Beware: EV Charging Issue

[PolynesianPip]

We stayed at the Polynesian last week with a rental vehicle that was electric. I did research on https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...lectric-vehicle-upcoming-disney-world-560999/ and found that there is no charging station at Polynesian but, according to the article:

"Besides the Theme Parks, you can also charge your EV at one of 13 charging stations while shopping or dining at Disney Springs. Charging stations can also be found at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge."

We drove over to the Wilderness Lodge and tried to talk to the guard in the stand about our need to charge. He first claimed they "didn't have them" and I told him I knew they did because I had used them before. I told him we were staying on property at the Polynesian and showed him the article mentioned above saying I should be able to charge there at the Wilderness Lodge.

Well, he was rude as could be about it. They ultimately would not let charge there. I was unable to charge. He talked to me like I was a complete idiot and said, "you are not understanding me-- you are staying at the Polynesian. You are not staying here. You are not allowed in here."

I'm not exactly sure where to go to complain about the issue with Disney but I wanted to make sure I let people here know there is no common-sense solution to this issue and they will treat you like a straight up CRIMINAL when you try to charge.

 

[kilik64]

Yea, they wont let you in resorts now unless you have a reason to be there like a dining res. Should have made one I guess, got in to charge and got some dinner.

 

[Mle8308]

There have been many threads about the impracticality of renting an EV while at Disney. Your example just adds to the list. And even if there are charging stations, many are inoperable or the spot is taken by a vehicle and not moved for long periods of time. A Disney vacation is not the time to rent an EV. The guard could say the charging stations at the WL are for the use of WL guests only as each resort can choose to deny access to guests not staying at that particular resort with out an ADR. It doesn't usually happen at the WL, but who knows?

 

[reddog21]

There have been many threads about the impracticality of renting an EV while at Disney. Your example just adds to the list.

No it doesn't, if you can't enter another hotel just as a guest without a reservation then why would I think they would let me just charge there. There are over 40 chargers right on 192, there was I think 10 at the Marriot complex just outside Epcot that are available for anyone, it's not difficult to find an empty one. For Tesla specific chargers there's around 20 within approx 2 miles. If your plan was to charge only in the Disney bubble then no EV's are not a good choice but then what's the point of renting a car. I don't know why people make it more difficult then it needs to be.

 

[intamin]

There have been many threads about the impracticality of renting an EV while at Disney. Your example just adds to the list. And even if there are charging stations, many are inoperable or the spot is taken by a vehicle and not moved for long periods of time. A Disney vacation is not the time to rent an EV. The guard could say the charging stations at the WL are for the use of WL guests only as each resort can choose to deny access to guests not staying at that particular resort with out an ADR. It doesn't usually happen at the WL, but who knows?

It's really unfortunate, I live nearby and own an EV and I know charging is pretty scarce around Disney World as well. They do have some fast chargers at Disney Springs in the watermelon lot just as an FYI for people who do rent an EV. Aside from those though a lot of them are more than 20 minutes off property. I remember when I first got my car and I was struggling to find a charger I was legit scared I wasn't going to be able to charge my car since my place doesn't have a level 2 charger. Fortunately I manage to get by just charging every day with a level 1 charger.

Aulani on the other hand is actually a fantastic place to rent an EV because there's chargers on every floor and on the ground floor outside of the garage.

 

[eandt]

We stayed at the Polynesian last week with a rental vehicle that was electric. I did research on https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...lectric-vehicle-upcoming-disney-world-560999/ and found that there is no charging station at Polynesian but, according to the article:

"Besides the Theme Parks, you can also charge your EV at one of 13 charging stations while shopping or dining at Disney Springs. Charging stations can also be found at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge."

We drove over to the Wilderness Lodge and tried to talk to the guard in the stand about our need to charge. He first claimed they "didn't have them" and I told him I knew they did because I had used them before. I told him we were staying on property at the Polynesian and showed him the article mentioned above saying I should be able to charge there at the Wilderness Lodge.

