Rent a scooter, or Not rent a scooter

I am a big guy and I 'can walk' but I get tired and seem to have to find a seat every so many feet. I want to rent a scooter BUT have the big "fear" of people pointing and saying "scammer" (I am also a handicap), and I know if I hear someone saying something I would give them a tongue lashing they would never forget. I know its my own insecurity... BUT at the end of the night I sit/walk, sit/walk most of the times over an hour before I get back to the resort (do they have bigger wheelchairs???). I don't take the bus, as I find it easer to drive to the parks/resorts (because I cant stand that long on the bus).

Another problem about driving to Magic Kingdom the handicap parking is so far way??? and no jitney to the boat/monorail.

So I vented,,, any advice? OH and I wont use the scooter to get to the "front of the ride" as I do plan out my rides well, as not to wait no more then 20 min.

This is a good time for you to swallow your pride and not worry about what other people think.. I dont look disabled, but I am... I get lots of looks as I step out of my car at a super market etc.. and walk into the store... what people arent seeing is that It took me two days to get to the store... or will take me two days to recover from walking around Target... it doesnt matter what people think of you.. its your vacation,, and you need to do what ever it is to get you through the day in one piece..!

If you are not going to use the scooter the whole time.. then make sure you take it easy.. and dont push yourself to appease others..

take care and have a great time..!

It's a common misconception, but scooters don't get to go to the front of the line. Often the handicap lines are longer than the usual lines. Also, most rides have the scooters integrated right into the same line.

If you go with a wheel chair, then someone would have to push you, and WDW isn't as flat as you would think. Pushing a wheel chair is a whole lotta work. DH pushed his mom in a wheel chair, then we all had more fun when she switched to a scooter.

Who cares what strangers you will never see again think. If it makes your trip better and doesn't infringe on anyone else, there is no reason not to have an ecv.

Thanks for the advice... I think I may rent one. I really do like walking around BUT its very hard just walking up Main St USA (then standing during the parades/fireworks in MK.

Can I park it outside the rides? never really seen one just sitting outside the ride like the carriage parking????

Since my Moms death the last few years I've been taking my younger sister (who needed to with my Mom all the time)...I know she gets beat walking ... maybe we can share and take turn???

-phil

You can park it with the strollers that should be parked close by the attractions. Be sure to take the key with you. Sometimes CM's will have to move or straighten strollers and ECV's. They know how to move it in neutral so sometimes it might not be in the exact place you parked it, but it will be close by.

plove53 said:

I am a big guy and I 'can walk' but I get tired and seem to have to find a seat every so many feet. I want to rent a scooter BUT have the big "fear" of people pointing and saying "scammer" (I am also a handicap), and I know if I hear someone saying something I would give them a tongue lashing they would never forget. I know its my own insecurity... BUT at the end of the night I sit/walk, sit/walk most of the times over an hour before I get back to the resort (do they have bigger wheelchairs???). I don't take the bus, as I find it easer to drive to the parks/resorts (because I cant stand that long on the bus).

Another problem about driving to Magic Kingdom the handicap parking is so far way??? and no jitney to the boat/monorail.

So I vented,,, any advice? OH and I wont use the scooter to get to the "front of the ride" as I do plan out my rides well, as not to wait no more then 20 min.

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Bro, I hear everything you are saying loud and clear. I too am having the same hesitancy about using an EVC. I have reached the age in life where I no longer have the leg strength I once did. I had several jobs over the years that required being on my feet most of the day and I enjoyed them all. After a knee replacement and a knee rebuild, I can only walk short distances. I am also experiencing some nerve/circulation problems and arthritis in my feet and lower legs. I am not “crippled” but I simply can no longer go at the pace or distance I used to.


At the insistence of my family, I have reserved an EVC to use on this trip. I can do the standing in line part; it’s getting to the line that is difficult for me. To look at me, no one would think that I have any physical problem whatsoever. I have the medical bills and medications to prove otherwise. If someone else wants to judge me, then so be it. I long ago learned that I have no control over what other people think. Life is too short for me to be concerned about comments from hateful people. My 8 year old GrandGirl wants her Pappa Bear with her on this trip and I never let her down. If an EVC is what it takes, then so be it.


