Should or Should not Rent ECV for Week

[DisDuck]

My wife has a partial cartilege tear in her right knee. We are going to WDW last week of June but staying off-site. Our plans are to visit the 4 parks plus SeaWorld but no park-hopping on same day. She can walk but sometimes knee locks up; sometimes painful. We also plan to take day breaks whereby we go park-park then rest on 3rd day.

Question is should we rent an ECV for the week or arrive early at each park so that we can rent within the park?

We will not be asking for a GAC as she can walk/stand while on line. The idea is to not wear out her knee between rides/attractions.

Thanks for any replies.

 

[Talking Hands]

Get the ECV. It will be a Godsend.

 

[eeyorefanatic]

I rented one from Walker mobility for my last trip 2 weeks ago and it made all the difference in the world, as to wether or not I enjoyed my trip. It saved so much wear and tear for me that by my last day I was able to walk most of AK.

If you are driving the ecv did look like it would break down into components to fit into a trunk, but it also looked like some of the pieces might be a bit heavy to get into the car.

She also will be able to stay in the ecv for most of the lines at WDW if she choses to. I know with my knees, sometimes standing in one place for a long time causes them more pain than walking. THey also tend to buckle as well/

 

[JudithM]

We returned from our fifth trip where I use an ECV for a knee condition. I've already decided that for the next trip I will rent an ECV probably from Walker.

You cannot always count on Disney to have an ECV available when you arrive at a park - for example on Mother's Day EPCOT (both entrances) ran out of ECVs to rent about a half hour after the park opened.

Also, in case you do want to park hop, which we do frequently (those afternoon breaks, swim, etc. are wonderful!), Disney cannot guarantee an ECV at the next park. I will say though that the CMs at EPCOT's International Gateway were wonderful about holding an ECV for me.

Rent an ECV & make your trip more pleasant & enjoyable for everyone involved!! Have fun!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Just repeating what everyone else has said:
Besides having one when you need it, the off iste ones are a little less expensive renting by the week than renting from WDW by the day.
Here's a list of off site places that DIS posters have reported renting ecvs and wheelchairs from:
Care Medical: http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility: 1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

RANDY'S Mobility in Kissimmee: 407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical:
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

I also agree with eeyorefanatic about lines. Some of the lines keep moving along, which might not be a problem. In some rides or shows that load large numbers of people at once, you will be standing in one place for a long time. Also, for some rides (and especially for the shows) the exit is quite a ways from the entrance and may be a little hard to figure out just where you left the ecv. Have fun.

 

[DisDuck]

Thanks for all your assistance. I was wondering if 4 individual rentals at WDW (plus 1 at SeaWorld) would be more expensive than full week from offsite.

Does anyone know the rental cost for an ecv at WDW, including any required deposits?

Thanks again.

 

[SueM in MN]

You should be able to find the cost on the DIS page about mobility disabilities. It might not be right on the top of the page. Depending on how busy it is and how early you go, they might not have any ecvs left to rent by the time you get to the parks. They only have a limited number of ecvs at each park.
We don't rent ecvs, since DD has her own wheelchair, so if anyone has better info, I'm sure they will post it.

 

[JudithM]

At WDW the EVCs cost $40 when you first rent it. When you return it, you get $10 back. If you park hop the same day, then take your receipt & $10 to the 2nd park. If an ECV is available (no guarantees), then you rent another ECV. Bottom line $30, but up front it costs $40.