help of my DS11 since there are no railings either to hold on to. Now looking back, I probably should have just insisted that I can't do stairs.

The other incident was something that made me furious so I asked CM to please call security. We were in front of Gaston's to watch the fireworks from there. There were a few Brazilian tweens who had rented an ECV from Disney. There were three of them on one scooter, obviously drunk, going round in circles around the fountain in full speed and beeping at everyone whole laughing hysterically. People basically had to jump out of the way. They almost ran over a stroller with a baby an elder lady was pushing if a stranger hadn't pulled the stroller out of their line at the last second. I was so furious I went inside the gift shop and got one of the CMs to come out, look at what they were doing and please call security. Two guards showed up within a couple of minutes. It took them quite a while to stop them because the girls on the scooter were just laughing hysterically whole trying to run them over! Eventually the guards got them stopped and immediately took the key from them. Them they pointed at the wheelchair they had brought with them and said that whoever needed assistance was welcome to use the wheelchair from now on and that they were supposed to follow them. Then suddenly about 10 other people showed up, obviously part of their group and started arguing with the guards. Two more guards showed up and the whole group was escorted away, without the scooter and without one of them using the wheelchair that had been brought for assistance. That's really the kind of thing I do NOT want to see because that's what leaves bad impressions and ruins it for those who really need the scooter or the wheelchair!

But as I have said, we have not had any other issues at all with the ECV. All CMs were very friendly and accommodating, especially since I was traveling solo with three kids which required some extra seating assistance at some shows because of the limited seating next to the WC spots.

 

[loves to dive]

Sounds like all in all it was a good experience. The girls on the ECV was more of a guest issue and not a WDW or CM issue, I'm sure it happens more than people are aware of that people rent them just to play on. How sad really because someone who really needs one might not be able to get it if it's rented out. As far as Fantasmic, I understand WDWs standpoint but they really should post something either on the website or at the gate that states that the handicapped parking is only for non-transferring. Did they not have any of the seats on the back just below the handicapped section available, that would have just meant one step and might have been easier. The parades and fireworks are always an issue for everyone, I've never been to one where someone hasn't gotten in front of me last minute. While I'm not handicapped, I am height challenged and don't mind kids sitting in front of me I hate it when adults pull their strollers up and then don't either squat on the ground next to kid or sit. They always stand there and to make matters worse, they can't seem to stand still so if I find a peek hole between them, they will shift positions and block me, I've even tried standing behind the stroller if they are standing next to it they will have to get behind it to get something out and block me. No way around that I'm afraid unless they go to completely assigned seating somehow.

 

[megster1123]

Thank you for the report! My husband will be a first time ECV user this fall and there's so many questions! I'm concerned now about fantasmic though, as his RA also makes stairs incredibly difficult for him to maneuver. It's disappointing you weren't offered any other option. As for the lines - were you able to just ride through the regular queue? I've heard different things from people (many of whom are non-ECV users so I think are just speaking from observation.) And was the bus system easy to navigate? Sorry for all the questions!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

unless it has changed as it has been a few years, I was able to park and stay in my ECV at Fantasmic dinner package with my family sitting right in front of me. I can not do stairs also

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you for the report! My husband will be a first time ECV user this fall and there's so many questions! I'm concerned now about fantasmic though, as his RA also makes stairs incredibly difficult for him to maneuver. It's disappointing you weren't offered any other option. As for the lines - were you able to just ride through the regular queue? I've heard different things from people (many of whom are non-ECV users so I think are just speaking from observation.) And was the bus system easy to navigate? Sorry for all the questions!

from my times few years ago at Fantasmic have him plan on staying on ECV and you sit in seat beside him. if not you will have to go down to first nonhandicapped seats. there are a few rides that he will have to switch to a wheelchair for the line but most you can ride right up to loading area. one that can not take either chair or ECV is the People Mover as you have to walk up the ramp for that one. I had no problems with using the buses with ECV. only problem we had was one time the water level was too low to match up side of boat and the dock and we had to take around about bus route. at least last time we were there you were not allowed to remain seated on ECV on the buses safety reason but since you are first to load you will get a seat on the bus.

 

[megster1123]

from my times few years ago at Fantasmic have him plan on staying on ECV and you sit in seat beside him. if not you will have to go down to first nonhandicapped seats. there are a few rides that he will have to switch to a wheelchair for the line but most you can ride right up to loading area. one that can not take either chair or ECV is the People Mover as you have to walk up the ramp for that one. I had no problems with using the buses with ECV. only problem we had was one time the water level was too low to match up side of boat and the dock and we had to take around about bus route. at least last time we were there you were not allowed to remain seated on ECV on the buses safety reason but since you are first to load you will get a seat on the bus.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I just want things to be as easy as possible for him - he's only 37 but his RA is so bad he can barely pick up our 4&5 year old kids. Hopefully the crowds at the parks will be respectful and not judge him using the ECV based on his appearance of being a mid-30s guy who "looks" to be in great shape. So I'm trying to super-inform myself on policies and such so at least I can control what I can control.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thank you, I appreciate that. I just want things to be as easy as possible for him - he's only 37 but his RA is so bad he can barely pick up our 4&5 year old kids. Hopefully the crowds at the parks will be respectful and not judge him using the ECV based on his appearance of being a mid-30s guy who "looks" to be in great shape. So I'm trying to super-inform myself on policies and such so at least I can control what I can control.

