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

[Betty Rohrer]

I would say the new policy is Disney's way around it. They don't have the room to store all of the scooters and strollers they are being sent, so they are telling guests they must be there to get them.

here is where I see the problem for ECV/wheelchair users unexpected flight delay and it is so late when you arrive that they wouldn't meet you to next day or so early return to airport that you have to return the night before and then not able to get to room. and yes there have been times I would be camping in lobby for the night if I had returned scooter night before fore a 5 am pick up to airport if this had been for that trip as I could not get back and forth to my room. to have used a wheelchair without a CM pushing I would be pushing double stroller while adult pushed me in wheelchair which would not be a safe plan.

 

[tlmadden73]

So .. sounds like Disney shook down the stroller companies to see who would pay them big bugs to be an exclusive provider . .and THEN made the new rule to not allow strollers to be delivered. Wow. Seems really skeezy.

If Scooterbug has to pay Disney something for that exclusivity, it means that they can offer worse strollerss/ECVs at the same price (or MORE) than their competition .. because of the convenience.

Lack of competition is NEVER a good thing.

Disney acting like a local government. Ugh.

How long before they ban Uber from their property?

 

[Searc]

So .. sounds like Disney shook down the stroller companies to see who would pay them big bugs to be an exclusive provider . .and THEN made the new rule to not allow strollers to be delivered. Wow. Seems really skeezy.

If Scooterbug has to pay Disney something for that exclusivity, it means that they can offer worse strollerss/ECVs at the same price (or MORE) than their competition .. because of the convenience.

Lack of competition is NEVER a good thing.

Disney acting like a local government. Ugh.

How long before they ban Uber from their property?

There is no lack of competition. You can rent a stroller/scooter from whatever company you choose.

 

[Sarahraegraham]

I think this will be the sticking point that will cause a red line drawn that they are done, no exceptions ... and anyone who ordered thinking they are safe, might not be. There really is no way for vendors to prove to Disney when something was ordered without generating the sharing of their financial transaction. How tedious.

Oh, there’s an easy answer to that one: 2021. My husband and I both use scooters. We have Disney trips booked through December 2020 and scooter reservations for them, too. Once 2021 comes, Disney will know their reservation was made after the announcement since you can’t book them yet. They’ll call foul if someone says they booked for farther out, because how can you book a scooter reservation without having had a resort reservation prior? So that’s my thought.

 

[cruisin5]

This will create MORE competition between the other vendors. It won't just be about price but delivery, pickup, instruction, etc.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

There is no lack of competition. You can rent a stroller/scooter from whatever company you choose.

Exactly! You can still rent from other companies. No monopoly.

 

[Searc]

Oh, there’s an easy answer to that one: 2021. My husband and I both use scooters. We have Disney trips booked through December 2020 and scooter reservations for them, too. Once 2021 comes, Disney will know their reservation was made after the announcement since you can’t book them yet. They’ll call foul if someone says they booked for farther out, because how can you book a scooter reservation without having had a resort reservation prior? So that’s my thought.

Disney can always change that at any time. So if they wanted, on October 2nd, they could say "nope, no more scooter deliveries period unless you booked with Scooterbug, regardless of when you booked."

So I wouldn't count on making a reservation today and that being honored over a year from now.

 

[gwynne]

Disney can always change that at any time. So if they wanted, on October 2nd, they could say "nope, no more scooter deliveries period unless you booked with Scooterbug, regardless of when you booked."

So I wouldn't count on making a reservation today and that being honored over a year from now.

This.
JMO, folks who reserve into 2020 (before Oct 1 2019) might want to call their vendor the month before arrival and check on their delivery method. If the rules/policies have changed over time, its better to find out early rather than on their arrival day.

 

[tlmadden73]

There is no lack of competition. You can rent a stroller/scooter from whatever company you choose.

True -- but there is a lack of competition of ones that can deliver directly. And, now that I think about it, this COULD bring the prices down since they no longer are spending time/money delivering them directly. So it may not be totally bad.

But at the same time, it is limiting to what these companies can offer, but I am sure some will be fine without the Disney resort business. (as they can still deliver to other hotels and condos).

 

[sponica]

I had toyed with renting a stroller next year (ours is on it's last legs)....might be cheaper/easier for me to just buy the new parts for my stroller.

Those strollers on the "exclusive" vendor page are AWFUL

 

[gwynne]

I had toyed with renting a stroller next year (ours is on it's last legs)....might be cheaper/easier for me to just buy the new parts for my stroller.

Those strollers on the "exclusive" vendor page are AWFUL

Or choose another vendor and meet them for delivery at your resort?

 

[Searc]

True -- but there is a lack of competition of ones that can deliver directly. And, now that I think about it, this COULD bring the prices down since they no longer are spending time/money delivering them directly. So it may not be totally bad.

But at the same time, it is limiting to what these companies can offer, but I am sure some will be fine without the Disney resort business. (as they can still deliver to other hotels and condos).

Any of the companies can delivery directly, right to you.

 

[JoJoGirl]

I’m VERY glad of the news that there will still be an option that allows use of bell services.

But Scooterbug, eh? From what I’ve read, they are the least popular of the formerly-preferred vendors. I’m sure some people have had good experiences with them, but recommendations are few and far between compared to the others.

