Waiting in lines with an ECV

[karenh27]

Hi, I am sure this has been asked and answered before, I just can't seem to find it! We are traveling to Disney with my dad, who has several health conditions, for the first time. While he can (mostly) walk and stand in "regular life", in Disney, he is using an ECV because there is no way he can do those distances and that amount of time walking and standing.

So, I'm trying to picture what will happen in ride lines. Do we park the ECV with the strollers and then he stands in line with us? I'm concerned if it is a long line that it will be too much for him. Or can he drive the ECV through the line? Is it ride-dependent? I can't believe I've never really noticed before in all the times we've been there. Wish I'd paid more attention!

Thank you so much for any input you may have.

 

[lanejudy]

to the disABILITIES Forum!

Your father will be allowed to ride the ECV through the vast majority of attraction queues. A few may have a pull-off to avoid stairs or to load at a different location where there is space to park the ECV. A few will require that he park the ECV outside and transfer to a wheelchair provided at the attraction. And a few may direct him to an alternate entrance because the queue is not considered accessible. But for the majority of attractions, he'll enter either the standby or FP+ queue with the ECV just as anyone walking.

Restaurants may require that he park outside if he is capable of walking to the table.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[karenh27]

Thank you for the warm welcome, and the thorough answer! Makes me feel much better about things. And it will be good to be able to prepare him in advance for what he can expect. We are getting very excited!

Thanks!

 

[The Hunchback]

I would strongly suggest your dad practice tight turns with his ECV before doing the attractions. Some are accessible but barely due to tight turns. The Nemo ride at Seas in EPCOT is the worst. Mickey's Philo at MK is another bad one. Most of the rest are okay. Tell him to go slow and swing wide if needed. Having family in front and behind ECV rider helps in case he gets stuck on a pole.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would strongly suggest your dad practice tight turns with his ECV before doing the attractions. Some are accessible but barely due to tight turns. The Nemo ride at Seas in EPCOT is the worst. Mickey's Philo at MK is another bad one. Most of the rest are okay. Tell him to go slow and swing wide if needed. Having family in front and behind ECV rider helps in case he gets stuck on a pole.

Oh, yes-I was thinking about the Nemo ride when it was mentioned about riding ECVs in the queue.

 

[Bete]

Besides dealing with ride queues you need to get good at scootering. Absolutely, practice with the scooter before entering the park. This will give confidence. If you have an offsite scooter rental you can practice at the resort. Beware there are crowds in the park and some will dash right out in front of his scooter. He needs to stop fast sometimes. You really need to watch for others.

If you are onsite and using Disney transportation to the parks then there is trial and error getting use to getting on and off buses with a scooter and so forth. In some instances you may have to do this for him.

It's tougher to get a scooter into a table service restaurant and in a lot of instances just not done. Quick service restaurants are easier in this regard.

Be careful to use all the same ramps as a wheelchair with the scooter. You need to be aware the scooter may not be able to go exactly the way one can walk. For example, around the MK castle you don't want to jump a curb.

 

[karenh27]

Thanks for all these suggestions! He will definitely have to practice. We are going to get it from an off-site rental company, so he can practice at the resort the day we arrive, very good idea. I didn't even think about the number of times we just step up and down a curb without thinking! We'll have to be very aware of not doing that this trip. Lots to think about! I really appreciate all your responses.

 

[The Hunchback]

Another suggestion. Get dad some little lights for the ECV. It could help other guest see the ECV at night. It will help your party see dad if he has been forced by crowds to move one way or the other. Dollar store often has some. We put some on both back and front of ECV. Nothing fancy but blinking. Helps keep us from getting split up. We use duct tape to attach to seat or backpack attached to seat with lights tied to it. Front we wind lights into basket. Hope these ideas help. Have a great time.