Quick! Can you do ECV's from offsite hotel?

[O2H O2H]

If so, how. After I just got this whole thing planned, dh is freaking about the cost, and while he doesn't want me to cancel yet, he wants me to plan a second, dummy trip that is MUCH cheaper, so he has a backup option to still go, if things that we are counting on fall through.

My #1 concern about offsite (aside from all of the awesome perks to being onsite) is how to get an ECV back and forth to the parks each day. Are there offsite hotels with shuttles that could haul it?

I will have 3 adults, 2 kids, so also need to keep that in mind for a room. Please help!

 

[Tony NY]

You can always get a travel scooter it can easier to fit in trunk of a car if you want to rent a car if that helps

 

[O2H O2H]

I think that having to rent a car and pay for parking would wipe out a lot of the savings.

 

[Michigan]

Under the ADA law if the hotel provides transportation for able bodied people they must also provide it for those in wheelchairs. I would call the hotel to notify them that you will be needing accessible transportation so they can have it all set up when you get there.

 

[POOHsie]

It's true that a smaller travel scooter would come apart and fit in a rental car. But the scooter has to fit the user. A 250 man can't use a small scooter, etc.

Regarding offsite shuttles to WDW. Lots of places hire a shuttle company that goes around to more than one resort. So it's not in the hotel's control about the shuttle. I have read reports here of people needing scooter transport, were promised scooter transport, then non-accessible transport showed up. There's no source of info for an off-site hotel with reliable accessible transport. Sorry. If your resort doesn't deliver with accessible transport, you're stuck getting an accessible taxi. They're readily available, but it could be a budget-buster. If your family could get a foldable wheelchair, that might be able to go on an off-site shuttle. Then at the park front gate, you could leave your wheelchair and rent a park scooter. Best choice is to stay at a Disney resort and use their totally reliable transportation, IMO.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Legally any hotel that provides free shuttles for hotel guests to WDW is required to provide disabled guests with equal access to free transportation for any place it's available for someone without a mobility aid, even if that means the hotel has to pay for accessible taxis. Getting them to follow the law on that part is harder. I think we have at least one poster here who has done so, but I'm not positive. Depending on the scooter and the style of shuttle, it might also be possible to break down the scooter to fit it into the shuttle. It is also worth calling around to see if any hotels do have accessible shuttles as part of their regular fleet of shuttles. Just because posters here haven't heard of it happening, it doesn't mean that there aren't hotels with accessible shuttles.

With 3 adults and 2 kids, I'd suggest looking at hotels that have suites and pricing that out compared to what 2 rooms would cost. The kids might have to sleep on a pull out sofa bed, but it The bonus of hotels with suites is that they often have standard a mini-fridge and possibly a microwave or kitchenette. There are quite a few hotels in the WDW/Orlando area that have suites, but I have no idea what they're like with price.

When I was a kid my family stayed offsite and rented a car. Depending on the difference in cost between an offsite hotel and your WDW plans, it might actually be cost effective. Tip if you do look at car rental: don't rent at the airport, but take a cab to a rental location farther in; car rentals are much cheaper away from airports (for some reason I have it in my head that the Orlando airport is extra expensive even compared to other airports). If the scooter user is able to use one of the smaller rental scooters, you'd be able to fit it in the back of most rental cars. Certainly, any cars that comfortably fit 5 should be able to fit a broken down scooter the size of the Go-Go Elites in the back.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Actually, we find it cheap to book our car with airport pick up and drop off! You should always shop around for the best price, though, whatever you decide.

 

[O2H O2H]

Thanks for the replies. If we have to go offsite, I will have to do in park ecv's. It is far from ideal (and eats some savings), but knocking a day off, staying off site, going cheaper with food, and having everyone but me drive (I absolutely cannot sit for 8 hours) cut the cost in half. Now I still really hope that we take the bigger trip. He does, too, but at least this potential alternate seems to have quelled his "sticker shock panic", lol

 

[SueM in MN]

Under the ADA law if the hotel provides transportation for able bodied people they must also provide it for those in wheelchairs. I would call the hotel to notify them that you will be needing accessible transportation so they can have it all set up when you get there.

