How much walking from parking lots to ECV rental in parks???

[DCWarrior]

My mother may be four or five weeks after knee replacement surgery for our big family trip in September. We are staying in a house offsite and driving to the parks. I'm sure we will be getting her an ECV to use but question the logistics of it. If we decide on just renting from the parks, I wonder how these people even make it to the parks rental kiosk?!?! It seems it would be difficult for those who need them to make it from the parking lots, to the trams, to the monorails or boats, to the parks and then to the kiosks to get to the ECV rentals! How difficult would this be for someone a month or so after knee replacement surgery?!?!?

 

[POOHsie]

My mother may be four or five weeks after knee replacement surgery for our big family trip in September. We are staying in a house offsite and driving to the parks. I'm sure we will be getting her an ECV to use but question the logistics of it. If we decide on just renting from the parks, I wonder how these people even make it to the parks rental kiosk?!?! It seems it would be difficult for those who need them to make it from the parking lots, to the trams, to the monorails or boats, to the parks and then to the kiosks to get to the ECV rentals! How difficult would this be for someone a month or so after knee replacement surgery?!?!?

I can't speak for your mom's knee surgery recovery. I wanted to mention that if you park in the theme park Handicap lot, with a Handicap hang tag, there are courtesy wheelchairs available in a "corral" in that lot that you can use all the way to the front gates. Sometimes they run out at busy (am) times until some are brought back after use.

Yes, it's difficult when Disney rentals are only at the front gates. If you rent from a private company, you have the scooter 24/7. But you probably have to take the scooter apart to fit in your car for transport back to where you're staying. It's not hard, but it helps to have someone handy in your group.

If you don't have a handicap hang tag, after the toll booth stop, tell the parking lot CM you encounter that you have a scooter in your car. There are some closer-in spots to park for you and your scooter, b/c, obviously, you can't take the scooter on the parking lot tram, and you might end up in the Disney "Timbuktu" lot. The handicap lot is strictly enforced all day by County Sheriffs. Don't park in the blue painted Handicap spots without a Handicap tag or Handicap license plate.

Edited to add: Explain your circumstances to see if your mom's primary dr. or the surgery specialist can authorize a temporary handicap tag to cover your visit dates. The tag would help a lot.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the handicapped parking for MK is bad as you have a long walk and part of it up hill. there are no trams in this area and I have never been lucky enough to find a wheelchair there to use. plus you will not be able to send someone to get ECV and bring out to meet you as they will not let it out the gate. it is not going to be easy without renting from off site and bringing with you to each park

 

[powellrj]

I had total knee replacement several years ago and did really well with my recovery. There is no way I could have gone to WDW a month after my surgery.

If she does go, I would rent a ECV off-site because the walk to the rentals in the parks will be brutal.

I would really think long and hard and discuss this with her doctor before you leave for your trip. Just getting to WDW will be hard.