Can Scooters Get Wet?

[Yvonneb]

Hi. I am trying to arrange scooter rental for my mother and I've seen a couple of different things on whether it can get wet. Has anyone had any experience with Florida weather and problems with the scooter?

 

[ttintagel]

Hi. I am trying to arrange scooter rental for my mother and I've seen a couple of different things on whether it can get wet. Has anyone had any experience with Florida weather and problems with the scooter?

My rental came with a little shower cap to put over the controls, and we put rain ponchos over the seats.

 

[videogal1]

You can wear a poncho that covers both you and the scooter. Don't run through puddles...electronics and electric motors don't like them.

 

[POOHsie]

I've been bringing my scooter to WDW for years. I always brought the cheap ponchos, both for me and for scooter. What also works is plastic store bags or shower caps for the tiller. You need to have the tiller covered during rain. The tiller has all the scooter electronics and can't tolerate water intrusion. However, plastic bags and ponchos might blow away, so go to Walmart and get assorted-size bungee cords to hold the bags/ponchos in place. A second poncho over your seat is nice to keep the seat dry. But be careful not to let the poncho drag on the ground where your wheels could catch it and cause an accident.

After carefully handling rain on my scooter at WDW for years, last year there was epic rain the whole trip. Just raining cats and dogs, day and night. My scooter ended up damaged not so much from direct rainfall, but excessive moisture. I had to take it in for replacement of the electronics, re-greasing of the wheels, and replacement of a shock which moved the tiller up and down. Realistically, my scooter was 6 yrs old and maybe stuff was already getting corroded from regular use. But to me, the Disney deluge caused my scooter problems which were solved with $$ repairs.

Check with potential scooter rental agencies about their rain damage policy / rain protection gear.

 

[Bete]

I wouldn't keep driving a scooter in the rain. Get somewhere where you have shelter. Keep your scooter protected if it looks like rain. Park it where there is cover like a roof or inside like a restaurant or exhibit area. We go to the Land Pavillon if it starts raining at Epcot. You can see some of the movies in World Showcase, too. At Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom we go and see an inside show.

Absolutely, you must cover the tiller and avoid puddles.

 

[SueM in MN]

You also need to be concerned about decreased traction when the pavement and tires are wet. The tires are fairly smooth and the wet pavement can get slippery. This can especially cause problems with going up or down hills, stopping and skidding if going too fast.

 

[JenniBugInPink]

Walker Mobility actually advertises their scooters as "The only water resistant scooters in town". They certainly do go well in the rain, because this past Fall, it rained and rained and rained and rained, and the adorable pink scooter I rented from them never even slowed down. I got pretty tired of being cold and wet, but the ECV was fine. The provide a shower cap for the controls, and I covered me and the seat with ponchos (not that it did much good with all that rain). When it was parked outside, I covered the tiller/basket with a poncho as well, but usually it was parked out of the rain.

 

[Yvonneb]

Thank you everyone!

 

[Glittercat]

bungee cords

Bungee cords were not allowed in at Disneyland, is this different at Disney World? Thank you.

 

[POOHsie]

Bungee cords were not allowed in at Disneyland, is this different at Disney World? Thank you.

This is news to me. The bungee cords I use were from Walmart sporting goods or automotive section. They were small and came in an assortment -- anywhere from 4" to 6" (my guess). That's just right for holding plastic bags firmly around your front tiller in a wind (storm). I also have a couple small bungee cords affixed to my tiller, connected thru my front basket, because otherwise the basket has been known to slip off when removing bulky items.

I looked up prohibited items for DL and WDW and didn't see bungee cords. But those lists probably cite most common prohibited items and are not comprehensive lists.
DL -- https://disneyland.disney.go.com/faq/parks/permitted-items/
WDW -- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/parks/restricted-personal-items/

 

[Glittercat]

The bungees I bought fairly thick but I do not recall dimensions and we were not allowed to take them into the park in March -I was just hoping to strap my crutches to my wheelchair with them. My brother took them and hid them under a bush after they were disallowed. lol. They were still there at the end of the evening, so I can find them and check the size. My guess is that smaller bungees are allowed inside but the ones I got at Target were too large. I won't be trying it again that is for sure.

Now I wonder if the person that checked our bags was incorrect and that is frustrating. Thank you very much for the information and the links.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

Having got caught in the rain and having my rental scooter die on me on our 2014 trip, I invested in a full poncho for this year's trip with the hire one. It went everywhere with us in a backpack I hung over the seat. Basically it covers everything with just my head sticking out in a hood, but it covers the whole tiller and body of the scooter. My idea is that I will be able to slip out from inside and leave the poncho in place over the whole scooter thus doubling up as a rain cover. I only paid £20 for it (approx $30) but I'm pleased to say it never came out of the bag! Still, I'd rather have it and never need to use it than not have it and suffer the way DD and I suffered in last year's debacle.

 

[Nanajo1]

Don't sit on the poncho. The rain will run down the back and soak you. Drape it over the back of the seat. I also use a small poncho on my knees.