[DisneyGimper]

I have posted some of these questions on another Disney site, and not quite gotten the answers to them, so I will post them here.

My DMIL and DFIL may be joining DH, DS, DD and I in WDW in Oct. DMIL will likely need to rent an ECV for touring the parks. My questions are as follows:

1. About how much does an ECV weigh?

2. How difficult are ECVs to disassemble and reassemble to haul in the trunk of a car?

3. We are planning on renting from an offsite vendor, what is the average rate per day for renting an ECV?

4. Off the topic a little bit, for the Fantasmic show, is there an alternate entrance for the mobility impaired (I also have mobility issues - I walk with a cane)?

[wdwspider]

Originally Posted by DisneyGimper

4. Off the topic a little bit, for the Fantasmic show, is there an alternate entrance for the mobility impaired (I also have mobility issues - I walk with a cane)?

If distance is the issue, then I don't think you will find any alternatives.

As far as getting to Fantasmic, the main entrance is Mobility friendly anyway. It is on a slight incline, but there are no stairs to the entrance.

The only other entrance I know of is the Dinner entrance and it is no better than the main entrance. It is probably longer and up and down hill from what I remember.

I highly recommend getting there quite early regardless.

[lawwin]

Most of the ECV's that are rented from off-site places are really not the types that can be taken apart, but the companies will deliver them to your hotel. I know this because I needed one two years ago when I fell at Blizzard Beach. My ECV was delivered to my hotel (and most of them are) and then left with the bellhops to be picked up latery the company from which it was rented. My ECV weighed approx. 60 to 70 lbs at least and maybe more. THe busses at WDW are equipped to load the ECVs as they have platforms that raise and lower to let those with ECVs on easily and they always load them first. I preferred the bus transportation when I had to use my ECV. It was very easy and simple.

Fantasmic is very easy to get into my DSF had to do it with a cane last year because both of his knees had been replaced and it was easy for him. It is an easily sloping incline with no steps and all people who are handicapped or in ECVs are seated at the top where you get and excellent view. As a matter of fact, I prefer to sit there now. But watch out for the poachers who try to steal those seats in the handicapped section.

[DisneyGimper]

Originally Posted by lawwin

Most of the ECV's that are rented from off-site places are really not the types that can be taken apart, but the companies will deliver them to your hotel. <snip>
My ECV weighed approx. 60 to 70 lbs at least and maybe more.

<snip>

Fantasmic is very easy to get into my DSF had to do it with a cane last year because both of his knees had been replaced and it was easy for him. It is an easily sloping incline with no steps and all people who are handicapped or in ECVs are seated at the top where you get and excellent view. As a matter of fact, I prefer to sit there now. But watch out for the poachers who try to steal those seats in the handicapped section.

lawwin: Thank you for the information. I guess we will be renting a minivan then, so we can load it fully assembled into the back. We will be doing more than just Disney, and my DMIL cannot walk more than about 100 feet. (you have been more helpful than the other Disney board I posted to - I got a snarky comment about going to read the FAQs because the person did not want to type the info in again. And the FAQs did not have the information that I asked for.)

That is good to know about Fantasmic. I am looking forward to finally seeing this show! (and I will guard, with my life, the HC accessible seats, that is when I get really snarky, when able bodied people feel "entitled" to accessible seating before the folks who really need it.)

[lawwin]

Glad I could help. Sorry I did not have any info about the prices, but I do know it is cheaper and easier to rent from the offsite places than in the parks at WDW. That way you are also guaranteed an ECV and they are a little nicer (basket on front, horn, light, etc.). Check on prices and take a large poncho with you to cover the ECV with when you leave it outside. You know how those freak Florida cloudbursts are. MY ECV was paid for by Disney because of my accident so I have no idea what the prices are, but I understand they are pretty reasonable. My DM would know more about that because she checked into renting one for my DSF last year before his surgery, but they went ahead and purchased their own ECV and we took it down there in the minivan. BUt, he did not use it, but we had it with us in case he did need it (in case his knees could not handle the stress of walking that much so recently after surgery).

If you are going to be walking and not using a ECV, make sure you get a GAC. IT will help you with the standing in line, especially if you use a cane to walk a lot. We had one for my DSF because he could not stand in the lines for long periods of time. IT worked very well and the CMs were very nice about the use of it.

[DisneyGimper]

Originally Posted by lawwin

<snipped>
If you are going to be walking and not using a ECV, make sure you get a GAC. IT will help you with the standing in line, especially if you use a cane to walk a lot. We had one for my DSF because he could not stand in the lines for long periods of time. IT worked very well and the CMs were very nice about the use of it.

I have used the GAC before, and it really does help. I only had one CM look at me crosseyed, and she was the one who gave me the GAC in the first place (not having a good day apparently). This CM was at guest services outside the EPCOT gate. When I asked for the card, she told me that I could go INTO the park to get it, but then I asked her if this was Guest Services, she said yes, and gave me the card...It was not very busy, so I am not sure what her issue was.