New to needing an ECV - sorry for another question

[Twingle]

My father has just started using an ECV occassionally, mainly for long excursions, and will need one when we are in the parks. I understand from the sticky at the top of this thread that each of the parks has a limited number of ECV's to rent. Has anyone not been able to rent one once they've gotten to the parks? I'm trying to find out if we should take our chances and try to get one at the park, or if we should rent one from an offsite company.

Thank you for any help.

 

[Mrsjvb]

most of the regs here suggest offsite anyway..those are smaller and easier to maneuver in.

I just rent a wheelchair in the parks and since we always try to get there as the park opens I never seem to have an issue, but on more than one occasion the people in front of me rented multiple ECVs( one gentleman forked over the cash for FOUR!!! ) which took about a third of the inventory in sight. and this was before rope drop....No clue if they have hidden stashes.

 

[bzzymom]

My mom uses an ecv at WDW. She doesn't own one, but she does use the courtesy ones at stores. We have not been able to rent an ecv at MK at least 3 times but, those were days that we didn't go in when the park was opened. She has been able to rent them at all of the other parks, even going in later in the day.

The last time we were at WDW with my parents, on the day we were going to MK, I got an ADR for a character breakfast inside MK (crystal palace) about an hour before the park opened. That way, we were allowed inside the park before the crowd, there was no line for the stroller and ecv. We were done with the meal when the park was just opening up to the public, and we were able to get to tomarrowland before the big crowd. It worked out great.

 

[Twingle]

Thanks for the help! We're going to plan on renting them at the Parks, but worst case we can always rent one from an off-site vendor.

 

[Piper]

Are you staying on-site? If so, you may need something to help get to your room. It is a long way sometimes!

 

[SueM in MN]

If you are getting there before 10 am, you will probably get an ECV (can't promise because they are first come first serve, but chances are good). If you can't get an ECV, you will for almost sure be able to get a wheelchair. If that will work as an alternative, then you would be OK renting from the parks.

But, as was pointed out, you will also want to think about getting to and from the parks and getting around at your resort. With that in mind, it may make sense to rent one from an off-site company for your entire stay.

 

[aries_mama]

my MIL will need a scooter for MK, but she does not use one at home. will she have trouble renting one from an off-site company since she does not use one normally?

 

[SueM in MN]

my MIL will need a scooter for MK, but she does not use one at home. will she have trouble renting one from an off-site company since she does not use one normally?

Not a scooter.
Most of the companies will not rent a power wheelchair to someone without experience, but you will not a have a problem renting a scooter.

If she has not driven one at all before, I have 3 suggestions:
1) Many large stores, like grocery stores, Walmart, Target, have scooters that shoppers can use with no charge. Have her try one out at one of those places first. She should have little problem at WDW if she can drive one of them (they are huge and have a shopping cart attached on the front!).

2) Before going to a park, have her practice driving in a straight line forward and backward; turning to both directions while going forward and reverse; and sort of parallel parking.

3) If you can, Epcot is the best park to start with a park. It has wide pathways and is not usually very congested. MK and AK are the hardest. Both have fairly narrow, congested paths and are crowded with lots of strollers and small children.