Hi there, Charles! Welcome to planDisney--it's great to meet you. I'm pleased as could be to meet a fellow
Disney Vacation Club Member, and I'm ready to go the distance to help make your upcoming trip a magical and accessible one for your entire group.
I'm a nurse by trade, Charles, and I've had countless conversations with patients and families over the years about tips for navigating medical issues during a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation. There are so many ways that Disney makes the parks accessible for Guests to ensure that everyone can be part of the magic!
There are a couple of different options for
renting an ECV (full disclosure, I just discovered that this stands for "Electric Conveyance Vehicle"--we're all learning something today!) at Walt Disney World. You can rent an ECV for the day in any of the theme parks, the water parks, or
Disney Springs. These vehicles do not leave the park where you rented them, but if you're planning a park-hopping day, simply return the ECV at your first location, then present your rental receipt at park #2 to keep the good times rolling! Keep in mind that the in-park ECVs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and they are not available as a "length of stay" reservation--meaning you will need to rent one each day that you require it.
If your pal requires an ECV to navigate beyond the parks, I recommend looking into a rental from ScooterBug, an Orlando-based company, and a Disney Featured Provider that rents ECVs, wheelchairs, and strollers. We needed a wheelchair a couple of years ago when one of my kids had an injury and were delighted to learn that they would drop the chair off at our Disney Resort Hotel and pick it up without us needing to be present. It was a seamless process and allowed our kiddo to be part of all of the fun without navigating the parks on crutches!
One last tip before your September vacation--check out the
Attractions and Entertainment section of the Walt Disney World website to get an idea of what experiences will be appropriate and accessible for your Guest. If you select the "All Filters" tile, you can choose several different options under "Accessibility & Advisories", which will generate a comprehensive list of rides, shows, and other opportunities that meet their needs! It's a great tool for your planning purposes.
I hope this information is just what you were looking for, Charles! If other vacation planning questions come up before your trip, please
reach out to me directly. I'm always happy to help!
Stay Magical!
Susan