Disney eliminates outside vendor drop off/pickup services. Must meet vendor for drop off/pickup (mobility devices only so far it seems)

[Lalalyn]

On our last trip, DH’s knee swelled up like a balloon on our last day. He got back to our room, but the next morning was in lots of pain. We called bell services for our luggage and told them about it. The bell services guy drove him on one of their golf carts to the ME pickup spot.

Would those be an option for people who arrive late at night and need to get to their room?

 

[kaytieeldr]

It made things so easy and one less thing to travel with! Flying with kids is already a huge PITA

Apparently there is at least one stroller rental company that will have rentals available for pick up and drop of right in the terminal, on the same level as DME and the car rental counters.

My mom did 2 last trips with me before she past away and with out the EVC she wouldn’t have been able to come. To be honest the EVC one I see as a bigger issue, most people can deal for a little bit with out a stroller not always possible with the EVC.

People will have to adapt. Scootaround is national. People can rent at home and take the ECV or wheelchair on the flight.

and if Disney was to add this service they can control the size of the scooters and mobility equipment in the parks as well.

If Disney (not the rumored contracted company) were to add the service, they would likely offer just one, potentially bulky size.

But it would enable them to control the speed. We know how well that worked.

 

[JoJoGirl]

Here is an email reply from Buena Vista Scooters after I asked them if they would be affected. They currently are one of the four 'Featured Providers' , currently allowed to drop off and pick up from bell services.

Hello Dan,

Yes, Buena Vista will be affected. Please remember though, all reservations made before Oct. 1st will be grandfathered into the NO meet and greet system. Even if the reservation is made for April 5th, 2025, Disney must honor the drop-off policy. All reservation made after Oct. 1st will need to be meet and greets. So make all reservation now on our website where you can save 20%. Also remember reservation dates can change, they just need to be on the books.



Thank you,

Buena Vista Rentals

Thank you for sharing! This is so good to know!

 

[kaytieeldr]

If something like this happened when my family member who needs a wheelchair/ECV was with us, we would not have been able to make it to our room, especially at a larger resort.

.
Why do you think the resort would not assist your party?

Well, when Cloud of Goods picked up my wheelchair six hours after my departure, they didn’t exactly “work with me.”

W
Never, ever heard of this company. Renting from a featured, long-time, or highly regarded company would likely not have put you in such a position.

Curious to read the official statement on this. When you're unable to walk distances, you're also unable to stand for long periods. It's not easy to arrange drop off and pick up of a mobility aid/device.

Fortunately, there is seating in the hotel lobbies. Worst case, ask a CM for a chair.

I'm blown away by your lack of empathy.

Being realistic isn't anything near having a lack of empathy.

We once checked our bags because our room wasn't ready at check in, when it was we called down and were told it was an hour wait to have them delivered.

B
if this was at a Value resort, they offer Luggage Assistance, not Bell Services. Luggage transport is scheduled, not provide on demand.

In fact, I've always had to go and fetch whatever I had being held at bell services because if I waited I would have been late for a dinner reservation or missed out on hard party ticket time, etc.

Best travel advice I have ever heard, used, or recommended is to pack everything needed for your first 24 hours in carry on luggage.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

Why do you think the resort would not assist your party?

To the best of my knowledge, resorts do not offer complimentary (or even rental) wheelchairs. If it were a small resort like WL, it wouldn’t be a problem, but at a larger resort, like GF, my family member who needs a wheelchair/ECV wouldn’t be able to walk the distance from the lobby to our room. We have an upcoming stay in 2 weeks, and I intend to ask at the resort what would happen in the scenario I described in my post.

 

[Maggie Gallagher]

Never, ever heard of this company. Renting from a featured, long-time, or highly regarded company would likely not have put you in such a position.

I'm surprised you haven't heard of Cloud of Goods Mobility. They come highly recommended by people right here on the DIS. Maybe you don't read those types of threads. Anyway, my MIL has not only used them at WDW, but also DLR, Las Vegas, NYC, & New Orleans. They are a pretty awesome company providing many options for people with mobility issues. My MIL needs an extra large wheelchair that other companies do not offer. She has never had any problems with them. I'm not gonna lie, I'm worried about the next time we go to WDW with Disney's new policy.

 

[Deb & Bill]

People who cannot walk even short distances may need to travel with some sort of medical device or greet a company at the airport. But DME isn't going to be easy with a scooter or electric chair. Maybe bring a rollator along on a trip (not as bulky as a wheelchair or scooter, but still a seat to sit on and an aid to walk).

