Single Parent - ECV/Wheelchair - 2 DS (9/5)

[bsmcneil]

I'm going to cross post this to the parent/families with children board, too.

I'm wondering if anyone here has taken a trip where they are the only adult (using either a manual wheelchair or an ECV). If so, how did that go for ya? I've been planning a trip with my two kids (Jan '22) but it's clear I need to use some aid. I went for a few days a couple of weeks ago and couldn't make it unassisted (I've since remembered that I used an ECV on my only DLR trip, in 2009, one of my WDW trips (2007), and for a number of conferences (that part I already remembered). But it feels daunting to me to try to take the kids, particularly in terms of keeping them nearby, etc. I feel most comfortable with the ECV though I think I could pull off a manual chair if I have a good pair of gloves and someone (DS9?) to help push up hills (I have muscular dystrophy - so my arm strength isn't great but the biggest problem revolves around walking - both due to the MD and hip problems the MD helped to create). The kids also have the same genetic thing - it bothers them some but not nearly as much as me, at this stage. We've been practicing our walking around the neighborhood but the .75-1.5 mi is not the same as the 13 I did without any assistance the first day (and then 6 the second day with a manual/waiting on an ECV because I got there late). So, we've already talked about the fact that if I use something, they can't just hop on what I'm in.

One of the ideas I've had (and someone on a previous, similar thread mentioned) is trying to find another adult to go with me. I might do that (I've also thought about hiring someone local for in-park help, which seems like the biggest issue). In terms of bringing someone I know, I'm not sure who to ask and in particular what to do in terms of supporting them coming. I've already booked our room (it's a DVC rental and I don't think space would work for bringing another adult into the room - but also I'm not going to be able to afford a second room at AKL, nor would there likely be a DVC one at this point). When I was in HS, I helped a single aunt take her 3 kids (at that point, they were probably 5, 8, 12 or something) along with my grandmother. The two oldest (boys) often connected with me and we would ride rides, etc while my grandmother helped my aunt and her daughter (and sometimes we were all together). My guess is that my grandmother paid for me and her (we took a trip using Holiday Tours - gosh, I don't even know if that exists anymore! lol) but maybe my aunt helped (as still, basically, a kid - I wasn't aware of the logistics).

Any thoughts or directions you want to point me towards? It may all be for naught - it might just work out (relatively) smoothly. I just want to be somewhat prepared and like to game things out before they happened (going a couple of weeks ago was a godsend for this).

 

[MS_Warrior]

I think a lot of it depends on the age and maturity of your children. If they will stay with you and not wander off, you may be just fine without help. Do you have a teenager in the family who could go with you? How many does the room technically sleep? Could two people bunk together in one bed? Once you’ve figured out the logistics of the room, then you can go from there on working out who could go with you.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I would think that an ECV rented from an outside company for the length of your stay would be the best for you and the kids, but no way would I do it with a 5 & 9 year old in that situation without some help.

I'm pretty sure that you could Google for local park "helpers" to assist in the parks, but no idea what that would cost (park admission plus their time).

 

[jo-jo]

Could the 9 year push the 5 year in an umbrella type stroller? I know 5 year old can walk, but at least this will help keep them close by.

Even if you only weighed 20 pounds yourself, I would have doubted a 9 year could push you in wheelchair. Have he done it before?

 

[GamGam]

You might want to ck the FB page "Ears for Each Other" where former/furloughed CM's posted services and small businesses they provided.

 

[Bete]

If you get local help you have to pay their park ticket, their hour rate and you really should feed the helper if you eat at the park. If you take a break from the park and go back you pay for that downtime, too. You have to incorporate the helper with the ride reservations like genie+. The biggest problem is your kids will not really identify with a stranger. Also, it might be hard to schedule this companion.

If you bring someone from home to help then you really should pay their way for helping you. You can bring twin air mattresses for the kids to sleep on.

