Wheelchair or ECV

[Ursula J]

Hi there--My dad has set up an ECV rental for our June visit through Scooterbug. Recently on a thread about him navigating his first time using an ECV, someone suggested he might be able to relax and enjoy more if he used a wheelchair that we steered/pushed. His reflexes are ok but not amazing and he's HOH. I want him *and my tireless caregiver mom* to have the best trip they can. We're torn about the independence of the ECV versus his ability to relax in a wheelchair. He's slightly inclined to ECV but open to feedback. I'd welcome any suggestions or perspectives! (He uses a cane at home and can walk short distances but between balance and mobility, definitely needs either a wheelchair or ECV at WDW)

 

[jlundeen]

It depends on when you are going, I guess as the heat could be a factor for someone that's pushing.

For me, on our recent trip I loved my Scooterbug ECV, but I have gotten to be "fairly" good with driving it around, including loading and unloading on the buses. Crowds of people in the parks can be a challenge... it's like they really don't see you, and there have been many "near misses" when a child, or and adult for that matter, wasn't paying attention to who was around them and I almost ran into them.

The only experience I had with pushing someone around in a wheelchair was a January trip (cool weather), and it was just the two of us and crowds were very light (this was about 8 years ago). It worked out well, except I had never realized before that there are so many hills!!! Getting a push wheelchair into the Land at Epcot for instance, is a pretty good workout! If you have enough in your party that you can take turns pushing, it might be a good choice.

But if he really does like the independence of going it by himself, I guess the ECV is a pretty good option also, as long as he understands what it will be like.

I will say that my last trip was wonderful, and Disney does a great job with helping all with mobility issues enjoy the parks and resorts!

Hope this helps.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Please do yourself a favor and get the scooter. He'll do fine driving it as it is not difficult at all. Pushing an adult in a wheelchair up and down hills all day long will be a nightmare - not sure which is worse, up or down! Good luck!

 

[Evita_W]

I would personally recommend Gold Mobility over Scooterbug, the quality of the equipment is much better and they will meet him and show him how to use the scooter, which will likely give him a higher comfort level using it. (Do note they currently only deliver between 7 AM and 7 PM, so if your arrival or departure is outside of those hours, it could be an issue, but they will work with you to find a good time). For a first time ECV user though, meeting in person can be a huge benefit and in all honesty is generally far more convenient than bell services, especially when it can take 10 to 15 minutes to get help at bell services (it took that long to get our luggage on checkout day on our last trip).

As the PP said, an ECV is much better than a WC, those pushing will be exhausted by the end of trip and have a more miserable trip overall in my experience with him in a wheelchair.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hi there--My dad has set up an ECV rental for our June visit through Scooterbug. Recently on a thread about him navigating his first time using an ECV, someone suggested he might be able to relax and enjoy more if he used a wheelchair that we steered/pushed. His reflexes are ok but not amazing and he's HOH. I want him *and my tireless caregiver mom* to have the best trip they can. We're torn about the independence of the ECV versus his ability to relax in a wheelchair. He's slightly inclined to ECV but open to feedback. I'd welcome any suggestions or perspectives! (He uses a cane at home and can walk short distances but between balance and mobility, definitely needs either a wheelchair or ECV at WDW)

another one saying you might look into smaller easier to drive scooter from an offsite rental. I have found the 3 wheeled ones easier to drive thru the lines and taking thru lines means he will have a place to rest when he needs. I would have him take his cane to help with balance getting in but esp out of rides. what happens if you go the wheelchair route and you get a day in high 90s and no one in group has the strength to push any further. you are at far end of park plus you have the long walk to bus or back to your car as right now there are no trams. yes he is going to feel that from others even if not said. not sure if your group also has a stroller in the group take that in to your thinking. the parks are not as level as you think and at MK do not try to push chair up ramp to monorail or down either. I have seen people walk into side of wheelchairs also not sure how much more relaxed he will be in chair as he is in front of person pushing where on scooter he could be beside group.

 

[Bjkandma]

Not sure if this will help, but I always get a scooter. Both of my wrists have been fused (lost use of wrists). While using the scooter "when I can't hold the control to move," my adult daughter walks on the side of me and actually controls it. I've asked numerous times, if she would rather push A wheelchair to which she replies, this is so much easier. Perhaps someone in your party could assist. (I even stay seated in line for a ride, or to board bus and she has "driven" it.).

