Which type of car rental with an ECV

[chipndales]

My mom will be renting an ECV for our family stay in Disney World at an off site. We need to rent a car with accessibility for the ECV and it's not something we have at home for me to reference with. Any suggestions on car rental places or vehicle types we could look into. The rental places don't always give you the bare bones truth on which vehicles are easiest to use with this, so any help at all would be appreciated.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including dealing with ECVs and cars.

Basically what you would need is a sedan with as large a trunk as possible and be sure the company you are renting the ECV from is aware you will be using a car for transport. Most ECVs will break down into five parts and will fit in a large (full size four door sedan) car trunk, with the heaviest part being about 40 pounds.

 

[mrmagicmph]

My mom will be renting an ECV for our family stay in Disney World at an off site. We need to rent a car with accessibility for the ECV and it's not something we have at home for me to reference with. Any suggestions on car rental places or vehicle types we could look into. The rental places don't always give you the bare bones truth on which vehicles are easiest to use with this, so any help at all would be appreciated.

A few questions to help answer your question.

First: How many people are going to be in the car? How many adults & how many small kids? Also, any kids requiring child safety seats?

Next: Are you planning on breaking down the ECV to put it into the vehicle, or trying to put it in assembled? (depending on how many people in the vehicle, and how many people are able to help put it in, you can sometimes put it inside assembled)

Also, are you renting an ECV that DOES break down, or does it stay assembled?

Is the cost of the vehicle rental EXTREMELY important, or comfort/convenience more important?

Any special needs to be addressed FOR driving the vehicle or getting in/out we should know?

With information like that, hopefully we can make a better recommendation.

Enjoy the Magic!

 

[chipndales]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including dealing with ECVs and cars.

Basically what you would need is a sedan with as large a trunk as possible and be sure the company you are renting the ECV from is aware you will be using a car for transport. Most ECVs will break down into five parts and will fit in a large (full size four door sedan) car trunk, with the heaviest part being about 40 pounds.

Thank you for guiding me in the right direction.

We're using the same company as our last visit so I'll be sure to have her ask about that. We were thinking about an SUV or something of that size but I wasn't aware they even broke down! So thank you for that tip. I'm off to check the FAQ and see what else I can find. Thanks again.

 

[chipndales]

A few questions to help answer your question.

First: How many people are going to be in the car? How many adults & how many small kids? Also, any kids requiring child safety seats?

Next: Are you planning on breaking down the ECV to put it into the vehicle, or trying to put it in assembled? (depending on how many people in the vehicle, and how many people are able to help put it in, you can sometimes put it inside assembled)

Also, are you renting an ECV that DOES break down, or does it stay assembled?

Is the cost of the vehicle rental EXTREMELY important, or comfort/convenience more important?

Any special needs to be addressed FOR driving the vehicle or getting in/out we should know?

With information like that, hopefully we can make a better recommendation.

Enjoy the Magic!

Hi, thanks for replying!

Three adults, one child age 9, no safety seats.

Honestly, I think we'd much rather put it in fully together. I can't imagine trying to undo and reassemble this thing. Granted, my father will be with us, and he's quite handy. If at all possible, I'd love to avoid that part. Obviously, if we have to, we have to. I'm not actually sure if the ECV breaks apart or not. It's definitely something we need to call and ask.

The cost isn't extremely important, no. We were thinking of going with an SUV or minivan type vehicle.

My father or I will be driving, so no. My mom will be in the passenger side and she can get in and out pretty well. She just had a surgery today on her back to install some hardware that will hopefully alleviate some pain she has but regardless, she'll still need the ECV with all the walking to be done.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Honestly, I think we'd much rather put it in fully together. I can't imagine trying to undo and reassemble this thing. Granted, my father will be with us, and he's quite handy. If at all possible, I'd love to avoid that part. Obviously, if we have to, we have to. I'm not actually sure if the ECV breaks apart or not. It's definitely something we need to call and ask.

The problem is the rental ECVs weigh about 140 pounds. They have two batteries, each about 25 pounds. The motor/rear wheel assembly is about 40 pounds; The main section with the floorboard, tiller front wheel and seat mount is about 40 and the seat is about 10.

Basically the entire seat lifts off, you disconnect three quick-release electrical connectors, take off the battery pack, lift a lever to break the remainder into two parts and a lever on the tiller to lower it. It only takes about a minute to take it apart and two minutes to put it back together again.

 

[mrmagicmph]

Hi, thanks for replying!

Three adults, one child age 9, no safety seats.

Honestly, I think we'd much rather put it in fully together. I can't imagine trying to undo and reassemble this thing. Granted, my father will be with us, and he's quite handy. If at all possible, I'd love to avoid that part. Obviously, if we have to, we have to. I'm not actually sure if the ECV breaks apart or not. It's definitely something we need to call and ask.

The cost isn't extremely important, no. We were thinking of going with an SUV or minivan type vehicle.

My father or I will be driving, so no. My mom will be in the passenger side and she can get in and out pretty well. She just had a surgery today on her back to install some hardware that will hopefully alleviate some pain she has but regardless, she'll still need the ECV with all the walking to be done.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Happy to help. Given what you've just said, might I suggest considering a Chrysler Pacifica? It's a Crossover Utility Vehicle that I rented from Dollar last October. While it was just my wife & myself, both because of the ECV and because I'm much more comfortable with a larger vehicle anyway (my current vehicle is a Chevy Trailblazer, my previous one was a Chevy Tahoe until the gas mileage started to KILL me), it was what I got and I was VERY pleased with it.

Depending on where you're staying, and what they do/don't do, some of the places with valet parking will load/unload the ECV at the hotel for you (they did this for me at the Beach Club). However, when my wife & I went to Sea World (don't get me started on Sea World... was NOT worth it for us, much to our surprise), we were able to fairly easily load & unload it ourselves. Do keep in mind what Cheshire Figment said about the weight & how easy it is to break it apart/put it back together again, but, decide your own capabilities & do what "feels right" for you.

Enjoy the Magic! & feel free to ask for any clarification or help you want!