At bare minimum I would get wristbands for the kids (Amazon has them). You can put your cell phone number on them just in case you get separated. Kids get very excited at Disney and could be off and running before you know it and maybe in different directions. Take pictures each day of them; so, you have their current outfits for identification. Teach them about Disney cast members if they get separated from you; so, they know where to get help if needed. Gift shops would probably be the best here. You need to be a safe scooter driver and it may be too hard to keep your eyes on two kids while driving. I believe you need to pick one of the two options above and preferably someone your kids like to go with you for your help. Being with you at the resort could prove to be helpful, too. You may even want to consider a door alarm in case the older one can open the resort door on his own.

Bring a door stop; so, you can use it getting the scooter in and out of the resort room. Remember to charge your scooter each night. If you rent a scooter at the parks then you need to get there at park opening to make sure you can get one; it's first come, first serve for park rentals.

If none of these options thrill you, then you may have to delay a trip to Disney until the kids are older. I know that's a hard pill to swallow.

 

[RoseGold]

You know the maturity of your kids. I have a permanently disabled family member who brought a 10/8 year old, no problem. If you have a defiant or troublemaking kid, this might be a very bad idea. In the past, the Magical Express helped a lot -- it was a great solution to stay on the chair and get to the hotel. The ME bus took one wheelchair in the back. That's gone for 2022, I think the Mears bus should be same, but $$$. If you're bringing a chair with you, I don't see why you wouldn't bring the electric one. There's no medal for suffering with a manual chair.

Technically, Disney has a rule that no one is allowed to piggyback on your chair. I've never seen it enforced and broke it quite a bit, but that is the rule. If your kid is also going to have mobility issues, this might all be too much logistically. I guess you could bring a manual chair, if you think the kid could use that. Someone would have to get it and all the luggage in the transport. This is possible, but doesn't sound easy.

Another idea is to swap out the ECV. It goes pretty much everywhere at WDW, the bathroom, almost all of the lines, dining. It's not like Mickey will kick you out if you trade halfway through the line.

AKL is all buses. They have room for two ECVs. If you need both spots, and someone is in front of you in an ECV, you're stuck waiting for the next one, and that could be a while. And it seems like everyone is always on their giant, impossible to park rental scooters when you show up at an AKL bus stop.

This all sounds like a lot without help. Is there a teenager in your family who would want to come? That doesn't sound like a tough sell for a teenager who has been stuck at the house in quarantine.

Also, maybe worth getting Touring Plans. They have a setting that minimizes walking. That might be worth it to maximize your enjoyment with your limitations.

 

[bsmcneil]

I think a lot of it depends on the age and maturity of your children. If they will stay with you and not wander off, you may be just fine without help. Do you have a teenager in the family who could go with you? How many does the room technically sleep? Could two people bunk together in one bed? Once you’ve figured out the logistics of the room, then you can go from there on working out who could go with you.

No teenagers to speak of (I don't have much family). The room is a standard DVC studio (AKL) - so, another guest wouldn't put us over the limit - but it could be hard to figure out who's comfortable with that (and since it's a rental, I don't think I can modify it to be a 1BR or anything - and that's even if they have availability, which I doubt - and checked, and not really. ). So, I'll have to keep thinking. I guess I could update to an ASMu Family Suite (cost for the same number of nights is 1935.xx vs. 1620.xx at AKL). That might be the way to go.

 

[bsmcneil]

I would think that an ECV rented from an outside company for the length of your stay would be the best for you and the kids, but no way would I do it with a 5 & 9 year old in that situation without some help.

I'm pretty sure that you could Google for local park "helpers" to assist in the parks, but no idea what that would cost (park admission plus their time).

Thanks - I definitely would do the outside company (given my recent experience, as well as having used companies for family members). But yeah, doing it alone. As @MS_Warrior mentioned, so much depends on maturity. And I think I'd be fine with the 9 year old - but less so the 5 year old. And I had seen that you could hire some in-park helpers - which may be the route I take.

 

[bsmcneil]

You know the maturity of your kids. I have a permanently disabled family member who brought a 10/8 year old, no problem. If you have a defiant or troublemaking kid, this might be a very bad idea. In the past, the Magical Express helped a lot -- it was a great solution to stay on the chair and get to the hotel. The ME bus took one wheelchair in the back. That's gone for 2022, I think the Mears bus should be same, but $$$. If you're bringing a chair with you, I don't see why you wouldn't bring the electric one. There's no medal for suffering with a manual chair.

