Urgent:ECV issues

[crazytp93]

Hi Guys!

So I’m sure most of you have heard about MK closing yesterday because it was filled to capacity. Well, I’m headed south to WDW tomorrow for a 4 night trip. I’ll be traveling with my family and my grandmother. We think she is going to use an ECV/scooter. Based on experience, do you guys think it would be a good idea in these crowds? I heard this past week and this week are going to be brutal crowd wise. Is she better off in a wheelchair?

Thanks in advance. I leave early tomorrow morning!

 

[going/again]

Hi Guys!

So I’m sure most of you have heard about MK closing yesterday because it was filled to capacity. Well, I’m headed south to WDW tomorrow for a 4 night trip. I’ll be traveling with my family and my grandmother. We think she is going to use an ECV/scooter. Based on experience, do you guys think it would be a good idea in these crowds? I heard this past week and this week are going to be brutal crowd wise. Is she better off in a wheelchair?

Thanks in advance. I leave early tomorrow morning!

use the ecv/scooter, we always go at xmas when its really busy my wife has to use her power chair no choice, and is always ok.

 

[pudge the fish]

does grandma feel comfy using an ECV- has she ever used one??
go with what is most comfy for her. if she is not used to an EVC and is really older and not comfy driving one then get her a WC

I don't know if I think the crowds will be as busy this week as before Easter was - it may be crowded then again it may be really crowded???
Have an awesome time anyway!!

 

[ireland_nicole]

I agree w/ pudge the fish, if your GM is well used to using an ECV, and it won't tire her out, she should be ok, if not, it probably best for her to use a w/c, if the "pushers" in your group can manage.

 

[Disneygranny1973]

If your grandmother is used to an ECV it would probably be easier for her to manage the crowds rather than someone else pushing her. Before I got my scooter and my family had to push my wheelchair, we ran into a lot of people because they just couldn't see past my legs to see how far my feet were sticking out...since i've "graduated" to the scooter, I have no problems seeing how close I am to the people around me...plus my family can now enjoy the parks without getting wore out not only from walking, but pushing me.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I have worked as a CM and based on observation the ECVs could be very difficult to navigate in the crowds because of the size and the fact that it is hard to go at crowd speed. This is especially true if somebody is not used to using them. If somebody has used them before it may not be much of an issue. Be especially careful on Main Street. I have seen so many people go off the curb because they sort of got pushed away by the crowd and didn't see it.

Frankly, if I was there during a crowded time I would use a wheelchair, especially if you have several able bodied people who can switch off pushing. It seems to me it would be much easier to control in the crowds- just make sure to remember about the food rests so you don't hit people's ankles!

 

[Windjammermay]

I so hear you Eeyores Butterfly, scooters and crowds are very hard to manuver. If they are not use to the scooter it can get very flustrating and you get "road rage" then it is any ones game about getting around.

I have a chair and I would love to put a "cow catcher" on the front.

Being in a crowd can get scary for the chair/scooter driver. People spill things on you and they get under your wheels and you can get so afraid of hiting them. The best you can do it ....."pull it over" ....find a nice spot, try to relax and watch all the silly AB's go by.

If you need to move threw the crowd, keep your eyes down. Watch for legs, feet, strollers, curbs, rough terrain, and kids. If you are looking up you will hit just about anything and anyone. Consuntrate and start humming to yourself. It helps.

 

[SueM in MN]

My FIL used one if the park rental scooters for the last 4 years of his life. He would use one at Epcit and the Studio, but not at AK or MK because he felt they were too crowded.
When it's really crowded, it can be hard even with a push wheelchair.
Unless she is a VERY experienced scooter driver AND is not intimidated by being in a crowd, I'd just do the wheelchair.

 

[Momelie]

I have a chair and I would love to put a "cow catcher" on the front.

I cannot tell you how many times I've said this!!!!

In a very crowded MK, rather than my ECV, I usually use my wheelchair, and have my cane handy. If necessary, the cane can occasionally act as a cow catcher - once at DHS, it really came in handy when a kid in wheelies tried to jump OVER me!

