Touring Tips

[Uncle Mikey]

This will be my fourth trip to WDW but my first with two ladies who will be using ECV's and GAC's. I have been reading some of the guides that offer touring tips. But none of them really cover tips for those with mobility issues. I was wondering if anyone was aware of a book that dealt more in depth with touring tips for those with mobility challenges. Or perhaps some on this board might have a few thoughts to share. We have been to Disneyland twice using ECV's and SAP's and kind of learned our lessons the hard way there. I would like this to be as enjoyable a trip for them as I can make it. Thanks.

 

[lisapooh]

Be sure you get a GAC as well because there are some rides where ECVs are not allowed and you have to transfer to a manaul wheelchair for them.
If you are renting, rent from offsite. I am sure Teri will give you the link to here site. Don't have it on this computer yet.
Go slow. People tend to play chicken with the ECVs. Bring a loud horn to beep at them.
KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR! AND HAVE FUN!

 

[Wheelsie]

I couldn't have said it better myself Lisa!

Here is some ECV rental places you may find helpful!


Walker Mobility

Care Medical

Randy's Mobility

Colonail Medical

If you use any of these PLEASE come back and share your information with us...It helps to learn from others' experiences!

If I can be of any other help please don't hesitate to ask!

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome from me too.
You may find that you don't need a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) if it's not very busy. We had one in March because DD who uses a wheelchair and has trouble with waiting in line. Even then when it was busy, we only needed to use it once or twice a day.
For most rides/attractions at WDW, wheelchair and ecv users do wait in line with everyone else (mainstream access). For a few rides, wheelchair or ecv users need to board at the exit and are pulled out of line just before everyone else gets to the boarding area. For the rides where an ecv is not able to stay in the line, the CM at the entrance should trade the ecv for a wheelchair without you needing anything. The problem I can see is that there may not be 2 wheelchairs available to switch to for those rides.
The park maps are coded to tell which rides can accomidate someone staying in a wheelchair or ecv. A little wheelchair icon shows you can stay in the wheelchair or ecv for the whole ride. There is an icon of someone switching from an ecv to a wheelchair for the rides where that is needed and an icon of someone getting out of the wheelchair and standing up when you must actually board the ride car.
Here's a link to the DIS page about touring with mobility disabilities.
There is a Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities covering each park available from Guest Services at WDW resorts or any of the parks. It's not really helpful about boarding, but does give a little more info about how rough the ride is and also tells how long each ride/attraction. That might be helpful information for your friends, but other than that, it is not real helpful. Other than those, there are no books about touring WDW with special challenges.
If you think of any specific questions, come back and ask.

 

[Nanajo1]

The CMs are usually very good about transferring you from an ECV to a WC. I've had two experiences that show both ends of the spectrum. Once at the Movie ride I asked a CM for a manual WC. He waved me in, I thought I must have read the Map wrong. I was able to ride the ECV all the way to the boarding area,however, there are a few yards that must be walked from there to the trams. I was not ambulating at the time. My DH carried me to the tram(no easy feat). The second tme was at Winnie the Pooh. The CM went to get a WC and all that was available was an oversized one. She quickly saw that the WC was wider than my ECV and led me through on my ECV which did fit. Also there was another person waiting for a WC at Winnie but his ECV was bigger than mine. A CM then went on a search for a usable WC.

 

[lisapooh]

I always seem to have problem with the castmembers at the Pooh ride because they insist that my power whhelchair is an ECV and I should transfer. My power wheelchair is no bigger than a standard wheelchair in width and there is absolutely no reason I should transfer to a manual one since I transfer to the ride vehicle once I am there. I usually get a GAC that states that I can remain in my own chair in all mainstream lines. btw I even got ha hassle with that from once castmember at Guest Relations and had to demand a supervisor to get it settled.

 

[SueM in MN]

Nanajo, I have also seen ecvs inside the boarding area of the Great Movie Ride, so I know they can go there. I think the assumption if you are riding an ecv is that you can walk. There is room for only one person in a wheelchair per trip in the Great Movie Ride (the last row of the first tram), so they want to keep that for someone who is not able to transfer. You really have to be quick to tell them you want to stay in the chair too.
One time when we were in line for that ride, the CM was talking to my DD about the ride. I wasn't really paying much attention and didn't notice the CM asked DD if she could transfer. DD shook her head "yes" and the CM started to lead her to the front car (where they usually load people who can get out of their wheelchair). We had to run behind and let the CM know she needed to stay in the wheelchair. I told DD that if anyone else asked if she could transfer, she should say "no". She wasn't too happy about that since she indicated she could get out if "Daddy help."

 

[lisapooh]

Your daughter is truthful. Unfortunately the castmember didn't wait to get the full story. Sounds like you daughter is a doll.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks. She can be a hand full sometimes, but she can also be really sweet and nice.
We were happy that the CM treated her like a functioning human being who would be able to answer. Sometimes we don't get that treatment.
When she was little and we went to store she didn't want to be in, I really had to watch because she would park herself by the front door looking patheticly like she wanted to go out, but could not open the door herself. Good Samaritans would ask if she needed help opening the door and of course, she nodded her head. Several times I had to stop her. I don't know if the people who opened the door were also in the habit of opening doors and letting out able-bodied 6 year olds, but I know I wouldn't unless I saw the mom was going out.