 

[kaytieeldr]

To the best of my knowledge, resorts do not offer complimentary (or even rental) wheelchairs.

Wheelchairs, no. But they should all have the extended golf cartlike vehicles. Just ask for assistance.

They are a pretty awesome company providing many options for people with mobility issues.

They sound less than awesome when they're six hours late picking up equipment.

My MIL needs an extra large wheelchair that other companies do not offer.

T
Walker Mobility does. So does Orlando Medical Rentals.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

People who cannot walk even short distances may need to travel with some sort of medical device or greet a company at the airport. But DME isn't going to be easy with a scooter or electric chair. Maybe bring a rollator along on a trip (not as bulky as a wheelchair or scooter, but still a seat to sit on and an aid to walk).

This is the nature of the problem I was describing. We can’t fit our wheelchair and luggage into our car. In the event our flight is seriously delayed (in July we had a delay of enough hours the airline refunded us the price of of our tickets; we did not arrive until 4AM...my original post describing this ordeal is on page 6, I think), we wouldn’t be able to coordinate a meet and greet with a mobility/assistive equipment company. I will be curious to read something official from Disney. If they truly will require meet and greet times, I will need to look into transportation to/from the Denver airport (unfortunately, Colorado is a big state and we are nowhere near the airport) that can accommodate our wheelchair plus luggage. That or a larger car is in my future.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

if this was at a Value resort, they offer Luggage Assistance, not Bell Services. Luggage transport is scheduled, not provide on demand.

Best travel advice I have ever heard, used, or recommended is to pack everything needed for your first 24 hours in carry on luggage.

It was a Deluxe resort. We paid the same as I have paid to stay at a Four Seasons, which offers much better service. It will likely be where we stay if we ever plan another trip to WDW in the future. They got me this time with Free Dining but I think I'm done with WDW resorts after our upcoming trip.

We only do carry on luggage. We had simply checked the bags when we got to the hotel at bell services so that we wouldn't have to deal with them while having lunch. We were staying concierge, and our room was not ready until after 3pm. When bell services would not deliver the bags for over an hour, we went and got them so we could have our costumes for MNSSHP. Again, we were able to deal with it, but for the prices they charge, the service should be of a higher standard.

And I think suggesting that people with mobility issues should have to wait in the lobby for their ECVs, so that Disney can save a few dollars on bell service staff, is really pretty ridiculous, to be honest. Again, I don't think this will improve the overall bell service experience for any guests, but even if it did, inconveniencing guests who need ECVs so that guests that don't get their luggage faster is a bad trade. Like I said, I fetched my own bags, and rented stroller, and Garden Grocer deliveries from bell services every time, being an able bodied person I could do that. But those items were there waiting for me at least.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It was a Deluxe resort. We paid the same as I have paid to stay at a Four Seasons, which offers much better service. It will likely be where we stay if we ever plan another trip to WDW in the future. They got me this time with Free Dining but I think I'm done with WDW resorts after our upcoming trip.

Respectfully, guests opting to take advantage of the dining, or any, discount are making a conscious choice.

And I think suggesting that people with mobility issues should have to wait in the lobby for their ECVs, so that Disney can save a few dollars on bell service staff, is really pretty ridiculous,

Ah. I wasn't aware Disney had released the reasoning behind the change. Or any official information about it.

Too, it's regrettable that you feel suggestions that would alleviate the complaints as pretty ridiculous. Many, many, many, many of the non-creatures vendors have successfully met face to face with their customers in a timely manner at both ends of the rental.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Respectfully, guests opting to take advantage of the dining, or any, discount are making a conscious choice.

Ah. I wasn't aware Disney had released the reasoning behind the change. Or any official information about it.

Too, it's regrettable that you feel suggestions that would alleviate the complaints as pretty ridiculous. Many, many, many, many of the non-creatures vendors have successfully met face to face with their customers in a timely manner at both ends of the rental.

I think it's regrettable that anyone might feel the need to white-knight for a multinational conglomerate that is inconveniencing disabled guests in order pad their bottom line. I love Disney, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't have gone to WDW 3 times already or gone on a DCL cruise. But I'm not going to sugarcoat what I feel is a bad decision, either, under the guise of making suggestions to help "alleviate their complaints." Sure, you can wait in the lobby for your ECV, but you shouldn't have to, and you shouldn't have to worry that if your flight is delayed you won't be able to meet your ECV delivery in time, or have to wait until the next day, etc. Obviously, your suggestions aren't alleviating anyone's complaints, so maybe you should consider quitting while you're behind.