our adopted daughter had a heart attack at 35 just before her son's Wish trip and to look at her you wouldn't have known. she had to use ECV. had most comments on buses s neither she or I could hold youngest and people felt we needed to hold hi, so someone else could sit. one even had to hold him for us until he started screaming as she picked him up. we explained he was taught to scream if stranger picked him up. and no he would not stop so she put him down quick. from what we have found if you really need the ECV it shows and most people can see it. if you are renting the ECV for Disney rent from off site not in the parks for one thing it is cheaper plus park rental can not go out the gates to buses or other transportation. have a great trip

 

[elmoandzoey]

We were not offered the first bench down at Fantasmic as I was told it was for those travelling with the wheelchair. We were told to sit "elsewhere". The CM was a bit harsh. I am young and I don't look handicapped so I guess she must have just assumed. When they asked me to park the ECV, I just thought if they make me do the stairs, I am damn well going to choose the seats that fit us the most so I chose front row for us because of the extra leg room to stretch my injured leg and foot once in a while. And mostly because for some reason, the top rows where already quite crowded. It probably wouldn't have been the issue it was for me if the amphitheater had a handrail with the stairs that I could have hold onto but it doesn't have one which made it a bit of a challenge for me. I do understand that for the amount of people the amphiteather can take, there are too few handicapped spots. What I sort of took an issue with was the assumption that if I can transfer, I can do stairs - and stairs without a handrail on top. I wasn't offered an alternate route after I had asked to go to the front that didn't require to do stairs. What was communicated to me was "do the stairs or we can't seat you". I will file that under "unusual one time encounter" though and just assume the CM had a bad day rather than assume that this is the norm.

@loves to dive The incident at Gaston's sure was a guest problem, not a CM problem. Kudos though to the CMs and how they handled it. This was probably the only instance where I saw that people seemed to abuse the ECVs - at least it looked to me like none of them really needed one, though I could be wrong. I also noted an increase in parents using wheelchairs as strollers for two or more kids. At first I didn't think much of it but when I saw how much a wheelchair cost to rent compared to a double stroller, I can understand why some people might get a wheelchair instead.

@megster1123 I did not have an issue going through the ECV at any of the attractions that we tried. Most will have you go through the regular line. Some lines like BTMRR cannot be maneuvered by an ECV or a WC (there are stairs all throughout) so you go up the CM at the entrance and they'll give you a return time (wait time minus 10 minutes). Then you take the ECV to the exit when your time is up and a CM there will get you on the ride there. I think Peter Pan is the same - I didn't try taking the ECV through because we had FP+ so I just parked it outside and walked the short distance. Kilimanjaro Safari has a separate boarding platform and vehicle for handicapped people - the line splits right at the boarding platform. You'll be guided accordingly. Enchanted Tales with Belle is not equipped to take ECVs either, so you will either have to walk or ask for a wheelchair at the attraction. If you are unsure what to do, just ask the CM at the entrance, they will guide you accordingly. The instances where you can't take the ECV into the queue are quite rare. If ECV is no option, they will ask if you can walk and if not, offer a wheelchair. The only attraction that is neither ECV or WC accessible is the People Mover. I also found the bus system very easy. I was weary at first because some people said it was hard getting it on and off and park it but I had no problems. But then I also had a small ECV (GoGo). If you have problems maneuvering the ECV in and out, the bus drivers will gladly assist. There wasn't an instance where bus drivers wouldn't offer assistance when I needed it. One even locked the bus and walked us to the a little exit gate that is at the MK bus stop and opened it for us. There was one instance where the bus driver asked me remain on the ECV since the bus was packed. But the bus driver implicitely told me it was a rare exception and he would strap me down as well (which he did). All other times I was asked to take a seat instead. Of course then I had people try to sit on the ECV because all seats were taken. I asked one guy if I can just came around and sit in his car unasked when I want to sit. He looked a bit flabbergasted but quickly got up. Some other lady then pointed at the sign above his head that said ECVs must be vacated while the bus is in motion and also made the snark comment if maybe he want to come and sit on her legs since what he was sitting on right there was my legs. I had to laugh but the guy didn't think it was funny at all.

And if there have been people judging me for using an ECV, I never noticed. I never heard any comments directed at me or any glares coming my way. Maybe I was just oblivious to them, but I really can't say that I felt singled out or accused for using an ECV anywhere.

