BlessedMomOfTwo
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 15, 2003
I wanted to share my experience since several of you were so kind to help me out as I was planning our trip...
As a little background, a little over a month prior to our trip I fell down our staircase and tore one of the ligaments in my knee. We didn't want to cancel our trip, so we decided to rent an ECV for me.
We used Walker Mobility and were pleased. The ECV arrived just as we did, so it was available for me right away. It worked great all week - no problems. I only had to recharge it at night.
I was very nervous about driving it, so I took some time to practice around the resort (CSR). It actually turned pretty well, etc.. I usually let dh back it onto the buses for me, though.
It worked out fine with the buses. A couple of times the lift didn't work on the bus, so we had to wait for the next one. It was a little disappointing for the kids, but the driver usually called for another to come for us. Most all of the bus drivers were very patient and nice. We only experienced a few riders who were frustrated with waiting for us to load the ECV.
Where I could do it, I tried to park in an area and walk from attraction to attraction. I quickly found that my leg swelled badly and I couldn't get the swelling down the whole way at night, etc, so I really needed to use it most of the time.
I was surprised and somewhat dismayed by some of my experiences with other guests at the parks. First, I read here that people will walk right in front of you and boy, did I find that to be true. I was sooo worried about hitting someone by mistake. I had a blister chewed on the inside of my lip from biting it is which something I do when nervous. People would push their children right out in front of me, etc.. Thankfully I didn't hit anyone. I tried to have dh walk in front of me and I followed closely behind him so if I hit anyone it would be him. Still people stepped between us and we often got separated.
The other thing I noticed is that either people assumed that because I was on the ECV, I was hard of hearing or they deliberately were trying to be rude. Some people made some really rude comments. I tried not to let it hurt my feelings, but it honestly did. One lady walking beside me told me that she would never use one of the ECVs because she would be so embarrassed - wasn't I embarrassed to be using it? Leaving Fantasmic, I was driving right behind dh who was pushing our stroller - going with the flow of the traffic. A woman wanted to cross the flow to get to her dh who was on the other side of the street. She pushed her stroller right in front of me and I almost hit it with her little one in it. Her dh told her to watch what she was doing and her reply was, "well she should could stop, you know - those things do have brakes". I guess I didn't understand why it was my responsibility to stop for her rather than try to stay with my family, especially since we were going with the traffic flow. Did my using the ECV make me more responsible to do so? Maybe there are unwritten rules I am not aware of? Those are a few examples.
The worst was when we were leaving the Festival of the Lion King show. We had just seen it for the first time (it was awesome!!!) and dd and ds were picked to be in the show. So, I was really feeling the magic. As with any show, the lines are more congested leaving. I was going the speed those in front of me were going. A lady behind me said very loudly, "well if she didn't let herself get so fat, we wouldn't have to wait for her" as she stormed around in front of me and pushed off into the crowd. I was stunned - still am honestly. Once again I was separated from dh & the kids and I was in tears when I got caught up with them. Then I was upset at myself that I let a stranger upset me and steal that magic away. I actually thought about trying to catch her to let her know about my injury vs her assumption, but then I realized that it wasn't worth it. I am a larger sized person, true, and younger than many using an ECV, but when I am not injured I can walk the parks all day, etc.. I guess it was eye-opening to me that someone would even make such assumptions let alone verbalize them.
Here is how I let that negativity go as best I could. I concentrated on my little ones - how much fun they were having - their smiles and delight. And I knew I couldn't have made that trip without the ECV. And I knew that their enjoyment was way more important than what anyone else might think.
So, while I hope not to have to use an ECV anytime soon, I would recommend that those that need one use it if it will make your trip better for you & your family.
One last thing... I really wanted to compliment the CMS at the Monorail. They were so kind and accomodating when we used the Monorail. Top notch!
Carol
As a little background, a little over a month prior to our trip I fell down our staircase and tore one of the ligaments in my knee. We didn't want to cancel our trip, so we decided to rent an ECV for me.
We used Walker Mobility and were pleased. The ECV arrived just as we did, so it was available for me right away. It worked great all week - no problems. I only had to recharge it at night.
I was very nervous about driving it, so I took some time to practice around the resort (CSR). It actually turned pretty well, etc.. I usually let dh back it onto the buses for me, though.
It worked out fine with the buses. A couple of times the lift didn't work on the bus, so we had to wait for the next one. It was a little disappointing for the kids, but the driver usually called for another to come for us. Most all of the bus drivers were very patient and nice. We only experienced a few riders who were frustrated with waiting for us to load the ECV.
Where I could do it, I tried to park in an area and walk from attraction to attraction. I quickly found that my leg swelled badly and I couldn't get the swelling down the whole way at night, etc, so I really needed to use it most of the time.
I was surprised and somewhat dismayed by some of my experiences with other guests at the parks. First, I read here that people will walk right in front of you and boy, did I find that to be true. I was sooo worried about hitting someone by mistake. I had a blister chewed on the inside of my lip from biting it is which something I do when nervous. People would push their children right out in front of me, etc.. Thankfully I didn't hit anyone. I tried to have dh walk in front of me and I followed closely behind him so if I hit anyone it would be him. Still people stepped between us and we often got separated.
The other thing I noticed is that either people assumed that because I was on the ECV, I was hard of hearing or they deliberately were trying to be rude. Some people made some really rude comments. I tried not to let it hurt my feelings, but it honestly did. One lady walking beside me told me that she would never use one of the ECVs because she would be so embarrassed - wasn't I embarrassed to be using it? Leaving Fantasmic, I was driving right behind dh who was pushing our stroller - going with the flow of the traffic. A woman wanted to cross the flow to get to her dh who was on the other side of the street. She pushed her stroller right in front of me and I almost hit it with her little one in it. Her dh told her to watch what she was doing and her reply was, "well she should could stop, you know - those things do have brakes". I guess I didn't understand why it was my responsibility to stop for her rather than try to stay with my family, especially since we were going with the traffic flow. Did my using the ECV make me more responsible to do so? Maybe there are unwritten rules I am not aware of? Those are a few examples.
The worst was when we were leaving the Festival of the Lion King show. We had just seen it for the first time (it was awesome!!!) and dd and ds were picked to be in the show. So, I was really feeling the magic. As with any show, the lines are more congested leaving. I was going the speed those in front of me were going. A lady behind me said very loudly, "well if she didn't let herself get so fat, we wouldn't have to wait for her" as she stormed around in front of me and pushed off into the crowd. I was stunned - still am honestly. Once again I was separated from dh & the kids and I was in tears when I got caught up with them. Then I was upset at myself that I let a stranger upset me and steal that magic away. I actually thought about trying to catch her to let her know about my injury vs her assumption, but then I realized that it wasn't worth it. I am a larger sized person, true, and younger than many using an ECV, but when I am not injured I can walk the parks all day, etc.. I guess it was eye-opening to me that someone would even make such assumptions let alone verbalize them.
Here is how I let that negativity go as best I could. I concentrated on my little ones - how much fun they were having - their smiles and delight. And I knew I couldn't have made that trip without the ECV. And I knew that their enjoyment was way more important than what anyone else might think.
So, while I hope not to have to use an ECV anytime soon, I would recommend that those that need one use it if it will make your trip better for you & your family.
One last thing... I really wanted to compliment the CMS at the Monorail. They were so kind and accomodating when we used the Monorail. Top notch!
Carol
and they were exhausted! shhh don't tell anyone but i HAVE been known to hitch a ride at the end of the day! 
