Disneyland (California) - Leaving a light weight scooter when accessing rides

[RufusK]

Hi All,
Thank you first of all to the folks that put this forum together. It's amazing....wish I would have found it earlier!
I will be going to Disneyland (California) shortly and bringing my Travelscoot with me (it's a very light weight (29 lbs) mobility scooter). I have a few concerns regarding leaving it when accessing the rides primarily because it is so light and anyone could just pick it up. I will be removing the battery and taking it with me. However I'm a bit concerned about the scooter itself.
Is there someone who watches over the wheelchairs scooters etc. i.e. are they left in a separate room or what? Where are they left?
Is there a place to lock it up? (since there is no key for the Travelscoot I carry a small cable lock - is there something where wheelchairs/scooters etc. can be secured or are they just left at the entrance to the rides?)
It's been many decades since I've been to Disneyland and i was hoping someone might be able to offer some first hand knowledge.
Thank you in advance.
Rufus

 

[minnie mum]

There are designated parking areas outside the rides for strollers, wheelchairs, and ecvs. There are also designated areas to leave your ecv inside those rides that allow you to ride your ecv to the boarding area. Just like at WDW. You cant lock the ecv so that it cant be moved. CMs need to be able to move them within the designated parking areas. I have never heard of a theft problem with ecvs in the parks. All public areas are monitored by security cameras and there are CMs in these areas. Just how big is the battery? How hard is it going to be to lug it through some of the lines, or bring onto the rides? I've never heard of people doing this inside the parks.

 

[RufusK]

Hi minnie mum,
Thanks for the response.
Battery only weighs 5 lbs and can easily go in a daypack.
Thanks for the info re: designated areas and CMs in the area. Still a little concerning but the info is good a bit reassuring.
Cheers
Rufus

 

[mamabunny]

Hi minnie mum,
Thanks for the response.
Battery only weighs 5 lbs and can easily go in a daypack.
Thanks for the info re: designated areas and CMs in the area. Still a little concerning but the info is good a bit reassuring.
Cheers
Rufus

Hey Rufus! I have a TravelScoot too - I named my first one Angus (for Princess Merida's faithful steed) and my second one is Maximus (in honor of Rapunzel's palace horse from Tangled!)

Although I have never been to DL, when I am at WDW, I will typically leave my battery in place, and just unplug it. I tuck the battery wire/connector underneath where it isn't really visible, and have never had a problem with it. I actually have two of the big batteries, and I double stack for long park days with EMH - that way I can swap on the go if needed. (I typically don't, but I don't want to have to lug around the battery bag & charger LOL) I don't set the brakes when parking for a ride, because I don't want a CM to have to move it, and "flat spot" the tires by dragging it.

As Minnie Mum said above - don't try to lock the TS in any way, with a cable lock, bike lock or anything. The Cast Members have to be able to move the ECVs around to facilitate passage into and out of those parking areas for folks who leave or enter the ride while we are ON the ride having fun!

I have taken my TS to WDW many times now, and have never had a bit of trouble with it being "messed with". The bus drivers, monorail hosts, and boat pilots all love it, because it is so quick and lightweight to deal with. Typically, any place you park it while doing another activity there will be a CM around that area to make sure that kids don't play with the ECV's, etc. It gets to be second nature pretty quickly to unplug/replug the battery.

I don't use my seat back - that way I can mount/dismount "bicycle style" which is super quick and easy. I also use cable ties (or "zip ties") pulled down tight to go around the velcro on my little red fabric pouch, and I have (literally) loaded more than 50 pounds of shopping in there while at Disney Springs! I also have put battery operated skateboard lights along the main left and right trailing arms to help make me a bit more visible in the parks at night, and a bicycle headlight and taillight as well.

I actually have 2 TravelScoots now - one of the "original" models (belt driven) and my hubby bought me a new one (direct drive motor w/ reverse) just last year for our September trip to Food & Wine/Mickey's Not So Scary.

Flight crews love the TS too - whenever I fly I always gate check mine, and carry the batteries on board the plane; on our last trip into MCO, our pilot stopped to talk with me after the crew brought it up from the hold, because it turns out he bought one for his mom!

Have a super trip! I hope you and your TS have a great time!

 

[SMD]

I have never seen a CM watching the stroller parking area other than occasionally moving them closer together to make more room. And I have seen guests lean on or move other people's strollers. I know people who have had strollers stolen and Disney did not offer to review security footage or help recover the stroller. I would not rely on Disney to protect your scooter. If it's something you're worried about you might want to rent a more substantial scooter for the trip. How long does the batter last? You might be better off renting in the park and having them store your scooter and just use it for getting to and from the park. You could even turn in the park scooter early and use yours at the end of the night when it's more crowded and harder to navigate Main St.

