Several ECV questions

[czmom]

I've had some pretty big health issues the past few months and am hoping to still make my DD's birthday trip in 3 weeks. The likelihood of me needing an ECV is very high, but it does intimidate me....I was a marathon runner who can now barely walk (thanks chronic Lyme disease!). Thankfully we are staying at VGC and I can go back and rest as needed. However, I know NOTHING about using an ECV.

Where do I get one?
Are they hard to drive??? This seriously scares me.
We have WOC and F! Dining packages booked- how do those work with ECV?
What about Paint the Night?
And what about rides? I can hardly stand for 10 minutes these days, so how do I manage waiting in line?

Thank you!!! I am choosing to remain positive and hopeful that we can still go. Disney magic goes a long way

 

[sillybaer]

I've had some pretty big health issues the past few months and am hoping to still make my DD's birthday trip in 3 weeks. The likelihood of me needing an ECV is very high, but it does intimidate me....I was a marathon runner who can now barely walk (thanks chronic Lyme disease!). Thankfully we are staying at VGC and I can go back and rest as needed. However, I know NOTHING about using an ECV.

I just had to rent an ECV for a recent trip due to a injury to my foot. I debated all the way until my first walk into Downtown Disney whether I would rent one though so it sounds like I am more mobile than you are.

Where do I get one?

Rent from an offsite company so you can use it going to and from the parks each day too. Do a search for scooter on these boards and look at the recommended companies. If you are staying in a hotel then it should be fairly easy to have company pick up and drop off an ECV at your hotel.

Are they hard to drive??? This seriously scares me.

Pretty easy. When you get it just take it for a spin on your closest sidewalk. My steepest learning curve was that unlike a car the speed was controlled by dial. I kept trying to slow it down by letting off the level like it was a gas pedal. But the lever was just off and on. So I would jolt to a stop. Once you get the hang of it your only issue will be people that try to cut in front of you all the time. You'll be fine.

We have WOC and F! Dining packages booked- how do those work with ECV?
What about Paint the Night?

Hopefully someone else will chime on on these as I had little ones so didn't do a lot of night shows. We did Paint the Night but I parked by the stroller parking near Buzz and walked back to the spot my sister was saving by the castle. Then afterward I had my sister drive it back for me so I didn't have to walk in the crowd. (In hindsight it may have worked better to have her drive both ways. I just thought I would be better able to walk.) There was a handicapped area by Pixie Hollow but I was with a large group and wanted to stay with them so I didn't ask about it.

And what about rides? I can hardly stand for 10 minutes these days, so how do I manage waiting in line?

You don't have to with an ECV. You go to the handicapped entrance (usually the exit) and wait in your scooter until it's your turn. If the line is long they will scan your party's tickets and give you a return time (which works basically like a fastpass but is attached to your tickets instead).
In Disneyland Roger Rabbit and Buzz are completely accessible and you can stay in the ECV in the regular line. In DCA everything except Toy Story is accessible (and Toy Story is also the exception because if the line is long they don't issue their own return times--you have to go to one of the kiosks designed for DAS).
There are a few rides for which you can stay in the ECV if you want. I didn't do this though so I don't know much about how it works.

For any ride with a moving walkway they can slow or stop the walkway to help you get on if you need it (I didn't use this but was regularly asked and saw other people who did).

Warning: If you are asked if you can walk a short distance always specify that you cannot stand for very long. I was left standing for long periods of time several times. (This was particularly difficult at Haunted Mansion because there was a large crowd and no rail for me to use as a support. Because of the continuous unloading from the elevator with no line set-up I couldn't just wait by a wall either but had to try to keep up with the crowd.) For quite a few rides I was asked about walking and the distance was described but I was never asked about standing and waiting.
If they just ask "are you okay to transfer" then it will be just a few steps from where you park the ECV to getting on the ride. You only have to worry about standing and waiting if they ask if you can walk.

Thank you!!! I am choosing to remain positive and hopeful that we can still go. Disney magic goes a long way

Good luck!

 

[minnie mum]

Where do I get one?
Are they hard to drive??? This seriously scares me.
We have WOC and F! Dining packages booked- how do those work with ECV?
What about Paint the Night?
And what about rides? I can hardly stand for 10 minutes these days, so how do I manage waiting in line?

I can't answer all of your questions since I know WDW better than DLR, but I will try.

