Questions about ECVs

[Fache]

Hello, all you Disney lovers,

First off, let me say that this is a great site. I never expected to pick up so much info on how to handle the parks in one spot! You all rock.

Secondly, my questions.

For a combined birthday present, my parents are sending me and my younger sister to Disneyworld for Memorial Day weekend. I have bilateral plantar fasciitis, which makes walking painful, and I don't want to slow her down any more than I can help, so I figure I'd better rent an ECV -- that way, she won't have to wait for me OR push me up hills. I don't particularly want to rent one AT Disney, since they say it's first-come-first-served, and it seems to be cheaper from an outside party anyway. Finding a vendor is not what worries me.

What worries me is that we may not be able to get a hotel anywhere near the park, and I'm just a few years too young to rent a car.

Does anyone know if a rental company is allowed to ship an ECV to Disney, to be picked up there? Or is there public -- or Disney-run -- transport to the parks that is ECV-friendly?

(Also, any tips on ECV use -- etiquette, clever maneuvers, dos and don'ts, etc -- would be appreciated, since I've only ever used a manual wheelchair before.)

Thanks.

 

[toocherie]

Hi there and welcome to Disboards! I'm sure you'll find all the answers you need from this group.

It isn't clear to me whether you're staying on-site (just not near a park) or at an off-site hotel? If on-site, then no issue. All of the Disney busses and some of the boats are ECV friendly and you won't have a problem. If off-site then I think you will have an issue getting from your hotel to a park.

You don't say exactly how old you are, but I seem to recollect that there was some Disney rule that people under 18 were not allowed to operate ECVs in the parks--however, during my trip last week I saw a person who appeared to be a young teen operating one so maybe that's changed. If you are under 18 you might want to check to make sure.

Have a great trip!

Cheryl

Hello, all you Disney lovers,

First off, let me say that this is a great site. I never expected to pick up so much info on how to handle the parks in one spot! You all rock.

Secondly, my questions.

For a combined birthday present, my parents are sending me and my younger sister to Disneyworld for Memorial Day weekend. I have bilateral plantar fasciitis, which makes walking painful, and I don't want to slow her down any more than I can help, so I figure I'd better rent an ECV -- that way, she won't have to wait for me OR push me up hills. I don't particularly want to rent one AT Disney, since they say it's first-come-first-served, and it seems to be cheaper from an outside party anyway. Finding a vendor is not what worries me.

What worries me is that we may not be able to get a hotel anywhere near the park, and I'm just a few years too young to rent a car.

Does anyone know if a rental company is allowed to ship an ECV to Disney, to be picked up there? Or is there public -- or Disney-run -- transport to the parks that is ECV-friendly?

(Also, any tips on ECV use -- etiquette, clever maneuvers, dos and don'ts, etc -- would be appreciated, since I've only ever used a manual wheelchair before.)

Thanks.

 

[Fache]

I'm 22-turning-23, so car companies charge $20-50 bucks extra per day to rent to me (when they rent to under-25s at all), which for someone on our budget is a little high, especially since most of what the car would be doing is sitting in some parking lot all day. (Also, I'm not sure if a special/altered vehicle would be needed to transport an ECV?)

And we're not sure where we're staying yet -- still working out the details, buying tickets, etc -- I just wanted to cover all my bases in case we find a fantastic deal outside the park/decide to stay with friends.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

You have found a lot of good information by coming here. You might want to look at the disABILITIES FAQs (just click on the link in my signature), especially Post #2.

An important thing to consider in staying at a Disney REsort or off-site is that the Disney buses run about every 20 minutes and are express between each park and the resorts and are free. Also all of the Disney buses are equipped to handle 2 ECVs each. You can also use the free Magical Express to get from and to the airport.

The off-site locations, if they provide transportation, may only have three or four trips per day, and if you miss their bus it can be several hours or an expensive taxi ride. As well as the cost of getting to and from the airport.

You also may want to look at the ticket information in the other link in my signature.

But anyway, make yourself comfortable here and ask any questions which will help you to plan a better trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

You don't say exactly how old you are, but I seem to recollect that there was some Disney rule that people under 18 were not allowed to operate ECVs in the parks--however, during my trip last week I saw a person who appeared to be a young teen operating one so maybe that's changed. If you are under 18 you might want to check to make sure.

Have a great trip!

Cheryl

Just for clarification (the OP obviously doesn't need this information since she is over 18), the information that you are remembering is that the WDW park rental ECVs can't be rented by or for use of anyone under 18.
If someone under 18 had their own, they can operate it in the parks (or if they rented from somewhere else)

I'm 22-turning-23, so car companies charge $20-50 bucks extra per day to rent to me (when they rent to under-25s at all), which for someone on our budget is a little high, especially since most of what the car would be doing is sitting in some parking lot all day. (Also, I'm not sure if a special/altered vehicle would be needed to transport an ECV?)

You don't need a special vehicle. Just make sure when you arrange to rent the ECV that they know you would be transporting it by car. They will make sure you have one that can be taken apart into pieces that will fit into a car trunk.

An important thing to consider in staying at a Disney REsort or off-site is that the Disney buses run about every 20 minutes and are express between each park and the resorts and are free. Also all of the Disney buses are equipped to handle 2 ECVs each. You can also use the free Magical Express to get from and to the airport.