Things that will be interesting to watch going forward:

1. Will Scooterbug eventually increase their prices now that they are the only “preferred“ vendor?

2. Will Scooterbug upgrade their fleet? (Hope so!) If they do, will it stay upgraded, or will they let the resort rental units get old and shabby like the ones in the parks, which they also manage?

3. Will the non-preferred vendors expand their hours for pickup and dropoff so as not to lose business? (Again, I hope so!) The amount of competition in this segment has just multiplied, so they may need to.

4. Will the non-preferred vendors increase their prices because they will need more staff and vehicles to meet delivery schedules? Or will competition hold the prices down?

5. How significantly will this reduce the number of mobility devices at bell services?

We will have to watch and see.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I’m VERY glad of the news that there will still be an option that allows use of bell services.

But Scooterbug, eh? From what I’ve read, they are the least popular of the formerly-preferred vendors. I’m sure some people have had good experiences with them, but recommendations are few and far between compared to the others.

Things that will be interesting to watch going forward:

1. Will Scooterbug eventually increase their prices now that they are the only “preferred“ vendor?

2. Will Scooterbug upgrade their fleet? (Hope so!) If they do, will it stay upgraded or will they let the resort rental units get old and shabby like the ones in the parks, which they also manage?

3. Will the non-preferred vendors expand their hours for pickup and dropoff so as not to lose business? (Again, I hope so!) The amount of competition in this segment has just multiplied, so they may need to.

4. Will the non-preferred vendors increase their prices because they will need more staff and vehicles to meet delivery schedules? Or will competition hold the prices down?

5. How significantly will this reduce the number of mobility devices at bell services?

We will have to watch and see.

My guess is if #2 doesn’t happen Scooterbug remains unpopular and customers and the other vendors adapt.

Can’t speak for scooters, but those strollers are very unappealing and not worth reserving for the convenience.

 

[sponica]

Or choose another vendor and meet them for delivery at your resort?

We fly on points, so we fly at weird times. It's literally the same amount of money to buy new parts for my stroller or reserve a stroller through kingdom strollers.

 

[gwynne]

We fly on points, so we fly at weird times. It's literally the same amount of money to buy new parts for my stroller or reserve a stroller through kingdom strollers.

Makes sense.
There is no right or wrong, I was just pointing out there are lots of options.

 

[Sarahraegraham]

Disney can always change that at any time. So if they wanted, on October 2nd, they could say "nope, no more scooter deliveries period unless you booked with Scooterbug, regardless of when you booked."

So I wouldn't count on making a reservation today and that being honored over a year from now.

I understand that they could change it at any time. However, given that multiple scooter companies have all said that this is how Disney is choosing to work in the transition time, I suspect they will honor it.

This.
JMO, folks who reserve into 2020 (before Oct 1 2019) might want to call their vendor the month before arrival and check on their delivery method. If the rules/policies have changed over time, its better to find out early rather than on their arrival day.

Oh absolutely, I will still do that and recommend that others check as well. However, my response was about how they would track who could have their scooters picked up and who couldn’t, and the way to track it is when the scooter company drops it off and by the timeframe, since once 2020 is over, there would definitively be no more possibility of anything being grandfathered in. I think this is what will happen.

 

[tlmadden73]

Any of the companies can delivery directly, right to you.

Gotcha .. Not too bad then, but it just may not work out for some. I get it - from a business perspective, Disney doesnt need to accomodate all these companies. They have been NICE enough to do that for this long. Is the change now JUST due to the exclusivity? OR a cost savings measure to reduce staff/liability?

So ..definitely not as bad as it seems, but it just another Disney decision that looks bad from the outside.
It just feels another step in the wrong direction.

How long before they crack down on who comes in/out of the resorts? You would think they would want to increase security at the hotel entrances (since they charge for parking). Would reduce traffic too.

How long before the extend this policy to groceries?
How long before they ban Uber from their hotels.
How long before Disney starts banning outside food/drinks in their parks (like most parks and venues do?)

Disney seems to take little steps lately (to avoid super negative PR) ..usually in wrong direction.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

AS someone who has used an EVC at Disney, I am upset about this and have written to Disney about it. This isn't just and inconvenience for those who depend on mobility devices, it is a potential nightmare. These companies aren't going to be able to meet everyone at the exact time they arrive, and meetings will need to be scheduled well in advance. If a flight is delayed and they miss their meet up, or have to wait multiple hours for a meet they are basically stranded until their ECV arrives. It's a huge issue, and about nothing more than profit for Disney.

That being said it is their right to do as they see fit, but if I was a company making this choice, I would be making my own ECVs avalible at the resorts at check in for a length of stay rental.

 

[lanejudy]

Not too bad then, but it just may not work out for some. I get it - from a business perspective, Disney doesnt need to accomodate all these companies. They have been NICE enough to do that for this long. Is the change now JUST due to the exclusivity? OR a cost savings measure to reduce staff/liability?

I suspect it may be a multi-faceted reason for the change. Several years ago pretty much any mobility/stroller vendor could deliver to the resorts. In 2012, WDW decided to restrict that to a few "featured vendors" who met certain criteria. All other mobility/stroller vendors adapted to meet the guest in-person and have continued to do so for several years now. There are pictures of hallways and walkways lined with ECVs "held" by Bell Services/Luggage Services. I think as the population has aged, more people are using ECVs, also stroller rentals have become more popular - and all this has created liability and space concerns, not to mention the impact on employees.