I Googled Disney+ EV charging, the result was...disappointing

[IMMkXLVI]

We have a few Disney trips scheduled for 2025. Ideally, I'd like to take the EV and deprive Exxon a few profits.
I looked online for Disney theme park EV charging and the result was disappointing. Is this accurate? Just 4 EV charging stations
at the parks? I'm guessing these aren't blocks of multiples since it says "spaces". Does Disney really think that out of the thousands
park attendees, only .004% have an EV that might need a charge? It's not like it's free. Even if it were, add more and then charge people
a reasonable cost. I was looking at Electrify America and ChargePoint, both seem to have very limited capacity around Orlando.
I am surprised, given the amount of sun Florida enjoys, a solar farm>EV charging station seems like it would be an in-demand thing.

 

[SkyGuy]

We have a few Disney trips scheduled for 2025. Ideally, I'd like to take the EV and deprive Exxon a few profits.
I looked online for Disney theme park EV charging and the result was disappointing. Is this accurate? Just 4 EV charging stations
at the parks? I'm guessing these aren't blocks of multiples since it says "spaces". Does Disney really think that out of the thousands
park attendees, only .004% have an EV that might need a charge? It's not like it's free. Even if it were, add more and then charge people
a reasonable cost. I was looking at Electrify America and ChargePoint, both seem to have very limited capacity around Orlando.
I am surprised, given the amount of sun Florida enjoys, a solar farm>EV charging station seems like it would be an in-demand thing.

View attachment 918464

Yes this is accurate, although I think MK may have 5 (1 in a different area). Even though people are supposed to move their vehicles when they get the notice that it’s charged, you can imagine how many want to stop what they are doing and trek out to the parking lot. We rented an EV once and will never do it again. I went to DS early one morning to charge it before we returned it to Hertz as BW area doesn’t have a charger. Riviera has two, Coronado, and Wilderness Lodge have some - only Coronado will allow you to enter without a dining reservation unless a guard takes pity on you.

 

[Dave006]

We have a few Disney trips scheduled for 2025. Ideally, I'd like to take the EV and deprive Exxon a few profits.

You should change your plans concerning an EV at Disney and the surrounding Orlando area. The lack of pubic charging availability is just so limited as to make it unworkable. Don't rent or even drive your own EV. A Hybrid works quite well as you are not using a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

I am surprised, given the amount of sun Florida enjoys, a solar farm>EV charging station seems like it would be an in-demand thing.

The issue is the infrastructure cost to provide the high power demands for Fast changing. It takes up to much valuable vacation rental space for Solar Farms and the return on investment is always negative due to the extremely low adoption rate.

Dave

 

[MICKIMINI]

It will be very risky finding an EV charger. As OP say, there are very few and they are always in use. I would not do it.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

That is unfortunate. I prefer the EV. There ais one Electrify America station around, not far from the parks. Availability is always an issue though but if Florida has been slower to adopt EVs, I have fewer people to compete with for a station. I'm going to map out stations and get an idea of mileage we will drive each day between Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. The other car is an SUV buy is a hybrid so it has the benefits of both but isn't nearly as much fun to drive.

 

[_19disnA]

There are some older threads on the topic of renting an EV while on vacation. Most don't recommend it. Even if you find a working/available charging station, there is no guarantee it will be compatible with your specific vehicle since there aren't currently any national charging stantards. Time to recharge can also be an issue and some others have talked about needing to setup some sort of account to use specific chargers. Probably a reason rental companies are having trouble finding anyone who wants to rent an EV. Once you have a bad experience you will likely never rent one again.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

There are some older threads on the topic of renting an EV while on vacation. Most don't recommend it. Even if you find a working/available charging station, there is no guarantee it will be compatible with your specific vehicle since there aren't currently any national charging stantards. Time to recharge can also be an issue and some others have talked about needing to setup some sort of account to use specific chargers. Probably a reason rental companies are having trouble finding anyone who wants to rent an EV. Once you have a bad experience you will likely never rent one again.

I'm not concerned about the charging plug, I have adapters not that I've ever needed them. So far, I've always found EA & CP stations have had the type my EV uses. Availability can be an issue but most EV owners respect the 80/30 rule. My EV charges from 5% to 80% in 22 minutes at 350kW stations and 28 minutes at 150kW stations. Usually enough time to check emails, plan the day or grab some water for the room in Walmart/Target.

