Really new to this and in need of help

[Redwitch]

DD had an ankle fracture, sprain and torn tendons/ligaments in July. She spent four weeks in a walking cast and four weeks in an air cast. She has been without any casting for two weeks now and has been getting PT. But any major walking causes her ankle to swell and she continues to have pain.

We leave this Friday for 11 nights in the World. We are lucky in that my mother has an ECV. She generously offered us the scooter for our trip. Great. Now what?

My airline, SW, allows the scooter free if the person is dependent. It is $50.00 each way if not. That is still cheaper than any of the rental places.

The things I don’t know… We are flying out of BWI. I park in long-term parking and get bussed to the gate. Will those buses handle an ECV? Do we check the EVC or drive it to the gate? How difficult is it for an inexperienced driver to operate one of these things? She is scared she’ll run into someone or something. What happens if it rains? Can they get wet? Or do we get a cover of some sort? Is there anything else I should know?

I really appreciate your expertise! Thanks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

For ALL questions regarding transporting the ECV, call your airport or visit their website, and call the airline (since you've apparently already visited their website and still have questions).

Your daughter REALLY needs to practice using the ECV before you take it anywhere.
Ask your mother about it getting wet, but I think Randy's explains it something like, "Never let the control panet get wet; if it starts raining, cover the entire ECV with a poncho, etc; if it starts raining hard, get it indoors"

 

[SueM in MN]

Also, how old is your DD?
If she is an older teen, and drives a car, I would say she should have little problem driving it. She would already know the 'rules of the road' for driving, which are the same (sort of) for driving an ECV. If she already drives a car and you know she is a careful driver, I think she would pick up the ECV driving fairly quickly.

If she is a younger teen, it gets a bit more 'iffy'. I'd say you need to determine whether she has the ability to multi-task to drive in control, keep track of where the rest of her family is and watch for all the people around her in a very stimulating environment. Some younger teens are not ready to do that (it is like driving a car, and if she is not developmentally prepared to drive a car, she might have a hard time driving an ECV). 12 or under, I'd rent a wheelchair for her and not try the ECV.

I'd also suggest thinking about her personality - a rule follower is going to do better than someone not so careful. If she's kind of timid or nervous anyway, driving an ECV around WDW may be too intimidating for her (some adults - even ones who drive cars - feel that way). If she is worried about driving into someone or hitting someone the whole time she is in the park, she won't have a lot of fun - and in that case, I'd suggest a wheelchair.

She should practice driving it before going to a park or busy area. Have her practice driving into a specific place (sort of like parallel parking), turning both ways and backing. She should be confident doing those things before she ventures out into 'traffic'.

Keep in mind that people will not be watching out for her - a frequent poster on this board jokes that she becomes invisible when she is using her ECV and could probably rob a bank without anyone noticing her. Having to watch out for everyone else and drive an ECV is tiring, so she is likely to tire faster than she would otherwise. Frequent rest periods may be very important, just so she can get some time off from being vigilent.

I also would suggest you start with Epcot - it's a large park with more open spaces and not very congested. MK is harder because there are a lot of tight spaces that tend to get congested. There are also a lot of families with excited small children who might not be watching where they are going. AK is probably the hardest park - it was meant for 'discovery' so they designed it with a lot of winding, narrow passages and (even harder) in a lot of places the traffice flows in both directions in some pretty narrow spots.

For wetness, you have to worry about the controller and the batteries. Also, if it's raining, you may notice it has less traction (the usual ECV tires don't have a lot of tred).
For the airport questions, try looking on the website for that particular airport; find a number and call them. Most of the parking shuttles won't be able to handle an ECV, but you may get lucky. You should be able to gate check an ECV, but will need to get to the gate early.

 

[clkelley]

At BWI, what I would do, depending on your DD's age (or other traveling companions) is drop your daughter, the ECV and your luggage at the curb at the airport then take the car out to long-term parking and take the shuttle back in.

You should be able to gate check the scooter. With SW at checkin they will fill out a form that will be attached to the scooter. When you go through security one of two things will happen. Your daughter, if able, can walk through the scanner and the TSA folks will take the scooter around and inspect it separately, OR both your daughter and the scooter will bypass the scanner and she will be hand wanded and the scooter will be inspected.

When you arrive at the plane, let the gate agent know you will be boarding with an ECV. Depending on the airport, they will either let her take the ECV down the jetway then take it from there, or sometimes they have to take it down an alternate elevator.

When you arrive at MCO, you will walk up the jetway and wait at the gate area while they bring the ECV up an elevator.

Also, according to the BWI website

"Lift-Equipped Buses

All of the shuttle service to the parking lots and to the railroad station can be provided by lift-equipped buses. First Transit (Operator of the shuttle bus service) at 410-684-3346 to request a wheelchair accessible shuttle bus. It usually takes a few minutes for them to send a specially requested bus."

 

[Redwitch]

I really appreciate the input. DD is older, actually an adult teen, and very much a careful person. It is just the two of us traveling, so we can take it easy and take breaks when we feel the need. I'm not sure how comfortable she would be if I left her and the luggage at the curb. I had thought of that and she made a face. She is rather uncomfortable alone around strangers.

Once again thanks for your help. You have no ide how much I appreciate it.