 

[mechurchlady]

I agree with Sue that in heavy crowds you need to be a confident and assertive driver or use a wheelchair. I just whacked a preteen girl who was in a group blocking a pathway at DLR. She jsut stepped back into traffic without looking. At the horrid RAinforest Cafe there was a herd of people blocking aisles and only MOVE or EXCUSE ME. gets them to move if at all. There are lots of people that stop and have a little chats while everyone has to go around them. There are the happy groups walking 4 or ore across and do not realize some people are in a hurry and do not want to walk at .5 miles per hour.

 

[toocherie]

I am a very experienced ECV driver and have never "whacked" anyone despite them walking out in front of me. Just as someone who drives a car needs to be a defensive driver, someone in an ECV has to be a responsible operator as well and always be prepared that someone IS going to walk out in front of you without looking (because they will!)

It really steams me when I see someone in an ECV being aggressive because it gives us all a bad name and reputation. Just because you "can" go faster than the people walking in front of you doesn't mean you should.

 

[Windjammermay]

I am sorry mechurchlady, but toocherie makes a very good point. I have posted repeatedly that we should not get into "road rage" and to be patient. I use a chair on a daily basis. I have noticed that many of the people that rent mobility devices at WDW really don't know what it is to be chair bound and know how to manuver them saftly with respect for the pedestrians.

In the 14 years that I have been in a chair I have hit only 1 person and that was no accident. I was trying to get off the Metro in DC and a teenage boy would not let me get off. The train started to move and I did not want to be caught between the train and the plateform. My wheels were half on the train and half on the plateform and the doors were trying to close on me, so I hit him so hard that he flew up and into my lap. The first time I ever had used my chair as a "weapon" and it is just that, a weapon. The weight and speed of those chairs and scooters can do some serious damage to a person.

As a daily user of a chair I am polite and respectful of people. Being aggressive with those ECV gives use daily users a bad name. You are only in those ECV for a short time of use so lighten up on the attidute and be grateful that you can walk away when you leave the park.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As I have stated in the past, I have never accidently run into anyone with my ECV.

I have at some times stopped and people walked (or drove strollers) directly into the front of the ECV. I have asked people to move and then run over their toes. Since my ECV has three wheels, and the rear wheels are protected by fenders, that says how close they were.

When I am by myself I will sometimes travel at "full rabbit", which on my ECV can be 6 mph. However, as I spend so much time in the parks I am looking not at "stuff" but at the people around and in front of me and will only do top speed when the way is clear. When it is crowded I will definitely slow down, but, again, if I am by myself I will maneuver as needed to get ahead of slow people or groups.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would agree that everyone needs to be a defensive driver (there are lots of people out there walking who are not defensive walkers).
There are plenty of people who are about an inch away from getting whacked though, not matter how careful the driver is. One time DD stopped just in time to avoid hitting someone who ended up in DD's lap. DD was driving her power wheelchair and someone who was taking a picture backed up and came at DD from the side. Luckily DD stopped (with the woman sort of suspended with her backside about 3 inches above DD's armrest). DD stopped right away.
After taking the picture, the woman moved forward again. I don't think she even knew that she was almost sitting in DD's lap.
What surprized me was that the people she was taking the pictures of didn't seem to notice either.

SO, everyone needs to be careful out there. If the traffic is going slow, there is no use trying to go faster.

 

[toocherie]

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.

 

[SueM in MN]

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.

A lot of the non-careful people are the ones constantly beeping their horns.

 

[toocherie]

A lot of the non-careful people are the ones constantly beeping their horns.

there was one old man at AK a couple of weeks ago who was in the middle of the crowd constantly beeping on his little horn while riding the ECV. Like beeping the horn was going to make the crowd move faster or out of his way.

the only time my horn was beeped was when a CM I was talking to leaned over and purposely honked it because she liked the sound!

People--just because you're on an ECV or in a wheelchair doesn't give you carte blanche to think that you're better than the walkers and that they should somehow all get out of your way and make way for you!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I am sorry mechurchlady, but toocherie makes a very good point. I have posted repeatedly that we should not get into "road rage" and to be patient. I use a chair on a daily basis. I have noticed that many of the people that rent mobility devices at WDW really don't know what it is to be chair bound and know how to manuver them saftly with respect for the pedestrians.

