Opinions on canes, wheelchairs, ECVs

[mom3sonstt]

We will be going back to WDW in early-mid August. We typically go late Sept - early Oct, so I am preparing for higher temperatures and larger crowds. I have a bad hip (no hip socket on left side) so walk with a noticeable limp and wear out very quickly. I have also been on peritoneal dialysis for just over a year. With that I am walking around with an extra 2 liters of fluid in my abdomen all day. So along with the "bad-hip-limp" I have the "pregnant-belly-waddle" and since my kidneys don't work I retain water terribly and swell up and some of my many medications don't recommend being out in the sun. Basically I am looking to be miserable on this trip. To counter this I am looking for assistance. Last year I took a cane with me, it is collapsible so we kept it folded up in the backpack most of the time, and when I felt like my hip was totally going to give out I would use it for awhile. I don't use it enough to be comfortable with it, and found that leaning on it made my arm hurt - along with my hips, back, knees and feet. But it was good in a pinch.

This year I am considering wheels.

Now I'm looking at the pros and cons. I have thought of renting a scooter from off-site but have pretty much ruled that out. I don't like the idea of being committed to the scooter. If we rented one then I would Have to take it to the parks and if I was feeling ok and didn't want to use it it would still be there. I also don't like the idea of having to maneuver one on and off the buses. And while I have requested a first floor room location at our resort - I can handle a 2nd or 3rd floor if the building location were better - (we are at Old Key West) so I wouldn't want to be stuck with a 1st floor in a crummy location, if we could get a better location on a higher floor. And I don't want to deal with a scooter in our rooms - with 4 teen-age boys taking up space I don't need that there too.

So I will probably rent one as needed from the parks and hope they have them available when I need them.

Another thing I have looked at is a cane with a seat. It is like a full length cane, but you fold it out like a tripod and there is a little seat on it. I saw one at Dicks Sporting Goods in their Golf section I liked the idea of it - I thought it would be nice to be able to sit if needed while watching a parade, or fireworks, or even standing in line (like outside of Beauty and hte Beast when you just gather as a crowd - not a moving line) But the cons of that are again - it is always there. If i went to ride RockNRoller coaster I don't know how it would work lugging that along with me - My other cane fits nicely in my bag. I also don't know how often it would actually come in handy - usually there is a bench. But then again, we are going at a busier time so

Has anybody with limited stamina tried these various options and decided which is the best way to go? I really hate the idea of using an ECV as I really prefer going under my own steam, but am painfully aware that I have a limited amount of steam. I have read the little questionairre about using an ECV but still haven't convinced myself, especially after reading threads where people have had to use them after an accident, and they are appalled by the way people around them treat them. I am thinking that I would not do well under those circumstances. I am really back and forth on this one.

Suggestions? Comments? stories???

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would still recommend the off-site rental. They are still a lot less expensive that Disney, and you have the availability in your resort. Also you can rent one with a cane holder on it, so you can bring the cane along.

There is nothing to prevent you from parking the ECV (in a stroller parking area) and walking for a while. Just be sure to take the key with you.

Basically a person has a certain amount of energy available to them daily. If they relax during the day the amount of energy available will increase; when they sleep at night they recharge their system,

However, when in pain energy is used up much faster than in normal conditions. If you become exhausted, with by what you have done or, more importantly, what you have done while in pain your system will not recharge to the original energy level overnight and you are starting the next day with a lower amount of energy available.

And as far as other people are concerned, see question #5 below.

Please ask the following questions. Here are the suggested answers to go with them.

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes.

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes.

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No!

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes!

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!!

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES!

 

[mom3sonstt]

1. Are you disabled (even temporarily)? Yes. Yes

2. Do the people you are traveling with, such as your family, know you are disabled? Yes. Yes

3. Do you expect to meet anyone you know during this trip who may not know you are disabled. Probably No! no

4. Do you expect to meet a bunch of people who you will probably never meet again in your life? Probably yes! yes

5. Is there any reason at all that you should care what these people think about you? Absolutely No!! no

6. Will using a wheelchair or ECV make for a better vacation for you and your family? Absolutely YES! I don't know

Ok - we all know why an ECV would make it better - but here is why I think it wouldn't - or might not. This is assuming we get one off-site.
It is one more thing piled in our room - we already have 2 of the boys sleeping in the living room - so "alone" space will be limited and that will be in the way because I certainly wouldn't be using it there.

