Disney's New Stroller Rental Policy

[Doug7856]

When preparing to make arrangements for the rental of a stroller from and non Disney company, I received this message:

"**Starting September 1st, Disney is no longer allowing us to utilize their bell desk/luggage rooms. We must meet the guests directly for delivery and pickup. Please enter your estimated time of arrival and departure. A representative will contact you to confirm your scheduled times**"

I am very disappointing that Disney is creating this inconvenience for guests who desire to have strollers for the length of stay. Renting a length of stay stroller enables us to have a stroller for the walk from the bus to our room. The walks at Disney's Saratoga Springs can be quite long for a small child.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I know that the guy who runs Owner's Locker does strollers. He has met me at the airport so my bet is he would meet you whenever and wherever is good for you

 

[juliebug1997]

When preparing to make arrangements for the rental of a stroller from and non Disney company, I received this message:



I am very disappointing that Disney is creating this inconvenience for guests who desire to have strollers for the length of stay. Renting a length of stay stroller enables us to have a stroller for the walk from the bus to our room. The walks at Disney's Saratoga Springs can be quite long for a small child.

I'm betting that, soon, they're going to say the same thing about ECVs.

I will say that, in Disney's defense, it might be that they don't want to be in possession of someone else's property (different from your luggage and purchases, because you have willingly left them with Disney). I'm sure someone was given the wrong thing and got very upset and Disney didn't want to have to deal with possible mix ups like this.

 

[Doug7856]

I know that the guy who runs Owner's Locker does strollers. He has met me at the airport so my bet is he would meet you whenever and wherever is good for you

That's a great option!

 

[Stinkerbell's Mommy]

I'm betting that, soon, they're going to say the same thing about ECVs.

This is already the case with ECVs. Disney made the announcement about "preferred" vendors that will be allowed to deliver to Bell Services prior to making this similar announcement about strollers. There are, I believe, three preferred vendors for each product that can maintain the prior arrangements. All others will have to make arrangements with the renter to meet them.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Disney is going to a "preferred vendor" list for offsite stroller rentals. The company we rent from (Kingdom Strollers) recently announced on their FB page that they're one of the three preferred vendors who will be able to deliver strollers to Bell Services. I'm unsure of who the other two vendors are.

ETA: Interestingly, I now see the post by Kingdom Strollers has been taken down. Huh. I wonder if the Mouse told them to retract the statement until they could make the official announcement.

 

[drgnfly30]

This is already the case with ECVs. Disney made the announcement about "preferred" vendors that will be allowed to deliver to Bell Services prior to making this similar announcement about strollers. There are, I believe, three preferred vendors for each product that can maintain the prior arrangements. All others will have to make arrangements with the renter to meet them.

There are actually 5 preferred ECV rental companies that can deliver/pick up to the resort with out the guest being present. I would expect that there is bidding going on right now for preferred stroller companies.

 

[ses1230]

I'm betting that, soon, they're going to say the same thing about ECVs.

I will say that, in Disney's defense, it might be that they don't want to be in possession of someone else's property (different from your luggage and purchases, because you have willingly left them with Disney). I'm sure someone was given the wrong thing and got very upset and Disney didn't want to have to deal with possible mix ups like this.

This is already in place for ECVs, it has been since last year.

OP, just get your stroller from a preferred vendor.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are actually 5 preferred ECV rental companies that can deliver/pick up to the resort with out the guest being present. I would expect that there is bidding going on right now for preferred stroller companies.

Yes. The preferred vendors for ECVs and wheelchairs began last year.
This is copied from the disABILITIES FAQs thread:

As of November 1, 2012, WDW Resorts have a new policy regarding ECV and wheelchair delivery to their resorts:

• Preferred Vendors are welcome to check equipment with Bell Services for guest retrieval and return.
• Preferred vendors include: Apple Scooters, Best Price Mobility, Buena Vista Scooters, CARE Medical, and Scooterbug
• Non-preferred vendors are welcome to do business on Disney property, but they must hand the equipment directly to the guest, and collect the equipment directly from the guest.
  link to thread discussing change to policy

• 
  Here's some key facts:
• Disney is trying to limit their liability for leased property on their property.
• Disney used a 3rd party company to collect information about companies that do rental business on Disney property.
• Bid packets were sent to a number of primarily ECV rental companies.
• The approval process included business verification, insurance verification, and equipment inspection.
• Bidding is now closed, and current contracts last for 2 years.
• I have also heard that Disney had 2 other goals - one was to limit the speed of the scooters and the other was to limit the size (to make sure they fit on buses and in queues).
  I have heard that the Preferred Vendors also agreed that a certain percentage of their scooters would meet the speed and size guidelines. Some very well known and used companies were not able to replace their fleet of scooters at this time and did not meet the guidelines for Preferred Vendor for that reason.

