4DogsnSeattle
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2006
- Messages
- 7
We have just returned from another fabulous trip to WDW (Nov 28 - Dec 8). I thought I would share some of my experiences in the hopes that it will benefit someone else. I went on this trip recovering from a sprained knee, having to use a cane on stairs and if very fatigued. I was hoping not to have to use an ECV, but ended up needing to and being very grateful for it!
I was able to bring my cane on all the rides I went on - I had a folding cane (House of Canes $25), but it really was not required. I folded it to store on Star Tours, Soarin' and Mission Space (coolest ride ever!) - that was it.
The first day, I used my cane only and did not ask for any preferential treatment (did not get a GAC) - We were at MGM Studios - but on almost all attractions, Cast Members saw the cane and stepped up to offer assistance in the form of shortened waits or close seating, etc. I was pleasantly suprised and impressed.
I realized after that first day that the strain was too much (well, my DH and DS and DSIL realized it for me) and got a ECV at the theme parks after that. You do need to arrive early. At this relatively low volume time, they were generally gone by 11 am (ok, that's early for me!). We did arrive too late at AK, but were able to get one a few hours later as others left the park.
I thought I would not be able to negotiate the trams, so first day asked parking persons to direct us to the front for drop off. They did so, no questions asked. We realized that the closest one may get with a car is the handicapped parking area which is still some distance from the park entrance and that the tram actually gets you the closest to the entrance. So I tried and found that I could negotiate the tram steps (yay!), so was able to get closer to the park entrances that way. I could easily walk with my cane from there to the ECV rental.
However, if you cannot do the tram and don't have an HC parking tag, it is best to have your party drop you and another at the HC parking where they have temporary (rickety) wheelchairs to transport you from there to the ECV rental area if you cannot walk the distance.
Once I got over the completely self inflicted "wuss" factor, the ECV became a boon. I could enjoy the parks pain-free and the cast members were responsive and accomodating (well, except for POC at the very end of MVMCP - they just wanted to go home).
I hope this information will be of use to others with a temporary condition that might not be used to having to deal with these issues.
Thanks to those on this board who answered my questions and spinkled pixie dust before I left!
I was able to bring my cane on all the rides I went on - I had a folding cane (House of Canes $25), but it really was not required. I folded it to store on Star Tours, Soarin' and Mission Space (coolest ride ever!) - that was it.
The first day, I used my cane only and did not ask for any preferential treatment (did not get a GAC) - We were at MGM Studios - but on almost all attractions, Cast Members saw the cane and stepped up to offer assistance in the form of shortened waits or close seating, etc. I was pleasantly suprised and impressed.
I realized after that first day that the strain was too much (well, my DH and DS and DSIL realized it for me) and got a ECV at the theme parks after that. You do need to arrive early. At this relatively low volume time, they were generally gone by 11 am (ok, that's early for me!). We did arrive too late at AK, but were able to get one a few hours later as others left the park.
I thought I would not be able to negotiate the trams, so first day asked parking persons to direct us to the front for drop off. They did so, no questions asked. We realized that the closest one may get with a car is the handicapped parking area which is still some distance from the park entrance and that the tram actually gets you the closest to the entrance. So I tried and found that I could negotiate the tram steps (yay!), so was able to get closer to the park entrances that way. I could easily walk with my cane from there to the ECV rental.
However, if you cannot do the tram and don't have an HC parking tag, it is best to have your party drop you and another at the HC parking where they have temporary (rickety) wheelchairs to transport you from there to the ECV rental area if you cannot walk the distance.
Once I got over the completely self inflicted "wuss" factor, the ECV became a boon. I could enjoy the parks pain-free and the cast members were responsive and accomodating (well, except for POC at the very end of MVMCP - they just wanted to go home).
I hope this information will be of use to others with a temporary condition that might not be used to having to deal with these issues.
Thanks to those on this board who answered my questions and spinkled pixie dust before I left!