If I have it I will feel obligated to use it - so we head to the bus stop and there is a crowd of people waiting to go to the same park we are going to. Since I have a scooter we load first - angry people glare at us - especially when I don't know how to maneuver the scooter on the bus since I don't use one of these regularly. Every time we go somewhere we have to wait for me to be loaded and unloaded. I have a houseful of impatient people. Now I know - see #5 above - don't worry about angry people glaring. And theoretically I wouldn't - except for the deep-down feeling that I don't "need" the scooter anyway.

Now at the parks - I wouldn't want to be in the scooter while on rides or even while shopping, so I would be stopping and getting off of it (garnering more - "why is she in that in the first place" stares / comments) and in some cases this would require backtracking. We shop our way down Main St - which would mean I would have to maneuver through crowded stores and not be able to wander and browse or I would have to park, get off, shop, leave store, get on, move up the street, park, get off, go in next store - repeat until end of street. And driving down the street wouldn't be easy anyway with the anticipated crowds, inexperience behind the wheel, and family members who dodge through openings in a crowd not thinking that about the scooter not fitting through the same opening.

I can see using an ECV at Epcot because of how far it seems between attractions. I anticipate it being a hassle in the World Showcase for the same reason it would be a hassle in Main St. We tour in a forward motion so if I got off to shop and browse on foot I would have to keep going back after the parked ECV.

I can see it being beneficial during long periods of standing. That is actually what wears me out more than walking. As long as I keep moving I am ok - when I have to stop and stand around I start to hurt. So I can see it being helpful for fireworks, parades, waiting for a show (Beauty & Beast - Lion King....) where you get in line early just to stand there. But after using it in line - I wouldn't really want to use it at the show - at Lion King it looks like wheelchair seating is down front - I prefer to be up higher in the bleachers. This is also where I feel the cane/chair would be beneficial. Not in the show - but in line.


I am thinking that I am probably going to try to go under my own steam with back-up of a cane for the most part - then maybe add a park rental ECV if things become tougher than I can handle. We are there for 10 days, so I guess if things go bad enough early in the trip I could always call an offsite place then and see about getting one.

The benefit of this trip is that we have 4 teenage boys going and after the first few days anticipate them going off on their own, so I won't be slowing them down. At that point we have friends flying down to "join us" (they are staying at a different resort - but we plan to visit the parks together) and she also has stamina issues. So we will be at a slower pace than if it were strictly a family vacation That is another issue with the ECV. I don't know how we plan to meet with them. We are at Old Key West and they are at Saratoga - we are only a boatride away from each other. I don't know if we will meet at one resort or the other then head for the parks or if we will meet at the parks. If we meet first that would require more loading and unloading. It would also limit our spontaneity - or at least require me to bring the ECV places I don't intend to. For example. One day we plan to go to Trails End for a late lunch. If I have an outside rental scooter then if we went from the park to Ft Wilderness I would have to take that with me. And I would have no need of it over there. Or we would have to take scooter back to the room and then make connections to Ft W (wasting a lot of time) or leave it behind that morning defeating the purpose of having it. That is a planned lunch - but if we were at the parks and decided to go to Downtown Disney I would have to take it back because I know I wouldn't want it down there.

I guess if I totally blow it for this trip I will know what to do differently on the next one. Of course, hopefully by then some of my issues will be taken care of (kidney transplant would be nice! )

 

[KPeveler]

i brought my personal manual chair to disney this last time, with the intention of walking for a good portion of it... and ended up being so tired that i didnt walk hardly at all! my opinion is that there is a difference between making it through disney and enjoying disney. perhaps you could share the ECV with your friend when you meet her there, if she has stamina problems too...

about shows - there is no problem with saying you want to transfer to a normal seat, and a CM will show you where to park the ECV. lots of people do this!

the ECV is not always convenient, but i think it would be more useful to you than you might anticipate... i use a manual chair, so i havent used a scooter myself... but i would talk to some of hte other people here about their experiences...

