Are Yellow scooters allowed in all the park's?

[Cedars]

Hi,
My wife and I will be traveling next April 2016 and have heard that the above company's scooters are not allowed any more in any of the park's?

 

[wilkeliza]

I believe they are allowed but Disney will not store it, charge it, or allow drop off in the lobby etc. you have to be present for drop off and go get the ECV or other medical devices. I also believe since some go faster than a standard walking pace you have to make sure you use them at the lower speed.

 

[SueM in MN]

Disney has some ECV/equipment rental companies that are designated as 'Disney Featured Providers'.
Only these featured providers are allowed to drop off and/or pick up from Bell Services, or have equipment stored or charged in Bell Services or parked outside of your room. If you are renting from one of the featured providers and have an issue with your ECV, the company will be able to come into the park to fix or replace it;that is likely not the case with the other providers.

You are able to rent ECVs from other providers, but you will need to meet someone from the company for drop off and pick up and will need to keep it inside your room when not using it.

This ECV/wheelchair rental information is directly from the Disney World official website:

Disney Featured Providers
In addition to ECV rental locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, several private companies in the local area also offer ECV rentals, as well as wheelchairs, strollers and other mobility product length-of-stay rentals.

• Best Price Scooters and Strollers: (866) 866-3434
• Apple Scooter: (800) 701-1971
• ScooterBug: (800) 726-8284
• CARE Scooter Rentals: (800) 741-2282
• Buena Vista Scooter Rentals: (866) 484-4797

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you are renting from one of the featured providers and have an issue with your ECV, the company will be able to come into the park to fix or replace it;that is likely not the case with the other providers.

That doesn't seem reasonable (or maybe even legal?) Any person with park admission should be able to enter any park. It would make sense that multiple employees from most, if not all, the non-featured companies would have APs specifically for service related issues.

 

[kamik86]

That doesn't seem reasonable (or maybe even legal?) Any person with park admission should be able to enter any park. It would make sense that multiple employees from most, if not all, the non-featured companies would have APs specifically for service related issues.

Two guesses on how they can do that.

1) some of the tools required wouldn't normally be allowed in with disney's search rules and only feature providers with a company ID are able to get around that rule.
2) featured providers just dont' need an AP andthey can send anyone if they have one or not, where non featured providers may have to pay for APs for some employees.

 

[SueM in MN]

That doesn't seem reasonable (or maybe even legal?) Any person with park admission should be able to enter any park. It would make sense that multiple employees from most, if not all, the non-featured companies would have APs specifically for service related issues.

It's not that they are not allowed into the parks. If they have an AP, they can enter the park to visit.
It's that APs are not allowed to be used for commercial or business purposes.
This is from the WDW Annual Passholder booklet (link follows the picture)



https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...016 WDW Passholder Guidebook iPhone.pdf#page3


People have reported that when using the 'non- featured' providers, They had to bring the ECV out of the park and meet the employee at the entrance.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Disney has some ECV/equipment rental companies that are designated as 'Disney Featured Providers'.
Only these featured providers are allowed to drop off and/or pick up from Bell Services, or have equipment stored or charged in Bell Services or parked outside of your room. If you are renting from one of the featured providers and have an issue with your ECV, the company will be able to come into the park to fix or replace it;that is likely not the case with the other providers.

At this point, I need a definite answer on this. I asked this question on these boards several months ago, because I'm booked with a non-featured provider; and the answer I got was that all providers could enter the park (at least Walker can, that's who I'm with). If that's not true, I'm very tempted to change my reservation so please give me a definite answer ASAP. I'm afraid that if I ask Walker, they'll say they can enter the park, just because they don't want me to cancel.

 

[Kelly Anne]

At this point, I need a definite answer on this. I asked this question on these boards several months ago, because I'm booked with a non-featured provider; and the answer I got was that all providers could enter the park (at least Walker can, that's who I'm with). If that's not true, I'm very tempted to change my reservation so please give me a definite answer ASAP. I'm afraid that if I ask Walker, they'll say they can enter the park, just because they don't want me to cancel.

I think the best thing to do is to call Disney and ask them... They after all would know their own rules.

 

[kamik86]

At this point, I need a definite answer on this. I asked this question on these boards several months ago, because I'm booked with a non-featured provider; and the answer I got was that all providers could enter the park (at least Walker can, that's who I'm with). If that's not true, I'm very tempted to change my reservation so please give me a definite answer ASAP. I'm afraid that if I ask Walker, they'll say they can enter the park, just because they don't want me to cancel.

