Kid riding on adult's ECV

[Chynasmom]

Here's the situation:

We're heading to WDW next month, and my FIL will be coming in from TX to meet us there. I've rented an ECV for him (from Apple) - he can't walk far or fast and can't stand for long. Looks good, right?

Well, we were on the phone with him last night going over some things, when he said "I plan to break all the rules - if Katherine's legs are tired, she can ride with me." Dead silence from me and DH (who was giving me his best Don't Respond stare).

My position - I'm pretty sure that kids riding on ECVs is against Disney rules, I know it's against our contract with Apple, and I think it's a really bad idea. BUT - I'm also pretty sure we'll see a fair amount of it while at the parks, as people tend to ignore that sort of rule, and I don't know how strict Disney is at enforcing it.

DH is with me on the subject, but I don't know whether he's willing to say no to his dad or if it will fall on me to be the no-fun Yankee mom. I love my FIL, but he's got this obnoxious "you can't make me follow rules that I think are stupid" streak that shows up sometimes.

So - Assuming that Disney policy is that kids are not to ride on ECVs, how enforced is this? Can I (with reasonable accuracy) say that we could get booted from the park for doing it?

 

[minkydog]

Although you will see people carrying their kids on their ECVs from time to time, Disney is pretty strict about it. They *WILL* stop you and require the child be removed from the lap immediately. They have the right to escort you from the park for repeated violations. I doubt they were do that on the first or second warning but if it became an issue, they certainly could make the rest of your day sad for your dad.

 

[WicketsMom]

Explain to your daughter before you go that it is against the rules and unsafe for her to ride on it. Then she can be the one to decline if FIL asks her to ride with him.

My MIL is terrible about remembering to buckle her seatbelt. After getting dirty looks from her when I would remind her to buckle up when she rides with us (which thank goodness is rare) I put my five year old son in charge. He knows that anytime he is in the car with someone that they must have their seatbelt on and HE is the one that tells them to buckle up and the dirty looks stopped!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I agree, explain it to your daughter and hopefully she'll be the one to say no. As long as "we aren't trying to hurt grandpa's feelings, we're just following a very good safety rule!" I think would help a lot.

 

[Chynasmom]

Explain to your daughter before you go that it is against the rules and unsafe for her to ride on it. Then she can be the one to decline if FIL asks her to ride with him.

She's 4 - Anything that hasn't actually caused her pain in the past week is, by definition, "Not Dangerous, Mommy!" *headthunk*

I will, of course, be stressing to her before we go (and probably daily while we're there) that riding with Granddad is not safe, not permitted, and the Princesses won't like it. I'll also stress that if she's that tired we can go back to the Cabin for a rest. (We're there for 7 days - very much NOT commando on the parks.)

 

[ttintagel]

Yes, Grandpa will see other people doing it and most likely getting away with it. If your husband doesn't stick up for you and your daughter (and your daughter's safety) you have my permission to smack him in the face with a Mickey ice cream bar. Wait, no, those things are expensive.

Jeez, if Grandpa saw other people driving their ECV's off the deck of the Liberty Belle he'd probably do that, too. I know people like that, and they drive me up a wall.

I'd probably prepare the kid ahead of time by saying she's not allowed to ride with Grandpa. But I wouldn't make it her responsibility to overcome his objections. It sucks being the Yankee sometimes.

 

[Chynasmom]

I never thought I'd say this, but it makes me a teensy bit glad that we don't see him much (generally 1x per year) so K is still a little stand-offish with him. It hurts to think that, because he loves her and would not intentionally hurt her for anything. It's more about being dismissive of me and my parenting choices - which also sucks, but I'm a big girl and his occasional jack-assery isn't going to keep me up at night.

(He's like that with his own daughter, too - one of her girls is allergic to milk protein, and he's always "Oh, just a teensy scoop of ice cream won't kill her!" Which it won't, but he's not the one dealing with the stomach cramps & diarrhea, either.)

 

[Michigan]

Ask Grandpa if he could live with himself if he hurt her or someone else. I watched a woman with a child on her lap drive uncontrollably into the strollers at the stroller parking area at the new Dumbo when it first opened.

 

[livndisney]

I never thought I'd say this, but it makes me a teensy bit glad that we don't see him much (generally 1x per year) so K is still a little stand-offish with him. It hurts to think that, because he loves her and would not intentionally hurt her for anything. It's more about being dismissive of me and my parenting choices - which also sucks, but I'm a big girl and his occasional jack-assery isn't going to keep me up at night.