 

[mom3sonstt]

perhaps you could share the ECV with your friend when you meet her there, if she has stamina problems too...
.

She has arthritis in all her joints - and some toe-issue. I'm not sure what the thing is with her toe other than she had talked of having surgery on it - would need to have a steel rod inserted in it - and sticking out of it for awhile. She has chosen to put that off for awhile, though. Her arthritis she think came on after being severely ill a few years back. She had never had problems before, then was really super sick and when she eventually got better she was daignosed with arthritis. She said she had read somewhere about arthritis being linked to your immune system and when hers was out of whack for so long she thinks something triggered it. Plus she has some food allergies that manifest themselves by irritating the arthritis. She's allergic to green peppers, and we had ordered some fried nacho cheese bites somewhere one time and she had a half a bite of one (was told there were no peppers in it) and the next day she was a mess - had to take extra anti-inflammatory drugs - it was a shopping week-end to Chicago so she was so mad at herself for taking that bite!

What all that has to do with sharing and ECV? Probably nothing. I doubt she would share though - she would think I need it worse and wouldn't want to "displace" me.

I do need to think on your comment of there being a difference between "getting through" Disney and "enjoying" Disney. I have already decided it will be hot, crowded, and I will be miserable - but we wanted to go when all the boys could go and the oldest is in college taking summer classes so there was only a couple weeks between his summer class ending, and his brothers' high school years starting so we bit the bullet and decided to go in August. So I had decided early on that this was "their" trip - not mine. And I knew I would be hot and miserable and decided that I would rather be hot and miserable in Disney than hot and miserable at home. So I am not going with very high expectations.

 

[Piper]

Put those expections right back up there and go to enjoy yourself. I am telling you that you get what you expect! Make your plans to do things early in the morning and later in the afternoon. Take it easy in the middle of the day (either going back to your hotel or taking in the airconditioned shows or visiting the monorail hotels for a cooler break.)

Get the ECV--I fought the first few things my doctor offered me ---I "wasn't ready" for the parking permit, the wc or the ecv. After I "gave in" and got each one, I realized that I should have done each thing when the doctor said it was needed! But then I held off on the next thing--no more! All I did was make things worse for me. Instead of a sign of weakness, using the tools I need is a smart and strong thing to do! I can do more, enjoy more, and others around me enjoy more because I am not holding them back and I am feeling better. Refusing to do what I needed to do to make life easier wasn't beings tough, it was being stubborn (and not in a good way!)

Use the tools you need and expect to have a great time--you deserve it.

 

[SueM in MN]

Ok - we all know why an ECV would make it better - but here is why I think it wouldn't - or might not. This is assuming we get one off-site.
It is one more thing piled in our room - we already have 2 of the boys sleeping in the living room - so "alone" space will be limited and that will be in the way because I certainly wouldn't be using it there.

Have you ever stayed at OKW?
I can see you have at least a one bedroom or you would not have a living room.
I'm assuming you may have a 2 bedroom.
Either a 1 bedroom or a 2 bedroom will have lots of space.
The one bedroom is 942 square feet and the 2 bedroom is 1395 square feet.
Here's a link to the Disney OKW webpage. You will find a link for a 360 degree tour of the rooms and also a link to the floor plan.

If I have it I will feel obligated to use it - so we head to the bus stop and there is a crowd of people waiting to go to the same park we are going to. Since I have a scooter we load first - angry people glare at us - especially when I don't know how to maneuver the scooter on the bus since I don't use one of these regularly. Every time we go somewhere we have to wait for me to be loaded and unloaded. I have a houseful of impatient people. Now I know - see #5 above - don't worry about angry people glaring. And theoretically I wouldn't - except for the deep-down feeling that I don't "need" the scooter anyway.

