How Easy to Get an ECV at DL?

[Luv Bunnies]

We are going to DLR next month and my parents are coming along. We've been with them several times but this is the first time my Dad will be in need of an ECV. We will be staying at the Park Vue Inn and the walk to the front gate and back will be about as much as he can handle each day.

I think I remember reading here that ECVs can be difficult to get at DLR. We (me, DH, our kids and my sister) will probably get there at opening each day (8:00 a.m. or earlier). I can't imagine my parents (mostly my mom) getting there any earlier than 9:00 or so. Are the ECVs likely to be gone by then? They will be with us for 2 days and the first day, they will not be able to hop (my mom won 2 Disneyland-only passes at an auction). They will meet us at Disneyland and stay there all day. The second day, they want to go to CA for part of the day and then go back to DL. Will there be a problem getting an ECV at Disneyland around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. if we hop over there?

This is our first time dealing with this and I'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Here is a very recent thread with some information about off site scooter rentals:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1509716

We have rented scooters at Disneyland for my father in law many times, directly from the parks. We never had a problem getting one, even during the summer and even when he sometimes joined us much later in the day. He was always able to take the scooter between Disneyland and California Adventure. They were very expensive however and also required a deposit in addition to the rental fee (deposit was returned at the end of the day either as cash or refunded to the credit card depending on the method of payment).

However, we have not tried to do this in over a year as he finally just got his own as his medical needs got worse over time. Also, he generally only came to the parks for a few hours just to have dinner and maybe ride one or two things (he lives locally) so if he hadn't been able to rent one, we could have managed. For all day touring, I would not have risked renting one directly from the parks because if he hadn't been able to get one, it would have been a disaster!

I would think that if needing a scooter is an absolute it would be worth it for the peace of mind to rent from an outside agency. I have seen reports from other posters that they ran out of scooters at DL. Also, the offsite places (Deckert is the one I have seen the most reviews on) will deliver right to the hotel and are cheaper than the ones DL rents.

Good luck!

Oh and another nice thing about renting from an offsite place is that your dad would have it to use for Downtown Disney. If you wanted to check out some of the stores and restaurants it can be as much as a 10 or 15 minute walk from the park gates to the end of DTD. You cannot take the park rented scooters to DTD, only to the two parks.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I agree with Amy & Dan (that always happens) it is so nice, and super easy to rent from an outside agency!! A friend of mine does on every trip, and it has always been super convenient. It's waiting at the hotel when she gets there, so no walking to/from hotel either!! Plus the last few times we went, around 11am-noon, there were none left in the park!! So she would have to get there early for sure!

Andrea

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Thanks for the info! I'm starting to think more and more that we should get one from an off-site rental company delivered to the room. If he can't get one at the front gate, there will be no way my dad could walk around the park. He'd have to sit and wait for someone to return one. He had a heart bypass a few years ago and his legs are sore from where they stripped the veins for the bypass. He's also diabetic and that contributes to his leg pain. Plus, the guy's 81, pushing 82 so I figure if he wants to go to Disneyland, he should travel around in style!

Thanks again for the help.