Electric Wheel Chair Rentals

[DisneyCrazy123]

I am planning a trip with my in-laws who have requested that I reserve them some electronic carts to get around Disney while we are there. I don't think it is necessary to have them at the hotel, but I would like to reserve them in advance at each of the parks. Is it possible to do that or is it just first come, first served?

 

[CarolAnnC]

Several years ago when I traveled with my mother to WDW we called over to the MK from OKW where we were staying to have them hold an ECV for her. They will not do this. It is first come first served upon arrival to the parks in person.

Once you have rented one, however, the park will hold your ECV if you leave for a few hours and recharge up the battery for you while you are gone. If you choose to visit another park later, it will be subject to availablity to pickup another ECV there. If you rent regular wheelchairs, they will definitely have one for you at another park, if you park hop that day. Good luck.

 

[teri]

Here are the companies that do the long-term rentals at WDW:
CARE Medical Equipment - 1-800-741-2282
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com

RANDY'S Mobility in Kissimmee 407-892-4777
http://www.randysmobility.com/

Walker Medical - 1-800-334-9501
http://www.walkermobility.com

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

They deliver right to your resort, and most reports are of very good service. This is a much better option than getting them from the parks, as it is a long way from parking lots or bus stops to the main entrances, and the resorts are very big. Better to have these for the long distances between your activities so nobody gets worn out too early in the day. It also costs less than day-to-day rentals at the parks.

 

[DisneyCrazy123]

Thanks for the info. On the independent companies that deliver to your resort, is it a pain to take the bus and all that with the carts. I had read of people having to wait long periods of time to get handicap accesible busses.

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[teri]

Hey, my sister lives in Barrington.

Most buses are accessible, and most drivers are quite good with loading procedures, but there have been some problems this year. Also, if you rent a car or van (which I would recommend, if you have people with mobility issues and want to do any resort-hopping), they are easy to assemble and disassemble.

 

[SueM in MN]

Up through our last trip in March of 2001, I would have said the buses were mostly good with a few problems. We usually only had one long wait or problem in 7 to 10 days at the parks. Recently, people have posted that the bus service seems to be going downhill for people who are using wheelchairs or ecvs.
I agree with the others about renting from one of the offsite vendors. One of the things people don't think about is the long walk from the bus or car in to the park entrance where you can rent a wheelchair or ecv.
If you don't want to rent a van, you can ask the ecv rental company how large of a car you will need to accomidate it in the trunk.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

DisneyCrazy123

I agree with other posts that hiring from off-site is the best option.

Bear in mind that the buses take a maximum of two ECVs. If you have two in your own party, your chances of not being able to travel together increase. You will need a large rental car to fit in four adults and two ECVs!!

Assuming two ECVs in your

Choose your hotel carefully with regards to the parks you are going to spend most time at. The Epcot resorts (boaardwalk/Yacht/Beach/Swan/Dolphin have excellent links to MGM and Epcot by boats which could take four or more ECVs each trip. Both parks are also an easy ECV ride by path from the hotels.

Monorail hotels will be good for MK and OK for Epcot

No hotel is perfect for Animal Kingdom, the Water Parks or Downtown Disney

Andrew

 

[StrwLady]

I rent my ECV from Walker Mobility. The price is nearly the same as renting them in the parks. The first trip that I started renting them I did rent them from the parks. The ones I get from walker are far more comfortable and are better condition. Also it makes it much easier to park hop. You can not be sure that when you park hop there will be one available at the next park you visit. And I agree with the others about the walk to and from room to buses and bus to parks.

As far as the buses go. Only once did I have a problem where the lift did not work. One other time the driver at the poly was way behind schedule and refused to ask others to move to another seat so he could put the ECV in the spot it belonged. The bus was not even full so the others would have had a place to sit. But this was a problem with that driver imparticular. My friend did board the bus while I went to the monorail to go to the TTC and try and catch a bus there and she heard the diver talking in a very negative and nasty manner about me and the ECV to the other passangers after he drove off.

As far as getting them on and off the bus this was much easier than I had expected. When with my husband I usually get out of the cart and let him drive it on. (I was sure Id drive it in one side and right out a window ) but in October it was me my son and a friend and her son. So I had to drive it on. The hardest part was we stayed at the Poly and the place I had to board the bus was on a incline. so I had to back down an incline on to the lift. Tha t was a bit of a chalenge for me. As far as getting it parked in the spot on the bus the drivers were great with directions of how much to turn wheel and back up and what not. One driver even lifted the back of the ECV with me on it and im no little itty bitty thing


Hope this helps your decision

Take Care

 

[Martin68]

Walker's scooters are comfortable and the price is comparable to the parks. I have rented from Walker's on two different occasions and the scooters worked just fine.

 

[lisapooh]

Care Medical and Walkers deliver to the hotel at no extra charge. I have had get experiences with Care Medical. Always there waiting for me complete with instructions for disassembling if needed. Return to bell services and they pick it up. Never a problem. WE have used them for me and for my daughter.