Wheelchair vs. ECV

[nikjd68]

We are planning a trip for June 2017. My MIL is coming with.

She has come with us on previous trips. She thinks this will be her last trip to Disney (we don't think so, but she feels it could be). Her health is worse now. She has a hip issue that causes her to not be able to walk long distances without a lot of discomfort. Our concern is getting from the hotel to the bus stop, getting from the bus to the parks, and then walking through the parks. She has no issue standing in lines or taking short walks but the long walks will quickly do her in.

I will concede we have no idea what her health will in June 2017. But, based on the above, would you go with a wheelchair or an ECV. What are the pro's con's?

 

[Vijoge]

We are planning a trip for June 2017. My MIL is coming with.

She has come with us on previous trips. She thinks this will be her last trip to Disney (we don't think so, but she feels it could be). Her health is worse now. She has a hip issue that causes her to not be able to walk long distances without a lot of discomfort. Our concern is getting from the hotel to the bus stop, getting from the bus to the parks, and then walking through the parks. She has no issue standing in lines or taking short walks but the long walks will quickly do her in.

I will concede we have no idea what her health will in June 2017. But, based on the above, would you go with a wheelchair or an ECV. What are the pro's con's?

I, too, have mobility issues. I have arthritis in both knees, both hips, and spinal stenosis. I also had a stroke two years ago. Some days are worse than others but none are pain free and even on the best of days I can't walk long distances without assistance.

Having used both an ECV as well as a power wheelchair (I also own a cane, rolling walker with seat, and a manual w/c), I would advise you to go with the wheelchair if you're getting an power chair and an ECV if you aren't.

A manual wheelchair is exhausting. I can propel mine by myself for a while and then I get tired and DH has to push me, which is tiring for him.

I prefer to take my power wheelchair to WDW primarily because, in my experience, it is the perception of many people that a person on an ECV does not have a disability but is merely lazy. Take that same person, put them in a wheelchair, and you remove the looks of scorn and the snide comments. You see, even with all my medical issues, I appear healthy. And that's all many people see.

I'm sure a lot of people would say just ignore the comments and dirty looks but I just want to enjoy my vacation without feeling the need to justify they way I have to approach it.

Have a great trip, no matter how you roll!

 

[Hopefully]

I do not think it is an easy decision and one that you will need to make much closer to the trip.
Last October I used an ECV for the first time. I am in my mid 60's and get very short of breath walking any distance.
I will say that safely using an ECV requires constant, intense concentration and it is exhausting. Folks dart in front of you suddenly, cut you off. stop in front of you. If it is crowded it is even more difficult. It was shocking to me how intent the driving was and how tired I became.
I think you need to assess her abilities at the time of the trip.

 

[nikjd68]

I do not think it is an easy decision and one that you will need to make much closer to the trip.
Last October I used an ECV for the first time. I am in my mid 60's and get very short of breath walking any distance.
I will say that safely using an ECV requires constant, intense concentration and it is exhausting. Folks dart in front of you suddenly, cut you off. stop in front of you. If it is crowded it is even more difficult. It was shocking to me how intent the driving was and how tired I became.
I think you need to assess her abilities at the time of the trip.

This is my fear. If we get an ECV for her, it will be her first time as well. This is a person who would rather make a right turn out of a parking lot and take the long way around rather than make the left turn into traffic.

Also, with a wheelchair, when we get to a bus, for example, she can just board and sit in a chair while one of us takes care of the wheelchair.

On the plus side, we will have 4 people that can push a wheelchair including a teenager who runs cross country and her daughter, who runs marathons.

 

[gap2368]

We are planning a trip for June 2017. My MIL is coming with.

She has come with us on previous trips. She thinks this will be her last trip to Disney (we don't think so, but she feels it could be). Her health is worse now. She has a hip issue that causes her to not be able to walk long distances without a lot of discomfort. Our concern is getting from the hotel to the bus stop, getting from the bus to the parks, and then walking through the parks. She has no issue standing in lines or taking short walks but the long walks will quickly do her in.

I will concede we have no idea what her health will in June 2017. But, based on the above, would you go with a wheelchair or an ECV. What are the pro's con's?

A wheel chair ( or the ones at disney ) are hard to push if you have some one that could push her or if she would like to walk some and she can push it then I think a wheel chair ( you can also rent one off site and have it with you at the hotel you do not need a wheelchair room just find it up and put if off to the side since she can walk some she should have no problems in the hotel room. an ECV she will babe to drive her self so she will not have to rely on anyone else ( even for younger people pushing someone all day can get tiering and let alone walking all day.) if you go during a crowded times it may be harder with an ECV you have to be ready for anything

but what ever you decide I would rent from off site if you think she will need it the whole time.

