Questions about Boo Boo Foot!

[mickiecake]

Hi everyone! We are leaving for our first trip to WDW next Saturday!!

We just found out that DH will have to have some minor foot surgery next week. I am assuming that he will have to ride an ECV while we are there.

Can anyone give me any tips on this? We did not expect this, so I haven't done ANY reading on ECVs. I plan to do some research tonight, but for now I am wondering if you guys have any tips that the websites won't.. like, if we park his ECV outside an attraction, can we count on it to still be there when we return??

Kinda threw me a loop this late in the game! Thanks SO MUCH for any info you can give!

 

[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 top item is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including where people rent ECVs.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[mickiecake]

Thanks so much!

I'm going to go check it out right now!

 

[mickiecake]

Cheshire, that is a WONDERFUL thread!! Thanks so much for the heads up!

$35 A DAY?!?!? OMG!!

Oh well, if he needs it, he needs it!

Has anyone ever had their ECV stolen in the park??

 

[KPeveler]

if you have a Disney ECV it cant really get "stolen" as such... disney owns it and wont let it out of the parks... and if you take the keys with you, other than pushing the several hunderd pound machine, they cant go anywhere with it... i have used a personal wheelchair (manual) and left it when i got on rides and never had it taken...

others can speak to their experiences with ECVs too

 

[mickiecake]

I am picturing some drunk guy trying to push his girlfriend through Epcot on my stolen ECV



I guess I had a "duh" moment! I was thinking along the lines of a stroller getting stolen, but I guess they don't have KEYS!!

 

[OneLittleSpark]

It often works out cheaper to rent an ECV from an off site rental company for the whole trip, rather than renting on a daily basis. Also the off site rentals tend to be easier to maneuver; they are with you 24/7, so you can use it around the resort, at DTD and to get to and from the park entrance; and there's no worry about whether a park will run out of rentals (this does happen, especially at busier times).

Contact details of rental companies are listed in the FAQ. Almost all of the companies listed will deliver the ECV to bell-hop. Randy's is the only exception, as they like to deliver it to your room, so they can give you a 'guided tour' of the device. It's up to you which would suit you better.

Is he going to have crutches? If so, you can usually request crutch holders be fitted to the ECV for a very small, flat-rate fee (I seem to remember it was $10 for the whole trip, but I can't remember where I got that).

If you do rent off-site, make sure you read up about handling Disney transport with wheels. They've made it as easy as they can, but it's still good to be prepared.

If he would be more comfortable and in less pain to take the ECV through the lines, then do so. Most of the rides have ECV accessible queues, though some will ask you to transfer to a manual wheelchair (provided at the ride). Quick tip, on Pirates take their offer of a manual wheelchair! The line is quite long (in terms of distance walked, not necessary people in the line in front of you) and the walk back from the exit to the ECV is even longer!

If you can, try to get your husband to practice on some of the free ECVs they have in places like Walmart. This will just help him get the feel for things, and make him more confident when he hits Main Street! Try to go during a quieter time, so he has fewer 'targets' . Oh, and do be aware that those ECVs are beasties; if he can drive them, he can drive any ECV he may end up renting!

Good luck and have a great trip, regardless of your husband's foot!

 

[mechurchlady]

OneLittleSpark pretty much summed how I feel.

It would have been much easier for me to have rented from an off site company and my vacation would have been a lot happier. The front of the ECV keeps people from stepping on your toes and in the long run the walk from the hotel room to the bus then from the bus stop to the park entrance can take its toll. Yeah it is a lot of money but in the long run I enjoyed parks a lot more. It is well worth it. I would not worry about your rental ECV being stolen especially if you take the key with you and clearly mark the ECV.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Foot surgery usually swells a lot during recovery. Maybe a wheelchair with an elevating leg rest would be better?

 

[SueM in MN]

Foot surgery usually swells a lot during recovery. Maybe a wheelchair with an elevating leg rest would be better?

Keep in mind that with an ECV, your leg might not have a lot of positions it can be in. Depending on the size of the scooter 'floor' you may not really be able to change foot position at all.
On our last trip, my DD was really fascinated by a woman we saw on the boat from the Studio to Epcot. While we were on the boat, she put her foot up on the scooter tiller (basically, putting her foot up almost level with her shoulder). She said her foot was swollen and felt better resting that way for a while. She was very flexible, but the end reason for doing it was that there were few places to put her foot other that straight down.

 

[mickiecake]

I just wanted to thank you all for the great info

DH had his procedure yesterday, and aside from he usual soreness and swelling, everything went great.

We leave in 4 days for WDW, and his doctor said he will Probably be ok. The incision is only about and inch long, and not very deep, just to remove a sliver of wood. We discussed renting and ECV from an off-site company. DH doesn't want a regular wheelchair, b/c he doesn't want to have to push or be pushed. He's determined to try our first day at Epcot on his feet.

I have a feeling that after a couple of hours, he be begging for the ECV..

Thanks for all the responses, everyone!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

What you may want to do is take the names/numbers of some of the rental companies with you when you go. If he decides to rent an ECV for the remainder of the week, just call one of them and it will be waiting for you at your Resort Bell Services when you get back from the park (except from Randy's where you have to be physically present).

 

[mickiecake]

Thanks Cheshire I have written down a couple of numbers in my little WDW book!!

 

[ntsammy5]

Please post the outcome when you get back. Have a great trip.