Using a walker in the park Questions... About This Page:

[CinderAbby]

To make a long story short, I'm trying to convince my friend Paula that a rolling walker might be the better way for her to go than a scooter when we are in Disney this year . I know she's going to ask all sorts of questions about it so I want to be ready for them. I'm pretty sure on rides like Pirates and IASW she'll be allowed to fold it up and take it with her. What about rides like Splash Mountain and Peter Pan though? Anyone know how it would work on these rides?

[Ginns1]

I doubt that you can take a folding walker with you on the rides so they probably move them to the exit like they do with the scooters!

[Eeyore Tattoo]

I think it would be a danger to take it on many rides, Like splash mountain.. It could fly out on the "splash" and hurt someone or worse get tangled up in the tracks.
I am sure it would be waiting at the exit for you though when left upon getting on the ride.. Have fun!
Be sure she has the stamina to do all the walking before deciding to use a walker instead of a scooter..
Deb

[SueM loves WDW]

For Pirates they would probably load it onto the boat in the back row. They actually do that with folded wheelchairs. Because Pirates actually loads in one building and unloads in another, that is the easiest way to make sure the walker gets to the unload area at the same time as you do.

For Peter Pan, the exit and the boarding area are very close (like a few feet apart), so it is easy to have it at the exit.
People with wheelchairs or other mobility devices are routed to the unload area for boarding at both Splash Mountain and IASW. She would just 'park' the walker walker where she boards and she will get off at the same spot.

Another thing to think about is whether she will be able to walk the 3-6 miles a day that a trip to WDW involves, even with the walker.

[CinderAbby]

I can't see why she wouldn't. Paula's trip is really gonna involve following us around and then waiting for us to ride the rides. There's very little she will ride on as she says she can't do spinning rides and she gets seasick/motion sickness very easily. When we went to Canobie Lake (a small amusement park around here) I told her what ride we were going on and if she wasn't there by the time we were done, we would wait for her. That way, she could take her time as she likes to look at everything and rest when she needed to. I really think Paula's main reason for going is so Lauren (her granddaughter) can go and have fun. I think Paula will have more fun seeing Lauren happy than riding the rides herself.

[stonewall]

Sue really has the best advice on this one. Yes, the walker could go on some of the rides, but definitely not on Peter Pan or Splash Mountain, and, if she needs a walker, she really might want to conside the ECV. I have/use both and would go with the ECV in this case (depending on how old her granddaughter is, she might be able to ride along on the ECV too!)

[CinderAbby]

(depending on how old her granddaughter is, she might be able to ride along on the ECV too!)

Lauren will be 15 when we go, but she's already taller than Paula - there wouldn't be enough room for the 2 of them even if she did want to ride.

[SueM loves WDW]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

Lauren will be 15 when we go, but she's already taller than Paula - there wouldn't be enough room for the 2 of them even if she did want to ride.

Besides that, the rental agreements state that only one person will ride on the ECV.
If Cast Members see an ECV driver with a child on their lap, they will usually stop them and advise them that it is dangerous.
I have seen some pretty bad 'almost accidents' with small children sitting on the lap of the driver. In one case, the child squirmed and nearly fell off. In the other situation, the child was excited and pointed. His hand hit the driver's hand, hitting the steering yoke and causing the ECV to veer to the side, nearly hitting another guest.
So, for your own safety and the safety of the other guests, please only one person per ECV.

[bbyee]

It sounds like an ECV might be a better option than using her walker, HOWEVER, you would also need to make sure that she would be capable of using an ECV safely. I've seen too many people using ECVs who don't have the coordination or fine motor skill to use one safely for themselves and/or the others around them.

I'm a lifelong power chair user, so I hate when ECVs are used irresponsibly.

[CinderAbby]

I'm a lifelong power chair user, so I hate when ECVs are used irresponsibly.

I certainly don't blame you. My DH uses one but is always very aware of the people around him and where they are. He just wishes people who don't use them gave him the same respect.

HOWEVER, you would also need to make sure that she would be capable of using an ECV safely. I've seen too many people using ECVs who don't have the coordination or fine motor skill to use one safely for themselves and/or the others around them.

I guess therein lies my problem. Part of me says "Yeah, she's used an EVC before and it's been okay." The other part says "Don't forget this is the same person who almost flipped over a 4 wheel scooter that didn't even go walking speed." I actually didn't see her do it but my DH did. With all the people and various curbing in Disney, I can see Paula doing something where someone gets hurt. Not intentionally of course, but because Paula either won't be attention to where she's going or she'll complain "There were too many people in front of me, I didn't see that."

[bbyee]

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

I certainly don't blame you. My DH uses one but is always very aware of the people around him and where they are. He just wishes people who don't use them gave him the same respect.

Very true, and it's good to hear that you already have a bit of perspective on the issue.

Originally Posted by CinderAbby

I guess therein lies my problem. Part of me says "Yeah, she's used an EVC before and it's been okay." The other part says "Don't forget this is the same person who almost flipped over a 4 wheel scooter that didn't even go walking speed." I actually didn't see her do it but my DH did. With all the people and various curbing in Disney, I can see Paula doing something where someone gets hurt. Not intentionally of course, but because Paula either won't be attention to where she's going or she'll complain "There were too many people in front of me, I didn't see that."

I just wrote a big, long post in another thread about the whole responsible ECV use issue, and I have the feeling that Paula might not be the best candidate for one. The last thing that any of you need is for someone to get hurt when she was clearly at fault (now, keep in mind, that I'm always putting my arm out to catch the 'walkies' who are backing up from falling on me when I can't get out of the way).

I agree with other people who have said to have them try out the chairs beforehand...you might even want to go to a local medical supply company to see if they have ones to try. These are more realistic than the ones at grocery stores. Paula might have an easier time with the 3 wheeled smaller scooters which can be rented privately than the ones that Disney supplies (I couldn't imagine having to use one of those).

[CinderAbby]

For those of you who are wondering, Paula told me tonight there is no way she's using a walker in the parks. It's going to be and ECV and an ECV only.

The last thing that any of you need is for someone to get hurt when she was clearly at fault

I agree 100% with that. I'm certainly hoping that doesn't happen and that Paula keeps her eyes out and pays attention instead of gawking. There will be plenty of time for that when we are on the rides and she's not. Maybe I'll start dropping hints here and there that she needs to very aware of where she is in relation to everything and everyone else.

you might even want to go to a local medical supply company to see if they have ones to try. These are more realistic than the ones at grocery stores. Paula might have an easier time with the 3 wheeled smaller scooters which can be rented privately than the ones that Disney supplies (I couldn't imagine having to use one of those).

I didn't even think of that. And I know we do have several in the area so I'll suggest it to her.

[stonewall]

The 3 wheeled scooters are defintely more mobile and easier to manuver than the 4 wheeled variety. It also helps to rent one (and these are NOT the kind that are the at the rental centers in the parks) that has a speed control on it! The most dangerous thing that I always encounter are the people that feel that they have to dash accross right in front of your ECV while pushing a stroller and dragging a screaming toddler by the hand! They don't relaize that when you stop the ECV it still travels on for a few more inches and can easily run into the person in front of you!. I am glad that she decided to go with the ECV though.