Electric Carts and children

[joshandmikahsmom]

Hi, I am new here, but certainly not to Disney World. We have made 27 trips there from Mississippi and love it more each time.
Can I get some feedback on this PLEASE:
I have asthma and arthritis really bad, plus I have a four year old child. I need one of the electric carts, but cannot make my little four year old walk while I ride. I had him on the vehicle a couple of days ago when we were there and had an employee storm me and rudely tell me to get him off. She was very, very rude, but that is besides the point. Yes, I did sign a contract, but not one employee said a word about it except this particular woman.
How can I ride and ride my child too? Do I rent a scooter other than use Disneys? I have addressed this question on other boards and get some that say it is ok, and others a "no" Please help. I cannot make it any more without the help of the electric cart, but I will not have my little one running along beside me. Thanks so much.

 

[Chuck S]

All rental contracts, both onsite and offsite, limit you to one rider. Since asthma and arthritis surely must bother you at home as well as at Disney, perhaps the way to go would be to purchase your own scooter, that way there would be no contractual liability issues, and perhaps it could be modified to add something for a child like one of those add on child bike seats.

That way you'd also have it at home when you need it to go shopping or elsewhere.

As far as the Disney rentals, since they are the renting agency, they can set the rules that govern their use.

 

[ducklite]

I'm pretty sure that regardless of an ECV being a Disney rental, other rental, or privately owned, WDW doesn't allow people to ahve their children ride with them. I think it's a park rule just like no Heelies, no wagons, etc.

Perhaps a friend or family member can visit WDW with you and push your child in a stroller or walk with him until he's old enough to be able to walk alongside you?

Anne

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It is a matter of safety. The Disney rental scooters weigh almost 200 pounds. Most of the off-site ECVs weigh about 150 pounds. All it needs is for someone to accidentally pressing against the tiller, forward or reverse, and serious injuries can occur.

How would you feel if your four year old accidentally pushed the tiller full forward and you ran into someone with something solid on the other side of them, possibly breaking a leg or two. As well as possibly injuries to yourself and your child.

I use my own ECV to get around in the parks (I don't need it when working). I have mentioned to people who I have seen with children, while I was not on duty, that it is not permitted and the rental can be banned.

Those of us who use ECVs are looked at by many as abusers; your having your son riding in your lap is an accident looking for a place to happen.

I know this is not the answer you were hoping to hear (and neither of the other posters told you what you wanted to hear) but it is the truth.

 

[Talking Hands]

The only way you can ride with a child on your ECV (scooter) is if it is owned by you. All rental places have it in your contract that you cannot carry others on the ECV. If it is your own you can do it but it is not a safe practice. Your 4 year old will have to walk or be pushed by someone in a stroller.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm pretty sure that regardless of an ECV being a Disney rental, other rental, or privately owned, WDW doesn't allow people to ahve their children ride with them. I think it's a park rule just like no Heelies, no wagons, etc.

It is. There is something on the official Disney site about items that are not allowed. It includes anything pulled by an ECV.
Quote from the website (my bold):
Q. Are there any personal items I should not bring with me into the Theme Parks?

A. Items that you may not bring into the Theme Parks include, but are not limited to:
Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
Alcoholic beverages
Weapons of any kind
Folding chairs
Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
Pets (unless they are service animals)
In Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted.

Even though you do sometimes see someone with a child on their lap on an ECV, I have seen ECVs go out of control because of that. All it takes is an excited child hitting the driver's hand as the child is trying to point to something. I have seen CMs stop someone using a rental ECV, but have also seen CMs stopping people with their own ECV (even though the owner of the ECV may not be concerned, Disney would be concerned about the safety of their other guests).

So, if the child can't walk beside you, your best option is to have someone else with you who will be able to walk with or push the child in a stroller.

 

[Talking Hands]

Even though you do sometimes see someone with a child on their lap on an ECV, I have seen ECVs go out of control because of that. All it takes is an excited child hitting the driver's hand as the child is trying to point to something. I have seen CMs stop someone using a rental ECV, but have also seen CMs stopping people with their own ECV (even though the owner of the ECV may not be concerned, Disney would be concerned about the safety of their other guests).

So, if the child can't walk beside you, your best option is to have someone else with you who will be able to walk with or push the child in a stroller.

Sue, in the case of persoally owned ECVs, castmembers cannot always tell the difference between them and offsite rentals. Everytime a CM has said anything to me about having a child on my ECV (when I used one, in PWC now) they were oh ok no problem.
I always bring a cup with a lid and straw into Animal Kingdom and am never stopped from doing it. It sits in my cupholder so it is completely visable. It is a Tupperware tumbler with a lid and harder plastic straw that would not blow into an animal enclosure if dropped.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sue, in the case of persoally owned ECVs, castmembers cannot always tell the difference between them and offsite rentals. Everytime a CM has said anything to me about having a child on my ECV (when I used one, in PWC now) they were oh ok no problem.

