ecv or w/c ? About This Page:

[enadine]

I have been struggling with this issue. I am a nurse with a serious back injury, for the past two years I have rented a double stroller to push my 9 and 10 year olds in, it has been the only way I could walk around the parks, like a counter-balance. However, when we went in Jan.03, my kids are now too big, and we didn't rent one. I was unable to walk for more than 10 minutes at a time before my back would spasm, and I would have to sit down and stop for another 10 minutes until able to walk again. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] This happened everywhere,Disney, Universal, Seaworld, etc, at several points I even cried in the bathroom without my family knowing, I was in such pain and so upset that I was holding up my family vacation. We go to Disney every year, but it is evident, my back is getting worse, and by the time we go in Sept. 03, I will have no choice but to rent a w/c or ECV, but I am embarrassed [img]images/icons/blush.gif[/img] . I too am a large person, but hurt my back while working as a nurse with mentally ill patients, hurt by a patient three years ago. Thank you for these posts, I feel better, and will get over my pride and the cost, and rent the ECV, as I also feel guilty having my family push me around. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img]

[Lotta D'Olwipz]

I agree with you on choosing the ECV rather than w/c.
Only because you say you are on the "fluffy" side, and the ECV will be more comfortable to sit in.
I am uncertain if the parks stock more than one size of w/c, and those normal sized ones can be a tight squeeze.
Last week, i did happen to see someone in a Disney resort wheelchair, that they brought to the park. It was indeed a larger size seat. So if you really wanted a w/c instead you could try getting one that way.
Seems like you will feel better and more independent in the ECV though. Plus there is a nice basket in front to keep any extra gear you may need.
Have fun!

[Lotta D'Olwipz]

Hi again enadine-
Just as an update...I was at MGM today, and I did see someone with a rented larger sized w/c from that park. It looked pretty comfy to me!
Hopefully that means that all 4 parks plus resorts would stock more than one size chair.
More options!

[buzzNwoodyfan]

Definitely scoot, scoot, scooter! We actually think its kind of cool to scoot around theme parks, (gramma and Mom can't walk long distances/be on feet too long) and we tote our extra "stuff" in the basket on the front. The employees/CMs are always really nice and as I'm sure you've read in other threads, who cares what everyone else thinks??!! [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Go ahead, rent that scooter and have all the fun you can possibly have in Disney World!!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Teresa]

It depends on if you are going to go off site. Staying on site or off.
If you are staying off site and are driving, then a manual wheelchair would be better. EVCs are great, but they just are impossible to pick up and put in the trunk.
Don't be embarrassed. We rented EVCs for my Dad and Step-mom last year, and they were very adament before hand that they would not use them. within a day, they were VERY happy to have the EVCs and did not worry about what others thought.

[stonewall]

Renting an ECV from off-site might be an option, as the scooters come in different "sizes" and are much more comfortable than those available in the parks. I've used Walker Mobility and been very satisfied with their service.

[enadine]

Thasnk you all so much,we will probably have to do w/c. We're 1 week on Disney, 1 week off-site at our time share, I really appreciate the feedback. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[disneydadrrm]

Last year, due to recent surgery, I needed an ecv to negotiate the park. When I called the DVC help -line, I was advised by the CM to rent from an off-site vendor. When you rent from an offsite vendor, they will deliver it to your resort and have it there ready for you when you arrive. You get to keep it all day long, ( not just while you are in a particular park) and Disney transportation (buses) are great for transporting everything. Rental on-site is only available at the parks and you can't leave the park. So if you go to multiple parks in one day, you will need to make multiple rents, ($35 dollars each as I remember). I only paid $150 for 5 nites and had the use of it everywhere 24 hours a day. It sure pays to listen to CM's and judge what's best for you. [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

[Lotta D'Olwipz]

Originally posted by disneydadrrm:
Rental on-site is only available at the parks and you can't leave the park. So if you go to multiple parks in one day, you will need to make multiple rents, ($35 dollars each as I remember). I only paid $150 for 5 nites and had the use of it everywhere 24 hours a day. It sure pays to listen to CM's and judge what's best for you. [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">To clarify, you would only need to pay the rental fee once per day, and the cost tranfers to any parks you hop to on the same day. you don't need to pay again at the next park. (but you do need to turn in the cart, walk to the bus, and get a new cart at the next park)Yuck. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

The extra conveniences make renting offsite look like a really nice alternative.

[DebiDebiDebi]

Erika, I am LOVING your New Screen name!!!!!!!

Lotta D'Olwipz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lotta D'Olwipz]

Originally posted by DebiDebiDebi:
Erika, I am LOVING your New Screen name!!!!!!!

Lotta D'Olwipz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Thanks Debbie! Hope they let me keep it [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]
I'm working on an avatar and sig pics too but shutterfly is aggravating me. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[ProChristo]

Enadine, I feel for you. It's hard to juggle what's best with what's easiest. I think you should go for the ECV, and here's why:

My DH has flat feet that cause him unbearable pain when he walks or stands for a long time. Not a good characteristic at WDW. We decided before we went to WDW last time, to budget $ for an ECV or wheelchair. DH walked on our arrival day and the following day. He was in excruciating pain, and all that walking pretty much did him in. On Day3 we rented an ECV for him. Life got much easier, but he felt embarassed by having to use it. His condition is aggrivated by being overweight. More stress on his tootsies.

Day 4 he thought he could walk it, after giving his feet a break on Day 3. He made it, but was really in a lot of pain again. He was feeling guilty because he doesn't have an "obvious" disability, and got a lot of wierd looks when he would park the ECV and walk around inside Innoventions, for instance. Day 5 we got a wheelchair since it was cheaper. Since DH normally isn't in one, he just didn't have the upper arm strength to do it, and I ended up pushing him around quite a bit, which I was more than happy to do, but my body just isn't used to that. Now I was the one in pain. Not good. On day 6 we went back to the ECV. It was definately the right thing to do. Having my DH off his feet as much as possible helped us have a more magical trip than we would have if DH had to walk everywhere.

You are probably paying a lot for this vacation, and you deserve to let yourself enjoy it. If renting an ECV or wheelchair allows you to do that, I think you owe it to yourself to do it. Life is too short to worry about what others think. Go. Have a blast and enjoy this precious time with your family.

[prncess674]

Go for the ECV. In my younger day I pushed my father (200 pounds) around in a wheelchair for 3 days and it is a workout on the person doing the pushing. Even though WDW is accessible, there are lots of gentle sloping hills that are killer to push a chair up or control going down. You won't feel like a burden on your family if you can get yourself around in an ECV. Sitting in a wheel chair will make you feel completely dependent on another person. Renting from an outside company is probably best because of cost.

[enadine]

It will definatey have to be ECV. In Jan. it was so sad, I did not see anything, and my whole vacation was taken up by the new experience of looking at everything differently. It used to be the joy and wonder of Fantasmic, now it is the stress of Oh my God, I'll never be abe to walk out with the crowds [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry2.gif[/img] I had to stop and sit down several times while my leg spasmed. I am sad, and have no choice but to ECV. I feel exactly like all the other people who posted about the embarrassment, but you are right, It is vacation, and I'll just have to deal with it [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] .At least this year I'll actually be able to see the parks, rather than just hear about them.