Which would you use EVC or Wheelchair?

[disneydreamerbelle]

My mother recently broke her foot and had to have surgery, so our 11 day trip to the parks has her wondering which would be a better fit for her an ECV or wheelchair?

She is starting to be able to put some pressure on the foot, and can take a couple of steps without being bothered so she thinks she will be able to get herself from the chair to the ride vehicles.

She likes the idea of an EVC so that we don't have to push her around for the entire trip. However, she feels the wheelchair would be easier to maneuver in tight situations because it is smaller and she may be able to get closer to the ride vehicles.

Which leaves us wondering which will be the better fit at the parks?

Thanks!

 

[grumpyvet]

I have taken my father to DL using a wheelchair. He can transfer and walk a few steps to get into rides. It seemed to me, that if the person transfers, the ECVs and wheelchairs were parked the same location, so I don't think you get much closer with a wheelchair.

A wheel chair is more manueverable, but with a bit of practice, I have seen some ECV drivers do amazingly well.

DL and DCA are not flat, so depending upon your party, pushing a wheelchair can do you in!! I swim miles every week so have very strong back and shoulder muscles, and I was dying going up some of those inclines. (my dad is about 220lbs.)

My dad never seemed to mind that I was doing all the work, but my mom was really upset about the "toll on my body". (aren't moms' cute?), so your mom would more likely enjoy being beholden to no one...driving herself.

I don't know the particulars, but there are outside companies to rent the ECV's from so you can have them for the length of the stay, rather than just in the parks themselves.


Have fun!!! Amy

 

[fairycat]

I managed to sprain both ankles at one time (don't ask haha!), I could not walk from the car to the parks and I have a small car so I rented a wheelchair from a local place and took it with me for my day trip.

Let me say NEVER again! I hit a rainy/drizzley day so the ground was slick and made manuvering a pita. I had my sister to help push but we both still found it a pain so I pushed part of the time too. Overall I would go with a ECV if I ever needed help again.

Rental wheelchairs aren't that manuverable, pushing (either the rider or helper), and just getting around are not that easy. I have traveled with those who used an EVC and trust me they did not have any of the issues I did. It seems you get the hang of them and then you go!

Maybe its that I felt my sister wanted to kill me in that chair, but I say EVC all the way.

 

[bumbershoot]

ECV, absolutely. I wouldn't want anyone to hurt themselves or give up part of the fun of their day by pushing me around.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

My mom did the ECV rental when we she and I did a girls trip to WDW back in 96. After her stroke, we took her again (in 97) and had to push her wheelchair the entire trip, since she didn't have the capacity to drive an ECV. I had to be pushed around DL one visit with a bum foot and broken toe.

Let me tell you those trips with Mom were night an day. If you have the facilities to drive an ECV, it is much easier for you to get around. It takes a bit of practice, but you can get the hang of it in about 5-10 minutes. Any slope makes the wheelchair very difficult - and you sometimes don't realize it is a slope until you are pushing something!

I would seriously look into the rental companies (offsite) for a rental for your whole period. The stroller rules apply to ECVs - you can't take them out of the park. With an outside company, you can.

 

[Disney_Villain]

I just finished a trip in DL recently where I rented an ECV due to broken bones in my foot. Please do this. Wheelchairs aren't as easy to manage in the Disney parks as you might think.

With respect to wheelchairs: There are a lot of slopes to cope with in the DL parks. Also, if you are pushing your mother around all day long you are going to be exhausted. She will be exhausted if she has to wheel herself around all day long.

When you can't take an ECV right up to a loading area, there are accomodations to use a temporary wheelchair to get wheeled up to the ride.

Few people do wheelchairs over ECVs - and after my experience I can't imagine doing a wheelchair in any of the Disney parks. It would have been a nuisance!

I would recommend either making a reservation through one of the 3 Disneyland hotels guests services desk (if you are staying at one of those) or calling Deckert Surgical directly at +1 (714) 542-5607 to reserve an ECV for the duration of your stay. Deckert was recommend to me by the DISabilities board moderator and they did well for my last trip.