All I can suggest is that you try to do what I did, rent an EVC and be at peace with yourself. The older I get, the harder it is for me to do that but I don’t quit trying.

I was nervous about other people's reactions the first time I used an ECV, but before the first day was over I was having too much fun enjoying the parks to notice or care about it.

I relate to this very much. I'm a big gal, both vertically and horizontally. Even after many years of using an ECV at WDW (I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1995, which makes walking or standing for extended periods impossible for me no matter what size I am), I still have to fight off the occasional feelings of self-consciousness. I know for an absolute fact that many people when they look at me, and particularly my size, and assume I'm just too fat and lazy to walk like everybody else. Daily I have to just remind myself that it's MY vacation, I spent a small fortune to be there, and I have every right in enjoy myself without pain or misery. That I should pity those small-minded, ignorant people who are so lacking in compassion and grace. I hold my head up high, smile like a goof, and HAVE FUN. And you should too. I know it's easier said than done, but please don't allow yourself to be held back by the uninformed opinions of sad people who you'll never see again... Don't give them the power to make you endure one moment of suffering. ENJOY YOUR VACATION!

Additionally, I notice you say you prefer to drive rather than use the busses so you don't have to risk standing. If you rent your ECV from off-property, you'll not only be able to use it at your resort (which in and of itself can be a whole lot of walking), but your bus problems will be solved as well. You'll be the first one on the bus, so grabbing a seat is easy breezy. You can also do what I do, and opt to stay on your ECV for the bus ride. I like to do that just to free up one additional bus seat for somebody else... No reason to take a seat if I brought by own.

Like you mentioned, I too don't stay sat in mine 24/7 in the parks. I am up and off of it all through-out the day. Anything I have a FastPass for or that has a posted Standby wait time of 20 minutes or less, I just park near the strollers or the attraction exit, and go through as normal. If I decide that I'll need my ECV for the attraction queue, I always just ask the CM at the front what to do, and follow their instructions. I never take the ECV into close quarters like shops or restaurants, I do both of those on my feet. So by the end of the day, my pain levels are still high, but I stick it out. At least I'm there and able to enjoy myself, where as I wouldn't be able to do it at all without the ECV to help me cut down on the walking and standing as much as possible.

Also keep in mind that depending on how big you are, you may need to be conscious of the ECVs weight limits. Standard models are built for usually 300-325 pounds. (I think this is the limit for the ones that Disney rents for day-use in the parks, maybe somebody can correct me if I'm wrong.) When you rent from off-property, you can get a model that allows up to 500lbs. As for me, at a svelte 340lbs, I'm just a tad over the limit for a Standard model, so I go for the larger one. I use Buena Vista Scooters, and they are absolutely wonderful.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, I am more than happy to assist in anyway that I can. Most importantly, please try to relax and take care of yourself first!!!

To both @Pappa Bear & @plove53: Think of it like this - the ECV is a TOOL, and nothing more. There are plenty of folks (not just at WDW, but everywhere) who use them. No, it's not fun to have one - but now that I am using one on a regular basis, I realize how hard I made it on my family, refusing to use one in the past.

An ECV - whether you rent one, or own your own personal one, as I do - is a tool. No different than glasses, a hearing aid, or a prosthetic. Period.

I was just at WDW in February. I am a self-described "3L" - A Lovely Large Lady. In the past, I was very worried about how people would perceive me, riding a scooter in public. I thought that people might stare, or point, and whisper, or... something.

I got over it, and you can too

I decided that I was going to enjoy myself - that I was going to use that ECV as a tool - to get out in the world, and do things, and go places, and be myself again.

And woe be upon anyone who is foolish enough to try and judge me. Because I don't need anyone's permission or approval to live my life, to the best of my ability, using any and all tools at my disposal.