I may have said this in this thread or another - but at a certain point during my last trip, I thought, "Well, at least I'm not as concerned that people think I'm faking it because no one would do that to go this slow and have this hard of a time", lol.

Technically, Disney has a rule that no one is allowed to piggyback on your chair. I've never seen it enforced and broke it quite a bit, but that is the rule. If your kid is also going to have mobility issues, this might all be too much logistically. I guess you could bring a manual chair, if you think the kid could use that. Someone would have to get it and all the luggage in the transport. This is possible, but doesn't sound easy.

Yeah, I agree. The plan, as it is now, is do a little, midday rest, and go back and/or I'm trying to give us 2 days at each park so we can take it easy (even as I want to cram so much in).

This all sounds like a lot without help. Is there a teenager in your family who would want to come? That doesn't sound like a tough sell for a teenager who has been stuck at the house in quarantine.

Also, maybe worth getting Touring Plans. They have a setting that minimizes walking. That might be worth it to maximize your enjoyment with your limitations.

I really don't think I have someone in the family that could fill that role. I'll keep thinking. But there are a ton of complicated factors.

Definitely re: TP! I hadn't purchased the subscription before this year/trips but I did and it was so helpful (especially changing the walk speed and amount of walking scales). I'll definitely rely on those a ton while doing this (on the other hand, I went during almost all 1s and this trip, currently, has estimates of 5-6). If it were all 1s again, I'd feel a lot more comfortable doing it alone. But I don't think it's feasible with larger crowds.

 

[bsmcneil]

If you get local help you have to pay their park ticket, their hour rate and you really should feed the helper if you eat at the park. If you take a break from the park and go back you pay for that downtime, too. You have to incorporate the helper with the ride reservations like genie+. The biggest problem is your kids will not really identify with a stranger. Also, it might be hard to schedule this companion.

If you bring someone from home to help then you really should pay their way for helping you. You can bring twin air mattresses for the kids to sleep on.

At bare minimum I would get wristbands for the kids (Amazon has them). You can put your cell phone number on them just in case you get separated. Kids get very excited at Disney and could be off and running before you know it. Take pictures each day of them; so, you have their current outfits for identification. Teach them about Disney cast members if they get separated from you; so, they know where to get help if needed. Gift shops would probably be the best here. You need to be a safe scooter driver and it may be to hard to keep your eyes on two kids while driving. I believe you need to pick one of the two options above and preferably someone your kids like to go with you for your help. Being with you at the resort could prove to be helpful, too. You may even want to consider a door alarm in case the older one can open the resort door on his own.

Bring a door stop; so, you can use it getting the scooter in and out of the resort room. Remember to charge your scooter each night. If you rent a scooter at the parks then you need to get there at park opening to make sure you can get one; it's first come, first serve for park rentals.

If none of these options thrill you, then you may have to delay a trip to Disney until the kids are older. I know that's a hard pill to swallow.

Thank you for the really insightful, clear points!

Definitely planning on the wristband idea (and a ID card I'll have them keep in their (pin) lanyards. We've been talking about a bit of this (and they know my story of getting separated from a group and how that was hard, esp pre-cell phones). I have discussed getting them a prepaid phone in case something does happen - but I'm not sure it'll be that useful. I kept hoping that I could take them to a local theme park to try things out before going - but most are closed/closing soon and we've opted not to do that until they can get the vax. And it's true, it may be a delay (honestly, if I hadn't brought it up and/or rented DVC - I would've). I think the options to make it work are doable - so I don't feel the need to postpone as of yet - it's just a matter of how to do it (often in life - and much to the chagrin of people who hear me talk a lot - I say, "It's not a question of Yes or No - but How."

 

[bsmcneil]

Could the 9 year push the 5 year in an umbrella type stroller? I know 5 year old can walk, but at least this will help keep them close by.