They are obligated to provide accessible transportation that is comparable to what they provide to other guests.
Depending on the hotel, what they provide to other guests may not be that good to begin with.
- Some have 'free' bus service, but have extra charges, like a 'facility fee' (or charge for parking) that is not listed in the rate per night for the room.

-As was already posted, some share buses with other resorts, so you may be spending a lot of time traveling. Even if every bus has an accessible spot or more, it could be occupied when the bus arrives. This can happen at a WDW resort, but with buses coming every 20 minutes or so, your wait for the next bus won't be long and the driver can call to get a bus routed to pick you up.

- Some provide only limited pickup times, so you have to see the park on their schedule, not yours. If you miss the last bus, getting back to your resort is your problem and your expense. Accessible taxis are available, but you may have to wait longer.

Considerations about renting a car:
- check around for discounts. You may be able to get a AAA discount, a discount by renting thru your credit card company, the Costco or Sam's Club if you are a member.
- check into different pick up places. Some have pick up and return at one of the a Downtown Disney area resorts that may be less expensive than doing at the airport.
- if you are not staying at a WDW resort, you will be paying a parking fee at the parks each day. Annual Passholders get free parking, but depending on how long your stay is, getting an annual pass to take advantage of that may not be cost effective.

Check into other close resorts that have better service.
- Swan and Dolphin have quite a few discounts ( I've seen people posting about discounts for teachers and nurses). They are walking or boat distance from 2 parks and use WDW transportation for the others.

- also check into Downtown Disney area resorts.

I don't know what on site resort you were looking at, but do look at options like the a Family Suites at the Value Resorts and the cabins at Fort Wilderness.

 

[Bete]

First, we stay at an offsite resort because we take our dog with us. This resort offers a shuttle and it is run by a different company. They pick up at other resorts; they have very restrictive times for coming and going to to the parks. The real crusher is that the bus drops you off at Epcot and then it's up to you to use Disney transportation to get to whatever park. The time involved with all of this is incredible. Their normal bus will not accommodate scooters. You have to pre-arrange with the resort to get access to a vehicle for a scooter. This may or may not work very well. Time is money, too. Every minute spent this way is costing you time away from the parks. Park tickets are high priced and that needs to be a consideration. We use a car and never use the bus shuttle.

Next, we have used air mattresses in a Disney resort and that has helped us not getting a bigger room or two rooms. We used twin size air mattresses. You could probably fit two twins in a room. The cost of these air mattresses is not too bad. You do have to find room in the luggage for them.

The perks with staying onsite like getting extra magic hours and early, advance reservations for fastpass plus is well worth the higher cost of staying on property. The theming and such gets you more immersed in the Disney experience.

You can share meals at Disney to save costs. Order tap water and don't get beverages. Do quick service, not table service for your meals. If you do a table service go at lunch; it is cheaper.

Bring snacks from home to save that way, too. Again, you need to fit the snacks into luggage.

Some people save ahead of time and get Disney gift cards to use at the parks once they arrive. You're still spending the same money, but being pre-paid seems to be better for some folk.

 

[ratlenhum]

It's true that a smaller travel scooter would come apart and fit in a rental car. But the scooter has to fit the user. A 250 man can't use a small scooter,

Last weekend we rented a scooter from buena vista scooters. It was a travel scooter. I think it was a go go sport. It had 3 wheels and was small. They said the weight limit was 300. Hubby is about 240. It easily came apart I to 4 parts. I have rheumatoid arthritis and even with bad hands and knees I was easily able to get the parts into the trunk of our rental car

 

[O2H O2H]

This is all very good information, and I appreciate your answers so much. I wholeheartedly want to stay onsite. DH also understands a lot of the benefits. He just had a total freakout that I was doing all of this planning for an expensive trip (bc my 180 is coming up, etc) and then WHAT IF this or that or the other fell through and we couldn't do it, and he didn't want me to be crushed, etc. So then he was thinking we should cancel the deposit and wait to plan until all of those things came through. Now, YOU guys know that is not the answer, bc by then I won't be able to get ADR's, etc.

