How are ECV's handled on Disney Busses?

[chirurgeon]

I will most likely be using an ECV for my December trip. How do the bus drivers deal with the scooters? Do they make people stand up if they are in the lock down space? Will I be able to sit on the ECV for have to sit in a regular seat? I will be finishing chemo and I'm afraid I will not have enough stamina with out the assistance of the ECV.

TIA

 

[pugdog]

They handle it great. You will be loaded first but get off last. But not a big deal in my book, after all your at Disney. You can either stray in your ECV or transfer to a bus seat, up to you. Are you bringing one your self or renting offsite?

 

[PCFriar80]

On the busses where I have seen what you will require; yes, they make the people move in order to secure your ECV. The seats fold up and the space is available. You will be entering via the rear doors and the "parking" spot is across form the rear doors. And yes you can remain in the ECV during transport. Again, that is based on two observations during our last trip in May. Good luck with your treatment and best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

 

[chirurgeon]

I will be renting an off site ECV. I dont' really need one in my everyday life. Thanks for the good wishes , PCFriar.

 

[seashoreCM]

Guests in wheelchairs (or ECV's) queue up separately near where the rear door would be when the bus stops. The driver should load these guests first but if someone in a wheelchair arrives after general boarding is well underway the driver might not accommodate him.

If a wheelchair guest is in a large group the driver is not obliged to let the entire rest of the group board via the rear door or even make it onto that bus.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think most drivers prefer that the ECV/wheelchair passenger use a regular seat - because it's easier/safer to tie down just the vehicle as opposed to securing an ECV with the passenger on it, but they will ask you if you can/would move to a seat. You can obviously just decline.

 

[Shelby5514]

You will have a MUCH more enjoyable trip using an ECV. In Feb. we took my Mom and MIL to Disney and rented ECV's offsite for the week. They would not have been able to do 1/2 the things we did without them. MIL had just had knee replacement surgery and Mom has arthritis that only allows her about 3 hours of walking at a time. The bus drivers were VERY helpful and we only encountered a couple of rude people. Both Mom and MIL were able to transfer to a bus seat, but they didn't HAVE to. I don't remember ever having to kick someone out of their seats on the bus, but we went to the parks after opening and then waited until the crowd left at night and caught the last bus back. On the boats they stayed on the ECV and didn't have any trouble at all loading or unloading the ECV, they put out a ramp and you just drove it on/off. Since MIL was able to walk short distances we used the stand-by line for everything except The Great Movie Ride, which was a walk-on so they sent us in the handicapped entrance, and at Spaceship Earth which they had to stop the ride to allow them to board.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

if you haven't already, I'd suggest you come to the disABILITIES Board and check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread that is near the top of the Board.

One of the posts on that thread is about buses and wheelchairs/ECVs. There are other helpful things on that thread, including some links to past disABILITIES Board threads about boarding rides. There are also links to the WDW Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities for each park.

 

[ztbz]

but they will ask you if you can/would move to a seat. You can obviously just decline.

Keep in Mind that most ECV rental companies normally will ask that renters not ride in the ECV when on the Bus, they will ask that you move to a normal seat. While Disney won't force you to get out the ECV, it does recommends that you transfer to normal seat for your safety. And lastly as a bus driver its much quicker to strap in a Empty ECV then a ECV with someone on it, as we have to take great care that the Wheelchair (or ECV) is secured and won't flip over when the bus makes a sharp turn. If someone were to get hurt while in a Wheelchair (or ECV) and they get hurt while ridding the bus, that Cast Member would normally get automatically terminated from their job at Disney, so its the reason while we strongly ask that you move to a seat as our job is on the line. Rule of thumb if you don't ride in a wheelchair in your car (or someone else’s car or van) then don't ride in a Bus, just park it once you get aboard, also if you are able to transfer out the wheelchair when going on to a Disney ride then you should be able to transfer to a seat on a bus.

Now its understandable that some guest cannot transfer to a Seat whither it’s a bus or a ride, but most people in a rented ECV can transfer but many just don’t want to move to a seat even if its safer. It also much faster to get going to your designation as we don’t have to worry as much about the ECV Flipping with no one in it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks, zbtz! I'm much happier moving to a seat - I just feel a bit guilty, especially when the bus is full, for taking up four spaces instead of three! For those not familiar with the setup: There are two three-seat section opposite but near the rear door that flip up to accommodate the ECV/wheelchair.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Thanks, zbtz! I'm much happier moving to a seat - I just feel a bit guilty, especially when the bus is full, for taking up four spaces instead of three! For those not familiar with the setup: There are two three-seat section opposite but near the rear door that flip up to accommodate the ECV/wheelchair.

Your personal safety is no reason to feel guilty!