Even if you only weighed 20 pounds yourself, I would have doubted a 9 year could push you in wheelchair. Have he done it before?

Makes sense. I was thinking that I can mostly do the hills (and certainly could train some more) but if there's a moment where push comes to shove (ha!), they could give me that little push (but not pushing me like throughout the park). I'm not completely sure about the stroller aspect. I did think about trying to find a double stroller for them and often I find that leaning on something like that helps. Now, it'll still be really hard (and maybe not doable) given my health - but it is a good aid at, for instance, Target.

 

[RoseGold]

An umbrella stroller is a good idea. It’s easy to get in any of the transport, you can just park it if you don’t need it, and you can push it using the electric chair. That part you might practice. It’s hard if you’ve never done it or aren’t used to the chair. You can get special clearance for it at DAS if you think a kid will need it for accessibility, then you can take it in queues.

With the chair, you should be able to handle the luggage and getting to the hotel with all the bags.

Also, the magical express used to take one chair with a rider in the back. But the bottom luggage containers could fit a normal height chair. (Room to spare with a Whill Ci.). It could be possible to load an extra manual chair, but you’d have to get it through the airport. Or rent one.

 

[jo-jo]

It cost a lot (I'm cheap) but would you consider shipping a big suitcase to the resort, so you only have carry ons to deal with?

I understand what you mean with the double stroller/ leaning on it. My DH feels the same way. He can walk with nothing if he had too for a short distance. But it's a hundred times easier to have something to lean on like shopping cart. But no way could do disney without a wheel chair/evc. He NEEDS a spot to sit. Even if he could walk all day, we'd still get the wheelchair, just for that chance to sit down anywhere. Benches have disappered at disney.

I have no experience with this, but have you thought what about meals? Can you take your EVC into lines with kids to pick up food, etc.

 

[RoseGold]

I have no experience with this, but have you thought what about meals? Can you take your EVC into lines with kids to pick up food, etc.

Wheelchairs (not rental scooters) can go pretty much anywhere in this category in all of WDW, including restrooms. You never have to get out of your chair except the rides, and sometimes not even that (like Kilimanjaro Safari). Sometimes, and especially with Covid, they are modified. Like on Haunted Mansion, they take you down a very dark hallway straight to the ride, you skip the stretching room.

Big rental scooters you sometimes have to park like strollers, and that may or may not be anywhere near the ride/restroom/restaurant.

 

[TillyMarigold]

FYI, the mantra I've always repeated with my son for if he's lost is "first look for a badge, then a kid your age." (I wish I could make it rhyme.) Meaning, first any police, fire, or (in this case) Cast Member, then if that fails, find a kid your age and ask their grown-up for help. He's 9 and has a bracelet with our numbers, his baby brother has a tattoo.

Wishing you the best of luck as I head there in 2 weeks with my 9 year old and 11 month old and their dad (and we're STILL not sure how to do it).

 

[dusty]

