Personal ECV, if I don't need it is there a safe place to park it?

[traceyg]

I am still recovering from Leukemia. I am doing well but my stamina isn't up to par yet and I had massive blood clots in my legs that cause further issues. I am also immunosuppressed.

I have my own personal ECV.

I would like to do as much walking as I can do for as long as my endurance keeps up. I know I'll probably hit a wall though, especially if it's hot. I really don't want to leave the scooter at the room if there is a place I could safely/securely park it within each park. We will be relying on Disney busses so I really don't want to have to take two busses round trip to pick it up if I can just leave it somewhere accessible. My goal is to walk Disney again! I know that once I have reached that milestone that I am done with being sick! I don't know that that is THIS trip though. However, I would like to do as much as I can on my own with the ECV close by for backup. (I hope this makes sense)

Any ideas? Will First Aid allow me to leave it there? Has anyone done this?

 

[mamabunny]

I am still recovering from Leukemia. I am doing well but my stamina isn't up to par yet and I had massive blood clots in my legs that cause further issues. I am also immunosuppressed.

I have my own personal ECV.

I would like to do as much walking as I can do for as long as my endurance keeps up. I know I'll probably hit a wall though, especially if it's hot. I really don't want to leave the scooter at the room if there is a place I could safely/securely park it within each park. We will be relying on Disney busses so I really don't want to have to take two busses round trip to pick it up if I can just leave it somewhere accessible. My goal is to walk Disney again! I know that once I have reached that milestone that I am done with being sick! I don't know that that is THIS trip though. However, I would like to do as much as I can on my own with the ECV close by for backup. (I hope this makes sense)

Any ideas? Will First Aid allow me to leave it there? Has anyone done this?

Just ride it into the Park - and then park it in a "central" location for the activities you plan to do while you are in that area. Ask any Cast Member where the best place is to park - and then be sure to take your key (if your ECV has one, mine doesn't so I just disconnect the battery LOL) Don't leave anything in/on the scooter that you don't mind losing to the squirrels! (not kidding - some of those fat little stinkers are BOLD!)

By driving it into the park, you have it *if* you need it - and if you don't (and I will certainly keep a happy thought for you! ) then you have a nice place to sit when you are waiting for the bus back to the Resort!

Aside from one or two exceptions that I am personally aware of, the vast majority of scooter users at WDW have left their ECVs parked inside the Theme Parks at some point with zero problems.

Congratulations on your recovery - I truly hope you continue on to the most complete recovery possible, and that your next trip is filled with Magic!

 

[arminnie]

It is probably safer to leave your personal ECV than a rental one. On more than one occasion someone has picked up the wrong rental ECV by mistake which has caused problems and loss of time for the person who is looking for it. It's unlikely that someone is going to mistakenly grab your personal ECV.

 

[traceyg]

Thank you!! I might do that. I’d hate for it to be in the way. When we’ve taken my son’s stroller it was easy for CM’s to move it as necessary. I’m sure if I ask they’ll have better ideas than whatever might look good to me.
Thanks for the ideas!

 

[traceyg]

It is probably safer to leave your personal ECV than a rental one. On more than one occasion someone has picked up the wrong rental ECV by mistake which has caused problems and loss of time for the person who is looking for it. It's unlikely that someone is going to mistakenly grab your personal ECV.

I think I’m more concerned with putting it in the wrong place and a CM having to contend with it. It’s fully insured and honestly if someone is desperate enough to steal an ECV I’d probably just hand them the key so they wouldn’t have to tear it up.

 

[mamabunny]

Thank you!! I might do that. I’d hate for it to be in the way. When we’ve taken my son’s stroller it was easy for CM’s to move it as necessary. I’m sure if I ask they’ll have better ideas than whatever might look good to me.
Thanks for the ideas!

It won't be in the way - I promise! Just work with the CMs in the area where you want to park. And remember that you can move it from area to area throughout your time in the Park; that way, if you tire out unexpectedly (I think we have all had one of those late-afternoon "sinking spells" as my Grandma used to call them!) then it's closer to where you are.

 

[traceyg]

It won't be in the way - I promise! Just work with the CMs in the area where you want to park. And remember that you can move it from area to area throughout your time in the Park; that way, if you tire out unexpectedly (I think we have all had one of those late-afternoon "sinking spells" as my Grandma used to call them!) then it's closer to where you are.

Thank you!

 

[Starwind]

I rent an ECV for my WDWW visits. What I do in the parks is ride the ECV to an area (e.g. tomorrowland) and if I am feeling up to it I park it in a safe place (e.g. at tommorrowland there is well-marked ECV parking at the base of the Peoplemover, which is under shelter whiich is nice if it starts raining). I then walk to and do the attractions in that area, then back to the ECV and ride it to the next area. At a restaurant I usually park it outside instead of trying to navigate it inside [which is both crowded with people and tables]. Many areas have marked areas for ECV/wheelchair parking, but if they don't there are usually other ECVs parked that I will park beside (as long as it makes sense to safely park there). If not, there is stroller parking. And there are usually CMs around the stroller parking area that you can ask where to park the ECV.