Well, he was rude as could be about it. They ultimately would not let charge there. I was unable to charge. He talked to me like I was a complete idiot and said, "you are not understanding me-- you are staying at the Polynesian. You are not staying here. You are not allowed in here."

I'm not exactly sure where to go to complain about the issue with Disney but I wanted to make sure I let people here know there is no common-sense solution to this issue and they will treat you like a straight up CRIMINAL when you try to charge.

If you can articulate how he was rude I would complain about that, however you have no complaint about him following policy, nothing wrong with that

 

[BL2020]

Well I sympathize with the OP. If they’re going to install charging stations, they should be uniform throughout the resorts, IMHO

 

[Mle8308]

No it doesn't, if you can't enter another hotel just as a guest without a reservation then why would I think they would let me just charge there. There are over 40 chargers right on 192, there was I think 10 at the Marriot complex just outside Epcot that are available for anyone, it's not difficult to find an empty one. For Tesla specific chargers there's around 20 within approx 2 miles. If your plan was to charge only in the Disney bubble then no EV's are not a good choice but then what's the point of renting a car. I don't know why people make it more difficult then it needs to be

There are hotels on Disney property where you cannot enter without either a room or a dining reservation. It's up to the security host/hostess. Parking can be limited so they do not always allow non resort guests access. And as far as charging stations go, most people don't want to have to drive off property - out of the "Disney bubble" and waste valuable time waiting for their car to charge. And there have been reports in other threads that many of the rental EV's didn't even come with the proper charging cable. May not be difficult, but it's a pain in the you know what.

 

[kanerf]

I don't know about the EV rentals, but I carry a slow charger (110v) in the back of my Kia PHEV that I can plug into a standard wall socket which you can find in many garages. They are usually there for maintenance or whatever, but they can be used. Really slllooowww charge, but ok for overnight.

 

[Moonspinner]

Sorry about your charging problem but I wish they were even more restrictive about letting non guests into resorts. Resorts should be for paying guests (obviously includes dvc). People staying at resorts should not have to worry about their amenities being used by people not even staying at that resort. Not every resort has everything. That doesn’t mean I get to go to another resort and use theirs.

 

[Mle8308]

Well I sympathize with the OP. If they’re going to install charging stations, they should be uniform throughout the resorts, IMHO

Not sure what you mean, but different cars use different types of charging stations and cables. I do agree that only Disney resort guests should be allowed to use the chargers at the resorts. There tends to be more demand than availability, because people don't move their vehicles once they are charged.

 

[J-Dog]

We stayed at the Polynesian last week with a rental vehicle that was electric. I did research on https://plandisney.disney.go.com/qu...lectric-vehicle-upcoming-disney-world-560999/ and found that there is no charging station at Polynesian but, according to the article:

"Besides the Theme Parks, you can also charge your EV at one of 13 charging stations while shopping or dining at Disney Springs. Charging stations can also be found at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge."

We drove over to the Wilderness Lodge and tried to talk to the guard in the stand about our need to charge. He first claimed they "didn't have them" and I told him I knew they did because I had used them before. I told him we were staying on property at the Polynesian and showed him the article mentioned above saying I should be able to charge there at the Wilderness Lodge.

Well, he was rude as could be about it. They ultimately would not let charge there. I was unable to charge. He talked to me like I was a complete idiot and said, "you are not understanding me-- you are staying at the Polynesian. You are not staying here. You are not allowed in here."

I'm not exactly sure where to go to complain about the issue with Disney but I wanted to make sure I let people here know there is no common-sense solution to this issue and they will treat you like a straight up CRIMINAL when you try to charge.

Meh. No offense, but sounds like the guard was just doing his job as he was told to do it. Whether or not he was rude is important, but also very subjective, and might have happened because you were arguing with him.

 

[The Jackal]

I’m waiting for Disney to install gas stations at all resorts too. I’ll be waiting a long time.

 

[Chuck S]

Wasn't that Spring Break week for a lot of schools? That may also have had something to do with it.

 

[Spivey378]

Next trip I am parking and pitching a tent next to the Speedway on property.

 

[dcfromva]

Sorry you had such a rough time. Where did you finally go to get charged up?