If you have limited stamina, you do need it, even if you don't feel you are ready for one.
We have been DVC members at OKW since 1993 and on most of our trips from the resort to a park, getting on the bus has not been a problem. The bus stops there are not as crowded. One of the reasons is that there are multiple bus stops in the resort.
For going back to the resort from the parks, try not to leave right at park closing or after a parade that everyone else is trying to leave after. By hanging back a bit, you let the majority of the crowd go ahead of you and most of the time, when you get to the stop, there will be few people waiting.
One of the other things we usually do is go to the general bus area, but don't actually go to the stop until we see the crowd has thinned out enough that we would get on whether we were standing in the line or not. That way, by loading first, we are not 'getting' anything we would not have gotten if we had been in line.

It can be intimidating to get on the bus, but practicing and getting confident at driving straight forward and straight back, turning in both directions while going forward and back will help a lot.

Now at the parks - I wouldn't want to be in the scooter while on rides or even while shopping, so I would be stopping and getting off of it (garnering more - "why is she in that in the first place" stares / comments) and in some cases this would require backtracking. We shop our way down Main St - which would mean I would have to maneuver through crowded stores and not be able to wander and browse or I would have to park, get off, shop, leave store, get on, move up the street, park, get off, go in next store - repeat until end of street. And driving down the street wouldn't be easy anyway with the anticipated crowds, inexperience behind the wheel, and family members who dodge through openings in a crowd not thinking that about the scooter not fitting through the same opening.

You would have to do some planning to do shopping.
For rides, you could park in the stroller parking (or where ever the CMs tell you to park). If people stare at you, you are in same line waiting with them, so it's obvious that the scooter was not being used for any "advantage in lines" (the only "advantage" to using the scooter in lines in most cases is having a place to sit while you wait).

I can see using an ECV at Epcot because of how far it seems between attractions. I anticipate it being a hassle in the World Showcase for the same reason it would be a hassle in Main St. We tour in a forward motion so if I got off to shop and browse on foot I would have to keep going back after the parked ECV.

My FIL always used an ECV at Epcot the last 5 years of his life, mostly because of the distance.
Because of the way the countries are situated, you could drive the scooter to the sort of main street in each country and park it. Then go into the country on one side, moving back around back to the 'main street' to pick up your ECV and move it back to the next country. I don't think there would be that much backtracking.

I can see it being beneficial during long periods of standing. That is actually what wears me out more than walking. As long as I keep moving I am ok - when I have to stop and stand around I start to hurt. So I can see it being helpful for fireworks, parades, waiting for a show (Beauty & Beast - Lion King....) where you get in line early just to stand there. But after using it in line - I wouldn't really want to use it at the show - at Lion King it looks like wheelchair seating is down front - I prefer to be up higher in the bleachers. This is also where I feel the cane/chair would be beneficial. Not in the show - but in line.

For some of the shows, you can park it and sit in a seat. I don't know about at Lion King, but you are correct that the wheelchair/ECV seating is in the front there (to avoid the steps going up to the stadium seating).

I am thinking that I am probably going to try to go under my own steam with back-up of a cane for the most part - then maybe add a park rental ECV if things become tougher than I can handle. We are there for 10 days, so I guess if things go bad enough early in the trip I could always call an offsite place then and see about getting one.

I think it's a good idea to take some of the off-site place numbers just in case if you decide not to rent (I would take more than one in case they have none available). If you are arriving at a park before 10 am, you have a good chance of getting one.

 

[Poppinsme]

Hello.
Last year I brought my cane and it was wonderful.
(I am a Respiratory Therapist with a bad knee due to a car accident.)
After reading your postings I feel you should get a ECV just for medical reasons. And definitely for comfort.
Please get some "Wheels". You wont regret it.

I like the cane with seat and might try that this year.

 

[kayleighnik]

Last trip (three weeks) I took my crutches (open cuff and red) with me, but also got a wheelchair from the parks which mainly my brother pushed for me. Plus, my crutches are adjustable to a quite a short length so they fit down the side of the wheelchair seat and could easily be lengthened

 

[mom3sonstt]

Have you ever stayed at OKW?

