Size of ECV now being enforced

[SueM in MN]

Forgot to add

Thank you so much, cranbiz

 

[ShhhQ]

Guess I have to change my plans... I really wanted to rent the dream this year, looked like it would be more manuverable, and the batteries last a long time. I am tired of the standard ecvs going chug, chug (going real slow on full power and then blasting off, then almost dying) because lack of power... and I am UNDER 300 LBS.

On another note, I have never had extra people try to join us... but we had the opposite happen. We were at Pop (sept 2008) a party of 7 total, but we never all went on the bus at the same time.. usually 5, one time 6. But 3 of us were in need of the wc lift/ramp. I was with my friend and her family (she was in an ECV due to a bad back, and me for bad feet) waiting behind a manual chair. We let the manual chair go and waited for the next bus so we could ride together. While we were waiting, my Mother joined us.. she has her own electric WC. So we knew our party would still have to split. A bus pulled up followed immediately by another... so I got on with my friend and her family and thought my Mother would be soon behind us. The second bus pulled up side-by-side of the other and only loaded walking riders. Meanwhile ours was loading.. and yet another bus pulls up. So again we thought ok she will be right behind us. NO they only let on walkers... by this time there was also a line in WC loading and only 2 (my friend and myself) were allowed on for 3 buses! I don't know how much longer a wait she had but I was pretty frustrated at this point. She had a much longer wait than most of the people in line, and I felt bad for leaving her there alone. This happened also when leaving parks, but that was understandable... this was on the way to a park and not even early!

 

[KPeveler]

I would imagine the Dream is also harder to get to fit in viewing spaces at shows - if it that much longer, it probly sticks out a foot longer, which may block pathways for things like fire escapes -

I would not be surprised if we start seeing those limits in the parks too - I am pretty sure that there is a limit for what parks have to accommodate as well...

Also, if the dream is in a wheelchair seating that is NOT the back row (like in monsters inc), it would block viewing for people behind them (I was in a row behind one of these - people sit about 5 feet tall or larger).

I wonder if this is Disney's way of trying to limit the number of those really big scooters in the park...

But this is not a dicussion about the Dream scooter - I guess we will just have to see what happens!

I am glad that the limits are being put in...

Last time we were there, my wife told off some people who tried to board with us (it was just the 2 of us there)... They had to go get in line.

 

[Bete]

This has been long overdue for Disney. Those with cars suited for it will still have the large scooters like the Dream one, but at least they won't be on the Disney buses. They can still be in the parks. Maybe, Disney will enforce standards in the parks, too. We shall see.

We have never experienced someone trying to join our party to get on the bus with us. That's some nerve.

 

[M5ward]

This past January was the first time we had to utilize an ECV; and it's looking like this may become something we need to do every trip, unfortunately. When we loaded at the bus stops, my daughter and her husband took their daughter and stroller and got in line with others who were waiting. Only I boarded with my husband. I really hope they enforce these rules.
I also hope they start enforcing some other rules regarding mobility aids. I can't tell you the number of times we saw multiple "passengers" on an EVC; two or three kids, sometimes with one of them steering. We've even seen two adults crammed on the scooter. Rules are in place for a reason..usually safety. Chances are if you're disobeying a rule you are creating a hazard for yourself..and others. I've also seen people switch on and off the EVC with other members of their party. These aids are not intended to be used to get a rest while in the parks, they are for those who truly need them (and believe me, those who do need them would rather be walking.)
So -Here's hoping there is a crack-down on multi-rider, non-necessary use (although short of a drs. note, I don't know how you do that.)

 

[livndisney]

This past January was the first time we had to utilize an ECV; and it's looking like this may become something we need to do every trip, unfortunately. When we loaded at the bus stops, my daughter and her husband took their daughter and stroller and got in line with others who were waiting. Only I boarded with my husband. I really hope they enforce these rules.
I also hope they start enforcing some other rules regarding mobility aids. I can't tell you the number of times we saw multiple "passengers" on an EVC; two or three kids, sometimes with one of them steering. We've even seen two adults crammed on the scooter. Rules are in place for a reason..usually safety. Chances are if you're disobeying a rule you are creating a hazard for yourself..and others. I've also seen people switch on and off the EVC with other members of their party. These aids are not intended to be used to get a rest while in the parks, they are for those who truly need them (and believe me, those who do need them would rather be walking.)
So -Here's hoping there is a crack-down on multi-rider, non-necessary use (although short of a drs. note, I don't know how you do that.)

