Transportation to and from parks

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

if dh wants to go back to the resort to take a nap well one of us need to help him on and off the bus given he is in a ecv

 

[Maggie'sMom]

if dh wants to go back to the resort to take a nap well one of us need to help him on and off the bus given he is in a ecv

Is he experienced in driving an ECV? Can he transfer to a seat by himself? If he's an experienced ECV driver, then he should be able to handle getting the ECV on the lift to get on the bus. The bus driver will help with the lift and getting the ECV strapped down. It generally isn't safe to sit on an ECV on the bus. It's better to transfer to an actual seat. If he can transfer by himself, then he should be able to go back to the resort without someone accompanying him.

You'll be able to tell for sure when you ride the bus to the park. Your DH will see how the process goes and he can judge at that point if he's comfortable making the trip alone or if he'd rather have one of you accompany him.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

What I did not think about is how is he going to get in the room with out someone opening the door for him, well a accessible room help with that

 

[arminnie]

I've stayed totally alone with an ecv many times. In a regular room. It's doable.

 

[Bete]

The way I have been able to get a scooter in on my own is getting the scooter very close to the door. Then, I open the door. Then, I manually off the scooter inch the scooter by pushing the handle down enough to hold the door open. Then, I get back on the scooter and drive it in.

It's not easy to fit on the side of the scooter to manually get the scooter in the door but if you do it slowly and carefully it's doable.

You can practice with him before you actually put it to the test.

There may be others ways that people do it and hopefully they will share. Make sure he plugs the scooter in for recharging; so, he can be ready to go back to the park later.

I find it a little trying to park the scooter on the bus in the exact location it needs to be to get hooked up. I have manually put it in position by being off the scooter.

 

[Staren]

The door issue really depends on his ecv skills. It is possible to zip through a closed door in a scooter or wheelchair, but it is a skill that takes practice.

 

[gap2368]

What I did not think about is how is he going to get in the room with out someone opening the door for him, well a accessible room help with that

I know someone that uses an ECV because of a bad hip she can walk some just not all day at disney for her she can stand up to open the door, and drive the scooter in. on the other hand I know someone with CP and it would take this person a good 10 minutes just tapping his Mikey to the Mickey reader, and I will not even get started on him opening the door.

The door at disney close behind you and they are a little heavy, I have heard people being able to take that part off the door ( disney has to do it) but I have heard that it can be hard as Disney dose not like to do it incase you forget to close your door. If the person in the ECV can park the ECV close to the door stand and walk 5 or so steps open the door ( and if you can get someone to take off the shot the door thing) then he could walk back to his ECV park it inside and go back and close the door. I have also heard people using door stop that they bring with them but he would have to bend down and pick it up.


or maybe you could get something like this https://www.wdrake.com/buy-cast-iro...MIhZKGyeCB1QIVg4SzCh3RoQ1OEAYYAyABEgK27fD_BwE

and tie a string around it, and have a loop at the other end. he can pick it up with the string and have the string around the door handle when it is holding the door open for him and then when he gets his ECV in the room use the string to pick it up. ( you would have to be careful of you ankles getting hit) but it might work

 

[Simba's Mom]

What I did not think about is how is he going to get in the room with out someone opening the door for him, well a accessible room help with that

That was my issue also. On buses, the drivers were always willing to help with whatever I needed help with, but unfortunately they didn't come to the room with me. I'd like to hear how other solos worked it out. I think I remember someone said something once about a rubber stopper.

 

[arminnie]

I find it harder to get out of the room on an ECV than getting back in. I just sort of drive the ECV thru the door going in - pushing the door with the ECV. Going out I will get off, open the door enough to wedge the ECV out, get back on and then leave. I always carry a cane in my ECV in case I want to get off to walk so I guess I could poke the door with my cane if I needed to.

But I'm sure that if the person truly could not get the door open a CM would be happy to help. And I've found that people passing by are always offering to help me. Most people want to help others.

 

[DisneyOma]

What I did not think about is how is he going to get in the room with out someone opening the door for him, well a accessible room help with that

Is he unable to walk at all? Can he stand, open the door, put a door wedge in (bring one with you) drive the ECV in the room, then remove the door stop?

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Is he unable to walk at all? Can he stand, open the door, put a door wedge in (bring one with you) drive the ECV in the room, then remove the door stop?

No he can walk the wedge is a great idea

 

[gap2368]

No he can walk the wedge is a great idea

I posted this earlier in this thread and this is what someone I know dose. ( he keeps the door stopper in his ECV) not the same one he uses but anything you can tie a string on ( and it will not slip off would work)

or maybe you could get something like this https://www.wdrake.com/buy-cast-iro...MIhZKGyeCB1QIVg4SzCh3RoQ1OEAYYAyABEgK27fD_BwE

and tie a string around it, and have a loop at the other end. he can pick it up with the string and have the string around the door handle when it is holding the door open for him and then when he gets his ECV in the room use the string to pick it up. ( you would have to be careful of you ankles getting hit) but it might work

 

[lanejudy]

Those cast iron door stoppers are very cute, but I suspect it is probably much too heavy to pick up with a string. A simple rubber door stopper wedge would be much lighter and easier to lug around all day.

Tink -- the resort room doors open inward, which helps for returning to the room alone because he can kind of use the ECV to nudge the door open. It might be harder for him exiting the room alone, though with practice can be done and using something like a door stopper would make it easier.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Kaytie]

If he just needs to rest a bit, he could visit First Aid.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

That was my issue also. On buses, the drivers were always willing to help with whatever I needed help with, but unfortunately they didn't come to the room with me. I'd like to hear how other solos worked it out. I think I remember someone said something once about a rubber stopper.

I always take a rubber doorstop with me to keep the door open. Most people who aren't used to scooters/WC find it very difficult to open the door. I'm very experienced with ECV's, but with my rheumatoid arthritis, I have trouble anyway. Cheapo doorstop solved the problem!

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Call me a whimp but I think after boarding the 6 am bus the plan is going to be to go back to the resort with dh for lunch and a nap and after the nap we'll return to AK for some more fun

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

There are door stops on Amazon with handles.

But if he can bend over and put a rubber stop in, that would be lighter.