And, ALWAYS BRING THE KEY WITH YOU. While someone can disengage it and push it manually without the key if they know how to, they can't *drive* it without a key.

SW

 

[traceyg]

And, ALWAYS BRING THE KEY WITH YOU. While someone can disengage it and push it manually without the key if they know how to, they can't *drive* it without a key.
haha! Yes!

Is it wrong that I hope that I can do so much that I forgot where I parked it? Some days I feel like I am there and then other days I get so not so subtly reminded that I am still healing.

 

[mamabunny]

Is it wrong that I hope that I can do so much that I forgot where I parked it? Some days I feel like I am there and then other days I get so not so subtly reminded that I am still healing.

That will be my wish for you - that you can forget where you parked it!

Just remember that it's only a tool to use, really just in case you need it. It's no different than any other tool you use in your daily life (like a calculator to do math) - the exception is that you don't need it at home, only at Disney World, right?

And even if you *do* need, it doesn't mean you are a "failure" or that you aren't still healing. It just means that the condition at WDW - where the *average* Guest walks between 3 and 10 miles PER DAY - are still a bit outside of your range. That's all.

Have a wonderful trip - and don't worry!

 

[Tiki_Sara]

There is plenty of ECV parking in the parks. If it's parked in one of the designated places, no one would know how long it had been there or need you to move it at any point. You could leave it there all day and that would be just fine and I am sure you will be able to enjoy yourself a lot more knowing its close by if and when you need it. Take a photo on your phone of where you parked it with something distinguishing in the background for reference and that should make it easier to find.

Great news on your recovery and I hope you have a wonderful time

 

[lilfaeriebrat]

A recommendation I have to add with the parking is to bring a poncho for your ECV. Over the years I've had to bring my ECV with me on a trip or two because of injuries that wouldn't let me walk the parks for a whole day. When leaving your ECV parked if it's in an uncovered area cover it with a poncho in case of the random rain you won't have to rush to where you parked. Bring something to tie the poncho down with to keep the wind from blowing it off. I'll be doing the same thing next month because of a hip injury.

Have a great trip!

 

[DazzleT]

Regarding forgetting where you park it- i like to take a picture whenever I park/leave something with clearly identifiable markers. Also, tie a ribbon or something to it to make it more distinct. Depending on your phone you can also put in a pin in location in map (or get a gps location and come back to it- Girl Scouts did a geo tracking badge). I have those button things you put on keys and considered using that, but mine don’t have the distance (I went cheapest available so maybe another one has longer range).

 

[RaySharpton]

Regarding forgetting where you park it- i like to take a picture whenever I park/leave something with clearly identifiable markers.

Although I don't own a car, this sounds like a good idea when parking at WDW if you have to ride the WDW tram to get back to your car.

 

[LindaBushyager]

Some tips - mark your scooter in some way so it is clearly yours. Scooter keys can operate multiple scooters so you don’t want someone to take yours by mistake. I put a luggage tag on mine and other things, or tie a bright scarf to it. Also I put my key on a lanyard so I can slip it over my head when I take it. Always take your key. Try to park somewhere under cover- Orlando often has quick thunderstorms. I bought a scooter rain cover that covers me and the scooter in case of rain (or bring a tarp, plastic bag, etc.). You can park inside some entrances of restaurants for a short time (also a good place to recharge while you eat). I also have a rear basket for my personal scooter, very helpful to hold water, sunscreen, ponchos, and the scooter cover.

 

[JenLovesMM]

You`ve already gotten some great tips about bringing your key, identifying your scooter, rain cover, etc. I just wanted to say that I used an ECV for the 1st time in March. Just like you I hoped that I wouldn`t have to use it all the time (my issue is due to a physical disability). I was very anxious about the whole thing before going and I just wanted to reassure you that it`s actually easy, and also better to have it in the parks like you are suggesting. I used the Disney bus transportation and the bus drivers were always very helpful with helping me on and off the buses (tip: lower your speed to very low going on and off the buses, reduces chances of accidently speeding up, it just makes the process easier and safer for you). Just the amount of walking you will not have to do around resorts, to/from the bus to park entrance and then to the lands you wish to visit inside the parks will most likely make your trip much more enjoyable. There are many places to park your ECV, that should not be an issue. I am limited to how much I can walk in one day, by bringing the ECV into the park and then parking it in an area I wanted to visit and then just walk around that area changed our whole trip, not just for me but for my whole family. I wasn't in as much pain and I was able to do so much more! In hindsight I should have had an ECV on previous trips but in my mind I just thought it was worse than it really was. The one I found hard was how people would rush to pass me and then come to a complete stop in front of my ECV. I learned that in crowds it was easier to have my husband walk right in front and he would alert me if needed to stop. Wishing you a very good recovery and a magical trip!