ECV Options

[Evita_W]

Have you considered talking to someone locally who does boat or automotive interior work? If you can find a shop that does custom work they can likely help you.

Yes, DH has learned that when certain things are needed this type of approach can work well. For example when tires need replacing on a scooter, you can check with your local hardware store if they have the same type of tire or can order them. On many models, they are the EXACT same tires as used on certain wagons or other such tools and buying them through a hardware store they are half the price or less. When he wanted a custom modification made that involved electrical wiring, he went to one of the places that does automotive custom lighting and such, as they work with 12 volt batteries all the time and they principal is the same, again a fraction of what a dedicated mobility repair shop would want and they were able to come up with things a dedicated shop either can't or won't do, sometimes due to restrictions of them being an official repair person and agreeing to certain rules. Building a custom seat wouldn't be far off from what these types of places do anyway, so again, this would make sense to take this approach with it.

We too often box ourselves into thinking we have to select the product or service specifically geared toward mobility devices when sometimes we are better served checking elsewhere.

 

[Marionette]

We rented a park ECV for DH one time and will never do it again. We did get tot he park early and got one with no issues but the stress of worrying that they would all be rented out was an issue.

DH thought he could do the walk to and from the room and hen the park but you forget things like running to quick serve for drings/dinner. Plus the walking just ot get into MK was too much.

We have now made countless trips with a scooter and have only had to wait for a second but a few times. One of the times, there was a transportation rep near the bus stop and they re-routed a bus so we didn't have to wait too long.

And, of course, it is cheaper to rent offsite.

 

[s.r.disney nut]

We used Scooterbug for the first time during our last trip. My wife's arthritis was really bothering her so we decided to rent a wheelchair. There was a mix up but we finally received it. Easy to contact with a phone call and they called back a few times to make sure everything was good. The surprising part was that they refunded the entire rental amount!

I do short trips of the time (my son is a CM and I go to visit with my AP) and I've tried the preferred vendor Scooterbug twice. BOTH times I had problems that took more time away from the park had I rented from a vendor that drops off. The first time I got an ECV that would uncontrollably roll backwards/forwards on slopes - or wouldn't work at all - couldn't get a replacement until the next day. Second time I lost the key (my fault) in the morning on a ride and spent the entire day trying to talk to ANYONE at that place who could help me. Never got a call back. Ended up leaving the ECV at the attraction and my family (thankfully were with me this time because often I'm alone) pushed me in a WC. Spent so much time on the phone, had to rent an ECV from Epcot anyway. Never got a call back from Scooterbug but they did drop off another ECV for me the next day at the resort - without telling me. I happened to send my husband over there to check on a whim which it's good I did.

Just keep in mind that if you rent from Scooterbug and have an issue - it could wipe a day off your trip. Plus the ECV's I got were in awful shape. I won't try them again. Gold mobility has gone to shorter rental option and I'll stick with them as I can choose my drop off and pick up time and they're usually within 30 mins of it.