This will be about our 8th stay at OKW - we joined in 96. I know there is a lot of space - but I will have 4 teen-age boys with me - and the more space there is the more they take up! I know last year with only 2 boys and no scooter the front hall way was always full of shoes. They were lined up along the wall - but still in the way - this year with 2 more of them - plus 2 of them living in the living room....well, let's just say I will probably be hiding in my room a lot!

We have had good and bad luck with the bus stops at OKW. It depends on what kind of games they are playing with the busing. We went one year and they had signs all over saying they were trying something new - if you wanted to go to MK you would go to one bus stop, Epcot a different bus stop and so on, then they would have an Internal bus going through the resort continuously. We went to the nearest bus stop - which happened to be the one for the park we wanted to go to and waited and waited and waited. There was a Transportation cast member there monitoring it. They finally had to call to get a bus to come get us because one never did - and it was early entry at that park that day. By the time we got back that afternoon they had totally scrapped that idea and had new signs up all over saying that things were back to normal We do request being near the Hospitality House though, and have usually gotten that request, so we would be the last stop on which is when the bus is already somewhat full.


I've still got another month and a half to think about it. Maybe as the heat kicks in here I'll be more convinced to do something about it down there. I will definitely take the offsite rental place numbers with me as a back-up even if I decide not to do it ahead of time.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Put those expections right back up there and go to enjoy yourself.

Oh I totally intend to enjoy myself - no doubt about that. But we were there last year last September and it is funny looking at our pictures. At the beginning of the day I am my normal pale self, my hair is combed and hanging around my shoulders, and I am smiling and happy, and I have my hat on. As the day goes on my face becomes redder from being hot - not sun burned, my hair starts disappearing under the hat and my expression is more along the lines of "hurry up and take the picture before I die of heat exhaustion!" and overall I have swollen up like a toad. So with us going a month and a half earlier in the summer I am just being realistic that August in Florida is not going to be filled with warm days and cool evenings......it's gonna be hot! For me - no matter where I am - hot equals miserable. Now miserable at Disney and miserable at home in Illinois are two totally different things. I am all up for miserable at Disney.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This will be about our 8th stay at OKW - we joined in 96. I know there is a lot of space - but I will have 4 teen-age boys with me - and the more space there is the more they take up! I know last year with only 2 boys and no scooter the front hall way was always full of shoes. They were lined up along the wall - but still in the way - this year with 2 more of them - plus 2 of them living in the living room....well, let's just say I will probably be hiding in my room a lot!

Well, THIS year the ECV gets first "choice" of where to be stored, and the shoes (and their owners) will just have to work around that!

With four teenage boys, if you don't want to commit to an ECV at first, consider a wheelchair. THEY will probably quickly convince you to get an ECV.

 

[motherhen17404]

OP- I understand how you feel. I was dx with Fibromyalgia in October last year. We had our trip to WDW planned for late Nov. I was in a lot of pain and I knew I was not up to doing all the walking that was required. I fought the idea of a wc or a ECV. I even told my DH to take our DS and go without me. I did not want to slow them down, and I did not want to just sit while everyone else was having fun. My Dr. is the one who really talked me into getting the ECV. She reminded me just because I had the ECV did not mean I had to use it all the time. She told me to use it to "save me steps" so I would not have a flair, and have more energy. So I decided to rent a EVC offsite. I felt funny, because I can walk, just not long distances. So I would park the ECV in the stroller area and walk to several rides, then go get it. Yes I got funny looks, but they could not feel the pain in my knees, hips, and back. I was paying for it, and it is no one's business why I am using it. I have to say that I am so glad I used it. For once in my life my DH and DS had to run to keep up with me! My DH is 6'5 with very long walking stride, and instead of holding him back waiting for me the scooter allowed me to keep at their pace.

