FW Cabin with an ECV

[cbeardtx]

Hi everyone! We are going to be first timers in a FW Cabin in June. I have read through lots of threads and found answers to most of my questions, but I've got a couple left.

I have nerve damage in my back from an auto accident last year, so I'm going to have to rent an ECV to use at the parks. Are the internal busses just like the regular Disney transportation busses? Just wondering if I will be able to take the ECV on the bus to the marina, main bus, etc. or if it will be easier to just go down the sidewalks?

Also, do any of the cabins other than those that are handicapped accessible have ramps instead of the stairs? I would hate to take an accessible room when someone else may need it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

They are the same busses...but heck..you could just cruise the campground on the ecv....I wouldnt even bother hopping a bus if I was on an ecv. There even allowed on the sidewalks as far as I know, unlike golfcarts.

Hey, if your suffering from nerve damage...you deserve an accessible cabin ...dont let it make you feel guilty.

 

[clkelley]

Yep, just cruise on the sidewalks in the ECV!! DH does it all the time. It's actually faster than the buses because you don't have to load and unload.

Just in case you don't get an accesible cabin with a ramp, bring a medium gas grill cover with you. You can then park the ECV outside the cabin and charge it from the outside plug there. Cover the whole thing with the grill cover. That's how we do DHs ECV when we are at the campsite. Stays nice and dry!!!

 

[Shan-man]

Also, I wanted to make sure you know that the ECVs you rent at the parks are only for use at that park... you cannot (as far as I know) do multi-day rentals from Disney. To have an ECV at FW you would have to rent from an offsite vendor. However, I believe you can rent at one park, return it, hop to another park and get another ECV with the receipt at the second park. I'm pretty sure that's what they said on one of the podcasts a while back. I have never used the ECVs (though I came close with a gout flare-up last trip) so this is all reiterated from podcasts and boards.

 

[cbeardtx]

Thanks so much! I feel lots better knowing I can use it on the sidewalks. I don't want to get on any more busses than I have to - it's quite a production!

I finally got through on the phone to Disney reservations. I told her I did not need the fully accessible cabin, just a ramp. She put me on hold for a bit and came back and said that they had the ramp taken care of.

Thanks again for all the help and great ideas!

 

[Mary2e]

Also, do any of the cabins other than those that are handicapped accessible have ramps instead of the stairs? I would hate to take an accessible room when someone else may need it.

I was put in an accessible cabin with a ramp without asking for it. That's just what was assigned for the week we were there.

If you need it, well, you need it and you should feel like you're taking one from someone who may need it more. Also, there doesn't appear to be a shortage of handicap cabins. Each loop has at least 2, perhaps more. They're easy to spot because of the ramp.

 

[SueM in MN]

They are the same busses...but heck..you could just cruise the campground on the ecv....I wouldnt even bother hopping a bus if I was on an ecv. There even allowed on the sidewalks as far as I know, unlike golfcarts.

Hey, if your suffering from nerve damage...you deserve an accessible cabin ...dont let it make you feel guilty.

ECVs are allowed where ever you can walk - for some people they are their legs.
The only place you will not be able to take an ECV is in a few attractions that don't have space for them to manouver. Those attractions are well marked and they will also have a regular wheelchair you can transfer to for use in the line.

Also, I wanted to make sure you know that the ECVs you rent at the parks are only for use at that park... you cannot (as far as I know) do multi-day rentals from Disney. To have an ECV at FW you would have to rent from an offsite vendor. However, I believe you can rent at one park, return it, hop to another park and get another ECV with the receipt at the second park. I'm pretty sure that's what they said on one of the podcasts a while back. I have never used the ECVs (though I came close with a gout flare-up last trip) so this is all reiterated from podcasts and boards.

It is true that the park rental ECVs are only for use in the park where you rented it. If you plan to leave and then come back or go to a different park, you can show your receipt and get another ECV without paying again IF they have an ECV when you arrive. Park rental ECVs are first come, first serve and can't be reserved ahead of time. Because of that, it is possible that there may not be any when you arrive.
From what I know, they did do multi-day rentals for a very short time, but since they could not guarantee one, it just did not work, so they stopped.

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread to find more information about touring with an ECV. Post #2 of that thread has information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs. This includes links and phone numbers for off-site rental places that are recommended by DIS posters.