arminnie
<font color=blue>Tossed the butter kept the gin<br
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2003
My DH and I had FPs for the Safari yesterday. I drove my ECV to the point where they asked if I could walk from there. As I cannot they rerouted me to an area where ECV riders who cannot walk or do stairs and wheelchair users board. A year ago I would have been able to walk the distance - but there were a lot of stairs that were not mentioned. So even if you can walk - be sure you can also do stairs.
Here's where things went wrong for me. I will know better next time. I was directed to a spot to park my ECV. It was probably 8-10 steps from the vehicle. I could not have done that alone - but I was able to stumble over there holding on to my DH. But I had great difficulty in actually entering the vehicle. I fell on my knees twice. It's a very high and wide step. The second time I fell into the vehicle and was able to pull myself up on the bench.
What I did not know, nor was I directed to it by a CM was that there is a ramp for wheelchairs in the front row which was empty. I realize that an ECV would not fit there - but I could have driven my ECV to that point and managed (with help from my DH) to walk up the ramp. And then my ECV could have been moved to a parking place.
I would never try this ride alone after this experience. When I got in the vehicle after falling down I said "well this is my last time to ride this." I did enjoy the ride very much. It was about 4pm so they were feeding the animals so there was lots to see. I am glad that I did finally see the ramp after I was in - but I wish the CMs had been more helpful. They totally ignored me when I fell both times. So if you cannot do a big step or walk several steps unassisted be sure to let the CM know that their directions do not work for you. I did not know to do that.
I realize that most people in an ECV have some ability to walk. Yes I'm probably getting close to being wheelchair bound - but at home I do quite well with a rollator. I just can't transport my rollator on my ECV.
Here's where things went wrong for me. I will know better next time. I was directed to a spot to park my ECV. It was probably 8-10 steps from the vehicle. I could not have done that alone - but I was able to stumble over there holding on to my DH. But I had great difficulty in actually entering the vehicle. I fell on my knees twice. It's a very high and wide step. The second time I fell into the vehicle and was able to pull myself up on the bench.
What I did not know, nor was I directed to it by a CM was that there is a ramp for wheelchairs in the front row which was empty. I realize that an ECV would not fit there - but I could have driven my ECV to that point and managed (with help from my DH) to walk up the ramp. And then my ECV could have been moved to a parking place.
I would never try this ride alone after this experience. When I got in the vehicle after falling down I said "well this is my last time to ride this." I did enjoy the ride very much. It was about 4pm so they were feeding the animals so there was lots to see. I am glad that I did finally see the ramp after I was in - but I wish the CMs had been more helpful. They totally ignored me when I fell both times. So if you cannot do a big step or walk several steps unassisted be sure to let the CM know that their directions do not work for you. I did not know to do that.
I realize that most people in an ECV have some ability to walk. Yes I'm probably getting close to being wheelchair bound - but at home I do quite well with a rollator. I just can't transport my rollator on my ECV.