 

[Nanajo1]

If a manual chair is used make sure it has enough support for the user. Sometimes folding chairs don't have good seats. It can get tiring to ride in one. A firm pillow to sit on helps.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you're thinking about renting an ECV, do a "practice run" by driving the scooters at Costco, or Target, or renting one at a local zoo or similar place. That will give your MIL (and you) the chance to access how well she can handle an ECV in the parks. They're actually fun to drive, but as mentioned by a previous poster, trying to steer around the crowds does get tiring.

 

[stitchlovestink]

This is my fear. If we get an ECV for her, it will be her first time as well. This is a person who would rather make a right turn out of a parking lot and take the long way around rather than make the left turn into traffic.

Also, with a wheelchair, when we get to a bus, for example, she can just board and sit in a chair while one of us takes care of the wheelchair.

On the plus side, we will have 4 people that can push a wheelchair including a teenager who runs cross country and her daughter, who runs marathons.

The fact that she is still driving a car says to me she would be capable of an ECV. They are similar in abilities. You need the same facilities to drive a car that you do to drive an ECV. I don't see it as being that awful that she is overly cautious in her vehicle and doesn't feel comfortable making a left hand turn in traffic. I did the same thing for a little while after a bad car accident where I was not at fault at all but was 100% the victim. Maybe if more people were defensive drivers there would be fewer accidents.
Also, have you discussed this with her to see what her preference is? It might be a bit early to be making your decision. Things can change quite a bit between now and then. Good luck and hope you have a great trip.

 

[weetot]

I have a manual wheelchair that has good support, but even at that after an hour my bum is hurting from sitting in it. I bought a gel pad for it and it's much better. If you decide on a manual wheelchair, you might consider this. For me, we are going in May 2017 and I've decided to rent a power chair so my whole vacation won't be trying to push myself around and being exhausted.

 

[mamabunny]

...A manual wheelchair is exhausting. I can propel mine by myself for a while and then I get tired and DH has to push me, which is tiring for him.

I prefer to take my power wheelchair to WDW primarily because, in my experience, it is the perception of many people that a person on an ECV does not have a disability but is merely lazy. Take that same person, put them in a wheelchair, and you remove the looks of scorn and the snide comments. You see, even with all my medical issues, I appear healthy. And that's all many people see.

I'm sure a lot of people would say just ignore the comments and dirty looks but I just want to enjoy my vacation without feeling the need to justify they way I have to approach it.

I don't often get upset here, but this really bothers me.

First of all, how others perceive you is the worst possible reason to use a wheelchair. I use my personal ECV as a tool to get things done - nothing more. I don't like that my legs don't work the way they should, but I'm not going to use a wheelchair just so people will believe me to be "truly" disabled.

I could care less what any one besides my family thinks when I am at WDW. They're all too busy taking selfies and posting their lunch to Instagram. I promise you, the huge majority of the "able-bodied" at WDW don't give a tiny rat's patootie about you, and your wheelchair - or me and my ECV. They're all too self-absorbed. That's why, by the way, they will walk right in front of you - or sometimes right INTO you - they aren't paying attention!!!

I will never see any of those other guests again. My chances of seeing you, or anyone else who is at WDW at the same time I am ever again? Slim to none, and Slim just left town. I have a better chance of buying a lotto ticket AND getting hit by lightning on the same day. WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK? What matters is that I am able to keep up with my family, and create those memories that are so very precious to me while I'm at WDW.

In the last 5 years, I have seen a broad improvement in the acceptance of the disabled (in general) at WDW. There are FAR fewer stares, FAR fewer snide remarks (if any) and FAR fewer issues, even at the bus stops. When was the last time you were at WDW? I've been three times in the last 12 months, and have had ZERO issues with other guests.

If you saw me, you might think that I was a perfectly healthy middle aged Bunny Mama. I'm not. I have physical issues that aren't at all obvious, that are considered within this community to be "hidden disabilities". My medical issues are profound, and my prognosis is not at all what I want it to be. But I have decided to use my personal ECV because it's very lightweight (without me on it) and I can get it in and out of my car without assistance. It runs all day at WDW on one battery, and it's very quick and nimble.

You say that others may perceive me as "lazy", but I know the truth.

To @nikjd68: Encourage your MIL to go to Wal-Mart, or Lowes, Target, Home Depot, etc. and practice driving the big carts there. If she can master one of those, anything she rents at WDW will be a *breeze* by comparison.

Yes - she can walk up the ramp, and someone else can load (and unload) the ECV for her. Make sure that the bus driver understands the situation.

