Need touring advice for mom with ECV

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hey all,

I have been planning this trip for nearly a year and now my usually-can-run-circles-around-me mother is getting over an illness and her doctor recommends that she rent an ECV while at Disney. Now I feel like I have to replan everything and we leave in 6 days!!!!

I am in search of tips and advice about touring with her- best place to see the parades and fireworks, how is parking, etc, etc. Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks!!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The fifth item down is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs.

 

[evedein]

I took my mom to WDW for the first time last month for her 74th birthday. She can walk short disitances with a cane but would never have managed in the parks. So I rented an ECV from an outside company for the week. That way, she had it in the evenings to go to dinner, etc. I rented fron Randy's Mobility. Unlike some of the other companies. they delivered it right to our room & showed us how it worked. Very important, since my mom had never used one. Other companies will leave it to be picked up at check-in. After it was delivered, I had her drive it around the resort for about 2 hours, practicing backing up & paralell (sp) parking.
Since Mom was new to the ECV, she was very afraid of hitting someone with it in the busy park. So I made up bright colored signs & taped them to the front & back of the scooter. They read:
WARNING: ROOKIE DRIVER. HOW DO I STOP THIS THING?
The signs got a lot of laughs, but people stayed out of her way.And there were no rude comments while we were getting loaded onto the busses.
I can't say enough good things about the CMs, esp. the bus drivers. All of the busses are ECV accessable, either by lift or by ramp. They were very patient & offered advice on how to load & park it. Since she was afraid to back it onto the ramp, I drove it on & off the bus for her.
One thing I discovered was that bell service can call for a van cab with a wheelchair ramp. It cost the same as a regualr cab & made traveling from one resort to another for dinner after the park closed much simpler.
Almost all of the attractions are hanicapped accessable. Ask for the Accessability Brochures for each park when you check in. They give lots of information on how to access each attraction & also where to find companion bathrooms, first aid etc.
The reataurants were all very accomadating, allowing her to ride to her table, then have the ECV parked out of the way(she had no trouble transfering to a regular chair.)
If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.
Eve

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Thanks. I did check out that page and it was helpful.

I was also thinking of Randy's- glad to hear something good about them. I may make a sign, too!

I feel so bad for my mom. She has been so looking forward to this trip, but I guess we'll manage.

 

[shovan]

Since Mom was new to the ECV, she was very afraid of hitting someone with it in the busy park. So I made up bright colored signs & taped them to the front & back of the scooter. They read:
WARNING: ROOKIE DRIVER. HOW DO I STOP THIS THING?
The signs got a lot of laughs, but people stayed out of her way.And there were no rude comments while we were getting loaded onto the busses.
Eve

What a good idea! I'll bet people were careful to stay out of her way!!

To Lovemylap-band, Don't stress!!! WDW is the most accessible place in the world for people with disabilities! While it may take a little getting used to, if you read the brochures & ask the CM's, you will still have a great time! Good Luck & have Fun!

 

[SueM in MN]

we rented from Randy's on our last trip. They delivered an ECV that looked almost brand new, answered all our questions and made sure that we knew what we were doing. (We had rented it for my FIL).

My advice would be to have her drive it around at the resort for a while to get comfortable before venturing out into the parks. Have her try backing, turning in both directions and parallel parking. If she gets fairly comfortable doing those things at the resort, she will be more comfortable once she is out with it.