Does Disney do daily rental for a scooter?

[mdetloff]

This is our third trip down and my inlaws are traveling with us. Recently, my MIL has had trouble walking very far. She was always fine on our two prior trips. She said she doesn't want to deal with a scooter on the buses (staying at POP.) She wants to be able to rent one at the park each day. Has anyone done this and if you take a break and go back to the hotel do you have to repay for one in the afternoon? I am figuring it is probably cheaper to rent one elsewhere and have delivered to the resort and just deal with it on the busses. I think she just feels bad that she may need one and doesn't want to hold us up so to say. We just don't want her to miss anything either. She is going into the doctor next week for this so hopefully will be better by then but I just want to be prepared if she is not. If anyone knows the prices of the rentals that would be helpful. We will be there 9 nights. TIA!

 

[Sleepy]

The scooter rental in the parks is way too expensive. Just get the outside rental and bring it on the busses. In the long run, it may be easier since you won't be able to sit down while you spend all that time waiting in line for a bus. It is those walks from the busses to the entrances and vice versa that you also have to consider.

 

[princessjane]

After pricing scooters for my mom, I can say that renting from a local scooter company and having it delivered/picked up to your resort IS the only way to go. Way less Expensive (think about $45 a Day as opposed to $25 a day for a lightweight model). My mom rode it around the whole resort and parks and it was the best thing we did. We also got a sunshade for it. she felt like she could keep up with us, plus she was able to use handicapped entrances for rides.

Don't worry about putting it on the bus, it really doesn't take that long to get it off and on. I do recommend that she let the bus driver put it on, if she can stand for awhile, they are fast. My mom had to have one on our last trip and in my IMHO, if people want me to put up with their Giant SUV sized Strollers, they can put up a few extra minutes for someone who is handicapped/disabled.

 

[mdetloff]

Where did u rent from? Any recommendations? Also, we won't have a car are they delivered to the resort and do you have to be there to get it? TIA!

 

[thepwa]

I threw my back out on the 1st day at Disney last year. I rented from Walker Mobility, and it saved my vacation!

http://www.walkermobility.com/

Very easy too. Called them, they delivered to my hotel (Beach Club) and I just left it in the front of the hotel for pick up when I was done.

Awsome!

 

[aubriee]

I agree with the previous posters to get one offsite that she can use for the entire trip. It is often a long walk from the parks to the buses and also can be alot of walking at the resorts. Plus she would have alot of standing and waiting at the bus stops. There is also a chance that she'd be standing on some buses. We have always used Walker Mobility for my mom. Call and they will usually give you a discount if you rent one for the entire week. In addition to being cheaper, the ones from offsite are usually easier to use also. When you arrive the ECV will be waiting for you in bell services with her name on it. When you check out, just take it back to bell services and leave it with them for the DME company to pick up.

Take her to Wal Mart or somewhere else that has ECVs and let her practice before her trip. If she's like my mom and has some trouble backing them onto the buses, either the bus driver may do it or someone else in your party can do it for her. As you come out to the bus stops, just be sure to have her park out front of the queu so the driver can see her. Your entire party will need to stand out there with her. After he loads the ECV the driver will then lower the steps back down, so your entire party can then board. He will then go back up and open the front door of the bus so everyone else waiting can board. The driver will ask her if she can transfer and then will have her transfer off the scooter onto a regular seat, because it will be safer for her. As far as rides, it will be up to her. Most lines are mainstreamed so she can just ride the ECV into them. It will then be up to her whether she rides with the scooter or transfers. My mom prefers to walk some (otherwise her knee gets so stiff she can't move it), so will usually park the ECV and then stand in the queues.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As stated above, Disney does rent out 'scooters', aka Electric Convenience Vehicles, aka ECVs. Guests should note that these cannot be reserved in advance; they are first come, first served - and most days, do run out. If you're planning to rent at the parks, be early.

A couple of responses indicate the bus driver will put the ECV on the bus. This may happen, but should NOT be expected. If the ECV user can't drive it in reverse (and really, that person should be able to do so, given that you don't know what conditions you'll run into during the visit), another member of the party should.

Where aubriee refers to "whole party", please expect that to mean the ECV user and up to five members of that person's party; additional members should expect to wait in the standard line and board with the rest of the passengers - in consideration OF those passengers.

 

[Inkmahm]

We rented a car to get to the parks and rented scooters at the parks each day for my mom when we went in 2001 and 2002. She hated using the scooters as it was spring time and the parks were crowded. The Disney scooters really don't have brakes, you just let go of the "gas" to stop them. Mom was always afraid she'd hit someone. My dad walked in front of her to lessen the chance that she'd hit someone other than him.

Fast forward to 2008. Dad is gone now and we wanted mom to come with us to Disney again. She really hated the idea of the scooter but even with a knee replacement since the first Disney trips, she can't walk far on her own. Her back is the real problem. So, instead of renting a scooter, we bought a transport wheelchair. The grandkids take turns (and me, too) pushing mom around the resorts/parks. Mom loves it and we all get exercise doing the pushing. It's MUCH more convenient than a scooter. The wheelchair was a bargain on ebay at about $150 with shipping. We've used it for two trips to Disney already and have another planned for March, 2010. It's the only way mom is comfortable there in the crowds.

 

[SueM in MN]

A couple of responses indicate the bus driver will put the ECV on the bus. This may happen, but should NOT be expected. If the ECV user can't drive it in reverse (and really, that person should be able to do so, given that you don't know what conditions you'll run into during the visit), another member of the party should.

agreeing with kaytieeldr and adding a bit.
The bus drivers are not allowed to drive the ECV on the bus. Some may, but it is not part of their job description and some drivers have posted in the past that a driver can get in trouble for doing it.

If you follow the links in my signature, you can go to the disABILITIES Board or to the disABILITIES FAQs thread. In post #2 of that thread, you will find everything you are looking for (at least I hope) about renting wheelchairs and ECVs, both at the parks and off-site.
As was already posted, the park rental ECVs are first come, first serve. There is no guarantee that they will have any when you arrive. If you leave, or if you park hop, you can show your receipt that same day to get another ECV if they have any when you arrive.

Also in the FAQs thread, you will find some general hints in post #3 and there are also posts about bus transportation and other types of transportation.