In the 14 years that I have been in a chair I have hit only 1 person and that was no accident. I was trying to get off the Metro in DC and a teenage boy would not let me get off. The train started to move and I did not want to be caught between the train and the plateform. My wheels were half on the train and half on the plateform and the doors were trying to close on me, so I hit him so hard that he flew up and into my lap. The first time I ever had used my chair as a "weapon" and it is just that, a weapon. The weight and speed of those chairs and scooters can do some serious damage to a person.

As a daily user of a chair I am polite and respectful of people. Being aggressive with those ECV gives use daily users a bad name. You are only in those ECV for a short time of use so lighten up on the attidute and be grateful that you can walk away when you leave the park.

I felt that that part needed to be bolded and repeated. My first College Program the only time I was on on light duty was when an ECV ran over and damaged my achilles tendon. It was nobody's fault. The park was mega crowded, I was trying to wrap the line of Philharmagic around the building and happened to step back at the wrong moment. I was off of regular duty for a week. A friend of mine was run over by an ECV that was mistakenly let up the queue of Winnie the Pooh. There wasn't enough room for him to make the turn and he bruised every bone and muscle in her foot. She was on crutches for several weeks. Both of these were accidents.

We have had to call paramedics many times because a driver was not being careful and ran over somebody. The worst was a driver who purposely rammed several people including a couple of children. Thankfully those types of incidents are rare, but accidents occur quite frequently. If you have never driven an ECV, a crowded day is probably not your best time, especially if you have problems with reaction time.

 

[mechurchlady]

I am sorry mechurchlady, but toocherie makes a very good point. I have posted repeatedly that we should not get into "road rage" and to be patient. I use a chair on a daily basis. I have noticed that many of the people that rent mobility devices at WDW really don't know what it is to be chair bound and know how to manuver them saftly with respect for the pedestrians.

In the 14 years that I have been in a chair I have hit only 1 person and that was no accident. I was trying to get off the Metro in DC and a teenage boy would not let me get off. The train started to move and I did not want to be caught between the train and the plateform. My wheels were half on the train and half on the plateform and the doors were trying to close on me, so I hit him so hard that he flew up and into my lap. The first time I ever had used my chair as a "weapon" and it is just that, a weapon. The weight and speed of those chairs and scooters can do some serious damage to a person.

As a daily user of a chair I am polite and respectful of people. Being aggressive with those ECV gives use daily users a bad name. You are only in those ECV for a short time of use so lighten up on the attidute and be grateful that you can walk away when you leave the park.

If you read what I said then you would have understood what happened. I am sorry that my neurovariant brain does not type clearly proper English.

I was walking in traffic and with the traffic. I was leaning with my hands on the arms of the chair. This is like a rollator for me and a seat.
I WAS WALKING WITH TRAFFIC
I WAS MOVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC
I WAS NOT MAD AT THE GIRL OR ANYONE ELSE
THE GIRL STEPPED BACKWARDS.
THE GIRL STEPPED IN FRONT OF MY CHAIR.
IF I WAS NOT THERE THEN SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY PEDESTRIANS.

I do not know where road rage comes into play here. I feel hurt but am used to being hunted down and stalked and made an example of.

I never have whacked people on purpose. I have hit a few but each time the person stepped in front of me. I was run over by an old man who sped through the Saloon at DLR. I do get road rage and control it somehow or get out of there and not just in parks. I want the target taken off of me.

 

[Windjammermay]

I am very sorry mechurchlady for miss understanding you, please forgive me. I am not the greatest for writing, spelling and sometimes not always reading well. My mistake.

Yes, the AB's do have a way to test your patients. They do step in front of you with out even knowing thier personal space never mind what is around them. It is sad that many times I need to watch the road, looking down to avoid people and curbs. I would rather be looking up and see what is there and going on.

The nice thing I have noticed was the kids. You are at thier eye level and they have such funny looks when they see you down with them. You can get the sweatest smiles and looks from them. Even a wave or two. They will offer you thier lolly pops, toys and a lovely smile. It is too cute. They have it going on, the little ones take you as you are and think it is just all right, you are well excepted.

The adults are too in a hurry to notice life. Too busy to enjoy what they have in that moment. So when they step in front of you, fall on you, or spill things on you well that is just how it is. The kids have it no better.

Happy trails and be safe out there people