I agree! I hope they start enforcing more rules. We just saw "Grandma" letting her young grandson "drive" her ECV while sitting on her lap. Jr drove it right into a crowd of people and knocked a young child into a flower bed. Instead of apologizing or even checking to see if the child was ok, the group left with Jr still sitting on Grandma's lap.

I remember a time not so long ago, when a CM saw more than one rider on a ECV they would approach and ask them to get off. If they refused managerment /security would be called. There really is no reason WDW can't enforce this. The policy is clearly there for safety.

 

[ckdsnynt]

I have no problem with enforcing any of this and I am an ecv user. Last year, we saw an ecv user that had 15 in his family. Crazy, huh?
We are having a grand gathering in Dec. and those not in my immediate family all wanted to be included in my group of 6! However, I am keeping only my son and daughter (and DH of course) in that group.

 

[peemagg]

This past January was the first time we had to utilize an ECV; and it's looking like this may become something we need to do every trip, unfortunately. When we loaded at the bus stops, my daughter and her husband took their daughter and stroller and got in line with others who were waiting. Only I boarded with my husband. I really hope they enforce these rules.
I also hope they start enforcing some other rules regarding mobility aids. I can't tell you the number of times we saw multiple "passengers" on an EVC; two or three kids, sometimes with one of them steering. We've even seen two adults crammed on the scooter. Rules are in place for a reason..usually safety. Chances are if you're disobeying a rule you are creating a hazard for yourself..and others. I've also seen people switch on and off the EVC with other members of their party. These aids are not intended to be used to get a rest while in the parks, they are for those who truly need them (and believe me, those who do need them would rather be walking.)
So -Here's hoping there is a crack-down on multi-rider, non-necessary use (although short of a drs. note, I don't know how you do that.)

I agree with everything else except the part I made bold print. To judge someone because they use an ECV and might switch with another person in their party, is kind of a dangerous assumption. I sometimes switch with someone in my party, because frankly I need to stretch my legs from time to time too. I do need the ECV though because I can't walk very far or for very long due to nerve damage in my foot, but because someone else drives the ECV for a while doesn't mean that I don't need it. Maybe there are a couple of people in the party who both don't need it fully, but for some reason or other they need it part time, so they share the ECV. You just never know.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with everything else except the part I made bold print. To judge someone because they use an ECV and might switch with another person in their party, is kind of a dangerous assumption. I sometimes switch with someone in my party, because frankly I need to stretch my legs from time to time too. I do need the ECV though because I can't walk very far or for very long due to nerve damage in my foot, but because someone else drives the ECV for a while doesn't mean that I don't need it. Maybe there are a couple of people in the party who both don't need it fully, but for some reason or other they need it part time, so they share the ECV. You just never know.

:yes:
those are reasons people may be switching off with an ECV.
I also have seen people post that 2 in their party need an ECV, but both can get by without having it full time.
Renting one allows them to share the cost, not have to worry about space in their room and not have to worry if there is already one ECV user on the bus.

Regarding more than one person on an ECV or a child sitting on the lap of or standing in front of an adult - both of those things are forbidden by the rental contracts that ECV Renters sign when they rent from the parks or from one of the off site rental places.

I have seen CMs stop people from doing those things - what usually has happened after the CM is no longer able to see is that the EXV user goes right back to doing it.

 

[KPeveler]

This past January was the first time we had to utilize an ECV; and it's looking like this may become something we need to do every trip, unfortunately. When we loaded at the bus stops, my daughter and her husband took their daughter and stroller and got in line with others who were waiting. Only I boarded with my husband. I really hope they enforce these rules.
I also hope they start enforcing some other rules regarding mobility aids. I can't tell you the number of times we saw multiple "passengers" on an EVC; two or three kids, sometimes with one of them steering. We've even seen two adults crammed on the scooter. Rules are in place for a reason..usually safety. Chances are if you're disobeying a rule you are creating a hazard for yourself..and others. I've also seen people switch on and off the EVC with other members of their party. These aids are not intended to be used to get a rest while in the parks, they are for those who truly need them (and believe me, those who do need them would rather be walking.)
So -Here's hoping there is a crack-down on multi-rider, non-necessary use (although short of a drs. note, I don't know how you do that.)