That could be what I saw, although in one case, that I saw, I'm pretty sure it was the man's own ECV. He was behaving in a very unsafe manner though with a child on his lap. There was a woman (I think his wife) that he repetedly came behind and bumped with the ECV from behind. When she screamed and jumped, both he and the boy laughed. We were waiting fro a parade while this was going on, so we saw it for quite a while. He got a warning, then a "put the child down and don't bump into anyone again or you are out of here" final warning. He stopped after that.
Obviously, that was a dangerous safety problem that needed to be addressed whether he owned his ECV or not.

I always bring a cup with a lid and straw into Animal Kingdom and am never stopped from doing it. It sits in my cupholder so it is completely visable. It is a Tupperware tumbler with a lid and harder plastic straw that would not blow into an animal enclosure if dropped.

I just quoted their website, but it sounds pretty obvious that the type of straw you are using would not be any hazard to the animals.

 

[Joanna71985]

Unfortunately it is a park rule, only 1 rider per scooter. I have had to tell people that their kids need to walk. It's unfortunate, but it's the rules.

 

[Belle1962]

DGS started going to the parks solo with me when he was 4. I simply set the speed to super slow (absolute bottom--he walked faster than I was going!!!) and found that I could hold his hand while he walked beside me. I always remind him to leave space (so I don't accidently hit him). He does sit on my lap for shows, parades and fireworks--but the ecv is not moving. You will find you have to make frequent stops but you can make these into fun time--water break, "look at that", it truely is "stop and smell the roses" time when you do this. Also-- If you can---park the ecv and walk to several rides at a time. I.e. in Magic Kingdom, park in Fantasyland, do those rides and then ride/walk over to Toontown--park & do that area, etc. Of course--we went at offtimes when he was that young so we didn't have to worry about being separated by crowds. If that is a concern for you--maybe one of those child leashes--his wrist to your wrist/belt loops would work for you.

 

[tarkus]

That could be what I saw, although in one case, that I saw, I'm pretty sure it was the man's own ECV. He was behaving in a very unsafe manner though with a child on his lap. There was a woman (I think his wife) that he repetedly came behind and bumped with the ECV from behind. When she screamed and jumped, both he and the boy laughed. We were waiting fro a parade while this was going on, so we saw it for quite a while. He got a warning, then a "put the child down and don't bump into anyone again or you are out of here" final warning. He stopped after that.
Obviously, that was a dangerous safety problem that needed to be addressed whether he owned his ECV or not.

If they would throw out more people who acted irresponsibly with ECV,strollers, wheelchairs or on foot they would be better off.

It's not the device it's the users lack of concern for anybody but themselves. This problem gets worse when people get "Vacation Head".

Be Big,
Alan

 

[SueM in MN]

If they would throw out more people who acted irresponsibly with ECV,strollers, wheelchairs or on foot they would be better off.

It's not the device it's the users lack of concern for anybody but themselves. This problem gets worse when people get "Vacation Head".

Be Big,
Alan

You are absolutely right - it is the person, not the device. In that case, the man thought it was very funny and the last I saw of him, the CM who had warned him had brought security over. I don't know if they wer kicked out, but they did disappear.

 

[Piper]

Another thought--You mention that you're "riding" while your child will be "walking" as if that is unfair. I teach 4 & 5 year olds. If you are honest and open with them, they understand more than you think. If you have a medical problem that your child is familiar with, they will understand the need for you to be on the ECV.

I am very slow getting up from the floor when I am working with children--they understand. I have to crawl to a chair to get up--they crawl beside me. I cannot take my class outside because the sun can make me "sick"--they have no problem waiting for the days that a paraprofesional can take them out. I wear AFOs on both legs--they just help me explain to others that they help me "not fall down."

Children are a lot more understanding than adults and learn a lot more than we give them credit for!

 

[SueM in MN]

Another thought--You mention that you're "riding" while your child will be "walking" as if that is unfair. I teach 4 & 5 year olds. If you are honest and open with them, they understand more than you think. If you have a medical problem that your child is familiar with, they will understand the need for you to be on the ECV.

I am very slow getting up from the floor when I am working with children--they understand. I have to crawl to a chair to get up--they crawl beside me. I cannot take my class outside because the sun can make me "sick"--they have no problem waiting for the days that a paraprofesional can take them out. I wear AFOs on both legs--they just help me explain to others that they help me "not fall down."

Children are a lot more understanding than adults and learn a lot more than we give them credit for!

good points.