Scooter Question

[Kimberly Spear]

My husband broke his arm and leg last week, and we arrive at Disney World in 8 days. We are flying, and he's currently using a knee scooter. Should we rent an electric scooter for the entire week from a local company? If yes, will they deliver to Saratoga Springs on Disney property? Any other tips are appreciated.

 

[minnie mum]

Would he be able to operate the controls on an ecv ( broken arm)? If you dont know, try him out on one of the ecvs they have for customers at some of the large stores like Walmart. If he can, off site vendors will deliver and pick up from your resort. But if it isn't one of the Disney Preferred vendors, you would need to be present when they arrive.

Info on ecvs are in this sticky: http://www.disboards.com/threads/di...disabled-1st-trip-next-trip-wish-trip.595713/

Post 2 contains rental info.

 

[scrappinginontario]

There is a lot of walking at Disney. If he's able to use a scooter I think he will find it more convenient than a knee scooter. Just my .02.

 

[JennyDrake]

RENT THE ECV. Trust me. I spent 3 months on a knee scooter and NO WAY could I have endured WDW.

 

[LEsherick]

Rent the ECV It will make him less stressed and in a lot less pain. Here is my story and tips. Oh and you need your right hand to accelerate only the left to back up but you can possibly cross the right to get to the back up when needed.

Hi I'm going to Epcot for a day in little over a week. I'm renting a off site ECV and using it I nave Neuropathy and Fibro. So I'm only able to walk short distances and I know I'm way safer driving a ECV than trying to walk even with a cane as falls can happen so easly. I rented my first ECV in Salt Lake City this Sept and it saved me. I would have never been less stressed and in a lot of pain if I did not get the rental. So a few tips about driving them I thought I would share. They are very easy to drive and yes start off on the lowest setting to start. By the next day I was able to throttle to the highest speeds on long stretches but even if you have it on high you can slow down by not pressing on the throttle so hard. In a crowded space set it low and for the rest of time set it to medium then you can throttle back if needed. Unless you are in a hurry and have a long flat stretch or are going up hill or a long ramp then set it to high. But please watch out for any bump in the road or surface you are on. A crack in a sidewalk if going fast could really throw you off. You cannot go up or down curbs and cobblestone is unnerving. I got so many compliments on my steering I was able to reach far forward and press elevator buttons, electric door buttons, and open doors my self and drive through them. But people were very nice and helped with doors as well. Once you press a elevator or door button you need to back away and I usually line my self up straight to enter though the door and this help alot when elevator doors would open at your floor as it was easy to back right out. It takes some time to do really tight turns but it's possible just like parallel parking you just need to turn your wheels the opposite way and back up a tad then turn again the way you need to head and do on till you can make the turn. I learned the hard way that in the city thay had wheelchair access able light rail trains but the ramp up to the platform is very narrow and has a very tight turn and the same for some other wheelchair ramps which are designed for a wheelchair and not a long ECV. As far as worrying about hitting people it could possibly happen if you or they are not aware but the best thing in a crowd is to move slow and just say excuse me as much as possible. Don't use the horn it's not really polite unless in a emergency. Just follow behind slowly and lots of excuse me's and thank yous. Just be polite and most will be polite back to you.
One more safety warning is make sure your key is turned off and taken out and around your wrist before you get off because I forgot to turn mine off once just had got up to take a quick photo and when I went to get back on I had accidentally grabbed the throttle and the ECV started moving, I was able to jump out of the way and let go in the process but I could have ran over my foot and really injured me. Now I always take the key out and put it on my wrist before getting off

Epcot - November 15 2015

 

[SueM in MN]

Follow the link in my signature or look near the top of this board for the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
Post 2 of that thread has information about renting wheelchairs and ECVs.

All of the companies listed there would deliver to Saratoga. The Disney Featured Vendors can deliver to and pick up from Bell Services. For the others, you will need to meet someone from the company for delivery andpick up.
I would still bring long the knee walker - it will be transported by the airline free of charge and will be useful for getting around in/near your room.

With that extensive of injury, he is probably still going to be on pain medication. It's important to handle driving an ECV like driving a car and remember that pain medications might affect ability to drive safely and react quickly. In that case, he might be safer with a wheelchair for someone else to push him.

Talk to his doctor about DVT (blood clot) prevention. Flying is a risk factor anyway because you are sitting still with little ability to move around and get the blood moving. A broken leg and/or arm are Aldo risk factors because they affect mobility.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But if it isn't one of the Disney Preferred vendors, you would need to be present when they arrive.

Featured, not Preferred
These vendors pay WDW to be able to utilize Bell Services for delivery/pickup.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Renting a scooter if surprisingly cheap. I have mine reserved at Apple. They charged my credit card immediately just fyi. Definitely better to have one with all the walking. He will end up enjoying it and you can store water bottles etc in the basket.

 

[mgentry210]

Renting a scooter if surprisingly cheap. I have mine reserved at Apple. They charged my credit card immediately just fyi. Definitely better to have one with all the walking. He will end up enjoying it and you can store water bottles etc in the basket.

Apple has a cup holder option too. Used it every day.

 

[Kimberly Spear]

Thank you. I reserved with Apple for him today.

Renting a scooter if surprisingly cheap. I have mine reserved at Apple. They charged my credit card immediately just fyi. Definitely better to have one with all the walking. He will end up enjoying it and you can store water bottles etc in the basket.