There is no way to stop "non-necessary" use, since we do not know what is "neccessary." My sis has been known to use my chair when i needed to get up to walk (when i could still walk).

But there is never a reason to use the ECV for more than one person at a time!

 

[livndisney]

:yes:
those are reasons people may be switching off with an ECV.
I also have seen people post that 2 in their party need an ECV, but both can get by without having it full time.
Renting one allows them to share the cost, not have to worry about space in their room and not have to worry if there is already one ECV user on the bus.

Regarding more than one person on an ECV or a child sitting on the lap of or standing in front of an adult - both of those things are forbidden by the rental contracts that ECV Renters sign when they rent from the parks or from one of the off site rental places.

I have seen CMs stop people from doing those things - what usually has happened after the CM is no longer able to see is that the EXV user goes right back to doing it.

This is exactly why ALL CM's should be enforcing the one rider rule. If enough people tell them "no" maybe people will stop doing it. The accident I saw should never have happened. And would not have happened if even one of the CM's stationed in the area had told Jr he could not ride on Grandma's lap.

 

[KPeveler]

This is exactly why ALL CM's should be enforcing the one rider rule. If enough people tell them "no" maybe people will stop doing it. The accident I saw should never have happened. And would not have happened if even one of the CM's stationed in the area had told Jr he could not ride on Grandma's lap.

I was hit by a kid on grandpa's lap, who just wanted to touch the button... he was maybe 3 yrs old... and then I saw the same people do it again a short time later! Some people never learn.

It is difficult being a disabled parent, and i will definitely have my child on my lap in my personal powerchair, but I would never do it in an ECV. In an ECV the kid is between you and the controls.

I am already working on a modification to those baby-carriers that will attach to my powerchair and have the child strapped in! I am also working on a stroller attachment for the chair where I can push a stroller from my powerchair... but a child should NEVER be carried on an ECV, since it is too easy for a child to hit the controls.

 

[cranbiz]

I'm happy that I am able to give you all a heads up.

I will say that I have never has an issue on the bus with those who truly need a mobility device. It is those who feel privileged because they have one that are the problem children. I will ask who is in your party and have caught a bunch of tag alongs this way.

I'm sorry that I have not posted the rest of the details, i forgot to bring the paper with me. I'll try to do this tomorrow so that the complete info is available.

I will also speculate that in this transition time, there will be some confusion with drivers.

Our lifts are rated at 600lbs but the ramps on the low floors are rated at 800lbs.

Thank you all, while I did not expect a lot of negativity out of this, the support for all of you in this is great. I hope that this change makes your days at WDW easier.

 

[livndisney]

I'm happy that I am able to give you all a heads up.

I will say that I have never has an issue on the bus with those who truly need a mobility device. It is those who feel privileged because they have one that are the problem children. I will ask who is in your party and have caught a bunch of tag alongs this way.

I'm sorry that I have not posted the rest of the details, i forgot to bring the paper with me. I'll try to do this tomorrow so that the complete info is available.

I will also speculate that in this transition time, there will be some confusion with drivers.

Our lifts are rated at 600lbs but the ramps on the low floors are rated at 800lbs.

Thank you all, while I did not expect a lot of negativity out of this, the support for all of you in this is great. I hope that this change makes your days at WDW easier.

CM's like you make our days at WDW easier and enjoyable. Thank you!

 

[Sparkie]

:yes:
those are reasons people may be switching off with an ECV.
I also have seen people post that 2 in their party need an ECV, but both can get by without having it full time.
Renting one allows them to share the cost, not have to worry about space in their room and not have to worry if there is already one ECV user on the bus.

Regarding more than one person on an ECV or a child sitting on the lap of or standing in front of an adult - both of those things are forbidden by the rental contracts that ECV Renters sign when they rent from the parks or from one of the off site rental places.

I have seen CMs stop people from doing those things - what usually has happened after the CM is no longer able to see is that the EXV user goes right back to doing it.