1. Sillybaer was correct when she recommended renting from an off site agency. They will drop off and pick up from your hotel, and you will be able to use it to get to and from the parks.
2. They aren't that hard to drive once you've practiced on them. If you haven't driven one before, go to your local Walmart or similar store, and practice on them. Learn how to steer, stop, reverse, and above all how to regulate your speed with the speed dial!
3.The dining package viewing areas have designated spots for HC guests.
4. There are HC viewing areas for the parade, but they fill up quickly.
5. Sillybaer covered that pretty well.

 

[Cate2020]

I had to use one a few years ago due to a broken leg. It was awesome! They aren't hard to drive at all (and this is coming from someone who has a phobia of driving). I kind of felt like it turned the whole park into a ride. The crowds could be a little hard to navigate at times but my friends just walked in front of me to clear the way and it was fine. I rented off site and it was waiting for me when I got to the hotel. Very convenient.

 

[Geemo]

If my DIL can drive one...... Anyone can. You'll do fine!
Scooters are a life saver for many people visiting the parks.

We generally go for 5 full days in the parks. Each day we can walk between 8 to 10 miles. At least that's what the pedometer shows and my feet feel like it. For my next trip I'm considering renting a scooter for the last half of the trip. By then I'm getting pooped out and could use the lift.

Renting a scooter will make a night and day difference for how your trip goes. There are many off-site vendors that deliver to the hotels. All you have to do is place the order, pick it up from bell service and when you're done return it to bell services. And BINGO you're done!!

Enjoy your time in the parks.

Geemo

 

[sgrap]

I've had some pretty big health issues the past few months and am hoping to still make my DD's birthday trip in 3 weeks. The likelihood of me needing an ECV is very high, but it does intimidate me....I was a marathon runner who can now barely walk (thanks chronic Lyme disease!). Thankfully we are staying at VGC and I can go back and rest as needed. However, I know NOTHING about using an ECV.

Where do I get one?
Are they hard to drive??? This seriously scares me.
We have WOC and F! Dining packages booked- how do those work with ECV?
What about Paint the Night?
And what about rides? I can hardly stand for 10 minutes these days, so how do I manage waiting in line?

Thank you!!! I am choosing to remain positive and hopeful that we can still go. Disney magic goes a long way

UG, I am so sorry about your health issues. I think you should still be able to enjoy your trip. I am not anything close to a marathon runner, but I am fit and active, and work out 2-3 hours per day. 2 1/2 years ago, I injured my knee several months before a big Disney trip. Despite physical therapy and a knee brace, it became evident that my knee was not going to take all the walking in a Disney trip. Reluctantly, for the first time in my life, I used an ECV. We rented from an outside agency, they deliver to the hotel and pick it up. There are several companies, including Deckert's. We have used 2-3 different companies and never had a single problem. It took me just a few minutes to learn how to drive the scooter, and probably an hour to feel like I mastered it. If you can drive a car, you can easily drive a scooter. If you want, try one out at a grocery store to get the hang of it. But seriously--don't worry about the learning to drive it part. Easy cheesy. The only hard part is dealing with people who come to a screeching halt in the middle of the flow of traffic. Always be ready to stop suddenly. There are tons of people using ECV's in the parks, so you won't feel strange at all.

Last DL trip, I was sure my knee was better enough to handle the walking. Several hours into it, it was obvious that it wasn't. I was glad that I had rented a scooter just in case because I would have been miserable.

We have done lots of the different packages on 3 trips now with an ECV. We haven't been since the new 60th shows started, but every show and package we have been to has a way to accommodate the ECV's. WOC has sections for wheelchair/ECV users and their families.
For the rides, you take the ECV with you. Some of the rides in DL you have to go up the exit. But you don't have to get out of the ECV until the last minute generally. If you can walk enough to transfer, it is easier, but they will accommodate you accordingly. Like at Peter Pan, you go to the exit. I leave my ECV at the end of the exit because I can walk that far. Some people take their scooter or wheelchair up right to the point of getting on the ride if they can't walk that short distance. The CM's are always very accommodating.

You will love VGC! We love the Grand and are new owners at VGC, so excited!

Please let me know if you have any other questions. I would recommend calling now to book a scooter. It will save you so much pain and exhaustion on your trip, I promise! Have a wonderful time!

 

[czmom]

Thank you all SO much!! I feel a little more comfortable about the reality of this now. Apple looks much cheaper than Deckert, but does not get great reviews on yelp.

I'll keep looking!

