My last two trips, my wife and I have each rented ECVs in the parks after getting past our private embarrassment of “everybody will think it’s just because we are fat”. The carts made such a huge difference in our trips, how much we could see and do, how much we enjoyed it, how much less we were hurting at the end of the day. Two years ago, it also allowed us to keep up with our new (to us) 8yo son. Again, we could d9 so much more.
In 22 days, I am taking my (now) 10yo son, and my 25yo nephew. I’m considering renting a cart for the whole trip. One, the the cost is actually in our favor by renting from BV. Second, I would know I’d always have a cart. But, part of me is still feeling embarrassed about having the cart for use at the resort. The magical, all-powerful “They” will judge me negatively. And what if it breaks down? Is BV good about repairing? We are doing 4 of the After Hours events....and having a cart will allow us to see so much more.
Please, somebody pat my head and rub my tummy....and tell me it will be okay, whichever I choose.
You'll be fine. I promise!
Listen - think of that ECV/
scooter/cart (zoombuggy <--- my personal new fave LOL) whatever you want to call it - as a TOOL to get a job done. Nothing more.
If you need glasses to see better, do you use them? I'm willing to bet you do. Your glasses are a TOOL to see better.
If you needed hearing aids to augment your hearing, would you use them? I'm willing to bet you would use them so you could hear your loved one's voices, if nothing else. Hearing aids are a TOOL as well.
Trouble doing math? Use a calculator - maybe even the one on your smartphone. Add us those numbers, divide those percentages, and multiply like a crazy person - but you are still using a TOOL to get a job done.
Would you use a stick of butter to pound in a nail? Nope. Because it's not the right TOOL - a hammer is.
I presume that by now, you see where I'm going with this.
The ECV is merely a TOOL - the best possible tool for *you* - that lets you get a job - in this case, making your way around an ENORMOUS property - done, and done in a fashion that neither causes you further physical harm or distress, and also helps prevent new harm or distress. That's it. That's all it is. It's a tool.
It is NOT a comment on you, your abilities, your size, your intelligence or anything else. Although, personally, I think it's very smart any time someone realizes that they need a bit of assistance. There's nothing worse than going home from vacation and then needing to recover from your... vacation.
The *average* Guest at WDW walks between 3 & 10 miles *per day* at WDW. That's just the walking part. No one - that I know of - has ever quantified the amount of time you can spend on average every day just standing and waiting. For some folks, it's the walking that presents problems, for others it's the standing. Some of us, it's both. Regardless, if you go to Disney Guest Relations in any of the Theme Parks at WDW, and tell them "Hey, I have some trouble getting around, and I want to know what your solution is", Disney Cast Members will tell you straight up that they recommend you use an ECV or a wheelchair, and then they will give you that two-fingered point in the direction of the rentals.
Like
@gap2368 said - folks at WDW are too busy these days, looking for "Instagram Walls" or taking pictures of their food, or themselves, (or so often, themselves with their food? Why?) to post on Insta or Facebook. If they aren't posting to social media in a transparent attempt to make all their "friends" jealous ("I'm at Disney World, and you aren't!") then they are still so self-absorbed that they won't care - or really notice - if you show up riding a zebra and wearing a Lady Godiva wig over a neon-striped unitard. (BTW, if you decide to do that, remember: pictures or it didn't happen! LOL)
And as for anyone who might glance your way? Just remember this: First of all, they don't know you. They have no idea what has led you to make the decision to use a personal mobility device. If they *dare* judge you, they do so from a place of ignorance and foolishness, for I assure you that either they - or someone they love - will someday need to use a similar device, and when that day does come, I hope and pray that they hang their head in shame for how they behaved previously. Karma has a long memory, and everyone is a TAB (Temporarily Able Bodied in the grand scheme of things).
Having said that, you will, from time to time have folks look at you. It's inevitable. Here's when it's most likely: Getting on or off the internal Disney transportation. So, buses to/from the Resorts/Parks/Disney Springs. The watercraft. The Monorails. It happens. Just remember first and foremost that often they are not staring at YOU - they are interested in the *procedure* that gets your mobility device on/off that mode of transportation. The bus alone does it's very best to attract all of the attention in the world - it wheezes, and kneels, and beeps, and then it barfs out a ramp (!) and then it does all that *again* in reverse to complete the cycle once everyone has unloaded/loaded. I'm not really sure how you could make it more of a spectacle, short of brining in disco lights, and a marching band. So people aren't really watching *you* - it's the bus, and the procedure.
And if someone does make a crappy little remark - you know, that passive-aggressive "Well, it must be NICE to be able to get on the bus first!" that several of us around here have heard - Then you just look them straight in the eye, smile your nicest smile, and you tell them this: "Yep, I get on first but I also always get off last. I would gladly trade places with you if it were at all possible for me to do so." And then, you sail right on up that ramp, and into that bus, and you make like Elsa, and you Let It Go. Because again, they are coming from a place of ignorance and foolishness.
You are doing *exactly* what you have to do to have the best possible vacation. By renting the personal mobility device, you are going to be in less pain - so you (and your family) will have more fun. Because you are in less pain, and can have more fun, your family may actually find it tough to keep up with *you* all of a sudden! You are no longer the reason that everyone has to stop all the time. You are no longer the reason that you have to go back to the hotel early. You are now ready to go, and have a great time with your family, and *that's* what matters here. Nothing more.
@snowman, you are going to be fine. Climb on that ECV, turn on your most beautiful smile, wave to everyone like the visiting Royalty that you are, and go have the best trip you have ever had.