The off-site locations, if they provide transportation, may only have three or four trips per day, and if you miss their bus it can be several hours or an expensive taxi ride. As well as the cost of getting to and from the airport.

The cost of staying on site may turn out to be much less expensive when you add the cost of an off-site hotel and renting a car, parking and transport to/from the hotel.

Also, the off-site locations may have 3-4 trips per day, but it is possible that not all of those would include an accessible vehicle that can transport your ECV. So, you could be even more limited.

Also, keep in mind that if you drive from a non-Disney hotel, you will need to pay for parking each day. Parking is free for guests staying on site.

For etiquette, clever maneuvers, dos and don'ts, etc, you will find some information in threads on post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs. Here are a few others:

• Practice a bit before venturing out. Get comfortable going straight back and forward, turning in both directions while going forward and backward.
• Make sure you know where the speed control is. There is usually a knob or a slider that goes from turtle (slow) to rabbit (fast). Figure out what you need to do to put the ECV into freewheel (so you can push it) and back (so you can drive it again).
• There will be a lever somewhere on the seat of the ECV that will allow you to unlock the seat so it can be swung to the side. If you know where that is and how to use it, you can save a lot of manouvering. For shows, instead of pulling in and turning the ECV into a parking spot, you will often be able to pull straight in and then turn the seat, instead of the ECV. When the show is over, you can often turn the seat back and drive straight out.
• Be patient. Don't go any faster than the rest of the 'traffic'.
• After parades and things, stay put for a little while. 10 minutes wait can make the difference between traveling in a crowd and having a pleasant trip out in a small group.

 

[toocherie]

thanks Sue for clarifying about the 18-year old issue.

One more "etiquette" thing--which I saw first-hand last week--the "horn" on the ECV is not a license to constantly push it to try to get everyone in a crowd to move out of your way. (there was an older man in a crowd of people at AK who was beeping the horn constantly to try to make people move out of his way. I've found a simple "excuse me" works better. And if you're in a crowd, as Sue said you shouldn't be moving faster than the people who are walking anyway.)

Another tip--when manuevering on the busses it's best to turn the speed to "turtle" since the space to manuever into is very small.

 

[janiejake]

I have bilateral plantar fasciitis, which makes walking painful, and I don't want to slow her down any more than I can help, so I figure I'd better rent an ECV -- that way, she won't have to wait for me OR push me up hills. I don't particularly want to rent one AT Disney, since they say it's first-come-first-served, and it seems to be cheaper from an outside party anyway. Finding a vendor is not what worries me.

It will cost you approx $15 daily more to rent from WDW. Having an ECV available for rent is not so much an issue early in the morning--it can become one when you change parks during the day. I have had no problem with this, but have heard that if an ECV is not available when you get to the next park, you are out of luck. (you only pay one rental daily, but submit a deposit, which you get back when you leave a park. You then take your paperwork to the next park, and then submit a new deposit, which you will get back when you leave THAT park.). You may want to consider a value resort, so you are on site, and then the buses will not be such an issue. You will also have the advantage of using ME to get from MCO to your resort. If you do not have to pay for a car rental, that savings would help offset staying on site.

 

[Windjammermay]

I have been in a electic chair for a long while. A few things that I have picked up in dealing with pedestrians is;

Be patient with people, very important.
Go slow they get scared of your speed.
Smile, let them relax with you being in a mobility device
Don't hit them, they will scream like girls

Watch out for kids and adults, they are so into looking around they will fall into your lap, walk in front of you, they do ask interesting questions, hang on to your chair, and will try to race you.

Make sure you turn off your chair. Kids will come up out of no were and play with your lever or joystick. You can catch your sleeve on the throttle and go for an unexspected ride. It will save on batteries.

Be very careful not to hit someone. It is a concern, you will feel very bad if you do. Pedestrians seem to get too close to the chair that you end up running over their feet. You need a safty zone to manuver your chair. Make sure to look behind you and around you. The weight of you and your mobility device can cause some damage, be careful and patient.

Yes, pedestrians have the right of way Say excuse me, please, thank-you, and smile. My chair is set up with a sterio system, people now when I am coming but do not use your horn it is rude. Let them know you are there and they will step aside.

 

[Windjammermay]

Excuse me,,,,,there is a PS

......NO ROAD RAGE........pull it over...relaxe....calm down...

have something in you basket like a drink or a snack. Take a deep breath and the crowd will thin out. Find some place to sit for a while. No driving under the influence of anger or other substances.

 

[mechurchlady]

Forget the horn as that is of no use. A person who darts in front of you could have a bullhorn going off and they would not see the person, truck or ECV. I found that most people cannot even hear the horn and those who do ignore the horn as it is more like another sound engulfing them like the music.

 

[Windjammermay]

Forget the horn as that is of no use. A person who darts in front of you could have a bullhorn going off and they would not see the person, truck or ECV. I found that most people cannot even hear the horn and those who do ignore the horn as it is more like another sound engulfing them like the music.

Ya, those pedestrians can get wild I have had people fall into my lap. I told them I don't pick up hitch hickers. People are so easily distracted they walk into to the most silliest of things.

forget the horn all they do it look up, it can get funny Just don't hit them, they get all upset.

 

[Fache]

@Windjammermay -- Hahahhaaha! I'll have to remember that one about the hitchhikers.

 

[Disneygranny1973]

Me too Fache...i've heard quite a few, but that one is hilarious!