Should we rent a wheelchair or get an ECV?

[eeyore70]

Would love some pros/cons. Thanks!!! FYI, this is for my father with a new condition where he cannot stand or walk for very long. So he has never driven a ECV before.

 

[SteveH]

My wife had to use an ECV this summer due to an injury, I would not have wanted to try to push her around in the parks in a wheelchair. So I'd suggest renting an ECV. My wife went with a third party and had it delivered to our hotel (Sheraton) and it was ready and waiting when we arrived. Since she was able to walk some we were able to leave it with the Bell Hop each night and they charged it and had it ready to go.

 

[Indiana Scott]

I have a hard enough time dragging myself all over DLR for a day. I vote for ECV!

 

[OKW Lover]

Wheelchairs have the disadvantage of being dependent on the pusher to go where the occupant wants to go. ECV's give the occupant independence as to what to see/do.

Also, wheelchairs severely limit the conversation/sharing conversations between occupant/companion

 

[lalasmama]

ECV! The walkers in the group will be doing several miles of walking, and Disneyland isn't perfectly flat. In no way, shape, or form would Hubs/Teen/I want to push around someone in a wheelchair up those hills unless there was no other option. If Dad can learn to use an ECV, that's what we would do.

For what it's worth, we've actually taken my dad to DL when he was in a wheelchair after back surgery. I was a teen at the time. Good news was that he was completely used to propelling himself, so he only needed help on the hills. But he was a solo tired at the end--he must have sat at the French Market for like 2 hours while we finished up our day.

 

[VandVsmama]

From personal experience with an elderly relative, ECV definitely unless the person cannot see well enough to be able to drive a car, in which case do everyone else in the parks a favor and push the person in a wheelchair instead.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Would love some pros/cons. Thanks!!! FYI, this is for my father with a new condition where he cannot stand or walk for very long. So he has never driven a ECV before.

Take your father to Walmart or Target to practice "driving" one of the motorized carts in the store. He should practice driving in crowds, turns, stopping, etc. until he feels comfortable enough to try it at DLR. DLR is not the best place to try this for the first time -- there is just too much going on all around and the experience can easily become overwhelming.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Take your father to Walmart or Target to practice "driving" one of the motorized carts in the store. He should practice driving in crowds, turns, stopping, etc. until he feels comfortable enough to try it at DLR. DLR is not the best place to try this for the first time -- there is just too much going on all around and the experience can easily become overwhelming.

This

 

[tsumgirl]

As someone who uses an ECV in the parks now, I highly recommend it. I rent offsite, so I can use it to and from the hotel. I originally planned on renting a wheelchair the first time, but you'd be amazed how many slight inclines there are that you don't feel when you're walking. You'll definitely feel them when you're pushing a wheelchair!

It can be stressful to drive an ECV in the park, especially when people are constantly looking at their phones. I've had people run right into my parked ECV, and people will have a tendency to "quickly cut through" in front of you, not realizing that it can be harder for you to stop than someone walking. This will be true with a wheelchair too though, so the person pushing will have to be extra vigilant.

If this is a new condition for your father, he may appreciate the independence of using an ECV. Get a feel for how comfortable he'd be driving one in a crowd and go from there.

 

[mouseknotts]

from experience I would say rent an ECV, a couple of years ago our adult daughter had knee surgery and went with us to Disneyland, we tried a wheel chair and after one day found out it was to much work. Next we rented an ECV from Disneyland and things were much better.

 

[Someluck]

I have started using a ECV in recent years when we go somewhere I will have to walk further than I am safely able to do. It didn't take long to learn to use then scooter; I recommend a 3 wheeler for being easy to turn and maneuver. I do not recommend renting them from the parks, but rather use an outside vendor. Much better, newer scooters. The park models are bigger and clunky.

 

[Vala]

ECV, definitely.

I didn't really have much of a choice when I messed up my ankle early one stay. We rented one in the park the first day after when it became clear crutches were not an option, and wheelchair definitely was not one either - I'm heavier than my friends, no way I was letting them push me the full day.

I admit at first I was scared, especially after the CM renting explained the ECV to me, came to the horn and verbally added "but don't count on anyone moving."

But it went okay. I only hit one person, and that was past-Fantasmic and they stopped in the middle of the walkway. So fault was maybe 50:50.

If he can give it a try with a supermarket ECV I would agree, that will help.

 

[Golf4food]

Which outside vendor is best for DL to rent an ECV for a trip? I'm in a walking boot for my achilles now and may need one.

 

[DizMe]

Totally agree with those who recommend trying it out ahead of time. We got an ECV for my mom from a 3rd party, delivered to the hotel (GCH). She was 80 and not feeble, but had never used an ECV before and the parks were relatively crowded. It was way too much stress for her, and the ECV also had a tendency to surge forward rather than gradually accelerating. Even on the slow speed, she was terrified so we sent it back and got her a wheelchair from the parks. She was MUCH happier and it worked better for all of us, but that said, I was the one pushing it and I was exhausted by the end of the trip. I never realized how many inclines there are when walking around in the parks That hill from the Incredicoaster to Lamplight just about killed me

 

[mamapenguin]

Take your FIL to Walmart or Target to practice "driving" one of the motorized carts in the store. He should practice driving in crowds, turns, stopping, etc. until he feels comfortable enough to try it at DLR. DLR is not the best place to try this for the first time -- there is just too much going on all around and the experience can easily become overwhelming.

Please do the practice driving. We encountered an elderly woman in line with her husband for the AP corner in Tomorrowland last month that was having a really hard time with her scooter. She kept running into things an laughing. She scared the CM who had to quickly move out of her way to avoid being hit. She ran into my daughter, literally. Her husband did a little better job at keeping her away from people after that, but was clearly frustrated. (My daughter is 15, and was ok). My point is, that if the lady could have practiced at home she would have had an easier time with the scooter.

 

[GeneralTso]

Electric scooter FOR SURE! My (young) husband had hip replacement surgery prior to a Disney trip. That scooter was a lifesaver and so dang easy to maneuver around. Someone has to push a wheelchair and that is exhausting after a full day. Disney is set up for full access. You can wheel into any shop or restaurant no problem.

I agree with above posters that said to practice first, especially if it's an older person. They are simple to operate but you need to get a feel first.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

I have used both and I guess I am the one person who prefers the wheelchair. Even though I found the ECV easy to use (and used it for the 1st time at DL with no problems) the wheelchair was so much easier for me stress-wise. Even though the controls were simple it takes a lot of concentration to remain constantly vigilant about everyone around you so you don’t run into them.

When we’ve used a wheelchair I actually found it relaxing. My husband didn’t have any trouble pushing it all day (but we do take long afternoon breaks at the hotel).

So I would say 1) what would your father prefer? Does he want the independence of an ECV and will he be comfortable driving one? 2) If you go with a wheelchair will the people in your party be OK pushing it all day? Also, if you go with the ECV rent from offsite—they are smaller and easier to maneuver than the ones at DL. Whenever I’ve seen people struggle it’s been on the giant DL ECVs.

 

[violina]

I just got back from the parks and had to use an ECV, which I highly recommend. I have to alternate between sitting and standing though, so I did have to depend on on others in my group to drive it when I needed to stand. Everyone was able to learn it pretty quickly but as others mentioned, the parks is a hard place to navigate with it in general. A lot of people don't pay attention or try to cut in front without realizing that the ECV's have a delayed reaction at times. So practicing is helpful; I got it on arrival when we weren't going into the park and was able to get used to it in Downtown Disney and in the hotel before the parks.

I used One Stop Mobility and they delivered it to bell services of the hotel and when I was done with it, I returned it to bell services as well.