wheelchair questions

[muffyn]

well, this trip to WDW I seem to have to decide to rent a wheel chair or ECV. I feel real stupid about this, since my only problem is a stressed out knee, but I could NEVER walk all day in those parks ( even the walk from the parking lot is not going to be 'happy')
I'd like to go to Epcot & maybe over to magic kingdom. can the ECV be taken from one park to the other? if not what happens IF there is none availiable at the other park?
do I need to call & reserve one before I come?

how do the lines work? is there a special line for ECV'S? do you drive the thing all the way to the place you get on the 'ride'? they don't expect you to stand 40 minutes IN a que,, do they?what happens to the ecv in the meantime, since most enter & exits are at different points?
sorry this is way so new to me & very worrysome ( I just know I'll run someone down)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hello and welcome to disABILITES.

First of all, there is no such thing as a stupid question, except one that you should but do not ask. Most of us here will attempt to provide as much assistance as we can.

You may be better off renting an ECV, as pushing a wheelchair can get very tiresome, especially if you are not used to it. Also it depends on the weight of the passenger and the condition of the pusher(s). Some information for off-site rentals are:

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/
Phone (407) 856-2273, Toll Free U.S and Canada (800) 741-2282

RANDY'S Mobility is in Kissimmee
407-892-4777
http://randysmobility.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html
(800)747-0246!

I have used Walker a few times. They will ask for a credit card and charge it the day before arrival. They will deliver the ECV to your hotel bell services before your arrival and pick it up there after your departure. Their rates, especially for longer than a week, are much better than Disney's.

You don't say if you are renting a car or what. If you are using a car for getting around, the ECVs break down into five pieces, the heaviest about 39 pounds. They take about a minute or so to take apart and about two minutes (once you are used to it) to put it together.

Another suggestion is find out your state's requirements for a temporary disabled hang tag and get the paper work and have your doctor sign off on it. The tag will allow you to use any of the handicap parking areas (which will be a necessity). Also, with the policy of charging for valet parking, with a handicap hang tag the fees will be waived. Also the valets will usually volunteer to assist in loading/unloading an ECV. In Virginia I printed the required form from the DMV website. When I took the completed form to the DMV Office it took less than 15 minutes from the time I walked in until I had my tag.

If you rent from Disney an ECV can only be used in the park that you are in. However, when you turn it back in and go to another park the same day you only have to pay the refundable deposit if an ECV is available at the second park. If you rent from off-site not only do you get a better mmachiine, but it is also available to you in your hotel and at Downtown Disney. Note that Disney does NOT do reservations for ECVs.

Most attraction lines are "mainstreamed", so you will be in the regular line and only go out of the line at the time of boarding. This way you do have a place to sit (on the ECV) while on the line. Some attractions you will enter at the exit end. Others will have a CM in the boarding area put the ECV into "freewheel" state and roll it to the exit arera, which is actually very close.

Likewise, when you go into a restaurant you can either park the ECV outside with the strollers, or inside near the door or even take it to the table. Note that when you park an ECV you should always take the key out and make sure that there is nothing left in the basket that you would not be willing to lose. (In other words, don't leave cameras, cell phones or pin books in the basket.)

As far as running people over, I have two suggestions. One is that you go to a large grocery store or Wal-Mart on a shopping trip and borrow an ECV for use in the store; this will give you experience before you get to the parks. Note these are much larger and less maneuverable than either the Disney or off-site rentals. The other is to realize you become "invisible" while in an ECV so you have to be more aware of your surroundings; just don't run into someone at a high speed.

Anyway, after the first hour or so you should not have any problems (except the invisibility).

Mike

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.
I'm writing to agree with everything that Cheshire Figment posted and add a little additional information.
As mentioned, at some rides, you will board thru the exit, usually after waiting in the Mainstream line with everyone else until just before they board. At that point, there is a "pull off" for users of wheelchairs and ecvs that routes to the exit. Boarding at the exit allows your ecv to be waiting there for you when you get off and also allows a little extra time and space for boarding. Here's a link to a thread about boarding.
Here's a link to the DIS page about touring with a mobility disability, which lists the rides that are Mainstream Access, plus information about which rides/attractions you may keep your ecv with you for the entire attraction.
And you can go to Guest Services in any of the parks and get a Guidebook for Guest with Disabilities for each park. They are not detailed and don't give a lot of info. For your purposes, the information that might be helpful is the descriptions of the rides that list whether the ride has a moving walkway, is a sit down movie or is a turbulent thrill ride. The guidebooks are also on the internet (Click here for a link to them)