Since many people visit a park and stay all day, even when park hopping between MK & Epcot or HS, the charging stations can be slower level 2 100amp 11kW chargers which won't require the same infrastructure investment as installing fast DC chargers. This alleviates the issue of someone occupying a fast DC charger while not using it.

Another option, set up a row of vehicle charge connectors, say ten paces. Each is connected to the same charging station. It charges on a first come, first serve basis. Charges to 80%, then disconnects and charges the next in line. After a long day at the park, every vehicle would have received an 80% charge from a single fast DC station. I'll admit, this might not work since some vehicles require a manual input to initiate the handshake between charger and station.

I'm just surprised that Disney, after seeing what they are doing at Epcot and other parks in the interest of reducing emissions, waste and other negative environmental impacts wouldn't see the benefits of adding some level two chargers.

If memory serves and I'll admit, I blocked most of the day because it was such a disappointment and a culture shock but legoland had solar panels on the rooftop parking. I don't recall if it was for use with EVs or for the egh, er, uhm... "theme park".

 

[_19disnA]

Even if the EV you own is the same brand/model you plan to rent, the issue of returning to move the vehicle away from the charging station would still apply when at one of the Disney parks. If you don't move it when done charging, you block someone else from using the charger. The high cost to install whatever type of charging station is probably one reason that places have to see a return on the investment to make it viable. Whether the total of all factors is better for the environment probably depends on where you live. If the electricity is produced by burning coal vs. natural gas would make a difference and not sure the average person has any way to know that when somewhere on vacation.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

Even if the EV you own is the same brand/model you plan to rent, the issue of returning to move the vehicle away from the charging station would still apply when at one of the Disney parks. If you don't move it when done charging, you block someone else from using the charger. The high cost to install whatever type of charging station is probably one reason that places have to see a return on the investment to make it viable. Whether the total of all factors is better for the environment probably depends on where you live. If the electricity is produced by burning coal vs. natural gas would make a difference and not sure the average person has any way to know that when somewhere on vacation.

I'm not renting, I plan to drive our EV from home to Fl. We're in NC so it isn't far and I prefer to drive rather than fly. Invariably I am ALWAYS in the path of someone that never learned, even through a pandemic, to cover their mouth/face when they sneeze. I always get flue like symptoms 4 days after flying. If we lived any further way, I'd bite the bullet and fly but luckily, that isn't a choice I have to make. I used to love flying. Racked up 200k miles a year for many years but now, between the guaranteed cold and the belt/shoes/electronics devices all having to be in the TSA totes despite me paying for PreCheck just killed any joy I once got from it.

The Concord will serve as my last best memory of what flying used to be.

That is true, about the real impacts of an EV on the environment. If Disney had level 2 chargers fed from solar, It'd be enough to skip going to EA or CP, nullifying any issue regarding where the power for them comes from. Disney already has solar farms and a lot of panels. They have experience and expertise with it, given the sheer number of panels they have, they probably get the best prices that can be had. Installing a covered parking structure for 100 spaces with roof top solar could be paid for with a higher parking fee combined with a per kW electric fee. Heck, they could even offer a further 100 spaces that just have a receptacle for EV owners like me that keep a portable 7kW unit in the car.

When we stayed at OKW, I drove us to the parks but when we stay at our home resorts of GF & Riviera, we just take the monorail or Zipline. Leaving the car at the resort, here a dedicated EV spot with a metered receptacle would be great. Oh well. It's all wishes and unicorns since Disney doesn't have it.

 

[Mikey15]

There are plenty of EVs in the area, and not all locals either because there are even a few at the timeshare I’m staying at right now, which has no charging facilities. I think if you plan around DC charging (there’s a WaWa near us with a bunch of Tesla stalls, some EAs around) it is doable.

But yes, at Disney proper there is jack all; even L2. Wilderness Lodge still has 2(?) L2 spots, but not even all Disney hotels have a single one. Very lacking given it’s almost 2025…

 

[MICKIMINI]

That is unfortunate. I prefer the EV. There ais one Electrify America station around, not far from the parks. Availability is always an issue though but if Florida has been slower to adopt EVs, I have fewer people to compete with for a station. I'm going to map out stations and get an idea of mileage we will drive each day between Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. The other car is an SUV buy is a hybrid so it has the benefits of both but isn't nearly as much fun to drive.

It isn't the mileage so much as the traffic jams. We've been stuck in traffic at a standstill on I4 many times. I have to assume A/C sucks a lot of energy regardless of how fast or slow you are driving. We owned a hybrid for 5 years and enjoyed it except for winter when it took forever to warm up (NH). I'd take the hybrid and be safe!

