Wheelchair or ECV?

[Mazzy]

Following on from my post regarding the costs of hiring an ECV, I wonder if anyone could give me their opinion on what they think is the best choice for my trip? Here is a brief outline of our plan:

I will be staying at the Dolphin so will be on-site mainly, but we will be taking trips to IOA, US, Sea World, Discovery Cove and also fancy a day out to Mount Dora, riding the steam train. We will be getting taxis to all these places as we aren't hiring a car.

What concerns me about the ECV (apart from the price!) is boarding the buses and boats in WDW. I am partially deaf and am a bit concerned that I'll end up getting stressed out if I can't hear what the CM is saying to me, I have a vision of me trying to back up a ramp on a bus and falling right off!

DH is willing to push a wheelchair, but as we are going for 15 days it is a long period of time to be doing this! BUT it would be easier boarding boats/buses as we could just fold it up and I could walk on.

For my itinerary which do you think is the best option? I can walk, and plan to walk into the attractions once I've 'parked up' but will need the chair/ECV to get from bus/boat to park, attraction to attraction as I can't do too much walking as I have inflammation in the sesamoid bone of my foot.

I would appreciate any advice you could give me on this. Thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

bumping this up for Mazzy.

 

[Nanajo1]

You have a great trip planned. ECVs can be disassembled into managable parts. The heaviest varies to around 27 lbs I believe. The taxi should be able to take you and DH with your ECV in the trunk(boot?)to the many other parks you are planning to visit. Confirm with the vendor you use that the model you are renting can be broken down into parts and easily reassembled. If you do get rattled getting onto any of the WDW busses your DH can load it for you. All the boats I've been on with my ECV I drove on so no problem. Just tell the CM you have a hearing problem and may need extra help. I'm sure Lisa will be able to help in that dept.
BTW if DH is into walking you can walk to Epcot and MGM from the Dolphin.

 

[cupcake]

It sounds like you have a great trip planned. I also have problems with the bones in my feet (disengaged accessory bones). I have always used a wheelchair, but I haven't had as varied an itinerary as you, as we have stuck to Disney and a little Universal. I am renting a scooter for the first time this October as my dh will be tied up during the day (he has a conference). I am also worried about getting it on/off buses, etc., but people here say that the CM are very nice and will help. What I am doing is making my dh go on a bus with me before I go by myself so I won't be doing it myself for the 1st time. I echo the suggestion that perhaps since you won't be by yourself, perhaps you could get up and have someone else who is more comfortable with it do it if you don't want to try it yourself. I am the kind of person that is scared to parallel park, and this is also worrying me!

In general, however, I think the wheelchair vs scooter question depends on how much pushing you'll need, where you are going, and who will be doing the pushing (in terms of their energy levels, etc.). Bear in mind that I have been a wheelchair only person to date, but for example, the Magic Kingdom seems more wheelchair friendly bc it wasn't laid out to be accessible, it's not that large, and it is quite crowded. MGM isn't that spread out and many of the attractions take a while so your pusher gets a rest. Epcot, AK, and Universal, on the other hand, are large and open. And on days where we will be outlet shopping and getting in and out of the car a lot, it is so convenient to just fold the wheelchair and get it in & out of the trunk.

To save $ and angst, can you schedule your days so that the scooter type activities are clustered together and then just rent for that period?

Have a super time, and good luck with everything!!!!

Cupcake

 

[Mazzy]

Nanajo1 and Cupcake - thanks so much for replying, it is always good to hear other people's experiences!

Thinking about it now, I think the wheelchair is going to be the best option. DH is fit and well, and is quite happy to push the wheelchair. I also have a daughter of 12 who has pushed her grandma in a chair, so there is also a reserve volunteer if DH should start to flag!

As we have 5 days off-site planned I guess it would be much easier and less hassle to just unfold a wheelchair, compared to dismantling a scooter. Also with a wheelchair we can just fold it up and put it on the bus, which is less stressful for me worrying about having to board it. We also want to take a trip on the Mount Dora train, so again, a wheelchair would be a much more convenient option. I am prepared to give up the option to 'go under my own steam' on a scooter to save $300, which I can enjoy spending in the Home Store on Pooh accessories for my new kitchen!

As this is our third trip, but the first time at Christmas, and also our longest trip (15 nights compared to a previous record of 9 nights) we will have a lot more time to get around and do things, and aim to relax more this time round, as our last two trips were a bit of a marathon and we came home in need of another holiday, and that was before my foot problem surfaced.

Thanks again, both of you, for your help, it is appreciated. And Cupcake - good luck with the scooter!

My final question (promise!) is, how do you keep your wheelchair safe if you have 'parked it up'? Do the suppliers provide you with a padlock of something to secure it?

Thanks

 

[cupcake]

We have always just parked it and hoped for the best. It's my understanding that Disney doesn't want people to use a bike lock, etc., bc it can create a fire hazard and they like to be able to move wheelchairs/strollers around to account for crowd conditions. If you rent a Disney wheelchair, if someone takes it (and what a MEAN person that would be), they will replace it for free, although a member of your party would have to get it for you. I have been at least 8 times with a wheelchair and this has never happened to me. But I was worried about this too and hence rented rather than using my own folding wheelchair even though it's not as comfy.

Bear in mind that most of the time, you can park by the ride entrance/exit, not outside with the strollers. This makes me feel pretty secure and likely prevents problems. I also tie something to my wheelchair (usually a balloon! although you have to tie it low or you will bop people when you are in motion) so people won't accidentally grab mine w/o looking at the name on it. So... I have thought about this too, but haven't have any problems. I'd also imagine that a personal wheelchair would be more immune from problems bc it looks distinctive (and hence would not be accidentally taken or taken by a mean person) but we've rented out of an excess of caution.

Have a super time!!! You will do great.
Cupcake

 

[Mazzy]

Hi Cupcake

Thanks for your reply.

I have actually rung Walker and booked the wheelchair, it was only $90 so that's no so bad. I asked them about the security of the chair and they said that it will be fine, they never get stolen, and they are insured if anything should happen, they didn't seem worried about it at all.

I was pleased that they could deliver the day before our arrival so we don't need to hang around waiting for it, and they will pick up the day after we depart.

I will remember your tip and tie something to the chair so I can recognise it easily!

Thanks for all your help!

 

[SueM in MN]

We've been coming to WDW since 1987 with DD's wheelchair and we really don't worry about it. As cupcake noted, most of the time, the wheelchair will be parked at the ride exit, so it's not like it's out there in the open. If you want to mark it, an easy way is with a bandana or something tied to the handle. A balloon tends to get in the way too much, so we never buy one for DD unless we are leaving the park.
In the shows, you will be able to bring the wheelchair in and sit in it during the show, so no problem with it being stollen there. As cupcake posted, you can't lock wheelchairs to anything for fire and safety reasons. If you feel you want to use a lock, you could lock the front wheels together. That way, it can still be moved, but not easily.

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks for your reply Sue

I will try and remember to take something with me that is bright and colourful to tie on the chair.

As Walker don't seem worried about the wheelchair disappearing, I will just park it up and hope its OK.

thanks again for your help Sue

 

[Talking Hands]

Mazzy I use dh as my ears for boarding buses. I use a power wheelchair. If they try to talk to me from behind I just wait until they come around and look at me. I tell them up front that I can't hear and they need to face me when speaking. Sometimes when I am tired I won't even voice, just sign. They learn fast enough.
I have no trouble getting my power wheelchair on the buses most of the time.