(He's like that with his own daughter, too - one of her girls is allergic to milk protein, and he's always "Oh, just a teensy scoop of ice cream won't kill her!" Which it won't, but he's not the one dealing with the stomach cramps & diarrhea, either.)

Are you my sister? I have the same conversation with my dad all the time. We now have the "rule" that he can only give her water! I know he is not trying to hurt her, but does not live in our world of allergies. He thinks all kids should have what they want. (Wish he had been that way when I was a kid LOL). The way I deal with it is- "my kid, my rules".

Oddly enough, the worst memory I have of my Dad is him hurting one of the grandkids (accidentally)with his scooter. Don't let them ride.

 

[lanejudy]

She's 4 - Anything that hasn't actually caused her pain in the past week is, by definition, "Not Dangerous, Mommy!" *headthunk*

I will, of course, be stressing to her before we go (and probably daily while we're there) that riding with Granddad is not safe, not permitted, and the Princesses won't like it. I'll also stress that if she's that tired we can go back to the Cabin for a rest. (We're there for 7 days - very much NOT commando on the parks.)

If your DD is only 4, you may well want to bring an umbrella stroller as her legs could well get tired (typical day at WDW involves 8-12 miles of walking!). That could solve the issue - you'll have the stroller for her if needed and she wouldn't be tempted to ride with grandpa. When not needed, a folded umbrella stroller isn't cumbersome, or unfold it and push your bags around until needed.

You're right, it's rough always being the "bad-guy" to enforce rules. However your daughter is old enough to know that "Mommy and Daddy have rules for our family and we expect you to follow our rules regardless of what other kids/families do."

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[cmesq61]

I assume Katherine is your daughter. In any event, she's someone's daughter.

Forget Disney--How about you say not gonna happen FIL cause it is too dangerous for my child. I don't want her dead from a head injury when she is thrown from the ECV cause, gee, an idiot walks in front of you and you stop short. I was a trauma nurse for decades and i've seen it happen. A lot. Would NEVER have allowed my kids to do it.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I agree with the poster who said bring an umbrella stroller for your daughter because a 4 year old will probably not be able to walk everything and that will mean she has a place if she gets tired that's hers (which will make things go smoother since she's a little stand-offish from him).

If Grandpa won't compromise on having her ride with him, tell him that if that's the case, you will switch your rental reservation to a wheelchair that you and your husband can push him in. Then he can carry her all he likes without the danger. It's slower and is a PITA for you and your husband, but it's a lot safer and there's a chance that even just saying that to him will get him to follow the rule. Also, it really may not be comfortable for her to ride on his lap and that's worth pointing out to him.

I would guess that it is possible to be thrown out of a park for having a kid on your lap and being warned repeatedly. I'm also not sure if he understands the logistics of having a kid on his lap, steering, and making sure she's not doing something that would impact his steering. There aren't many things she could hold onto for her own balance and grabbing the tiller to balance herself would cause some sort of change in direction.

 

[peemagg]

I think I would just say to him, " That won't be necessary Dad. We have a stroller for her." Leave it at that. That takes any out that he has away.

Also though, the fact that the reservation is made in your name, I think that you could say to him "If you are not going to abide by the rules, I am not leaving this reservation in my name and I am cancelling it. If you want to break the rules, you do the rental." He is also setting you and your husband up for trouble, along with endangering your daughter.

 

[Chynasmom]

I've got it! We can strap the umbrella stroller to the ECV until it's needed!!

Thanks for helping me hash this out - I'm sure we'll still have SOME issues over it (or something else, G-d knows), but that's an elegant solution to 2 problems.

Follow up question - how ECV-accessible are the resort restaurants? Specifically, can we park the scooter reasonably close to Boma, 'Ohana, and Chef Mickey's (& Grandad can walk well enough within the actual restaurant). And what about at the Castle - we have an early dinner with Cindy before MNSSHP.

 

[Michigan]

I've got it! We can strap the umbrella stroller to the ECV until it's needed!!

Thanks for helping me hash this out - I'm sure we'll still have SOME issues over it (or something else, G-d knows), but that's an elegant solution to 2 problems.

Follow up question - how ECV-accessible are the resort restaurants? Specifically, can we park the scooter reasonably close to Boma, 'Ohana, and Chef Mickey's (& Grandad can walk well enough within the actual restaurant). And what about at the Castle - we have an early dinner with Cindy before MNSSHP.