 

[Mikey15]

It isn't the mileage so much as the traffic jams. We've been stuck in traffic at a standstill on I4 many times. I have to assume A/C sucks a lot of energy regardless of how fast or slow you are driving. We owned a hybrid for 5 years and enjoyed it except for winter when it took forever to warm up (NH). I'd take the hybrid and be safe!

HVAC running full blast in most EVs isn’t going to draw more than 2-2.5kW. Yes, if you’re stuck in traffic it’s going to make up a higher share of your energy use than motive power, but also means you could sit in a traffic jam with constantly blowing cooled air for nearly 24hrs on a full charge or 12hrs on a half charge in a common 60kWh EV. With auto climate control keeping it just what you need to be comfortable (say, set to 68 & auto) I believe it’s been studied to be longer.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

HVAC running full blast in most EVs isn’t going to draw more than 2-2.5kW. Yes, if you’re stuck in traffic it’s going to make up a higher share of your energy use than motive power, but also means you could sit in a traffic jam with constantly blowing cooled air for nearly 24hrs on a full charge or 12hrs on a half charge in a common 60kWh EV. With auto climate control keeping it just what you need to be comfortable (say, set to 68 & auto) I believe it’s been studied to be longer.

Our EV has an Eco AC mode, no idea how much a miser setting it is but when it is on, there is a loss of only 4% mileage range and no perceptible change in climate comfort.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

HVAC running full blast in most EVs isn’t going to draw more than 2-2.5kW. Yes, if you’re stuck in traffic it’s going to make up a higher share of your energy use than motive power, but also means you could sit in a traffic jam with constantly blowing cooled air for nearly 24hrs on a full charge or 12hrs on a half charge in a common 60kWh EV. With auto climate control keeping it just what you need to be comfortable (say, set to 68 & auto) I believe it’s been studied to be longer.

But, when the vehicle batteries get down to a certain % the anything drawing power away from the motors start being adjusted to draw less power. Like making the temp of the air hotter. If the power gets below and even lower threshold, all non-essential systems shut off. And these numbers aren’t as low as you think - 60% to start reducing the power draw and 20-30% to go in to low power mode.

I wouldn’t want to be stuck in traffic in FL in summer and have my vehicle start increasing the temperature on me.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

But, when the vehicle batteries get down to a certain % the anything drawing power away from the motors start being adjusted to draw less power. Like making the temp of the air hotter. If the power gets below and even lower threshold, all non-essential systems shut off. And these numbers aren’t as low as you think - 60% to start reducing the power draw and 20-30% to go in to low power mode.

I wouldn’t want to be stuck in traffic in FL in summer and have my vehicle start increasing the temperature on me.

I'm in NC so summer here isn't like Main or Massachusetts. I have driven the car, frequently in fact, at around 10-15% battery and not once did it compromise cabin cooling. It will ask if I want to shut off some things like the passenger display screen or rear screen but never the HVAC. I've even driven it twice at 3% and still, no such restrictions.

I question the validity of the statement "And these numbers aren’t as low as you think - 60% to start reducing the power draw and 20-30% to go in to low power mode" simply because this isn't supported by my own real-world experience nor by anything published by the manufacturer. Even the forum I am on for my EV, no one talks about having restrictions imposed on the HVAC due to low mileage.

If we remove that consideration, then at the end of the day, we are both beholden to the same metric. An empty "tank" will leave us high, dry and potentially very hot. The only difference is in where we fill up and how long it may take. Oh, and the cost to fill up. Which right now, for me is FREE for the next 2 years and 3 months.

I like my EV, I am happy with the purchase, and I'd do it again. Would I like a few more charging stations? sure but that will come in time.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'm in NC so summer here isn't like Main or Massachusetts. I have driven the car, frequently in fact, at around 10-15% battery and not once did it compromise cabin cooling. It will ask if I want to shut off some things like the passenger display screen or rear screen but never the HVAC. I've even driven it twice at 3% and still, no such restrictions.

I question the validity of the statement "And these numbers aren’t as low as you think - 60% to start reducing the power draw and 20-30% to go in to low power mode" simply because this isn't supported by my own real-world experience nor by anything published by the manufacturer. Even the forum I am on for my EV, no one talks about having restrictions imposed on the HVAC due to low mileage.

If we remove that consideration, then at the end of the day, we are both beholden to the same metric. An empty "tank" will leave us high, dry and potentially very hot. The only difference is in where we fill up and how long it may take. Oh, and the cost to fill up. Which right now, for me is FREE for the next 2 years and 3 months.

