How challenging to rent ECV in the parks

[bravenyc]

My brother plans on using an ECV for the first time on our August 2021 trip (he is a disabled vet and has a lot of back pain). I read the recommendations for Gold Mobility (thanks) and we were considering this, but we are staying at the Riveria and I just found out that you cannot load ECV's at Riveria because the gondolas do not stop there. So all 6 of us would have to schlep back and forth from CB in the August heat!! So this got us thinking that maybe we should just rent directly in the parks. He will be able to easily walk to and from the parks/transportation - he just needs a place to sit during long lines and help walking the long in-park distances. What are the cons to renting in-park? How bad is availability? Thanks!!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You were given bad information. You can ABSOLUTELY load ECVs at the Riviera station. That's not a thing. At all.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

My brother plans on using an ECV for the first time on our August 2021 trip (he is a disabled vet and has a lot of back pain). I read the recommendations for Gold Mobility (thanks) and we were considering this, but we are staying at the Riveria and I just found out that you cannot load ECV's at Riveria because the gondolas do not stop there. So all 6 of us would have to schlep back and forth from CB in the August heat!! So this got us thinking that maybe we should just rent directly in the parks. He will be able to easily walk to and from the parks/transportation - he just needs a place to sit during long lines and help walking the long in-park distances. What are the cons to renting in-park? How bad is availability? Thanks!!

you can load there it is different from other stations where they pull off to load. biggest con to park rentals what is your backup plan if they are out of when you get there? yes it does happen. plus at end of night a park rental is no help waiting to get back to your transportation as they can not go past the gate. no place to sit and wait

 

[Starwind]

As noted, you were given incorrect information.

All of the stations except Riviera have a second loop that is used to load ECV/wheelchair/etc. This second loop allows them to stop those gondolas and load/unload from a stop position, while the main line is in a continuous motion.

At Riviera, the station design did not allow the second loop, so the line stays in motion, *unless they slow or stop it* such as when the load an ECV !

The park rentals are large slow monsters that do their job but lack much of the refinement of off site rentals. One also runs a risk of them running out, which is a problem if one needs it to manage the park.

 

[Evita_W]

My brother plans on using an ECV for the first time on our August 2021 trip (he is a disabled vet and has a lot of back pain). I read the recommendations for Gold Mobility (thanks) and we were considering this, but we are staying at the Riveria and I just found out that you cannot load ECV's at Riveria because the gondolas do not stop there. So all 6 of us would have to schlep back and forth from CB in the August heat!! So this got us thinking that maybe we should just rent directly in the parks. He will be able to easily walk to and from the parks/transportation - he just needs a place to sit during long lines and help walking the long in-park distances. What are the cons to renting in-park? How bad is availability? Thanks!!

You absolutely can load ECVs onto the Gondolas at Riviera, I have done so myself several times. It is true they do not stop, but they get so slow when loading an ECV that it might as well be stopped. You won't have an issue.

I would not rent inside the parks, I would say they are pieces of garbage, but that is insulting to garbage. Availability can also be an issue, but that would be the least of my concerns, they are slow, you will likely have to have them bring you at least one replacement unit if you are there all day, they have very bad turning radius as well. Off-site is definitely the way to go and again, you can load and unload at Riviera.

Now sometimes (with or without an ECV), it may be faster to walk over to CBR, but that has nothing to do with the ECV and more to do with the length of the line.

 

[bravenyc]

Thanks so much everyone. It is nice to hear that you can in fact load ECV's at Riveria!