My family had never needed the use of an ECV until our trip last October. My mom just cant walk it anymore due to knee surgery and other health problems. She can walk for short distances and sometimes needs to stand up or walk or her legs become very painful- so much so that she had to leave dinner one night and return to the room.

I wanted to get her an EVC from an outside company so she could have it all the time but she refused because she didnt want people staring at her or making comments behind her back so she reluctantly rented in the parks and even though she was embarrassed by needing to use an EVC it made her trip more enjoyable.

Once my daughter who is 13 went to retrieve Mimi's EVC from the parking area after an attraction and as she was driving it back to us a CM told mom not to let her drive it because Disney would "take her scooter"- apparently there is a rule that you have to be 16 to drive it. We complied. So the night that mom's legs were hurting and she needed to walk, she left the scooter at the resturant and I had to drive it back to the front of the park. And I now truely understand the stares that people talk about.... I could just feel the comments about "why does "she" need a scooter, she looks ok to me".... it was a very eye opening experience and gave me a new perspective for everyday EVC users.

I agree that the oversized chairs should not be allowed on the busses for safety reasons.... I just wonder if Disney will offer alternative transportation like a specialized van service or if these people will be on there own to find a way to the parks.....

I also agree that there should be a limit to the number of guest allowed to board with the EVC user. I have often thought that there should be some way for families with an EVC user to be able to wait in the regular line and then be boarded... but I understand the logistics of why they cant... but if everybody waits their turn equally then it should be fair, right?


I think Disney does an exceptionally good job to make those with disabilities be able to have the same enjoyable experience as everybody else- companies are required to accomodate to a certain degree by law but Disney goes above and beyond in my opinion.

I learned alot from my trip with my mom. We waited in as many regular lines as we could with mom on the EVC, the CM's were very helpful and even though mom told some of them that she could walk a little, they made sure she didnt have to walk far, every CM that we encountered was courteous to my mom and my family and wanted to make sure that she was able to participate with us .... mom is getting older now but I hope with the help of an EVC she will be able to enjoy many more years at Disney with us.

 

[KPeveler]

My family had never needed the use of an ECV until our trip last October. My mom just cant walk it anymore due to knee surgery and other health problems. She can walk for short distances and sometimes needs to stand up or walk or her legs become very painful- so much so that she had to leave dinner one night and return to the room.

I wanted to get her an EVC from an outside company so she could have it all the time but she refused because she didnt want people staring at her or making comments behind her back so she reluctantly rented in the parks and even though she was embarrassed by needing to use an EVC it made her trip more enjoyable.

Once my daughter who is 13 went to retrieve Mimi's EVC from the parking area after an attraction and as she was driving it back to us a CM told mom not to let her drive it because Disney would "take her scooter"- apparently there is a rule that you have to be 16 to drive it. We complied. So the night that mom's legs were hurting and she needed to walk, she left the scooter at the resturant and I had to drive it back to the front of the park. And I now truely understand the stares that people talk about.... I could just feel the comments about "why does "she" need a scooter, she looks ok to me".... it was a very eye opening experience and gave me a new perspective for everyday EVC users.

I agree that the oversized chairs should not be allowed on the busses for safety reasons.... I just wonder if Disney will offer alternative transportation like a specialized van service or if these people will be on there own to find a way to the parks.....

I also agree that there should be a limit to the number of guest allowed to board with the EVC user. I have often thought that there should be some way for families with an EVC user to be able to wait in the regular line and then be boarded... but I understand the logistics of why they cant... but if everybody waits their turn equally then it should be fair, right?


I think Disney does an exceptionally good job to make those with disabilities be able to have the same enjoyable experience as everybody else- companies are required to accomodate to a certain degree by law but Disney goes above and beyond in my opinion.

I learned alot from my trip with my mom. We waited in as many regular lines as we could with mom on the EVC, the CM's were very helpful and even though mom told some of them that she could walk a little, they made sure she didnt have to walk far, every CM that we encountered was courteous to my mom and my family and wanted to make sure that she was able to participate with us .... mom is getting older now but I hope with the help of an EVC she will be able to enjoy many more years at Disney with us.

I would not worry too much about people with oversized ECVs... as CF said, there is NO scooter made by pride (the maker of most scooters out there) that do NOT conform. Only the "fancy" scooters which are not made for indoor use, like the Dream scooter, will have problems. Pretty much every other rental, including the monsters that Disney rents, will be fine!

