AlexDurrani
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2008
- Messages
- 296
I see a definite difference between people who are being careful drivers of ECVs or wheelchairs and can't help running into someone because they walk out in front of them and people who cheerfully proclaim that they race through the parks, expect people to move out of the way for them and don't care if they hit people.
I have used ECV's in the parks for the last 10 trips. This includes DLR and DWR. Running into someone in front of me was something I had trouble with in the beginning with the old Disney ECVs that did not have good brakes on them. After having trouble with ECVs from Disney not stopping or after stopping keeping rolling I decided to get off site where I can be more certain on the reliability of the equipment. Due to limitations on this site I can't say where I get my ECVs from but the company is great.
I agree with toocherie on their being different types of people that get the ECVs. Until the recent price increase on the rentals, it had become fashionable for people to get them so that they can, and I quote Pete on this, "get ahead in the line for attractions!!!" I used to see teenagers (yes this was before Disney put a age limit on the drivers and actually enforced it) riding around on the ECVs weaving in and out the crowds. It has gotten better in the parks but now the problem isn't the guests in the powered scooters but the guests that are not paying attention and walk right into you from the sides. I have had people blind-side me while I am crawling in the crowd.
For heavens sakes how hard is it not to see someone on a scooter. Anyway i am glad that Disney has placed speed controls on the scooters they rent now that actually work. I had to set my mom's low when we went down last year for a meeting with my dad. This is a suggestion to all that rent off site and have the ability, set the speeds low on the scooter of an inexperienced user. Definitely helps keep them safe. Also do not leave them alone for the first day or so. These scooters are tip prone and are not stable on inclines that are taken at an angle from the side. Take ramps head on not sideways. I have seen several people tip sideways because they didn't heed the warning from the CM at the rental place to not take inclines sideways.
Ok enough ranting my part, I am turning into Pete here. Have a great trip.
Sikandar "Alex" Durrani