Poly room request? Possible ECV? DH has torn calf :(

[weHEARTmickey]

DH tore his calf (grade 3!) 6 weeks ago. We thought he'd be fine by now, but he JUST stopped using crutches about a week ago. He's still limping quite badly. I'm trying to talk him into an ECV & he doesn't even want to think about it. (He's a wee-bit stubborn, can you tell?) We arrive Thursday, 11/18.

Anyway, should we request a specific room/longhouse at the Poly? (We only paid for garden view & don't want to upgrade.) If so, where? What do we do with the ECV at night (if we get one)? I read where some rides basically give you "fastpass" access with the ECV. Is that true? Thanks for any help.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Starting with your (approximately) last question first: no, having an ECV or wheelchair doesn't give the Guest a virtual FastPass. See the FAQ here for more information. Sometimes, sure, the Guest and up to five members of their party board an attraction faster than they would in the mainstream line due to line design. Most of the time, these Guests and their parties wait in the regular line with everyone else. Sometimes you wait much longer than Guests on foot.

With the ECV, you can stay anywhere. It will fit anywhere. It fits in the smallest Value resort room, it will most assuredly fit in a Deluxe resort room. Bring an extension cord in case there's no convenient outlet for recharging. Don't leave it anywhere but in your room overnight, as you're responsible for it.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Thank you! I will bring an extension cord, just in case he decides to go w/ an ecv. I did look through the FAQ & got lost b/c I have ADD. I will go up there again (& do a search in that particular thread!) Thanks again

Any Poly advice?

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

I've stayed at the Poly it a very good resort for HC access we stayed at Tahiti both times with DW in a manual wheelchair. Its a little far from the GCH but being so close to the TTC it more than made up for it. The doors had an automatic door opener so we didn't have to hold the doors open to the room to get in and out, being able to get over to the TTC to get to EPCOT or MK was great. The rooms are large and the atmosphere can't be beat.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs is the one for mobility/stamina and has the information you will need.

The lines for almost all attractions at WDW are "mainstreamed". This means that the queue is set up to allow wheelchairs and/or ECVs to go through the line just as a person without a mobility problem. As it was built prior to the ADA, the Magic Kingdom is most likely to have non-mainstreamed lines. Some attractions, such as Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion you will go part way through the regular queue and then be diverted. Other attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain or SpaceShip Earth you will initially be directed to an accessible entrance.

All the theaters are set up with seats (usually in the back row) removed so a wheelchair or ECV can pull into a space and there will be regular seating on either side of the space for the others in the party.

Where there are quantity limits on space, or other limitation involving accessibility, you may have to wait longer to see a show or ride an attraction than people without disabilities.

The normal (and official) response of Guest Relations to people with mobility and/or stamina issues is to recommend rental of a wheelchair or ECV. The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is intended for "invisible" disabilities not related to mobility or stamina. A wheelchair or ECV is sufficient to notify Cast Members of special assistance normally needed.

Please ask your husband 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!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you! I will bring an extension cord, just in case he decides to go w/ an ecv. I did look through the FAQ & got lost b/c I have ADD. I will go up there again (& do a search in that particular thread!) Thanks again

Any Poly advice?

There is a link for the disABILITIES FAQs thread in my signature. I'll give you the guided tour.

If you have not rented an ECV yet and want to find a place to rent, look in post #2.

Post #4 is about buses.

Post # 8 is about parking lots, boats and monorails - with pictures that should be helpful to you.

Post #11 includes information about the entrances to attractions. As was already mentioned, most attractions have Mainstream Lines where guests using wheelchairs and ECVs wait in line with everyone else. There are a few lines that are not accessible, but that doesn't mean no wait.
You can pick up a park map for disabilities at each park that lists the "Mobility Access" for each attraction.

On page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, post 18 is about ECVs in Magic Kingdom.
Post 19 is about ECVs in Epcot. Post 20 is about Hollywood Studios and Post 21 is about Animal Kingdom.
Those threads have some information about how easy it is to transfer to some attractions.

For the question about resorts, some people think you need a handicapped room because they have an ECV, but the handicapped rooms are usually the same size as other rooms.

 

[weHEARTmickey]

Thank you all so much!! I did look through the recommended posts in the FAQ, and they were very helpful. I'm printing off the list of rental companies.

Chesire, I agree with ALL of the questions you mentioned Now if I can just get DH to.

Capt.Barbosa--isn't Tahita CL? Or at least more expensive than garden view? We're hoping to not have to pay anymore $$ for an upgraded room (especially if we have to pay for an ECV.) Do you recommend a longhouse that is central to the ceremonial house, Capt. Cooks, parking lot & maybe even TTC? I looked at the map & it seems Rarotonga or Samoa might be best??

 

[clanmcculloch]

Hawaii is the club level building and there are club level suites in Tonga. Everything else is non-club level.

We were at Poly in August with a child in a wheelchair/on crutches. I really liked having a 1st floor room because it was easy for us to grab her crutches and hobble out the patio door to the pool. The elevators do work well though so really it's not necessary to have a ground floor room.

I would suggest asking for a shower seat if he's not steady on his feet. My daughter slipped in the tub because she was trying to keep weight off her one foot. You don't need an accessible room for this; it fits in a regular tub I believe.

 

[dclfun]

I would recommend the Tokelau building for garden view- it's fairly centrally located and close to the GCH.---Kathy

 

[weHEARTmickey]

DH is doing MUCH better & is bound & determined to walk the whole time. I really appreciate all of your help. We are taking his crutches, just in case. And, I printed out the ECV list from the FAQ. Have a blessed week

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Walking the parks can be difficult and tireing for the even the most hardy. I would remine DH of this along with the fact that it is not just his vacation. The rest of you want to enjoy it also. My DFIL did not want to use one either. We rented one anyway and asked him to try it out for a trial run, we went to eat at a resort resteraunt. Don't remember which one it was awhile ago. He was so much happier as he didn't slow anyone down nor did he get tired quite so quickley. You could also suggest to him that it is either that or stay a couple extra days to make up for the loss of time in the parks.