I'm happier now - I feel like I have my freedom back. I feel like myself again. I'm independent. I go and do things that, prior to purchasing my ECV, I just didn't do because I couldn't. It took some time for my family to feel fully comfortable with my ECV, but once they got used to it, they are happier too, because I am "me" again.

Get on the ECV and ride. Smile at everyone, and make eye contact. Let 'em wonder why you are riding; in the end, it's YOU who has to be happy.

Have fun, and let us know how your trip went!

Wishing you all the Magic you can find for your next trip

Thanks again for the support! Maybe Im just more sensitive in thinking what others are 'not' thinking... I dont need itfor rides,,, just help to get from point A to point B.

plove53 said:

Thanks again for the support! Maybe Im just more sensitive in thinking what others are 'not' thinking... I dont need itfor rides,,, just help to get from point A to point B.

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Yep, and that's exactly what an ECV is meant for. I only use it for rides if I see the wait is longer than I can tolerate on my feet, but my preference is actually to just park it and walk in, so I plan accordingly. You'll be fine!

Suggested words to put on a T shirt or on a sign hung on a wheelchair or scooter: "I can walk --- only to first base."

If you rent a scooter you can still walk some of the time, much of the time, or even most of the time (someone else will have to manage the scooter). If you do not rent a scooter (or wheelchair) you must walk all of the time and you might expire at the point in the park farthest from where you can rent a scooter.

Scooters and non-folding wheelchairs cannot go on the jitney (tram) in the parking lot. If you are going to wait to get a scooter until after you are in the park, the parking lot CMs can arrange to have you park next to the tram lane, commencing a new row of parking prematurely if needed..

seashoreCM said:

Suggested words to put on a T shirt or on a sign hung on a wheelchair or scooter: "I can walk --- only to first base."

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I love this. So many times I've thought about making a sign to put on my ECV, something to cleverly explain my situation to the lookie-loos. But then I remember... it's none of their business!

I am still fairly young. Unfortunately, multiple medical conditions have come together with the result being that I can no longer handle WDW without an ECV. I don't need one at home, I fight daily to keep my independence, and I dread the day I may no longer be as mobile and independent at home.

However, for WDW I need that ECV. I realized this two trips ago, when the amount of pain I was in and the difficulty I was having walking nearly ruined the trip. I vowed then that I would not do Disney without an ECV again. So for our last trip this past November, I rented an ECV from an offsite vendor.

To be honest, it was great !! I am so happy I rented it.

I also primarily used it for getting from point A to B. So I would use it to get to an area (eg tomorrowland near the transit authority) and then park it (either with other ECVs or with the strollers; ALWAYS TAKE THE KEY WITH YOU). I think only twice did I come back and it had been moved - not far, in one case just a few feet. I would then do the rides in that area. If the walking got to be too much, I just went back to the ECV and used it to go from ride to ride.

I found it very empowering to be able to enjoy the parks and have the flexibility to adapt as needed. Renting from an offsite vendor also meant I had the scooter to/from and at my resort, which came in very handy on some occasions (on others I just parked it in the room and roamed the resort without it).

The two challenges I had:

- parallel parking the sucker on the buses (but the drivers were awesome and helpful and no humans were harmed in the parking!)

- people-not-paying-attention and either walking into the scooter outright or cutting so close to you in front of your path that you nearly hit them

I am sure some people probably looked at me with dirty looks, but I really did not care. I was using the ECV because I needed to for my own health, and to heck with what others thought about whether I should be or not. That is just a mindshift you have to do on your own.


-SW

I am 29 years old, overweight and have ankle issues that prevent me from being able to walk the parks. I've tried, many, many times, and it just makes me miserable, grouchy, causes pain and holds my family up as I seem to just push myself to walk to the next seat all day long. We are local and visit probably 6 times a month. I bought an ECV, and yes, people stare, yes, I hear people say things like fat and lazy - but at the end of the day, I have been able to keep up with my active family and be a part of the fun.