I'm not sure anyone can give you a definite answer this.

It could be that they have APs and just most of the time don't get caught as entering the park for business reasons. But maybe ont he day you need help they do.

Maybe they get a lax CM that allows it. Maybe they get someone that is strict and won't allow them in with tools.

even calling disney is many times given the wrong answer... and even when we have the "right" answer by policy its often that what happens when you get to the park doesn't match that.

 

[Allison]

I think the best thing to do is to call Disney and ask them... They after all would know their own rules.

Unfortunately, that is definitely not the case when making phone calls to ask Disney questions.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think the best thing to do is to call Disney and ask them... They after all would know their own rules.

I would say call Walker and ask them how they handle in-park breakdowns.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would say call Walker and ask them how they handle in-park breakdowns.

Yes, I did call both Walker and Disney. According to Walker, they have people on property and they can come right into the park and fix it. I also called Disney, who said that I have to go to Guest Relations so that the park will give Walker permission to come into the park. When I told Walker that Disney had told me that, she was very confused. According to her, there'd never been any such difficulties with Disney. DH had the best answer-"Just don't break down!" From what I hear of Walker, they're a good company, so I'm sticking with them this trip.

 

[The Hunchback]

Walker was able to bring me a replacement rental scooter in the park the one time I broke down. Breakdowns on these ECVs are not that common. They are hard working little units that if cared for by the customer during park time, should be fine. Just watch your battery life and recharge if possible during the day.

 

[mamabunny]

Yes, I did call both Walker and Disney. According to Walker, they have people on property and they can come right into the park and fix it. I also called Disney, who said that I have to go to Guest Relations so that the park will give Walker permission to come into the park. When I told Walker that Disney had told me that, she was very confused. According to her, there'd never been any such difficulties with Disney. DH had the best answer-"Just don't break down!" From what I hear of Walker, they're a good company, so I'm sticking with them this trip.

You'll be fine. Think of all the THOUSANDS of scooter rentals that go off without a hiccup or a hitch every year!

And just remember... We have learned (the hard way) that the CMs on the Customer Service/Guest Relations lines are often wrong. It's not intentional, but it has happened enough that most folks around here take anything they hear on a call like that with a HUGE grain of salt. Additionally, the Resort front desk phone lines are answered by remote call center staff, so if you need something urgent or important while at the resort, it's best to go by in person.

Have a great trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, I did call both Walker and Disney. According to Walker, they have people on property and they can come right into the park and fix it. I also called Disney, who said that I have to go to Guest Relations so that the park will give Walker permission to come into the park. When I told Walker that Disney had told me that, she was very confused. According to her, there'd never been any such difficulties with Disney. DH had the best answer-"Just don't break down!" From what I hear of Walker, they're a good company, so I'm sticking with them this trip.

That's just silly. There is absolutely no legitimate reason (other than actual physical access, which is not a general issue at WDW) or way to prevent anyone - including an employee of a non-featured mobility rental company - from entering a theme park on an ECV. Which is the expected way to transport one any distance.

 

[lanejudy]

I suspect the wording Sue provided above has been added to the AP's to cover WDW's needs. They may not choose to enforce it for most situations, but the wording/rule is there in the event they need to enforce it and remove someone or refuse admittance. I'm thinking things like a few years ago where someone with a GAC was essentially hiring themselves out. There are other "business" reasons why someone may use a personal AP within the parks -- besides the non-featured ECV vendors, there are the Kids Nite Out babysitters and likely others. IF any of those individuals are found to be problematic in the parks, the wording on the AP will allow WDW to force them to leave and possibly revoke the AP. At least that's my take on the situation. I don't think they are out to make life difficult for the average well-behaved guest.

OP -- as others have stated, the chance of a break-down is fairly low. If it happens, call the vendor and see what they tell you. Most have reported the vendor meets them within the park; some have reported occasions they were told to bring the ECV to the front gates (though I'm not sure if they were told that by the vendor or by a CM).

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[SueM in MN]

There have been people from ECV rental companies who came into the park and drove it around for business purposes - filming to use on their website and having a large rental sign on the ECV they were riding on, along with handing out brochures.

Some companies have told people they are not allowed to enter the park. If it's perfectly fine and expected to go into the park with an AP to pick one up, you would expect the company would either just make sure all their staff have APs or send a person with an AP to go to service/pick up the ECV. It's not like they don't know where it is.

There is no point in arguing about it and further discussion about APs for that purpose will not be considered on topic.

ECVs seldom break down, so it is unlikely that a person renting one is going to have a problem that requires pick up from a park