Trip Planning help needed. Mom might need ECV?

[Cin]

Mom and I are planning a trip in Jan to WDW. She has mobility issues due to back surgery last year and walks very slowly. She's agreed to go to WDW with me for a week and I asked her if she was going to need an ECV at the parks and otherwise? She said no, I've got this, holding up her walking stick. She rarely uses her stick and has been to WDW before AK was built so she does know how much walking and standing is involved. Just in case, I need information as I am thinking she is going to end up needing to rent an ECV before the trip is through and learn how to operate it. Neither of us knows anything about one though. I've seen her walking just from our handicapped space to the restaurant or store and I have to move extra slowly for her to keep up. She walks fine though just not average speed and I think even with a preferred room she is going to be worn out by the second day. Can we get an ECV for resort use as well as park use and how manageable are the parks for a user? Mom has trouble with stairs (so we ARE going to hold up lines while she climbs Splash mountain and the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse) unless there are elevators for those with mobility issues. How easy or hard is it to tour the parks, get around resorts, and dine at signature and other sit down restaurants in WDW? What else should I consider? Should I rent a car for transport back and forth to meals and the hassle of navigating or let Disney drive and do the heavy work? If Mom only needs an ECV for a day or a few hours how does that work? Or is there wheelchair rental available? What are our options?

 

[peemagg]

If you look at the Disabilities FAQ's section at the beginning of the DisAbilities forum, there is a lot of info in there about ECV's and wheelchairs. This would be a good place to start.