So I said, OK, I will plan for the big trip, and ALL of the money that we have and will put down is totally refundable right up to October 29. IF this or that don't come through, then we could do this other trip, which is not as awesome and a lot more hassle, but still WDW with the kids, and we could come up with that if we stretch, if NONE of the other things come through (which they should, for sure, but you never know...)

And I even made a reservation at a hotel offsite that is way cheaper, and can be cancelled up until 12/12 (although I will know by October 100% so would cancel it by then so they have plenty of chance to fill it). So then he calmed down a whole heck of a lot, lol.

 

[POOHsie]

Last weekend we rented a scooter from buena vista scooters. It was a travel scooter. I think it was a go go sport. It had 3 wheels and was small. They said the weight limit was 300. Hubby is about 240. It easily came apart I to 4 parts. I have rheumatoid arthritis and even with bad hands and knees I was easily able to get the parts into the trunk of our rental car

I had my own Go-Go, an earlier version, maybe 6-7 years ago. Its capacity was 225 lbs. I loved my Go-Go, except the 10-mile range batteries. It couldn't do a full day at Epcot, and I was under 200 lbs.

I know that some models of the Go-Go's are much improved, with better battery power, and stronger suspension for heavier loads. They are a great choice, and I love their small footprint and great maneuverability (I have a medium-size scooter now). Each rental place has different offerings. If they have the higher capacity Go-Go's for weight to 300 lbs, to me that's better than the usual medium-to-large size scooters that other rental places offer.

 

[O2H O2H]

I had my own Go-Go, an earlier version, maybe 6-7 years ago. Its capacity was 225 lbs. I loved my Go-Go, except the 10-mile range batteries. It couldn't do a full day at Epcot, and I was under 200 lbs.

I know that some models of the Go-Go's are much improved, with better battery power, and stronger suspension for heavier loads. They are a great choice, and I love their small footprint and great maneuverability (I have a medium-size scooter now). Each rental place has different offerings. If they have the higher capacity Go-Go's for weight to 300 lbs, to me that's better than the usual medium-to-large size scooters that other rental places offer.

Oh, that is really good info. I wondered if that one would be too small for me. I am currently 267 although I have lost 18 lb since april 1, and am definitely on my way down. I hope to be under 240 before the trip (which I think is doable).

Is this the one you are talking about for the park? If I rent offsite, it will be bc I am staying onsite, so won't need to take it apart. I would still like it to have really good maneuverability, though. Power and comfort (and battery) should not be sacrificed for the maneuverability. Hmm... Thoughts?

http://www.buenavistascooters.com/products_details.asp?id=3

 

[Piper]

The victory model from Pride comes apart for transportation. It is what I have at home and use every day. I think it is rated for 300 pounds.

 

[pbrim]

It's true that a smaller travel scooter would come apart and fit in a rental car. But the scooter has to fit the user. A 250 man can't use a small scooter, etc.

I beg to differ. My personal scooter is a Pride Go-Go Elite Traveler Plus (Plus means larger battery). It comes apart easily into pieces I can handle alone, and fits well in the trunk of my Hyundai, with room for some luggage as well. At 250, I can comfortably do 10-12 hours in the park, and have done 18 hours but it was pretty low at the end. (I had to put it in neutral and push it up the ramp onto the bus, but it still did OK on the flat.)

Size is a factor -- I chose the Plus because I am close to the weight limit, but there's no reason to dismiss a travel scooter out of hand.

 

[POOHsie]

I beg to differ. My personal scooter is a Pride Go-Go Elite Traveler Plus (Plus means larger battery). It comes apart easily into pieces I can handle alone, and fits well in the trunk of my Hyundai, with room for some luggage as well. At 250, I can comfortably do 10-12 hours in the park, and have done 18 hours but it was pretty low at the end. (I had to put it in neutral and push it up the ramp onto the bus, but it still did OK on the flat.)

Size is a factor -- I chose the Plus because I am close to the weight limit, but there's no reason to dismiss a travel scooter out of hand.

I was only pointing out that you can't rent a scooter just by size, but by weight capacity. Most Go-Go's handle much less weight than your particular configuration. I don't know if a rental company would carry your model in the WDW area.