 

[jo-jo]

How much can your dad walk? 50 ft? !00 ft? Is he a big person? I have pushed my DH (weighs about 275) about 50% of the time. If I'm tired or the slope is too much, he will walk. My DH doesn't feel comfortable with a EVC. He is afraid of hitting the wrong button and hitting someone Last trip, we saw a gentleman plow into parked strollers. I mean strollers two deep were moved, not just tapped. He was trying to park the EVC. My DH saw this and said, "That's what I'm afraid of".


I'm just sharing this, so you know a wheel chair may still be doable if your dad doesn't feel he could do the EVC.

 

[Selket]

We're torn about the independence of the ECV versus his ability to relax in a wheelchair. He's slightly inclined to ECV but open to feedback. I'd welcome any suggestions or perspectives! (He uses a cane at home and can walk short distances but between balance and mobility, definitely needs either a wheelchair or ECV at WDW)

I've been pushed in a WC at WDW and it was way more stressful than driving an ECV for me. There's something about having nothing in front of me plus no control over where I'm going....I actually have to close my eyes. I always felt like someone is going to run into me. In the end...is your dad independent at home? Does he get out and go places? If he went somewhere with your mom would he want to go off on his own to shop for his own clothes for example? Or does he rely on someone else to help him get from place to place and would want someone to accompany him in a store or if he got together with friends? I personally value that ability to go and do what I want when I want. Would he want to get up in the morning in the hotel and go get a cup of coffee? That sort of thing - with an ECV he can do anything. With a WC he is dependent on someone all the time (which is perfectly fine for someone who needs/wants that).

I don't know how to explain what I'm thinking but I know my in-laws for example - one of them would have needed a WC because she could get lost in her own bathroom and the other would be Indy car racing the ECV at top speed every chance he got with no fear of being on his own even into his 90's.

If you do decide the WC then... it sounds like your mom might prefer to have some time to do things on her own. Could you bring anyone else along who could be a dedicated caregiver for him and pushing the WC?

The other option could be to talk to the rental company and explain the situation - ask what the financial implication would be if you want to swap out an ECV for a WC if the ECV doesn't work for his situation. I also recommend Gold Mobility - they've been great for me - Scooterbug might be fine as well - perhaps ask a few companies about the cost if you switch, etc. I also recommend a 3 vs. a 4 wheel scooter if you get one - much easier to drive I think.

 

[Lilsia]

It depends on when you are going, I guess as the heat could be a factor for someone that's pushing.

For me, on our recent trip I loved my Scooterbug ECV, but I have gotten to be "fairly" good with driving it around, including loading and unloading on the buses. Crowds of people in the parks can be a challenge... it's like they really don't see you, and there have been many "near misses" when a child, or and adult for that matter, wasn't paying attention to who was around them and I almost ran into them.

The only experience I had with pushing someone around in a wheelchair was a January trip (cool weather), and it was just the two of us and crowds were very light (this was about 8 years ago). It worked out well, except I had never realized before that there are so many hills!!! Getting a push wheelchair into the Land at Epcot for instance, is a pretty good workout! If you have enough in your party that you can take turns pushing, it might be a good choice.

But if he really does like the independence of going it by himself, I guess the ECV is a pretty good option also, as long as he understands what it will be like.

I will say that my last trip was wonderful, and Disney does a great job with helping all with mobility issues enjoy the parks and resorts!

Hope this helps.

On my recent trip, I paid attention to ECV's because of all of the reports on here about people "not seeing you". I have to say that it has nothing to do with ECV's, people just don't pay attention to their surroundings. Even with the parks having less of a crowd, many still stopped short, cut off, and almost ran into us as walkers. I will say that it is much harder to gage the speed of an ECV when you are trying to navigate through the crowds. Most of them are going at a bit of a faster rate then the average walking person and so it is easier to "cut them off" because it seems as if you would have plenty of time to pass in front, if a person was walking. But the speed of the ECV changes that. I also noticed that many have issues keeping the same rate of speed. I am sure that is a control issue but I saw many who would speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down to keep at the same pace as their walking family members. We also witnessed many ECV riders driving through at a very high rate of speed through the crowds, dangerously so. I do feel that the rented ones go much too fast for them to be safe in crowds. I would say that anyone who rents one, really needs to really pay attention. I am sure that can become exhausting and I would recommend practice before hand using one.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

This is going to be my first trip in a motorized wheelchair. My husband has been pushing me in a manual wheelchair for the last 5 trips we’ve been on and never complained, but he said in August with the heat and the masks, it was a little much for him. I’m excited about the ability to have independence and control. One thing I always hated about the manual wheelchair is that it’s hard to converse with the person pushing. So I felt fairly isolated.

