1st time Scooter use Evaluation

[Yellowstonetim]

We got a scooter from Walker Mobility for the first time for my wife who had foot surgery several weeks before our trip. We got it for 11 days including some of the time at family and a day at Sea World before we checked in for 9 nights at Disney. By picking up and dropping off the scooter we got it for $20 a night! The scooter was old and beat up but did a great job. Thanks for all the advice here about ECV's, my wife wasn't sure about getting one, but her feet were still sore when we travelled and it was fantastic!

We drove everywhere because we could generally park close and take the cart in and didn't have to load it on buses.

How ECV's are treated are somewhat inconsistent. In most places we went through the normal queue and then transferred to the ride, but in some we bypassed the line completely and in others they sent us up the FP line. At Universe of Energy they made us park outside and my wife walked in and had to stand where there was lots of room for her ECV. We didn't understand why. All in all, all the CM's were very helpful, accomodating, and knew just what to do and where we should go. My wife got comfortable with the whole process very quickly.

If anyone is in doubt, I say rent the ECV!

We would go all day, and some long days but the battery never showed any signs getting low. It fit in the room nicely and was easy to charge, break down, and set up. Walker was great to work with. It took minutes to receive and load, and seconds to return.

We also clipped a bag to the front and carried a large insulated mug and all our stuff in the basket on the front.

It ended up being an all around positive experience and we were so thankful for its availability because my wife's feet were still tender and sore.

Thank you all that gave advice on ECV's and for those that helped with the FAQ's on ECV's. Both were a great help!

 

[POOHsie]

Universe of Energy, it's true you have to park the ECV outside. However, there are courtesy wheelchairs right there at the ECV parking that you can transfer to. If you can't find one, address the CM outside about this. Not sure why no ECVs inside but 2 things come to mind. Depending on when you come in, it becomes dark in the pre-show area and you could accidentally run into/over someone who is sitting on the floor. Also, possibly there were problems with people backing their ECV out of the ride car after the ride (just guessing).

I use an ECV every trip, and I have a great time everywhere. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend using an ECV to anyone going to WDW.

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad to hear it worked out well for you.

There is some inconsistency in how ECVs are handled for attractions, but most has to do with whether or not the line is accessible.

Most attractions have lines that are accessible thru the regular (main) line and guests with mobility devices will use the regular lines with everyone else. These are called Mainstream Lines and most newer attractions or ones that were renovated in the last 5-10 years have them.

A few attractions were not able to be renovated to Mainstream Lines, so they have to have a different entrance - for example, Spaceship Earth and Small World. The wait there will depend on how many other people with disabilities are already waiting, whether those in front of you need a special vehicle, how long the CMs are waiting between loading guests with disabilities (in some cases, it may be one ride cycle, which varies on the ride).

Without a Fastpass, guests will usually not be allowed in the Fastpass line just because they have a mobility device.
There are times when it happens though - often because it works out better for the attraction that way. For example, most of the Fastpass lines are more straight and have less turns than the regular line. If the wait in the regular line is short, it actually slows things down to have guests with mobility devices in the regular line. So, they may get sent to the Fastpass line because the wait would not be that different anyway and both lines will move faster.
I just wish CMs would explain that to guests because many guests who have been placed into the Fastpass line for that reason think that is the 'handicapped entrance' (along with other guests who see them sent there).

 

[SueM in MN]

Universe of Energy, it's true you have to park the ECV outside. However, there are courtesy wheelchairs right there at the ECV parking that you can transfer to. If you can't find one, address the CM outside about this. Not sure why no ECVs inside but 2 things come to mind. Depending on when you come in, it becomes dark in the pre-show area and you could accidentally run into/over someone who is sitting on the floor. Also, possibly there were problems with people backing their ECV out of the ride car after the ride (just guessing).

I use an ECV every trip, and I have a great time everywhere. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend using an ECV to anyone going to WDW.

I think the darkness could be a big factor.

As far as ECVs in the ride vehicles, I don't remember them ever being allowed in the wheelchair spots inside the ride vehicle. It's actually a fairly small space.

I DO know that power wheelchairs used to be allowed to do it because most have the same 'footprint' as a manual (push) wheelchair. At some point, thy stopped allowing power wheelchairs - I don't have an official reason, but had heard it was because of n accident involving one tipping when backing out (so, you are right about an issue with powered devices backing out).

 

[denneg]

I have 2 questions, if you don't mine! I am renting one for my mom on our trip, she also recently had foot surgery and wouldn't be able to do the walking. First, is Walker near Disney? We have a car so I was trying to see where they were located to see if we could manage the pick up and drop off, but I couldn't find anything. Also, do you know if you need to bring the whole unit indoors to charge, or can you just bring the battery in? We are off property, and without an elevator we could have issues getting the whole scooter to the room! Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

I have 2 questions, if you don't mine! I am renting one for my mom on our trip, she also recently had foot surgery and wouldn't be able to do the walking. First, is Walker near Disney? We have a car so I was trying to see where they were located to see if we could manage the pick up and drop off, but I couldn't find anything. Also, do you know if you need to bring the whole unit indoors to charge, or can you just bring the battery in? We are off property, and without an elevator we could have issues getting the whole scooter to the room! Thanks!

If you are staying off property, Walker can/will deliver to you free of charge.
So, I would choose to do that instead of picking it up.
If you prefer to pick it up, yo can get contact information o. Their website:
http://www.walkermobility.com/

Whether or not you need to bring in the whole ECV or just the battery would depend on the model of ECV you rent. When you contact them, ask them if they have models that can do that.

I'm not sure where you are staying, but if they don't have elevators , requesting ground floor for medical reasons should get you a room on ground floor.