I did worry about the Monorail, taking up too much time to load and unload, but they have that down to a art. They see you coming up the ramp and they have the ramp pulled out so you just ride onto the car. We did not use the buses, but if I was you, I would not worry about people getting upset. This is your vacation also, so don't let anything ruin it. I hope you decide to get a scooter. Before our trip, I was dreading using the scooter, I thought it was going to be a pain. But it turned out to keep me from pain. Good luck

 

[mom3sonstt]

I just sent a couple email and online requests for pricing the rental from a couple offsite places. I am curious about Randy's how they handle delivery? We arrive to MCO around 5:18 and then however long ME takes to get us to OKW. Do they deliver at night? If not I would have to pass on them because we will be off for Early Entry the following morning with no set time scheduled to be back at the resort. Likewise on the day we leave - it is a Saturday morning. Our flight is 11:30 so I imagine ME will want to pick us up pretty early in the morning. The day before we will be trying to squeeze every last magical drop out of the day so again no scheduled time to be in the rooms.

I may have to go to WalMart this weekend and take there loaners for a test drive. See how hard they are to maneuver, and how out-of-the-loop I feel being down so low from the rest of the group.

I'm trying to keep an open mind - but I just think I will hate being in one.

 

[Momelie]

If I may....

That cane/chair? Make sure you buy that WAY ahead of time and get used to it. For me, it just didn't feel "natural" to carry to lean on, and I wound up toting it around rather than using it - and I'm only 5'2", and it was pretty close to the ground for me to get back up to my feet. I attemped it in Europe last summer, and wound up leaving it in a B/B in Switzerland.

For an ECV - I really can't put into words how highly I recommend this! I recently "graduated" from renting one at the parks to owning my own, and if you can rent from an off-site vendor, try to get one of the smaller ones. Those are SO MUCH easier to maneuver and stop! I like the 3 wheelers because of their tighter turn radius. Once you try one, you won't believe how much easier it will make your trip - imagine not being too tired at the end of the day, and having no pain when you get back to the hotel.

For the buses - are you doing Disney transportation? I find it easier to use my own, but I'm local. Trust me, the smaller ECVs are nothing to get on and off the bus or monorail, only problem I've ever had was trying to back into an elevator when there was already a large ECV in there (my own fault).

Try to find a picture of the Pride Go-Go or the Golden Buzzaround Lite to see what I'm talking about, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

If you decide on that, let me know and I can give you tips for shopping your way down Main Street (it CAN be done!) and Mouse Gear.

 

[mom3sonstt]

If I may....

That cane/chair? Make sure you buy that WAY ahead of time and get used to it. For me, it just didn't feel "natural" to carry to lean on, and I wound up toting it around rather than using it - and I'm only 5'2", and it was pretty close to the ground for me to get back up to my feet. I attemped it in Europe last summer, and wound up leaving it in a B/B in Switzerland.

I think I have talked myself out of the cane/chair thing. I already have a cane and don't use it much and can put it away. While I like the idea of having a chair handy I don't see myself actually using it and would most likely just be carrying it around. I would much rather a seat magically appear when I need one



(don't know how to add another quote)

<<<For an ECV - I really can't put into words how highly I recommend this! I recently "graduated" from renting one at the parks to owning my own, and if you can rent from an off-site vendor, try to get one of the smaller ones. Those are SO MUCH easier to maneuver and stop! I like the 3 wheelers because of their tighter turn radius. Once you try one, you won't believe how much easier it will make your trip - imagine not being too tired at the end of the day, and having no pain when you get back to the hotel.>>>

I have contacted a few places mentioned on the FAQ thread. I assume they are the smaller ones. The pictures all showed the 3-wheeled ones anyway


<<<<For the buses - are you doing Disney transportation? I find it easier to use my own, but I'm local. Trust me, the smaller ECVs are nothing to get on and off the bus or monorail, only problem I've ever had was trying to back into an elevator when there was already a large ECV in there (my own fault).>>>

Yes we will be dependent on Disney transportation. I probably won't have to worry about elevators. My thoughts are that the scooter would get me from point A to Point B but once there I would go on foot. Like at Epcot - I would ride the scooter to The Land, but park it and go on foot inside for lunch and Soarin. My big fear is getting it on and off the buses. I have watched a lot of people struggle with that in the past and to be honest - if it weren't for the bus situation it would be lot easier to decide to rent one.


<<<<If you decide on that, let me know and I can give you tips for shopping your way down Main Street (it CAN be done!) and Mouse Gear.>>>>


Ooo Tips???? I'm all for tips!!!