ECV Rental: other places besides Walkers/Randys

[sherreis]

We're going to DW the week of Thanksgiving and DH has finally agreed to renting an ECV for the week. He would like to know if there are another companies besides Walker and Randy's. Has anyone used any other companies? And, if so, were you happy with them and would you recommend them?

 

[SueM in MN]

There are a couple of other companies listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. One of them is Care and the other is Scooterama. EDITED TO ADD: I posted Scooterama, but the one listed in the FAQs thread is Scootaround. There are companies with both names. We had some feedback about Scootaround, but no one has given feedback yet about Scootarama.

Walker, Care and Randy's are the 3 companies that DIS posters have 'talked' about most with good comments. Several people have really liked Scootaround.
We used Randy's when we went in March and had a very good experience.

 

[sherreis]

Thank you. I've given DH the info and he'll decide. He keeps going back and forth between renting for the week and renting at the parks. He won't need the ECV at the resort because he can do that much walking. We'll only be in the parks for 6 days. He's coming up with a list of pros and cons for each.

 

[Haley Whippet]

We used Scooterama, and were very happy with them
Deb

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay - if you would list his pros and cons, we can support or dispute them (whichever works better for YOU )

 

[RNMOM]

I would highly recommend renting from off site. My reasons,

1. They often run out of scooters very early and you will not be able to get one.

2. If you go later in the day AND are lucky enough to get a scooter someone has turned in, you run the chance it might run out of power for you. They are charged overnight. This happened to me once.

3. If you want to go back to the resort and return later in the day you have lost your scooter.

4. You will always know how well charged your scooter is and once you become familiar with it you will have a better time all around. You can leave your jacket/umbrella in the basket and have it all ready to go the next morning as you pull out. You can also haul your families belongings to the park for them and keep them on your scooter. I usually take along an old lightweight bag that has backpack type straps to put the jackets and umbreallas in so if we leave the scooter someone just grabs the bag and I don't leave it.
5. I have rented from both Randy's and Walker and the service and equipment was good all the times. I now own my own scooter.

6. Downtown Disney doesn't have scooters and walking around there in the evening can be a pretty long walk.

Hope this helps. Honestly, the time I was not able to get a scooter we tried a w/c and it was miserable as DH has neck problems and couldn't push me well and I have short arms and can't roll myself on a regular one. I was at everyone's mercy. I also have had "bad" days where everything hurt and didn't want to leave early for the park. I stayed behind and slept in a bit and came over later. I loved having that freedom and you can't get that without renting from outside.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Okay - if you would list his pros and cons, we can support or dispute them (whichever works better for YOU )

The WDW scooters are big and clumbsy, I had my foot run over by one,
They are heavy too! The off site rentals are easy to drive..
Deb

 

[kaytieeldr]

Picking up on Deb's response... the park ECVs require you to flip a switch to go in reverse. Offsite rentals' throttles allow you to go forward by holding the par to the right and reverse by holding it to the left. Sorry, I can't explain it as easily as riders can actually do it.

And, Deb - were you happy with ScooteRama? Not that I have time to change my mind at this late date but I e-mailed them some questions before I rented and I was happy with the responses (especially the armrest issue )

 

[Haley Whippet]

Picking up on Deb's response... the park ECVs require you to flip a switch to go in reverse. Offsite rentals' throttles allow you to go forward by holding the par to the right and reverse by holding it to the left. Sorry, I can't explain it as easily as riders can actually do it.

And, Deb - were you happy with ScooteRama? Not that I have time to change my mind at this late date but I e-mailed them some questions before I rented and I was happy with the responses (especially the armrest issue )

We were very happy with Scooterama, They had the best price and the scooter I had is just like the one I have at home.(We now take mine to WDW)
They delivered it to our resort and it was there waiting for us when we arrived, And when we were finished with it we dropped it with the bellhop and scooterama picked it up..
Deb

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thanks! You know how the strangest things sometimes impress us? Well, in addition to just liking the attitude of the man I spoke with, and yeah, the price, I like:
The price ;
That the tires are flatless, aka solid or foam-filled (ever get a flat at 10 PM on a Saturday night?) and they only includes arms if you request them - I'm always forgetting to put the armrest back down so I always catch it on something ;
And the confirmation e-mail (and no, we're NOT telling anybody what's so enjoyable about that - you'll just have to rent from Scooterama yourselves and see )!

 

[MintShakes]

Is there a website for Scooterama? I can't seem to find it! Thanks!!!

 

[sherreis]

Thanks everyone for all of your help. DH has most likely decided to try Scootarama. I'll let you all know how it works out - but, that won't be till Thanksgiving week.

here's the link...
Scootarama

 

[kaytieeldr]

http://www.scootarama.com/

And Sherri - I already promised Sue I'd post a report of my experience. I'll be back in a couple of weeks (okay, fine, I'll be back in about ten days - just giving myself some 'breathing' space )