 

[Eeyore daily]

A couple of summers ago we rented a wheelchair for my grandma because she had twisted her knee a few days before our trip and I pushed her the entire time between Universal and all the Disney parks. The next time she went back we got her a scooter and she was much happier with that. She really enjoyed having her cane on hand in case she needed it when she got out of the scooter and she didn't have to rely on anybody. So I suggest just getting a scooter, while yes it may be daunting at first, it's quite easy to manage.

 

[mamabunny]

Hi there--My dad has set up an ECV rental for our June visit through Scooterbug. Recently on a thread about him navigating his first time using an ECV, someone suggested he might be able to relax and enjoy more if he used a wheelchair that we steered/pushed. His reflexes are ok but not amazing and he's HOH. I want him *and my tireless caregiver mom* to have the best trip they can. We're torn about the independence of the ECV versus his ability to relax in a wheelchair. He's slightly inclined to ECV but open to feedback. I'd welcome any suggestions or perspectives! (He uses a cane at home and can walk short distances but between balance and mobility, definitely needs either a wheelchair or ECV at WDW)

As you have seen from the replies above, it's kind of a personal decision! Here's 2 scenarios to consider to help sort things out, and maybe start the discussion:

- If your dad is more independent - will want to be able to (for example) go get a coffee in the morning while everyone else is getting ready... then the ECV is the way to go. Another factor here: If he uses the "shopper scooter" at the grocery store, Walmart, Target, etc successfully, he will be *fine* at WDW as along as he keeps his speed under control (it's easy to run away when you are used to the old, slow carts at the store! LOL). I don't know that his hearing issue will cause him much trouble, as long as he paces your Mom (assuming she will be walking), and she can signal him if need be to stop, etc. In some places, she will be able to walk alongside him easily (without causing a traffic jam for others).

- If he is at a point where he can't drive a "regular" car in "normal" traffic, then maybe consider the wheelchair for this trip; he will most likely not be ready to manage an ECV on his own. There is a caveat here: a wheelchair calls for a *lot* of strength and stamina for the "pusher(s)" over the course of a trip. Try not to sacrifice someone else's vacation if Dad *can* drive an ECV.

You can also do a "hybrid trip" - maybe start off pushing him in the chair, but see how he does. WDW can be a very distracting place, with lots of colors, sounds, smells and it's just very visually busy. If he can cope with that, then transition to an ECV.

If you will have lots of "pushers" (folks who can push him in the wheelchair) then they can rotate through so that no one does all the work. If he will have to rely upon 1 person to push, then the schedule should be adjusted to make sure that the "pusher" has ample opportunities to rest their hands/arms and legs/back. The pusher may want to bring along a pair of cheap bike or golf gloves (can find for cheap at Walmart, Target or Amazon) in case the rental wheelchair has the old hard plastic ribbed grips that can be hard on your hands.

I have been the "rider" in the past - and like my friend @Selket, I did *not* like the sensation of not being in control, of feeling like I had no way to control things in the event of an emergency. I was not comfortable with being pushed because I knew it was difficult for my family member, and I was not happy at not being able to "take care of myself" (that goes with the whole "loss of independence" thing)

And... I too have been the "pusher" in the past - and even in February, it was hot, it was hard to do, my hands were blistered before lunch, and I found out that what looks like a "gentle rise" when you are walking, is a BIG HUGE HILL when you are pushing someone in a rental wheelchair! My Mom was not even 150 pounds at the time, and I was *much* younger and stronger and healthier at the time, and by the end of that trip, I was exhausted, sore, and felt like it was the worst WDW trip I ever had.

But there are some people for whom the wheelchair *is* the best tool for the job. Only your Dad, and your Mom (and their travel party) can really make that decision; just remember that *if* one of them doesn't work for him, then you have the other as an alternative.

And the Rollator is still an option - it means they will move slower, probably stop more, (but he will have a built-in seat wherever he goes) and would keep him up on his feet, where he will have a better view of everything! The irony is that although the average person does walk between 3 & 10 *miles* per day at WDW, you don't walk it all at once! It tends to be from one ride or attraction or shop, or dining venue to another - and often those distances aren't really that far. Once there, you will typically be seated. With the Rollator option, he can take that virtually everywhere at WDW, and it can be taken from him when he boards a ride, and returned to him at the end of the ride. Believe me when I say that if I were able to, I would give up my power wheelchair in a heartbeat, and use a Rollator everywhere I go! I miss standing up! LOL

It sounds to me like he will be fine with an ECV, but that's based on what you have said here - obviously I don't know him as well as you and your Mom do. Whatever you decide, don't worry too much about it; the main thing to remember is that they will be a Disney World, where *thousands* of people want to go, every day! I hope that they have a lovely trip together! ❤