bsmcneil... Thinking out loud here after reading your initial comment and your follow up comments. So these are just random thoughts that might help.
Would definitely rent an ECV from off park so you can have it for the whole trip and for getting from resort back and forth to parks... that can be more walking than many can tolerate and they don't realize it before. Does mean you have to bring it into room each night and recharge.
Wrist bands for the kiddos also is a great idea with those 'keychain' stretchy cords that link them to someone else. You could sometimes have the 9 yr old linked to 5 yr old, sometimes 5 yr old linked to you, etc. Also we have used a "touch rule" already which was the 5 yr old has to be "touching" someone at all times. You could do this with the ECV or each other etc. That way, it will at least help message to others that you are together. Sometimes people have a need to cut between family groups standing together or even walking together, but if the kid has a hand on the back of the seat or has a cord attached to the chair, it kind of messages to others that you are together. If you cord together though, the cord has to be able to "break away" with a strong pull if someone does cut between you or else kid will get knocked down.
As for taking someone... does you family have a baby sitter for the kids that could go with you? The kids would know them and they would be okay with the room arrangement, etc. Tickets and food would be a cost to you but it may be worth the piece of mind.
Or do you belong to a church that has a high school group that you could put out an ask for someone. I know you may not know them well, but may be acquainted.
Or is there a Girl Scout troop associated with your area, school, church, etc where you may ask if any of the Senior Scouts is looking for a service project and they could use assisting you with this as a service trip. Again costs would probably be on you and that may not be possible. Also the local high school probably has groups, clubs, etc that look to do service projects. Also if you have a local College near, they will also have clubs looking for service projects.
The last idea that flew thru my mind was to call Disney, and ask about their Volun-ears endeavors. Disney cast members have many many volunteer projects that they do every year. It may be that they have someone who coordinates that who could put you in touch with one, or two cast members who would meet you each morning and help you for the day either free or at a cost for food, or for a minimal fee.
The last idea that came to me was for you to try to connect with Give Kids The World which is a resort type facility for families with children with special needs to have a vacation. Many times kids who want Disney trips will make arrangements to stay there because they have the medical resources to help the families if they are needed while there. I realize you don't need to stay there, but I thought they may have a list of volunteers who are willing to spend the day with families as the "extra adult" so that single parent families can do what you are trying to do or even two parent families can let both parents ride with other kids, if on child is not able to ride a certain ride.
These were just ideas I would try if I were you. Hope they help.
Ella

 

[bsmcneil]

So, I thought I'd do some follow-up. The board has been so great with info and some support and I like offering that back and it feels a little bit like community when I don't have as much as I'd like (actually - I have almost no one who wants to hear me debrief my trip and I could desperately use someone, if anyone is interested, lol).

Anyway, to the thread at hand. So, I tried to find an assistant through the FB group Ears for Each Other. Someone seemed promising but wasn't sure (and I wasn't sure about how much I could afford or what our touring plan would be like, etc, etc). So, that fell threw. I did check in to see if I could find someone to join me - but again, cost. I ended up renting a week (ish) long ECV from Buena Vista. I had rented a car (various reasons, not my first plan) and the car I had really couldn't find the ECV and luggage. We made it work but that was hard. Also, what they don't tell you (and/or I missed) - portable chairs are SUPER hard to lift and if you need the ECV, it could be that lifting is almost out of the question. That's one main reason I didn't use mine.

Before the trip, I tried to prep the kids about my using it. And, I had to prep myself (based on my Sept trip). I felt okay. First day was a light day and everything was okay (with kids, we didn't walk as fast, far, etc). Here's where I had a first hiccup - I realized I left a daily medication related to my MD back in Indiana with no way to it. ... not ideal. So, I really thought I'd have to use the ECV (I mean, I knew I had to - but like, this was definitely make or break). So, the next day was "let's go for a couple of hours and when we come back, I'll get the ECV and we'll use it." But then things rolled along (slowly) and I risked it without the chair. I was aware that the chair would help me a bit - but didn't use it (especially since it was hard enough to keep the kids with me standing and/or holding their hands. It felt like I'd lose them instantly if i was at their height level, etc.

Finally, I'm like, "Kids, I can't do this. I really have to use the ECV" (this was our first day at DAK and I feel like it and EP are the most useful places for me). Even still, my hope had been to use it to get into the parks and maybe park somewhere central and then explore a land and then use it to get to the next land. Within 5 minutes, both kids were upset they couldn't ride. They were also hurting, etc. And this is what's hard - I know they are hurting (my MD symptoms showed up early and I complained about hurting at their age and the Dr said that made sense; their doctor has already recommended pain medication akin to what I take). But, they also were not as vocal about it before I used the mobility aid. Them riding the ECV wasn't an option. So, I parked it (way too hard to go back to car, take it apart, reload it, etc and my body was still hurting from getting it out of the trunk). And then I rented the kids a manual chair and pushed them one at a time, alternating. It meant we could do more, I'm sure. I tried to get them to do the strollers but that didn't/wouldn't work. If you're wondering, there wasn't some special magic that healed me/my hips/my MD by pushing my kids, lol. But, I hope they enjoyed it.

