G'ma and ECV (and 8 family members)....

[abeyst]

Hello disDISers!! I've started reading the disabilities board the last couple weeks to prepare me for a trip to the World with my 7 family members, including my grandmother who will be in an ECV. She's not strong enough to walk the entire trip. It's her first trip, and my first trip with a "wheeler" so in a way this is a first time trip for me as well. Your knowledge and posts have helped me out so much, thank you for all your knowledge and experiences you share.

I hope I don't ask too many questions that are posted in the Sticky on this page (I'm going to start reading it now), if I do I apologize in advance.

My biggest dilemma I'm trying to figure out is how to transport 8 people and an ECV around the World in the most efficient way.

1) What is the best way to travel around the world with an ECV? Is it faster with Disney transportation, or taking your own rental car?

2) Is it faster to load an ECV in a Disney bus or in a mini van? Will an ECV fit directly in a mini van or will it need to be disassembled? (Remember, we have a van full of people!)

2) Are there different sized ECVs to rent from outside companies? My g'ma is normal sized, so she doesn't need anything large or heavy duty to hold extra weight. I'd like to find something as small as possible that will be easy for her to manouver and us to load/unload in vehicles.

3) Does the average hotel room door fit an ECV through it, or do I need to request an accessible room? (We'll be at Beach Club Villas or Saratoga Springs - haven't decided yet).


Have I forgotten to ask anything else that I'm going to need to know?

Thank you so much for your help!! You guys have been great with all the info you've given me so far.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

A few answers for you. To get between your resort and MK you are best off by using the Disney buses. To get between resorts definitely using your own (or rental) vehicle. Between your resort and the parks other then MK it is a toss-up and will depend a lot on the time of day both going and returning.

The "normal" ECV will break down to five pieces. You might want to tell the company you are renting from what type of vehicle you will be having. Although the ECV may fit (unbroken) in the van, it weighs about 150 pounds including batteries. But disassembly or reassembly only takes a minute or so.

You might want to look at the "disABILTIES! FAQ" for additional information.

And all room doors, at all the resorts, are 36" wide while a normal ECV is usually only 23" wide so you would not need any special room.

One last thing to consider is that if there is reason to use an alternate entrance (which is most likely in MK) normally the group size is limited to the disabled person plus no more than five additional people. Depending on crowds, this may even be more tightly restricted in parade/fireworks viewing areas ar certain shows.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hello disDISers!! I've started reading the disabilities board the last couple weeks to prepare me for a trip to the World with my 7 family members, including my grandmother who will be in an ECV. She's not strong enough to walk the entire trip. It's her first trip, and my first trip with a "wheeler" so in a way this is a first time trip for me as well. Your knowledge and posts have helped me out so much, thank you for all your knowledge and experiences you share.

If she has never driven one, start out now by going to stores that have one and try it out (Target, Walmart, many grocery stores). If she can confidently drive one of those, she will be able to drive one at WDW.

Also, keep in mind that she will not be getting tired from walking, but will get tired from driving - it takes extra vigilence to drive an ECV. You need to be aware of your speed, steering and other people.

Before she leaves the resort, she should be able to drive and steer without problem, turn both directions, back up and pull into a specific spot. Keep in mind that she may get flustered if she makes a mistake, so it's better to make the mistakes at the resort before going out with lots of people.

I hope I don't ask too many questions that are posted in the Sticky on this page (I'm going to start reading it now), if I do I apologize in advance.

We always welcome questions, even if the answer is in the FAQs thread.

My biggest dilemma I'm trying to figure out is how to transport 8 people and an ECV around the World in the most efficient way.

1) What is the best way to travel around the world with an ECV? Is it faster with Disney transportation, or taking your own rental car?

The actual driving time is about the same, but if you are on the bus, you don't have to try to figure out where you are going.
Other elements that are involved in driving are loading everyone up (that part is probably not going to be more than getting onto the bus), actual parking and then getting to the front of the park to get in.
The biggest difference will be that if you have a van, you will be leaving when you want to leave. If you are taking the bus, you have to wait for the bus.
During a busy time, the busses run more frequently, but are also more full. So, if you are leaving at park closing, you may find the buses very full and may have to wait for a while.