 

[Summer2018]

I'm surprised you haven't heard of Cloud of Goods Mobility. They come highly recommended by people right here on the DIS. Maybe you don't read those types of threads. Anyway, my MIL has not only used them at WDW, but also DLR, Las Vegas, NYC, & New Orleans. They are a pretty awesome company providing many options for people with mobility issues. My MIL needs an extra large wheelchair that other companies do not offer. She has never had any problems with them. I'm not gonna lie, I'm worried about the next time we go to WDW with Disney's new policy.

Pick-up was a mess last time, but I really liked everything else about Cloud of Goods. Friends that recommended them had really good experiences with them.

Not sure what I will do in July when we return to WDW. I hope everything settles down before our trip. Hopefully when Disney finally makes their official statement, it won’t be as bad as I fear it will be.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think it's regrettable that anyone might feel the need to white-knight for a multinational conglomerate that is inconveniencing disabled guests in order pad their bottom line

Potential solutions for people possibly needlessly upset over a not yet officially announced policy change that could possibly inconvenience a small percentage of "oh, no, the sky is falling!" customers is white-knighting?

Sure, you can wait in the lobby for your ECV, but you shouldn't have to,

You shouldn't have to, and the only potential instance posted where this could possibly have been an issue is, to the best of my knowledge, an anomaly.and

But when somebody complains that a person who can't walk far also meant stand long, suggesting where they can find a seat (on the rare chance there's a delay in the meet and greet) is exactly that - a sugge stion.

Obviously, your suggestions aren't alleviating anyone's complaints, so maybe you should consider quitting while you're behind.

s
Wow. The DIS has an ignore feature.

 

[Christine]

We have a trip coming up in about a month. My father has already booked his ECV so looks like he'll be grandfathered. My aunt has not yet booked but we are urging her to call this weekend.

On our arrival day, we don't really have any plans and we are getting in early, so it would really be no big deal to set a time to meet; however, if my aunt is not "grandfathered" then I'm troubled about our departure. She has a 10AM flight on Saturday morning (11/9) and will be taking DME to the airport which I am figuring is going to want her on the bus at 7AM. Logically, giving back the ECV the night before is the way to go; however, we have booked MVMCP the night before our departure and probably won't get home until after midnight. I'm not sure what someone would do in this situation unless the ECV companies are willing to meet at 6AM.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Wow. The DIS has an ignore feature.

I didn't know that! I was wrong, some of your suggestions are helpful. Thanks!

 

[Katiegrose]

First, going on a vacation is supposed to be an experience that is more than just managing. Second, people have made expensive decades long purchases at DVC thinking that the last thing Disney would do was to make it more difficult and more expensive for handicapped guest to vacation there.

Everything Disney did was completely legal and I am sure it looks great at first glance on the balance sheet. This is different than raising the price of snacks or charging a fee for after hour events. Legal is not the same thing as ethical and just crunching basic numbers doesn’t tell you the long term cost in customer goodwill.

When I say I “manage” I mean I handle it all. I don’t NEED anyone to help me. I am personally painfully stubborn at times. I won’t even let a sky cap push him in the airport because I have it so far in my head that I have to carry what I bring. I have a good system down now and I realize that. We check one bag, and I throw a change of clothes into our carryons (since I fly standby I often dress a bit nicer than my park attire for the plane ride and change before hitting the parks), I can carry all our carryons or hook it on the back of his chair and have both hands to push him. I stand by what I said that if someone REALLY can absolutely NOT manage without a mobility aid for a few hours to get around a hotel then they likely are experiencing that same issue in their day to day life. There is a personal choice here and many are wanting to stick their head in the sand on it rather than find a solution. You can rent an aid from a local shop and bring it with you. EVERY airline has to transport a device free of charge and there is NO limitation on the coverage they offer in the event of damage. There are other solutions but this is just one.

 

[gerrym51]

Does anyone have a definitve answer on who will be the single ECV provider that can utilize bell services?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Does anyone have a definitve answer on who will be the single ECV provider that can utilize bell services?

Probably nothing until Disney makes the announcement on Oct 1. And everything could change before then since nothing is official yet. Even if it was official, we know how Disney is with their "rules".

 

[Hopefully]

Does anyone have a definitve answer on who will be the single ECV provider that can utilize bell services?

No