Getting in your hotel room by youself with ECV

[Debbie-TN]

Lately when my cousin and I go to WDW, she wants to go back to the room early. I haven't been going back with her, but I feel bad for her having to get into the room by herself with the ECV. When we leave in the mornings, I have to hold the door so she can get out. I was wondering if any one who goes by themselves could tell me the best way to get through the door to you room. I was wondering if you could put a door stop under the door. Would it hold one of those heavy doors? How do you do it?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When going into the room I will drive the ECV right up to the door, insert the key card and turn the handle, pushing the door in a little. With the other hand I will drive the ECV forward a bit. Then I will use one hand to keep pushing the door and the other hand to drive.

Getting out can be a little more complicated. I will drive all the way up to the door using one hand to control the ECV. I will grab the handle with the other to unlock the door. I will very slowly drive in reverse pulling the door toward me. As the door is close to fully open I will pull harder on the door so it is clear of the front of the ECV and drive forward; then just holding the door away from the ECV as I drive through the doorway.

Other possibility is to get off the ECV, open the door and put something to keep it from closing, and then drive through and go back and remove the doorstop. But it is not as much fun that way.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Is it the automated closing of the door that is getting in her way and/or the amount of strength it takes to open the door? Than the solution is pretty simple. Call maintenance. After explaining things, they can loosen this system up big time. That should already be enough. If not, in certain situations they can totally disable the system after getting approval from the fire dep.

I always have them at least loosen the door, had to have them totally disable it once. I tend to do solo trips or at least use a room solo. No way I'ld be getting in and out multiple times a day without having this done. ;-)

Sometimes it might take one or 2 tries, as housekeeping will notice this (of course) and if things aren't proparly registered, they'll call maintenance and have it 'fixed' back to normal. Not too bad, as you'll notice it when coming back to the room which is easier anyway. Just carefully 'knock' the door open with the ECV, drive into the room and call maintenance. Had it happen once in 4 trips, they put a note on the door system explaining it was to accomodate guest and no further problems happened.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

This question just popped into my head, as I think I minht be going solo in May and will have to use an ECV. I have done it in the past when I would go back to the room without DH, but can only remember it is easier getting INTO the room, not so sure I remember coming out by myself.

I would think if you can stand, you can just pull the brake and push/guide it into the room.

Suzanne

 

[videogal1]

Lately when my cousin and I go to WDW, she wants to go back to the room early. I haven't been going back with her, but I feel bad for her having to get into the room by herself with the ECV. When we leave in the mornings, I have to hold the door so she can get out. I was wondering if any one who goes by themselves could tell me the best way to get through the door to you room. I was wondering if you could put a door stop under the door. Would it hold one of those heavy doors? How do you do it?

You have several options:
1. Have the front desk ask maintenance dept to unhook the hydraulic arm, which will turn the door into a regular non-self-closing door (This is what I usually do.). If you will be staying in a room where the door opens onto an outdoor corridor this should not be a problem. Rooms with doors that open onto an indoor hallway, like some rooms at the Poly, for example, are regulated by the Fire Marshall and need to remain self-closing for fire safety, supposedly, although if there's a fire and you're trapped in the room it's hardly a safety feature for you... If they squawk, tell them you'll be needing someone from the front desk to let you into and out of the room each time you need access to the room. If they remain resistant, ask just what provision they have made to assist you to get out of the room in case of fire. I always get the arm unhooked.
2. As a backup I trained my Service dog, Cash, to retrieve a doorstop so that I could block the door open, drive the ECV through the door and then have him retrieve it.
3. Without a service dog's assistance, take a rubber door stop, drill a hole in it and attach a rope. Then use that door stop to block the door. Retrieve it by yanking on the rope.
Hint: Make two of them...One always gets lost.

 

[videogal1]

This question just popped into my head, as I think I minht be going solo in May and will have to use an ECV. I have done it in the past when I would go back to the room without DH, but can only remember it is easier getting INTO the room, not so sure I remember coming out by myself.

I would think if you can stand, you can just pull the brake and push/guide it into the room.

Suzanne

Actually, it 's easier to get exiting a room with an ECV, although timing and arm strength are critical (I only have the use of one arm so it should be easier with two.). Pull the ECV close to the door and yank the door open and quickly jam the ECV into the opening to keep the door from closing fully. Then, by alternately opening the door and driving forward you can push past the door and inch your way out. Getting back in is more difficult because the door has to be pulled all the way open, which can't be accomplished very easily with the ECV in the way and, depending on the strength of the hydraulic arm, requires you to haul the door open far enough to drive very quickly into the opening to stop the door from closing and then inching your way through the door. This method is murder on both your yanking arm as well as the door, which tends to whack the ECV as you yank and move. Why they don't get with the program and install pushbutton openers on the doors of all the accessible rooms I'll never understand.

 

[toocherie]

I have this issue too--I've found that a washcloth placed strategically can prop the door open.

I wish Disney would implement the system the MGM Grand in Vegas has--they actually have automatic door opener systems on their HA rooms--from inside you press a button and the door opens--outside when you use your key card the door opens. The door stays open for 10 seconds or so--long enough to drive in or out.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Actually, it 's easier to get exiting a room with an ECV, although timing and arm strength are critical (I only have the use of one arm so it should be easier with two.). Pull the ECV close to the door and yank the door open and quickly jam the ECV into the opening to keep the door from closing fully. Then, by alternately opening the door and driving forward you can push past the door and inch your way out. Getting back in is more difficult because the door has to be pulled all the way open, which can't be accomplished very easily with the ECV in the way and, depending on the strength of the hydraulic arm, requires you to haul the door open far enough to drive very quickly into the opening to stop the door from closing and then inching your way through the door. This method is murder on both your yanking arm as well as the door, which tends to whack the ECV as you yank and move. Why they don't get with the program and install pushbutton openers on the doors of all the accessible rooms I'll never understand.

Well, all the resorts we have stayed in at WDW the doors open INTO the room, not OUT and that is easier for me to open by myself (not that it is really easy). I know I can do it either way, just have to think about it before I do, because those doors are heavy and I ended up with a hairline fracture of my right wrist one time when my fingers got slammed in a heavy metal door. I just situate the ECV at the door and after I open with the card, I push the door open with my foot and the ECV to get in, I just have to watch and make sure the door doesn't slam again the side of the rear of the ECV.

Suzanne

 

[Debbie-TN]

Thanks for all the responses. We always stay at the Value Resorts, so the doors open into the rooms. I had no idea that they could unhinge the hydrolics. That would help a lot. I'll ask them to do this. I don't think it would be a problem for her to get off the ECV and put a rubber doorstop under the door. I wasn't sure if it would hold the heavy door open. Sounds like some of you have done this and it worked. We always leave together in the morning, so I hold the door open for her to get out.