Sure you can strap it to the ECV.

There isn't any problem with parking the ECV at resort restaurants. I have 2 daughters in wheelchairs and my father uses an ECV and we haven't had any problems parking my dad's ECV close or even at the table.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You just have to say no. It's as simple as I am the parent, this is dangerous and it's not going to happen. Period.End of Discussion. If you were talking about letting her have a ice cream cone or buying her too many toys, that is one thing, but putting your child in danger is simply not a fair choice. We have had to put out foot down with my in-laws about driving with DS. It was hard, and DH did not want to do it but his choice was he do it or I do it and he knows he would be nicer than me. I will not compromise on safety. For sure take a stroller, that will help it be a lesser issue and tell your DD, it is not allowed, no matter what her grandfather says. Good luck!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Although you will see people carrying their kids on their ECVs from time to time, Disney is pretty strict about it. They *WILL* stop you and require the child be removed from the lap immediately. They have the right to escort you from the park for repeated violations. I doubt they were do that on the first or second warning but if it became an issue, they certainly could make the rest of your day sad for your dad.

bolding is mine...
I really beg to differ with you on this matter and that is the sad part.
Disney has gotten VERY LAX in their enforcement of allowing children to ride as passengers on ECVS including their own rentals. It was really bad on my trip this past July. We saw so much of this everywhere but it was the worst in Epcot and CMs weren't doing anything about it! I saw a REALLY DANGEROUS situation where there was a lady driving a WDW ECV in the pouring down rain with a sleeping BABY on her lap. Four members of managment walked past this lady and they looked at her and not ONE of them said a word. I was very close to this lady the whole time observing this situation. I was so afraid this baby was going to fall off of this lady's lap and get hurt! I finally approached another CM who was a member of management and asked them if the policy has changed about allowing children to ride on ECVs as passengers and he said 'no' but most of the CMs don't address it because they don't like the confrontation it causes. I also told him how 4 other 'members of management' chose to ignore it and I was really disappointed that they of all people would do that when Disney is normally all about safety first. He did go talk to the Lady. And supposedly, the policy is if it is a WDW rental, they can take your rental away with no refund. If it an outside rental, they can report it to that company. And if it belongs to an individual, there is no true 'written' policy they just suggest no passengers, but technically cannot do anything about personally owned ECVs. This was what I was told by management. They never mentioned anything about park ejection or removal for repeated offenses.

 

[mauisam]

I feel I must confess that I've violated this ECV No-Rider Policy myself. One morning my wife drove most of the family from BoardWalk to DHS. I took my MIL's rented scooter on the walking path. I drove my 5yo son. It was a nice quiet ride and we enjoyed the time. We were alone so I only endangered myself and him. I agree with the majority sentiment about non-riders and felt the need to tell the truth.

However, I never let anyone ride along with my MIL (or my own mother even). My MIL crashed into stuff all the time. She knocked a candy barrel at MNSSHP back 2 ft and almost knocked over the CM. I was also worried that the kid would grab the handle bars or worse, turn up the speed.

Be safe and have fun
mauisam

 

[Gumbymom]

about 6 ago at DL my DH rented a ECV, when our DD sat with him, he was told by a CM she had to get down. The next time we went, he had his own ECV and my DD with him and had no problem. It actually made things way easier for us having her on the chair.

I never saw it as a safety issue. I guess because she (and later my son when he rode with DH), always rode on the floor of the ECV, in between my DH's legs (or before my MIL passed away, between her legs), never on the lap.

 

[SueM in MN]

about 6 ago at DL my DH rented a ECV, when our DD sat with him, he was told by a CM she had to get down. The next time we went, he had his own ECV and my DD with him and had no problem. It actually made things way easier for us having her on the chair.

I never saw it as a safety issue. I guess because she (and later my son when he rode with DH), always rode on the floor of the ECV, in between my DH's legs (or before my MIL passed away, between her legs), never on the lap.

Even if not on the lap, I've seen several accidents or near accident with the kids standing just the way you describe your child did.
In one, the child was excited and pointed a something, knocking Grandma's hand, which made her veer off in another direction. They almost hit someone.
I've seen the same situation, where they steered into a curb, a wall at Epcot and narrowly avoided going off a curb with one wheel. And, not just those few examples, but similar things to those many times.

I have also seen kids fall off the ECV, sort of tipping over the driver's leg out onto their head.

So, it may seem reasonably safe, but anyone doing it is tempting fate.