I like my EV, I am happy with the purchase, and I'd do it again. Would I like a few more charging stations? sure but that will come in time.

Not never everything is published by the manufacturer in the owners manual. Some of it is only in technician documentation. And the adjustments are small performance tweaks to start that aren’t noticeable or indicated on screens. Like boiling a frog slowly by increasing the water 1 degree at a time. It’s a game to get the range close to what is advertised.

 

[zackiedawg]

The problem with the limited charging at Disney is that too many people are inconsiderate - they plug in to one of the few chargers, then head about their day - leaving their cars in the spot far longer than need be and blocking others from using them. If you were to accept that having an EV may require a modicum of inconvenience for you, setting aside some time during your stay to charge your car and stay reasonably close to you only occupy the space as long as needed, it would improve the overall situation for those few who need them. Disney could and should certainly add more charge locations and spaces - though EV adoption is still single digits, there are enough of them sold now that more chargers are needed everywhere. But if those using the spots were a little more considerate, it would improve the situation.

In September my friend drove down in a Tesla for our 5 day trip - she generally tried to plan her charging on the trip down and didn't plan to use the car much while at Disney, so she really just needed one good charge sometime during the stay, then would hit a charger on the drive back home. She found the best method was to charge during off hours - by hitting the Disney Springs chargers at 11:30pm when Disney Springs closes, she was able to find a spot easily - the parking garages stay open until at least 2am - so she just had to inconvenience herself by taking an hour one night to hang out after Springs closed and top off enough charge to get on the road when she left a few days later. You can do a similar thing with the park chargers - check early opening hours for a park - typically you can enter the parking lot about an hour before, and just let the gate know you need to get to an EV charge station. During a June trip, she was able to do this at AK - around 6:40am for a 7:30 extra magic hour opening day...spots were open and available.

 

[Marrila]

The problem with the limited charging at Disney is that too many people are inconsiderate - they plug in to one of the few chargers, then head about their day - leaving their cars in the spot far longer than need be and blocking others from using them. If you were to accept that having an EV may require a modicum of inconvenience for you, setting aside some time during your stay to charge your car and stay reasonably close to you only occupy the space as long as needed, it would improve the overall situation for those few who need them. Disney could and should certainly add more charge locations and spaces - though EV adoption is still single digits, there are enough of them sold now that more chargers are needed everywhere. But if those using the spots were a little more considerate, it would improve the situation.

In September my friend drove down in a Tesla for our 5 day trip - she generally tried to plan her charging on the trip down and didn't plan to use the car much while at Disney, so she really just needed one good charge sometime during the stay, then would hit a charger on the drive back home. She found the best method was to charge during off hours - by hitting the Disney Springs chargers at 11:30pm when Disney Springs closes, she was able to find a spot easily - the parking garages stay open until at least 2am - so she just had to inconvenience herself by taking an hour one night to hang out after Springs closed and top off enough charge to get on the road when she left a few days later. You can do a similar thing with the park chargers - check early opening hours for a park - typically you can enter the parking lot about an hour before, and just let the gate know you need to get to an EV charge station. During a June trip, she was able to do this at AK - around 6:40am for a 7:30 extra magic hour opening day...spots were open and available.

Some folks will be happy to make searching for a car charger a priority on a wdw vacation, others won't. It's good to know some possible options for vacationers who don't mind being inconvenienced.

 

[davidsonmark]

Yeah, I’ve looked into this too, and the EV charging at Disney parks is pretty disappointing. With how much sun Florida gets, you’d think they’d have more charging stations by now. The limited ones at the parks definitely don’t seem like enough, especially considering how many people are switching to EVs. I’ve had better luck with third-party networks like ChargePoint and Electrify America in the Orlando area, but they’re not always super close or convenient. Hopefully, they’ll add more soon, especially as EVs keep getting more popular.

 

[Mle8308]

I've said this many times in the various EV threads that pop up. For convenience sake, I would not drive a EV to Disney as it is difficult to find a charging station on property (without going at midnight, as a previous poster mentioned). There are not many of them and some don't even work. In September I stayed at the WL and I saw the same car parked at the EV charger for 3 days. I actually wondered if the car could get "over charged". I am guessing the station was "off", but it was still connected to the vehicle and no one else could use it. I do not believe anyone monitors the charging stations at Disney to make sure people are moving their vehicles once charged. And a big HECK NO to renting one if you have never operated an EV before. Not a good time to experiment.