There will always be others who judge you, if it's not for your ECV, for your hair, or your t-shirt or whatever. But ultimately, who cares!? And hey, I can hang my backpack from the back of the scooter (saving the hubbie's shoulders), store my purchases in the basket, etc. I just chose to not really care about what other people think.

It is true that people don't pay attention, and there will be people who walk in to you, hit you with a bag, etc, but, if you look around, they do it to able bodied people as well. Just keep your hand near that horn button and have fun with it!

plove53 said:

Thanks again for the support! Maybe Im just more sensitive in thinking what others are 'not' thinking... I dont need itfor rides,,, just help to get from point A to point B.

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I'm truly glad to know that you are strong enough that your need for the ECV is limited Having said that, getting from point A to point B over the course of a day at WDW can easily add up to 8 miles! I have a family member who was extremely sensitive to how others would view our party when we would go out and about after I started using my personal ECV. He was - no kidding - CERTAIN that everyone was going to stare at us, and that we would become the center of a great deal of unwanted attention.

Because he was so uncomfortable, the first few times he went out with me (and the ECV) I told him to hang back, or stay off to the side. I encouraged him to do some serious people-watching, to see how others reacted, if he noticed anyone making fun of me, or pointing and laughing, etc. All of the things he was worried about.

So, reluctantly, he did.

And to his surprise, he discovered that me on my scooter was basically a non-event. The few people who do say anything, typically say it to me. And they are typically stopping me to ask where I got my scooter, and ask questions about the scooter.

At WDW, I'm even *LESS* of an event - there are SO many folks there using assistive devices of one kind or another - I'm really not a big deal. (At least not to anyone but the bus drivers, who love my scooter because it's so quick and easy to load & lock down LOL) A bonus extra to using an ECV at WDW (or similar places) is that the chances that you will ever again see anyone from there anywhere else? Probably so tiny that you are better off betting on the lottery. Seriously. So who cares what anyone at WDW thinks about you - besides your loved ones - anyway? You'll never see them again.

Regardless of how you use it - how much, or little - just use the tools at your disposal to have the best possible time on your trip!

DD14 has had surgeries to both knees for discoid meniscus and associated tears. In 2012 at the beginning of a 15 day trip, she aggravated one of her knees and could not walk more than a few steps. We rented a wheelchair and I would be lying if I said I wasn't thinking if people thought we were "gaming" the system. As mamabunny said, for most it is a nonevent. I either notice or imagined a couple looks early, but found once I got comfortable with it, I didn't notice much in the way of negative looks and no comments. Anything I did notice, I comforted myself with the knowledge that out of the thousands of people that saw us those days, only a few made the wrong assumption about us. I hope OP and any other person who needs an ECV or wheelchair to facilitate touring feels comfortable using them. Mobility devices are an even more important tool for many at WDW where one might have to walk 5-10 miles a day.

@plove53 I take my own chair to Disney as it is the one I've been using for years of my life now, and yes it really does get tiring. If you have any troubles walking the EVC sounds like a good way to go, yes people will stare, but just smile and move on your way.

If you decide to go with a wheelchair then please practice in it before leaving. You will need to build up endurance and your musculature changes quite a bit when you start using a chair. To prepare for Disney World I try and do about 5 miles per day for several months, otherwise I just don't have enough strength to do it. I did not prepare for Disneyland, and hurt for a solid week after. *blush*

No matter what you choose I hope your trip is fantastic!

I had an issue with some comments the very first time I used an ECV at Disneyland. I was quite nervous to use one the next visit, but I am simply unable to visit the parks without one. (My doctor even insisted upon it.)

I came to these forums asking for advice and got much the same response. I'm not good about developing a thick skin. The best piece of advice I received was to put a little sign on my scooter.

I asked one of the wonderful designers on the creative designs forum to create a license plate for me. One thing it does is help distinguish my scooter from all the others. The other thing is on the bottom it says "Not letting my disability slow me down!" I have had nothing but positive comments ever since I started using that.