Important tip for ECV users!

[2010_Bride]

Hello Everyone!

I want to begin by thanking you all for providing such helpful information about ECV use at the parks. As a result of a serious car accident, I now require a scooter for the parks and my trip last week was my first time back to Disney since my accident.

I read many threads with amazing tips that really came in handy (especially the one about driving the ECV all the way down the bus ramp before trying to turn it! I saw another guest who tipped their scooter and had to put their leg down to stop from tipping all the way over - yikes!).

I wanted to share one tip that I hadn't read on this board. ALWAYS check the speed dial before driving the ECV if you have left it unattended! Twice on my five day trip when I returned to my ECV after going on a ride someone had turned the dial all the way up past rabbit speed. The first time it happened I was reversing it and I squeezed the handle about half way (because it's usually near turtle mode) and the scooter flew backwards! Luckily I always leave lots of space between me and other people or I would have hit someone. After that life lesson I always checked the dial and had it happen once more during my trip.

Happy Scooting!

 

[SueM in MN]

That's a good suggestion

 

[MinnieMSue]

I can't believe people do that! (Well I believe it but don't get people touching other people's stuff. )

 

[Simba's Mom]

Great suggestion. Thanks! Also, when you get on your ECV after it's been on the bus, if the CM parked it. I think the CM who parked mine for me must have accidentally hit the dial and when I got on the ECV again, I almost went flying off the bus.
Another tip concerns bags with long handles. Twice my ECV stopped in inexplicably shortly after getting into the park. What had happened (which I didn't figure out right away) was that when security returned my handbag to the basket after they had gone through it, the strap got tangled around the key and when I hit a bump, the strap figured out how to pull the key and stop the ECV. So if your ECV suddenly stops, check the key!

 

[DKSABS]

Very good suggestions! I'm going next week and will be on an ECV too. I have a question...I've heard that the CMs sometimes move scooters and they aren't where you left them when you get off a ride. I've also seen advice to ALWAYS take the key with you when you leave the scooter. How do the CMs move the scooter without the key? And how often did this actually happen (CM moving your scooter)?

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Great suggestion. Thanks! Also, when you get on your ECV after it's been on the bus, if the CM parked it. I think the CM who parked mine for me must have accidentally hit the dial and when I got on the ECV again, I almost went flying off the bus.
Another tip concerns bags with long handles. Twice my ECV stopped in inexplicably shortly after getting into the park. What had happened (which I didn't figure out right away) was that when security returned my handbag to the basket after they had gone through it, the strap got tangled around the key and when I hit a bump, the strap figured out how to pull the key and stop the ECV. So if your ECV suddenly stops, check the key!

So another tip is to never put your handbag/purse into the basket. It really only takes a second for someone to walk by and remove it. I'd really hate for you to lose your handbag.

 

[powellrj]

Very good suggestions! I'm going next week and will be on an ECV too. I have a question...I've heard that the CMs sometimes move scooters and they aren't where you left them when you get off a ride. I've also seen advice to ALWAYS take the key with you when you leave the scooter. How do the CMs move the scooter without the key? And how often did this actually happen (CM moving your scooter)?

You have a yellow lever on the back that they use to move them when they are locked. They don't move them often.

 

[DKSABS]

Thank you

 

[2010_Bride]

I only had it moved once on my trip. It was parked alongside some strollers outside Tusker House in AK. When I finished lunch and came outside everything had been moved because the restaurant staff had set up a table outside with samples of something. I asked one of the staff where the scooter had been moved and they were able to tell me. They even offered to bring it to me if I couldn't walk to where it was

 

[The Hunchback]

The "pop the clutch" lever on mine is black but they all have them. When I have had mine moved it was because I parked with the strollers, not seeing the ECV parking spaces. Cast members just try to keep things neat and in order. Trying a colorful scarf to the basket helps cast member look for an ECV they moved if you cannot go find it yourself. My scooter is pink. We don't loose it too far.

I have never had my turtle set to rabbit when parked. But I have had people sit on my parked scooter and smoke. Man, did that make me mad.

I have had trouble with the speed getting bumped at security. We carry a lot on the scooter as my hubby is a photographer. I try to get thru security, pull out of the way, and stop. Then reorganize and check speed to be sure of a fun and safe day at the park.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I only had it moved once on my trip. It was parked alongside some strollers outside Tusker House in AK. When I finished lunch and came outside everything had been moved because the restaurant staff had set up a table outside with samples of something. I asked one of the staff where the scooter had been moved and they were able to tell me. They even offered to bring it to me if I couldn't walk to where it was

You are lucky.

Every single trip, my scooter is moved. And it happens every single day.

It has even happened when a CM parks it for me. So the CM parking and organizing the scooters (and strollers) parks my scooter, then another CM moves it when they come on duty.

No one knows where and how they are suppose to be parked.

 

[Gracie09]

You are lucky.

Every single trip, my scooter is moved. And it happens every single day.

It has even happened when a CM parks it for me. So the CM parking and organizing the scooters (and strollers) parks my scooter, then another CM moves it when they come on duty.

No one knows where and how they are suppose to be parked.

Like strollers they move them to make more room. If three ecvs are parked in a row, and the middle leaves, it makes it easier for the CM and guest for the CM to move one of the other two over rather than have someone try and park between the two remaining. If they don't know how to drive the ecv well (and many people visiting wdw do not know how to drive well because they only drive them there) they could hit one or both of the other ones and cause damage.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Like strollers they move them to make more room. If three ecvs are parked in a row, and the middle leaves, it makes it easier for the CM and guest for the CM to move one of the other two over rather than have someone try and park between the two remaining. If they don't know how to drive the ecv well (and many people visiting wdw do not know how to drive well because they only drive them there) they could hit one or both of the other ones and cause damage.

Which would make sense if they only moved them around in the same lot. But they move them to other lots.

The funniest move was when they moved mine out of the lot, to make room for a scooter that was parked in the exact same place as mine was. I guess the guest was a VIP or something. Or the time they moved it from scooter parking near Spaceship Earth, it was parked as directed by the CM, then moved to the restroom or store that is up the hill. Yea,on that one, they had to fetch it for me.

 

[DKSABS]

[QUOTE="The Hunchback, post: 57545088]

I have never had my turtle set to rabbit when parked. But I have had people sit on my parked scooter and smoke. Man, did that make me mad[/QUOTE]

Ooh. That would have really made me angry!!! How insensitive someone can be! I would love to have a pink scooter. I almost chose a differnt ECV rental company to get a pink one, but decided to go with a featured provider for convenience and price.

 

[DKSABS]

Thank you all so much for the helpful info!

 

[Simba's Mom]

As far as moving, one time when I was on the KS ride, they decided that my scooter needed to be moved all the way to another area, which I didn't find. I can't walk more than a few steps, so this was really hard. When I'm solo, I'll admit that I'm very reluctant to leave my ECV for any length of time.

 

[Chip_Dale]

I place the neon luggage strap that i use for my suitcase on the back of the chair to make mine noticeable

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I place the neon luggage strap that i use for my suitcase on the back of the chair to make mine noticeable

I use Christmas lights on my basket. I leave them on, when I leave the scooter.

I also use a license plate, from our own "Disigners."

It will really help, now that I am using my own scooter. It won't be one of the many with a company name on it. It will be my own personal scooter that I ride all the time.

 

[Bete]

Good idea

 

[Simba's Mom]

Another tip is to periodically check as to whether or not your light is on (during the day). A few times, I looked down to find my light was on and I don't know how it got turned on. Maybe I accidently hit the button to turn it on (?)