My kids thought I was the cool kid on the ECV. And apparently so did the Jawas at Launch Bay. They had a fun time using the horn on my ECV. One time they had a beeping concert: one Jawa was using the horn on my ECV, the other Jawa was using the horn on another ECV across the room. It was to die for! Whenever we were near Launch Bay, we had to go in just to see if the Jawas were in for a beeping concert!

 

[stitchlovestink]

from my times few years ago at Fantasmic have him plan on staying on ECV and you sit in seat beside him. if not you will have to go down to first nonhandicapped seats. there are a few rides that he will have to switch to a wheelchair for the line but most you can ride right up to loading area. one that can not take either chair or ECV is the People Mover as you have to walk up the ramp for that one. I had no problems with using the buses with ECV. only problem we had was one time the water level was too low to match up side of boat and the dock and we had to take around about bus route. at least last time we were there you were not allowed to remain seated on ECV on the buses safety reason but since you are first to load you will get a seat on the bus.

Depends on the bus driver these days....some will shall we say "strongly encourage you " to remain on the scooter during transport (it's not a requirement to transfer) by saying things like "Do you really want to take up ANOTHER seat when you can stay here and be strapped in???"
My answer is, "Ummm, yes. I will be transferring. It is safest! Thank you."

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Depends on the bus driver these days....some will shall we say "strongly encourage you " to remain on the scooter during transport (it's not a requirement to transfer) by saying things like "Do you really want to take up ANOTHER seat when you can stay here and be strapped in???"
My answer is, "Ummm, yes. I will be transferring. It is safest! Thank you."

Any bus driver who says something like this needs to have a bit of re-training. There are signs on the buses that say something to the effect of "guests using scooters should transfer to bus seat." Plus, it's quite a rude thing to say.

 

[elmoandzoey]

Any bus driver who says something like this needs to have a bit of re-training. There are signs on the buses that say something to the effect of "guests using scooters should transfer to bus seat." Plus, it's quite a rude thing to say.

The signs actually say anyone on a 3-wheel ECV needs to transfer to a seat for safety as they tend to tip over quickly and cannot be strapped down safely enough - at least that's what I've ben told by the bus driver after I asked why I explicitely states 3-wheel scooters. 4-wheels have more grounding so they are less likely to tip and can be strapped down better. I had a 3-wheel so I always transferred. I was never asked not to transfer except for the one time when the bus was packed to the last inch. The bus driver did give me a choice though, he never made me sit on the ECV. If I had chosen a seat, I would have gotten one. I chose to remain on the ECV and he strapped me down pretty well. And even then, I did not feel really comfortable sitting on the ECV while the bus was in motion.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Any bus driver who says something like this needs to have a bit of re-training. There are signs on the buses that say something to the effect of "guests using scooters should transfer to bus seat." Plus, it's quite a rude thing to say.

Nope, not ALL of the buses have those signs about transferring from scooters. The sign was on a few, but not many. I specifically looked for them. Especially on the newest ones.... it was not there.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

That's disappointing. No one with a mobility device should be made to feel like they're taking up too much space.

 

[jo-jo]

Was this your first time using ECV anywhere? If so, was it difficult to get the hang of it??? I can see in a few yrs, my DH may need one. He is slowing down a lot. And I know I would have a fear of running over people, curbs, flowers, squirrels, etc.

 

[mamabunny]

Was this your first time using ECV anywhere? If so, was it difficult to get the hang of it??? I can see in a few yrs, my DH may need one. He is slowing down a lot. And I know I would have a fear of running over people, curbs, flowers, squirrels, etc.

You can always practice with the store carts at your local grocery, Target, Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. If you can master those giant, lumbering beasts, you will be a pro at any ECV you may ever rent/drive at WDW!

Just taking it slowly, and getting used to how an electric mobility device works is more than half the battle.

 

[elmoandzoey]

Was this your first time using ECV anywhere? If so, was it difficult to get the hang of it??? I can see in a few yrs, my DH may need one. He is slowing down a lot. And I know I would have a fear of running over people, curbs, flowers, squirrels, etc.

It was my first time using an ECV without any practice. My sister works in a retirement home and some of her patients have ECVs so I has asked her prior to our trip if I could come by for a test drive. She was a bit flabbergasted because she thought they were pretty easy to handle. She said I could come by and practice on one but she thought *I* wouldn't need it. And she was right, I had zero problems with the ECV, even getting it on and off the bus and parked. But then, I also had a midsize and then a small scooter. Looking at the awefully big ECVs Disney is renting, I probably wouldn't have been able to maneuver some of the queues as easily as I did with the one I had. Also, I am in my mid-30s so I assume it might be easier for me to get the hang of these things than some older folks - no offense to anyone, I just go by what I have experienced. I can see where it would have been a bit more difficult for my mom to get that thing on and off the bus because she also isn't very good at sideways parking with the car.

 

[Melissa_E]

Thank you for this thread, mom will be using an ECV this year.