My very first solo trip is next month, and I'm wondering if there are any other
ECV users who have done WDW solo? I'm a bit nervous... I've never done this alone before, and I've always had somebody to help with things like swinging doors (such as the ones into the aviaries on the walking trails in AK), to wait in long lines at crowded counter service locations while I stake out a table, grabbing my handle bars and pushing/steering me backwards safely onto elevators, and other things that might become potential issues once I'm by myself.
I'm also renting the ECV off-property for the very first time ever, so that I can finally properly explore my resort and DTD without pain or dizziness. I've always avoided this because of my terror at loading on and off the Disney busses with the ECV. Staying at Pop Century.
Anyhow... Has anybody else here gone solo on wheels? Any advice? Things to keep in mind? Things to watch out for? Calm my nerves, please!
Thanks, ya'll!
I've been on a half-dozen WDW trips solo. I can handle swinging doors, like PP
bidnow5 mentioned. If you feel you can't handle the door, another guest will be along soon to help.
At CS places, you have to pay attention to ONLY get in lines with the Blue Accessible Sign. They're usually at the far left or the far right. Otherwise, you won't be able to turn around at the counter when you get your food -- too tight. Once at Restaurantosautus, a CM told me to get in a regular line and I refused. I went down to the HA line at the end. Lesson: some Disney employees aren't paying attention to your specific needs -- you have to know how things work. Don't worry about staking out a table before ordering food. As far as a CM helping you find a table at a CS, you have to use discretion here, too. One CM tried to get me thru crowded tables at Cosmic Ray's, and there wasn't 18 inches of aisle space. I stopped and waited for the CM to come back -- then selected a table close to the ordering area with lots of room.
For elevators, me and others enter straight in, on the ECV, then back out when we reach our floor. Turn your speed down in this situation.
There's no terror involved in loading onto a bus, boat, or monorail except for the first time. Once you do it by yourself once, you'll see it wasn't a big deal and you'll get confidence. The newer buses are much easier to load than the old ones. Trickiest for me was the monorail ramp. Keep your speed down. You have to back off the ramp slowly and concentrate on steering straight back. I've done it now 50 times and it's OK.
I've wandered around the entire Disney property, including most resorts and DTD. Most awkward situations involve aisles at stores, where I have to wait for others to finish shopping in order to get through. Also, if you're off to the side and want to join a crowd of people on a path, it's difficult b/c people just don't see you. You have to stick out your arm, speak up, say "I'm trying to get in. Thank you." Otherwise you'll be there awhile.
There are a few rides I don't do alone, versus riding with family. Splash Mt is too difficult to exit the ride car alone (for me). Space Mt also. I have an issue with BTMRR that isn't resolved yet. They used to bring my
scooter over after the ride. Lately they don't. They give me a manual wc to use to get back to my scooter. However, BTMRR has an inclined exit which is nearly impossible for a solo wc user to propel up. I almost tipped over backwards! Same thing getting back to where my scooter was parked, I had to go up another incline. I've posted about this situation and didn't get any responses. Next month I'll try the ride again. At Little Mermaid, the CM wasn't going to slow the moving walkway for me. She told me to just get out of the wc, get onto the moving walkway, place my hands on the ride car, and get in. No way could I do that with my balance and walking issues. I refused. A second CM came along who slowed the ramp and pushed the wc to the ride car so I could transfer. Those are a few examples of bad customer service you might encounter.
You may or may not encounter a situation where you have to stand up for yourself against clueless dum-dums who could injure you with their stupidity. I'll just make a vague statement that some younger CMs who operate the rides aren't paying attention, and possibly don't care about your physical problems. What was done in the past seems to be skipped over lately. I'm apprehensive about my trip coming up in this regard. However, I know what happened in the past, and I'll insist on some things when at all possible. For example, a mobility-impaired poster recently was told to exit up the ramp at Pirates of the Caribbean. I know there's an elevator. The CM told this person they couldn't use the elevator! Sorry, I won't stand for that. I'll make noise. It's not right to be forced to use a dangerous (to handicapped) ramp when there's an elevator available.
Use your Disney knowledge and experiences to define your expectations about how you should be treated solo. Stand up for yourself if necessary, and make clear statements about your needs. Everything is wide open at WDW for a person on an ECV, with very few limitations. Have a blast!