And if you do decide to rent a wheelchair, a gel cushion is a must - as are bike gloves for whoever has to push her. Because there are far more ramps, hills, and inclines at WDW than you realize (until you are pushing that chair around!) The bike gloves will help prevent blisters on the pushers hands.

Whatever your MIL decides to do - tell her not to worry. Tell her to use whatever she decides she is comfortable with as a TOOL to have a great time with her family, and to have the best possible time with the least amount of pain. And not to worry about what any other guest may - or may not - think about her. Because I promise you - no one cares. Seriously. They are all too busy updating their Facebook status.

 

[Bete]

I would go with the wheelchair. She will be able to sightsee while someone is pushing her. She can relax. When she wants to she can walk and use the wheelchair as a walker if she desires to do so. It will be much easier and less tiring for her. She will probably last longer in the parks if someone is pushing her in a wheelchair. Besides, waiting in line for a Disney scooter at the parks is a drag besides being expensive. Getting an offsite rental on a scooter requires getting it on and off Disney transportation or in and out of a car. Getting a scooter on and off a bus is not fun. Infact, if you go this route I would have someone else load the scooter on and off the bus. Then, you have to charge the battery every day with an offsite scooter rental.

I would actually buy a portable, travel wheelchair. Get a light weight model which should go under 20 pounds. The cost on Internet will range from $150 to $200. If you're flying in it will come in handy at the airport. This does not count against your luggage. If you are driving it will be useful for rest stops and restaurants. If you are driving get a handicap placard from her doctor. It sounds like she qualifies.

I pushed my mother for at least a half dozen trips and I was in my fifties. With all the stops you make for shows, rides, eats and so forth it really is not that hard to push a wheelchair. You get plenty of chances for rests. I was not in the best shape, either. You can share the pushing and you are in better shape. Make it easier for your MIL.

 

[Floridadreaming2016]

So we have used both at Disney. When my husband is in the wheelchair, I can't talk to him at all. He can't hear me. He doesn't get to really decide where he is going since I am pushing. He felt the wheelchair really took away his independence. People still cut in front of you for both and the bus deals with both the same way. Don't get me started on the hills in WDW. I almost killed myself pushing DH at Beauty and the Beast show. The ramp is straight up and down.

 

[ErinTwinmom]

So I would do an ecv and rent off site. I second the practice run but I would not do the grocery store if you have other options. Grocery store ecv are slow. The ecv we rent at the zoo is much closer to actual operating speed. All that being said if you really think a wheelchair is better for your group and that's how you go, you might see how she feels about using an ecv for one day. With four pushers a wheelchair is doable most places but I swear by all that's warm and fuzzy ak is almost all uphill. It was intended, the slight incline is supposed to make you slow down and look at the animals. I hate pushing a wheelchair at ak.

 

[ttintagel]

I got a manual wheelchair at first when I broke my foot at WDW, but there were so many unexpected hills, steep ramps, and patches of uneven paving/flooring that my party and I were all exhausted at the end of the first day trying to get me pushed around. I ended up calling the rental company comma and they had a nice TV for me at my resort the next morning. Since you have four strong, athletic pushers, that may not be an issue for you. I would suggest keeping the rental company's contact information with you so that if your Plan A doesn't work out, you can call and switch to Plan B.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We are planning a trip for June 2017. My MIL is coming with.

She has come with us on previous trips. She thinks this will be her last trip to Disney (we don't think so, but she feels it could be). Her health is worse now. She has a hip issue that causes her to not be able to walk long distances without a lot of discomfort. Our concern is getting from the hotel to the bus stop, getting from the bus to the parks, and then walking through the parks. She has no issue standing in lines or taking short walks but the long walks will quickly do her in.

I will concede we have no idea what her health will in June 2017. But, based on the above, would you go with a wheelchair or an ECV. What are the pro's con's?

I would start now having her practice at stores that have loaner ECVs to use while shopping. that way she can get used to driving one. if she can use ECV I would go that way with an offsite rental so she has at resort as the walks there can be long esp at the end of night when everyone is tired. park rentals wheelchair or ECV can not be taken out the gate to the buses or other transportation. wheelchair or ECV can go in line with you as some lines can be long which I would do and have done myself

 

[Starwind]

I have rented an ECV (from Walker and Buena Vista) three times now.

My strategy:

Getting used to parallel parking on the buses takes some work. Even after three trips I still bang the ECV into the poor bus. However, I have found the bus drivers to be uniformly helpful and willing to verbally guide me through what to do. Also, several offered to bring the ECv on board and park it or to just park it (after asking if I was ok to walk the distance). If I casually mentionned that I am still learning to park it, they were even more helpful -- so letting them know you are new and learning is a good idea, IME ! Other than that parking, I did not have issues with the buses. One time we had to wait for a second bus, but all other times we were able to be loaded on the first bus that arrived to our destination.