• Apple Scooter (Preferred Vendor)
  (321-726-6837
  http://www.applescooter.com/
  Apple rents scooters and wheelchairs. Apple rents 16 inch wide wheelchairs. These are suitable for smaller people (and children) between 80 and 125 pounds. Also rent single and double strollers. Apple has many good reviews.
• Buena Vista (Preferred Vendor) Also rent single and double strollers.
  Buena Vista Scooters,
• Care Medical (Preferred Vendor):
  http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/
  Phone (407) 856-2273 " Toll Free U.S and Canada (800) 741-2282
  Care is a full Service Medical Company. They rent ECVs, wheelchairs, power wheelchairs (for guests who are familiar with and use one at home), walkers, companion chairs, strollers, special needs strollers, bath equipment, commodes, beds, among other things.
• Best Price Mobility (Preferred Vendor, but little feedback from DIS posters)
  http://www.bpmobility.com Also rent single and double strollers.
• Scooterbug (Preferred Vendor, but no feedback from DIS posters) From what I can tell, this company provides single and double strollers, wheelchairs and ECVs for the WDW parks; and probably pool chairs. They also rent the large grey ECVs that can be rented in the parks, plus a form of Standing ECV that guests can drive from a standing position. Here is a link to a thread about them, with pictures.
  Scooterbugmobility.com

It took a while from the time we heard about the preferred vendors until they ended up listed on the Disney website or on the company websites.

 

[juliebug1997]

This is already in place for ECVs, it has been since last year.

OP, just get your stroller from a preferred vendor.

Stinkerbell's Mom pointed it out. Thanks.

 

[bjgonzo]

OP can you share who you were renting from? Or better yet does anyone know who the preferred vendors are?

 

[Minniesgal]

I'm betting that, soon, they're going to say the same thing about ECVs.

I will say that, in Disney's defense, it might be that they don't want to be in possession of someone else's property (different from your luggage and purchases, because you have willingly left them with Disney). I'm sure someone was given the wrong thing and got very upset and Disney didn't want to have to deal with possible mix ups like this.

I'm fairly sure they already have

 

[juliebug1997]

I'm fairly sure they already have

No!!!! Surely not.

 

[ses1230]

OP can you share who you were renting from? Or better yet does anyone know who the preferred vendors are?

The preferred ECV vendors are in Sue's post above. Two of them, at least, rent strollers also - Apple and Buena Vista.

 

[RysMomma]

Has Disney announced who the "preferred vendors" are yet for the strollers?

 

[cfriend416]

Well this is disappointing. But reasonable, I suppose. I feel bad for the companies that will not be preferred vendors, as they will probably lose a lot of business.

I know my sister planned on renting a stroller for my niece for our next trip. She had a great experience with the company she rented from last time, but I can't remember the name. I don't think it was one of the big, popular companies, so it probably won't be preferred.

If someone finds out who the preferred vendors are, can they please post here? I may try calling Disney tomorrow to see what I can get for info.

 

[Stinkerbell's Mommy]

no!!!! Surely not.

roflmao

 

[bjgonzo]

The preferred ECV vendors are in Sue's post above. Two of them, at least, rent strollers also - Apple and Buena Vista.

I saw that, we have a reservation with Apple for our Jan trip, but with them being new to the stroller rental I didn't know if they would be a preferred stroller vendor.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DebbieB]

I think they did the same thing with golf carts at Ft Wilderness a long time ago.

 

[4kids4karen]

When preparing to make arrangements for the rental of a stroller from and non Disney company, I received this message:



I am very disappointing that Disney is creating this inconvenience for guests who desire to have strollers for the length of stay. Renting a length of stay stroller enables us to have a stroller for the walk from the bus to our room. The walks at Disney's Saratoga Springs can be quite long for a small child.

You have it backwards dear. Resort guests were inconveniencing the resort staff by having non-Disney strollers delivered to resorts to be stored. No one is preventing a guest from renting a stroller for the duration of their stay only stipulate that the guest must meet the third party company directly.