 

[RufusK]

Hi Mamabunny and SMD
Thanks for the responses.
Mamabunny, thanks for the very detailed response. It reassures somewhat. I'm not sure however that I'm ready to trust the battery just being left. Almost a thousand dollars (CDN) to replace the battery is too much to risk. I applaud your trust however and wish I shared it. Having said that I think there might be a way to partially secure it. I think one of the screws on the battery could be removed and replaced with a slight longer screw that had a small round metal 'doughnut' piece attached to it. I could run a locking cable from that to the hole in the side of the frame, just in front of the rear wheel. The battery would then be secured to the frame. It isn't a fool proof idea but it would be a deterrent. Someone would have to have the tools and time to take it apart and I'm guessing that the area where the ECV's are left is a fairly public area. Again not foolproof though nothing really is.
I agree with you about how much bus drivers and airline personnel like it. They certainly appreciate how light it is. On one flight not so long ago we even put it in the overhead bin! Thanks for the good wishes. It's been many years since we've been and I'm looking forward to sharing the experince with my grand daughter and her first trip there.
SMD, the battery runs for about 12 Km (8 miles) depending on terrain. However you have given me something to think about. If I'm not comfortable, you're right, I could always rent a larger one.
Thanks to both of you for sharing your thoughts. Now I've got some hardware to find.
Have a great day.
Cheers
Rufus

 

[PatMcDuck]

I also get nervous leaving my son's $2200+ Convaid chair at Disney...... So many people ask me about it, and it is red and stands out. (it is the large 18" size). I am glad we can leave it inside when we take it thru the lines, but sometimes we park it outside. I was more worried when i first got it, but I still worry (no battery, it is just expensive)

 

[mamabunny]

I have never seen a CM watching the stroller parking area other than occasionally moving them closer together to make more room. And I have seen guests lean on or move other people's strollers. I know people who have had strollers stolen and Disney did not offer to review security footage or help recover the stroller. I would not rely on Disney to protect your scooter. If it's something you're worried about you might want to rent a more substantial scooter for the trip. How long does the batter last? You might be better off renting in the park and having them store your scooter and just use it for getting to and from the park. You could even turn in the park scooter early and use yours at the end of the night when it's more crowded and harder to navigate Main St.

Typically, any place I have ever had to park my ECV at WDW where I wasn't sitting next to it (or within line of sight) has been in an area where other peoples scooters and mobility devices were all parked for that ride or attraction. The one time that I had to park it "outside" was when we rode the PeopleMover, and on that day there were actually 2 CM's "patrolling" the area. I backed my ECV in, unplugged it, and got off, and one of the CM's came over to ask about it because he had never seen one quite like it before. I took the opportunity to ask him if it was safe to leave it there, and he assured me that it was.

I've been to WDW many times now with my personal ECV and have never had any trouble with anyone messing with it. Rufus' idea about securing the battery is great one - our ECV's don't have a key switch, so his concerns are valid. But I have never had anyone mess with it, other than a CM move it as they needed to to keep pathways clear.

 

[SMD]

Typically, any place I have ever had to park my ECV at WDW where I wasn't sitting next to it (or within line of sight) has been in an area where other peoples scooters and mobility devices were all parked for that ride or attraction. The one time that I had to park it "outside" was when we rode the PeopleMover, and on that day there were actually 2 CM's "patrolling" the area. I backed my ECV in, unplugged it, and got off, and one of the CM's came over to ask about it because he had never seen one quite like it before. I took the opportunity to ask him if it was safe to leave it there, and he assured me that it was.

I've been to WDW many times now with my personal ECV and have never had any trouble with anyone messing with it. Rufus' idea about securing the battery is great one - our ECV's don't have a key switch, so his concerns are valid. But I have never had anyone mess with it, other than a CM move it as they needed to to keep pathways clear.

OP is asking about DLR, which is a lot more compact and doesn't have set areas to park strollers and ECVs. In Tomorrowland they are parked in the walkway between Star Tours and Buzz and Astro Orbiters, which is only about 30 by 50 feet, including the walkways and benches. People touch them all the time. I've seen people sit in ECV seats when benches are full and I've seen people use the canopies on strollers to sort out the stuff in the pockets. It's probably safe most of the time, but if it's something someone is already worried about, it's more than a minor concern at DLR.

One thing you can try for an ECV or personal chair like the Convaid is something like a Tile security tag. If anyone did steal (or move) the chair then it's unlikely they'd get it out of the park before you're off the ride. Hopefully you'd still have enough time to locate it using the app.

 

[blondietink]

We have been going to the parks on both coasts for almost 20 years with 2 children (now adults) with disabilities. we have left their specialized wheelchairs many times and have never had them stolen or anything hanging off of them (packages, backpacks, etc.).