 

[icouldlivethere]

If there is abuse out there then I am all for cleaning it up.

As some one with long term chronic health conditions that leave me unable to stand and walk very far I would not be able to go to Disney without an ECV. I used to sit back at our hotel while my family went and enjoyed themselves in the parks. Then my kids started begging me to come along and my husband offered to push me in a chair and I gave it a try but felt terrible about how much extra work it was for my husband.

After a couple of years we went back and I rented ECV's at the parks but trying to get to the parks and stand in line to get an ECV was a problem. I was unable to use the buses because I could not stand and wait and then run the risk of having to stand on the bus.

Then I discovered that I could rent an ECV from an outside company for the length of the stay of my trip and it opened up a whole new world to me but I hated getting on the buses because that is where I always felt the most judged and saw the most stares. It made me want to cry.

My kids are now grown and a couple of years ago my husband and I decided to purchase a small DVC contract at the Boardwalk on the resale market. I just love staying there. I hardly have to use Disney transportation at all. My husband doesn't mind walking so we can go to both Epcot and DHS without using Disney transportation at all. When we want to go to MK we go all the way through Epcot and use the monorail to go to the TTS and then another monorail to MK all to avoid the buses and the nasty stares. The only places we take buses to are the AK and DD.

I rarely go out and do anything other than our trips to Disney because of my limited mobility and that is why I've made the decision to bite the bullet and purchase my own travel scooter and I can't wait. It will open up a whole new world for me and I will be able to go places and do things I haven't done in decades. I only wish I had made that choice sooner.

I have to say that all of the Disney bus drivers have always been wonderful and kind to me when they've loaded me and my ECV on the bus. They couldn't be nicer. I hope these new rules makes life easier for everyone.

 

[NotUrsula]

I also hope they start enforcing some other rules regarding mobility aids. I can't tell you the number of times we saw multiple "passengers" on an ECV; two or three kids, sometimes with one of them steering. We've even seen two adults crammed on the scooter. Rules are in place for a reason..usually safety. Chances are if you're disobeying a rule you are creating a hazard for yourself..and others.

I would hope that enforcement includes banning gas-powered "home-made mobility scooters", too. Twice in the course of my last visit I saw people in the parks on actual mopeds that had been fitted with -- wait for it -- bicycle training wheels!

A moped will do 30 mph and has NO business being ridden inside a theme park. Not only are they too fast, but the exhaust pipe gets hot; a real burn hazard potential in a crowd.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I would hope that enforcement includes banning gas-powered "home-made mobility scooters", too. Twice in the course of my last visit I saw people in the parks on actual mopeds that had been fitted with -- wait for it -- bicycle training wheels!

A moped will do 30 mph and has NO business being ridden inside a theme park. Not only are they too fast, but the exhaust pipe gets hot; a real burn hazard potential in a crowd.

Oh my. I have never seen one of these, but it seems very dangerous for everyone, including the rider. I sure hope I don't run into any ( or should I say that they don't run into ME) on our next trip.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would hope that enforcement includes banning gas-powered "home-made mobility scooters", too. Twice in the course of my last visit I saw people in the parks on actual mopeds that had been fitted with -- wait for it -- bicycle training wheels!

A moped will do 30 mph and has NO business being ridden inside a theme park. Not only are they too fast, but the exhaust pipe gets hot; a real burn hazard potential in a crowd.

I have not seen those, but I am surprised they got past security and the turnstiles.
They sound very dangerous.

I'm happy that I am able to give you all a heads up.

I will say that I have never has an issue on the bus with those who truly need a mobility device. It is those who feel privileged because they have one that are the problem children. I will ask who is in your party and have caught a bunch of tag alongs this way.

I'm sorry that I have not posted the rest of the details, i forgot to bring the paper with me. I'll try to do this tomorrow so that the complete info is available.

I will also speculate that in this transition time, there will be some confusion with drivers.

Our lifts are rated at 600lbs but the ramps on the low floors are rated at 800lbs.

Thank you all, while I did not expect a lot of negativity out of this, the support for all of you in this is great. I hope that this change makes your days at WDW easier.

Thank you for letting us know.
Even if it's not the whole story yet, it's good to know.