I would suggest taking the bus to MK even if you decide to drive to the other parks. If you drive to MK, you will be parking in a lot and walking to the Ticket and Transportation Center. Then you have to take either a boat or the monorail to get to the park entrance. The bus drops you off right at the park entrance.

2) Is it faster to load an ECV in a Disney bus or in a mini van? Will an ECV fit directly in a mini van or will it need to be disassembled? (Remember, we have a van full of people!)

Most of the bus drivers are fairly efficient at loading wheelchairs and ECVs on the bus, so it usually doesn't take that long.

Someone else can answer the taking apart the ECV information better than I can, but I believe it will be too big to fit unassembled.
How it fits is also going to depend on the size of the van. We have rented an extended length minivan (Grand Caravan or Grand Voyager) and have been able to fit DD's wheelchair in the back sideways without folding it - it's about 26 inches wide total. But, we have needed to push the back seat as far forwards as possible. That makes very little foot space for the people sitting in that seat. Not a problem for children, but if you have all adults, it might be.

2) Are there different sized ECVs to rent from outside companies? My g'ma is normal sized, so she doesn't need anything large or heavy duty to hold extra weight. I'd like to find something as small as possible that will be easy for her to manouver and us to load/unload in vehicles.

If you go to the websites of the companies listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find links to the websites where DIS posters have most often rented from. The websites have pictures of the types of scooters they rent.

3) Does the average hotel room door fit an ECV through it, or do I need to request an accessible room? (We'll be at Beach Club Villas or Saratoga Springs - haven't decided yet).

The doors in the regular rooms won't be a problem; all the doors are the same width.
Another thing to think about - if you stay at Beach Club Villas, you can easily take the boat or walkways to Epcot and the Studios.
If you stay at Saratogo Springs, you can walk to DD (depending on where you are, it can be about a 10 minute walk or a 25 minute walk), but you will need to take the buses or drive everywhere else.

 

[abeyst]

Thanks guys! I've read the replies, the FAQs, and all 4 pages in the disABILITIES board. (So much for cleaning the house today!!) But I do feel MUCH more informed about the challenges I face planning the trip, and issues my g'ma may face from other guests in the park. I didn't realize there were so many nasty comments to the disabled! (That part was quite a shock to me, but I'm SO glad I know to be ready for it and to warn her and our family about it.)

I've decided that we're just going to use the buses. I was trying to save some time by using our own vehicle, but you made good points that show me the busses will be better. And since we're most likely going to be staying at the Beach Club Villas and using the boats, the work and expense of a vehicle won't be worth it just to go a few other places.

I'm printing everyone calendars with reminders on certain dates to include starting their walking routines and breaking in new shoes, and my grandma's will include dates for a trip to the grocery store for ECV Driver's Ed!

 

[meandtheguys2]

We had a large group, and my mom with an ECV last trip. We attempted to use the transportation for the first couple of days, but with bus problems, and lines, in the end, we opted for the minivan. I will say that my sweet husband got pretty quick at tearing that sucker apart, and is a great sport about it all.

Have a lovely trip regardless!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I wouldn't worry too much about 'the looks'. I've never really noticed them myself (but then I'm always in a little happy bubble in Disney, so maybe I just missed them), but I think you grandmother is unlikely to get them. The people who dish out the evil eye, are normally doing it because they think they can 'see' that you don't have a medical problem (the "you look young, fit and healthy, why aren't you walking?" mentality), but I think they tend to be more understanding of people with a couple more years life experience under their belts (I may be completely wrong, but hopefully not).

Anyway, even if you do get looks, you're never going to see these people again, so who cares what they think? Go have a wonderful holiday, and do whatever you need to, to make it magical for all of you.


Just as an after thought, it might be best if you grandmother began her ECV training at a quieter time, for instance in the evening, so she doesn't have to worry about so many people walking in front of her (and believe me, they will).