My ECV got stuck on the Main Street trolley tracks

[WaDiWo]

Hi all!

Enjoying my ECV in the parks today, but just cautionary tale: while riding down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom today, the front wheel of my 3 wheeled GoGo Elite Scooter got stuck in the trolley tracks and I continued to ride down them as if I was a trolley! In my panic I kept going but couldn't get out of the way of anyone. I stopped right in front of a PhotoPass photographer, had to get up and physically lift the front end of the scooter out of the track.

Just be careful. I learned my lesson the rest of the day, you can only cross the tracks perpendicularly!

 

[WildabouttheMouse]

Thank you for the warning.

 

[QueenBeeMB]

This happened to me Im February. Totally embarrassing. But now I know Haha.

 

[peemagg]

Just another friendly FYI, don't take the scooter off the curb except at the curb cut. They don't go off of them very well. LOL

 

[POOHsie]

WaDiWo, we all know this is a rookie mistake for you. And most of us were rookies at one time. MK, being the oldest park, has some special considerations for ECVs. You found one. Also along Main Street, the sidewalks are not level with the street, and you must remember that. The curb cuts (ramps) have to be approached in a precise way, too. Don't ride them up or down perpendicularly because it could tip your scooter. Always approach a ramp straight-on. The ramp to the Monorail is steep at MK and TTC. I put one hand on the railing to assist in pulling myself and the scooter up the ramp (in addition to using scooter power). You don't have to do this, but it makes traversing the ramp quicker, and saves a big use of your limited battery power. Epcot monorail has an elevator you can take.

The HA ramp to the monorail car is a little challenging. You don't want to be conservative about powering up the ramp. But you don't want to gun it, either. The door on the other side of the monorail car could be open and you could shoot out. Have an arm ready to grab a vertical railing inside the car. I sometimes stick my foot out (manual brake).

I bet we have all experienced what you are learning. You will be OK. Good luck. Write again about how your WDW trip was on a scooter.

 

[stitch34]

oh, I hate those trolly tracks! no ecv here... but push a special needs stroller. gotta cross them diagonlly, but still we manage to get caught up every so often.
one time our second trip we saw a stroller wheel lodged in the track... so that made me think and nervous to be aware, would hate that to happen and then have a nonfunctioning stroller the rest of our trip!

can't understand WHY those tracks are there - I just think it's an accident waiting to happen, someone to twist their ankle in it, especially when dark during Wishes, or walking in a crowd and not noticing the tracks. I wonder how many people have been hurt?

 

[WaDiWo]

WaDiWo, we all know this is a rookie mistake for you. And most of us were rookies at one time. MK, being the oldest park, has some special considerations for ECVs. You found one. Also along Main Street, the sidewalks are not level with the street, and you must remember that. The curb cuts (ramps) have to be approached in a precise way, too. Don't ride them up or down perpendicularly because it could tip your scooter. Always approach a ramp straight-on. The ramp to the Monorail is steep at MK and TTC. I put one hand on the railing to assist in pulling myself and the scooter up the ramp (in addition to using scooter power). You don't have to do this, but it makes traversing the ramp quicker, and saves a big use of your limited battery power. Epcot monorail has an elevator you can take.

The HA ramp to the monorail car is a little challenging. You don't want to be conservative about powering up the ramp. But you don't want to gun it, either. The door on the other side of the monorail car could be open and you could shoot out. Have an arm ready to grab a vertical railing inside the car. I sometimes stick my foot out (manual brake).

I bet we have all experienced what you are learning. You will be OK. Good luck. Write again about how your WDW trip was on a scooter.

Thanks! i had a couple previous posts about how resistant and apprehensive i was about even getting a scooter...but to be honest it was a great decision to get an ECV.

Other than the Main Street mishaps today, it has been great! (and my injured hip says thank you as well).

to add to the misadventures however...today i was stuck on the wrong side of Main Street trying to make my Plaza ADR lunch -- during the Celebrate parade! With the ECV, well, I was stuck. and after the parade, well...dealing with the post parade crowds, trying to find the ramp to get off the sidewalk, than actually trying to cross through the crowd, again perpendicular to the tracks.

i could have had a meltdown, but i just had to laugh.

tomorrow's challenge: Animal Kingdom on a scooter, on an EMH morning!

 

[POOHsie]

Re: crossing Main St after a parade. For sure, you will disappear into a crowd of walking people. Using a scooter requires some "recon" (having a plan for effectively reaching your next stop).

Animal Kingdom is very scooter-friendly. You can take your scooter on the trails, even the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. Only thing I will say is, you have a lighter scooter with smaller tires. AK walkways are intended to be rough (realism factor). You will feel it through the scooter.