 

[czmom]

UG, I am so sorry about your health issues. I think you should still be able to enjoy your trip. I am not anything close to a marathon runner, but I am fit and active, and work out 2-3 hours per day. 2 1/2 years ago, I injured my knee several months before a big Disney trip. Despite physical therapy and a knee brace, it became evident that my knee was not going to take all the walking in a Disney trip. Reluctantly, for the first time in my life, I used an ECV. We rented from an outside agency, they deliver to the hotel and pick it up. There are several companies, including Deckert's. We have used 2-3 different companies and never had a single problem. It took me just a few minutes to learn how to drive the scooter, and probably an hour to feel like I mastered it. If you can drive a car, you can easily drive a scooter. If you want, try one out at a grocery store to get the hang of it. But seriously--don't worry about the learning to drive it part. Easy cheesy. The only hard part is dealing with people who come to a screeching halt in the middle of the flow of traffic. Always be ready to stop suddenly. There are tons of people using ECV's in the parks, so you won't feel strange at all.

Last DL trip, I was sure my knee was better enough to handle the walking. Several hours into it, it was obvious that it wasn't. I was glad that I had rented a scooter just in case because I would have been miserable.

We have done lots of the different packages on 3 trips now with an ECV. We haven't been since the new 60th shows started, but every show and package we have been to has a way to accommodate the ECV's. WOC has sections for wheelchair/ECV users and their families.
For the rides, you take the ECV with you. Some of the rides in DL you have to go up the exit. But you don't have to get out of the ECV until the last minute generally. If you can walk enough to transfer, it is easier, but they will accommodate you accordingly. Like at Peter Pan, you go to the exit. I leave my ECV at the end of the exit because I can walk that far. Some people take their scooter or wheelchair up right to the point of getting on the ride if they can't walk that short distance. The CM's are always very accommodating.

You will love VGC! We love the Grand and are new owners at VGC, so excited!

Please let me know if you have any other questions. I would recommend calling now to book a scooter. It will save you so much pain and exhaustion on your trip, I promise! Have a wonderful time!

Congrats on VGC!!! We stayed there in 2013 and loved it. I tried to convince my hubby we needed points there too, but he says BLT is enough.

We rented points this trip so that's my other concern. If we don't go, we lose a lot of money.

 

[Malcon10t]

I can hardly stand for 10 minutes these days, so how do I manage waiting in line?

Another thing to keep in mind... Should the ride break down, you will need to walk off. We got walked off Casey Jr last year. It wasn't so much the walk for me (walking on the tracks back to the load point) but getting out of the car, climbing up on the embankment, walking a small distance in bushes to climb down to the tracks. Walking off Big Thunder can be a fairly major ordeal. Cast Members cannot assist. Look at the pics of people being walked off after someone dropped a selfie stick on Screamin'.

My daughter will be in an ECV this trip (and there will be limited rides for her.) She shattered her fibular and broke her tibia on the left, and tore ligaments in the right, so she is non-weight bearing until Sept and will be in a wheelchair or ECV. But hey, she won't be sitting at home!

 

[Geemo]

Thank you all SO much!! I feel a little more comfortable about the reality of this now. Apple looks much cheaper than Deckert, but does not get great reviews on yelp.

I'll keep looking!

I used Apple in March and everything was fine. I'd use them again. When I called for an emergency delivery, due to an injury, they had one to us in less than two hours. I felt their price was reasonable. Service was fine and speedy.

Deckert's is another one you see here on the board. Do a search for references and see what comes up for the various vendors in the area.

The reason we called Apple when we needed on ASAP, it was the only name I could remember.
I knew there was one that started with a "D" but couldn't find info fast while we sat at DTD Starbucks trying to figure what to do.

Geemo

 

[sgrap]

Congrats on VGC!!! We stayed there in 2013 and loved it. I tried to convince my hubby we needed points there too, but he says BLT is enough.

We rented points this trip so that's my other concern. If we don't go, we lose a lot of money.

Thanks! We are so thrilled that we finally bit the bullet and bought in . . . and now we have an add-on contract that just passed ROFR and we haven't even been on out first trip yet! Crazy! We are west-coasters and haven't done WDW yet, but BLT seems to be the resort I'd choose from the little reading I've done. Way too many choices there!

Please report back and let us now how your trip went. We're going again in November (1st DVC trip, yay!) and I will probably have an ECV again and my daughter (13) will be in a wheelchair because she's having foot surgery in September. Her surgeon said she will be OK to do rides by then, but her foot won't be up to all the walking at 2.5 months post-op.

Hope your health improves! Sounds completely miserable. The ECV should make your trip feasible, and even if you do need to rest, getting back to the hotel won't be an exhausting walk.