I'm not sure what to do in the future. (I'm actually feeling really down, lol, so I'm also like, "Meh, who cares?!"). I ended up returning the ECV early in case anyone else would use it - it became clear I wouldn't be. And I realize there are some who would say either (a) you can't let the kids dictate things like this and/or (b) obviously none of you needed it. And I have some thoughts about those comments. I generally agree with A - but so much of our family had dismissed the signs of this disease for generations that I, and some others, have really committed to not dismissing people's physical symptoms. And I try to talk to my kids about expressing their needs, etc. And B - while we're not exclusively reliant on a wheelchair in life or in the parks (although my solo September trip demonstrated that I was closer to that than I'd like to think), these are aids to help us manage the park/experience without overly taxing our bodies. It's just not about getting ahead or faking anything (in fact, me pushing the kids always meant we were slower than others who walked and could get in line ahead of us and ride more, etc). It just meant we could do a fair amount without completely collapsing during the trip (I came home and the kids went to their mom and stepdad's house - and I slept, I kid you not, for 36 straight hours. And I could still sleep then, and still hurt now (returned late Saturday night).

I do have to take care of myself. Wish I had done this better/differently - but it's all in the past now.

 

[bsmcneil]

bsmcneil... Thinking out loud here after reading your initial comment and your follow up comments. So these are just random thoughts that might help.
Would definitely rent an ECV from off park so you can have it for the whole trip and for getting from resort back and forth to parks... that can be more walking than many can tolerate and they don't realize it before. Does mean you have to bring it into room each night and recharge.
Wrist bands for the kiddos also is a great idea with those 'keychain' stretchy cords that link them to someone else. You could sometimes have the 9 yr old linked to 5 yr old, sometimes 5 yr old linked to you, etc. Also we have used a "touch rule" already which was the 5 yr old has to be "touching" someone at all times. You could do this with the ECV or each other etc. That way, it will at least help message to others that you are together. Sometimes people have a need to cut between family groups standing together or even walking together, but if the kid has a hand on the back of the seat or has a cord attached to the chair, it kind of messages to others that you are together. If you cord together though, the cord has to be able to "break away" with a strong pull if someone does cut between you or else kid will get knocked down.
As for taking someone... does you family have a baby sitter for the kids that could go with you? The kids would know them and they would be okay with the room arrangement, etc. Tickets and food would be a cost to you but it may be worth the piece of mind.
Or do you belong to a church that has a high school group that you could put out an ask for someone. I know you may not know them well, but may be acquainted.
Or is there a Girl Scout troop associated with your area, school, church, etc where you may ask if any of the Senior Scouts is looking for a service project and they could use assisting you with this as a service trip. Again costs would probably be on you and that may not be possible. Also the local high school probably has groups, clubs, etc that look to do service projects. Also if you have a local College near, they will also have clubs looking for service projects.
The last idea that flew thru my mind was to call Disney, and ask about their Volun-ears endeavors. Disney cast members have many many volunteer projects that they do every year. It may be that they have someone who coordinates that who could put you in touch with one, or two cast members who would meet you each morning and help you for the day either free or at a cost for food, or for a minimal fee.
The last idea that came to me was for you to try to connect with Give Kids The World which is a resort type facility for families with children with special needs to have a vacation. Many times kids who want Disney trips will make arrangements to stay there because they have the medical resources to help the families if they are needed while there. I realize you don't need to stay there, but I thought they may have a list of volunteers who are willing to spend the day with families as the "extra adult" so that single parent families can do what you are trying to do or even two parent families can let both parents ride with other kids, if on child is not able to ride a certain ride.
These were just ideas I would try if I were you. Hope they help.
Ella

This was great - I am sorry I missed it earlier! Thank you - awesome recommendations!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks - I definitely would do the outside company (given my recent experience, as well as having used companies for family members). But yeah, doing it alone. As @MS_Warrior mentioned, so much depends on maturity. And I think I'd be fine with the 9 year old - but less so the 5 year old. And I had seen that you could hire some in-park helpers - which may be the route I take.

also remember the 5 year old can not ride without you riding the 2 kids can not ride by selves