In the parks: I drive the ECV to an area I want to explore and "park" it (in the stroller area or in the wheelchair parking area, depending what is there). I then walk to the rides in that area, then return to the ecv and move on to the next area. If gauge how far apart to make those parking areas, and how many rides to walk at a time, based on how I am feeling. Bad day or bad hour ? I ride it to every ride/attraction. A few times I have even ridden it in. Good day or hour ? I might park by the TTA and do TTA, Buzz and Monster. I would add space mountain too, but i can't ride it anymore (talk about a way to turn a good day to a bad day) so i will pick up the ecv and go park over by space while my sister walks over and does single rider. It is nice having my own comfortable and moveable seat to sit on while I wait.

I find the ECV to be liberating, to give me independence. I am in control of how much or little I use it. I know from experience that I can last 3-4 hours max in a park on foot before I am in so much pain I am nearly in tears and have to go back to the resort. With an ECV I can do rope drop to park close if I really want to.

Finally, renting from an offsite vendor means I have the ecv at the resort and for fgetting from resort to parks and back. VERY helpful, esoecially on a bad day where even going down to the QS to get some tea is a unpleasant walking.

SW

 

[CuseWazowski]

We have used both a transport wheelchair and rented ECV at WDW for my MIL. Both have pros and cons.

Wheelchair - the transport chair (from Walgreen's) was light and easy for any of us to push (mostly) and easy to control. Easy to get through the crowd and tight spaces. Easy getting on and off transportation. Cons: Ma was stuck when we went on a ride. We would leave her in the shade or in the A/C so she'd be comfortable, but she would be in that spot when we came back. She said she enjoyed it at the time, but it must have been boring for her. WDW is deceptively hilly, so there were times when pushing was a challenge(up ramp to monorail at MK, for example).

The last trip we rented an ECV and she felt much more independent. She was able to shop or tour around while we were on a ride and she enjoyed that. We didn't feel guilty leaving her to go on rides. Cushy, comfortable seat. We didn't have to push her everywhere. Cons: she had some difficulty with the controls, even though she owned a similar model and practiced in malls and stores. The speed knob would sometimes move inadvertently and she would jerk ahead when she started to move, which made us nervous a lot of the time - mostly getting on and off elevators and transportation. It was sometimes hard to maneuver onto transportation and in restaurants (again, practice should help). Finding a parking spot was sometimes challenging, while the wheelchair folds away compactly.

My MIL said that she preferred the ECV over the wheelchair because she liked the freedom and independence and because she felt guilty that we always had to push her in the chair. Both options worked well for us and we all enjoyed all of the trips together.

 

[mamabunny]

...Don't get me started on the hills in WDW. I almost killed myself pushing DH at Beauty and the Beast show. The ramp is straight up and down.

That ramp system at B&TB is *insane*! First time we did that, I couldn't believe it - I told my family then that I couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to try and use a manual wheelchair on those ramps. Ever since, I send my family through the theatre, and we meet up at the bottom - there's no point in them walking that ramp system while I maneuver my way through.

My ECV has a fairly narrow width, so it wasn't a problem for me, but I am not sure that 2 of the park-rental ECV's could pass by one another on those narrow lanes.

You really don't realize how hilly WDW is (and how many, many ramps and curb cuts you have to negotiate) until you have to do it on wheels.

 

[SueM in MN]

That ramp system at B&TB is *insane*! First time we did that, I couldn't believe it - I told my family then that I couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to try and use a manual wheelchair on those ramps. Ever since, I send my family through the theatre, and we meet up at the bottom - there's no point in them walking that ramp system while I maneuver my way through.

My ECV has a fairly narrow width, so it wasn't a problem for me, but I am not sure that 2 of the park-rental ECV's could pass by one another on those narrow lanes.

You really don't realize how hilly WDW is (and how many, many ramps and curb cuts you have to negotiate) until you have to do it on wheels.

Just to clarify for everyone - the Beauty and the Beast show at the Studio has wheelchair seating both in the first row (down toward the front using the switchback ramps) AND on the top row where it is level and there is no need for any ramps.

 

[mamabunny]

Just to clarify for everyone - the Beauty and the Beast show at the Studio has wheelchair seating both in the first row (down toward the front using the switchback ramps) AND on the top row where it is level and there is no need for any ramps.

Get out of town!!! There's seating on the top row? LOL we have gone down - and back up that ramp what seems like a hundred times, and not one CM ever told us that! LOLOLOL

Thank you, Sue!