ironz
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,861
Hi, just wanted to share in case anyone can learn from my recent experience.
Situation: mid-50's generally fit female who normally is at WDW for the running races, but had arthroscopic knee surgery less than 2 weeks before a planned WDW trip--- so quite a turn of events for me to not be in a condition to walk the usual 8-10 miles or so that we cover on a normal park day. I was hoping to just limit my walking (visiting with friends, one of whom has more chronic disabilities that have her in a scooter, as she can walk but not long distance and can't stand for prolonged periods). So naturally I tried walking in my neighborhood a week after surgery (less than 1/2 mile), and then my ortho and PT said I need to take it easier than that. (what?! I wouldn't even be able to get to Kilimanjaro Safaris!
)
My choices (because I really want a good result from my surgery) were to: cancel the trip and disappoint my friend I was meeting, or rent a scooter! Of course, my friend was more important than the $100 I spent on the ECV rental.
Rented from Apple Scooters, as they would deliver to my resort (Saratoga Springs) and pick up. And I could book that online with less than 2 days notice. I didn't get an email confirmation, but screenshot the online confirmation page, just in case, and so I had their number if any issues. Hardest day of walking was in the airport, as I had connecting flights. But not too bad. Scooter was waiting for me at the resort, and the bell services CM was super helpful in showing me how to use it! It was fully charged and operational. I've seen some less- than-stellar reviews of Apple, but my scooter worked with zero problems the whole time. Maintained a good charge all day each day (I brought it into the studio at SS at night to charge). I did turn it off when we were on rides or if my friend wanted to go into a shop. So I didn't have the battery constantly running all day. I would recommend Apple.
Met my friends at Disney Springs (I scootered over there-- that was convenient and a pleasant pathway to take). Almost instantly, I developed a new level of empathy for all the ECV users. I have read on here the struggles ECV users have, and have (as a walking person) seen some not-as-nice ECV users. And I tell you, it is HARD. When you are used to having 2 healthy legs and can zip in and out of people stopping in the walkways, watching for kids (who, if walking, you could sort of catch if they ran into you), etc.... being in an ECV is a new ballgame. It's hard enough being on 2 feet and having to maneuver around a clump of people, who you can kind of see over--- in an ECV, you need more room to get around them, and you can't see if a kid or other person is coming at you if you do try to pass the clump of people.
No one ever made me feel bad for being in the scooter-- really, people were generally nice, if they noticed-- the trouble is, some people are not aware enough of their surroundings to mind a person in an ECV (but that holds true for walking people as well -- people just need to remember that the world does not end 6" from their skin surface and we are all sharing space).
But really, it's just a different world, and though I feel like I tried to give ECV users their respect before, they get a little more from me now (unless they're going at super high speed and bowling through the crowds--that is never ok. I drove at a very slow speed and really tried to never push my way through anywhere.)
We did do the Keys to the Kingdom tour, and that was fine on the ECV (and a longer and better tour than I recall from several years ago).
I did ice and elevate my knee each evening when we got back to the resort, and don't feel like I messed up my recovery too much.
I would recommend practicing if you are new to an ECV-- I wasn't great getting on/off the buses, but my DH helped me, or there were kind bus drivers. I feel like one let me take a little long for me to try to do it myself one time, and my apologies to anyone who was waiting on that bus. (only a few minutes, but I know in bus-waiting time, that feels like an eternity)
All in all-- I'm glad I went on my trip. Apple Scooters was no problem. And I am happy that my knee is recovering and I will be back on my 2 feet for my next visit. And back to running at the 10K in January if all continues well.
Everyone just remember-- BE NICE and be aware of all of the people around you!
Situation: mid-50's generally fit female who normally is at WDW for the running races, but had arthroscopic knee surgery less than 2 weeks before a planned WDW trip--- so quite a turn of events for me to not be in a condition to walk the usual 8-10 miles or so that we cover on a normal park day. I was hoping to just limit my walking (visiting with friends, one of whom has more chronic disabilities that have her in a scooter, as she can walk but not long distance and can't stand for prolonged periods). So naturally I tried walking in my neighborhood a week after surgery (less than 1/2 mile), and then my ortho and PT said I need to take it easier than that. (what?! I wouldn't even be able to get to Kilimanjaro Safaris!
)My choices (because I really want a good result from my surgery) were to: cancel the trip and disappoint my friend I was meeting, or rent a scooter! Of course, my friend was more important than the $100 I spent on the ECV rental.
Rented from Apple Scooters, as they would deliver to my resort (Saratoga Springs) and pick up. And I could book that online with less than 2 days notice. I didn't get an email confirmation, but screenshot the online confirmation page, just in case, and so I had their number if any issues. Hardest day of walking was in the airport, as I had connecting flights. But not too bad. Scooter was waiting for me at the resort, and the bell services CM was super helpful in showing me how to use it! It was fully charged and operational. I've seen some less- than-stellar reviews of Apple, but my scooter worked with zero problems the whole time. Maintained a good charge all day each day (I brought it into the studio at SS at night to charge). I did turn it off when we were on rides or if my friend wanted to go into a shop. So I didn't have the battery constantly running all day. I would recommend Apple.
Met my friends at Disney Springs (I scootered over there-- that was convenient and a pleasant pathway to take). Almost instantly, I developed a new level of empathy for all the ECV users. I have read on here the struggles ECV users have, and have (as a walking person) seen some not-as-nice ECV users. And I tell you, it is HARD. When you are used to having 2 healthy legs and can zip in and out of people stopping in the walkways, watching for kids (who, if walking, you could sort of catch if they ran into you), etc.... being in an ECV is a new ballgame. It's hard enough being on 2 feet and having to maneuver around a clump of people, who you can kind of see over--- in an ECV, you need more room to get around them, and you can't see if a kid or other person is coming at you if you do try to pass the clump of people.
No one ever made me feel bad for being in the scooter-- really, people were generally nice, if they noticed-- the trouble is, some people are not aware enough of their surroundings to mind a person in an ECV (but that holds true for walking people as well -- people just need to remember that the world does not end 6" from their skin surface and we are all sharing space).
But really, it's just a different world, and though I feel like I tried to give ECV users their respect before, they get a little more from me now (unless they're going at super high speed and bowling through the crowds--that is never ok. I drove at a very slow speed and really tried to never push my way through anywhere.)
We did do the Keys to the Kingdom tour, and that was fine on the ECV (and a longer and better tour than I recall from several years ago).
I did ice and elevate my knee each evening when we got back to the resort, and don't feel like I messed up my recovery too much.
I would recommend practicing if you are new to an ECV-- I wasn't great getting on/off the buses, but my DH helped me, or there were kind bus drivers. I feel like one let me take a little long for me to try to do it myself one time, and my apologies to anyone who was waiting on that bus. (only a few minutes, but I know in bus-waiting time, that feels like an eternity)
All in all-- I'm glad I went on my trip. Apple Scooters was no problem. And I am happy that my knee is recovering and I will be back on my 2 feet for my next visit. And back to running at the 10K in January if all continues well.
Everyone just remember-- BE NICE and be aware of all of the people around you!
