Motorized wheelchair or scooter help

[dvlmycr]

Hi there. Maybe you good people can help me. I'm trying to research a power scooter or wheelchair to use at DisneyWorld or other theme parks or day trips like zoos or fleamarkets and when their info gives you a range of use it usually list in miles.. for example maximum 10 mile range or 25 mile range before a recharge is needed. I'm horrible at calculating things like that so I'm looking for advice from others that have already purchased this kind of chair. I want to get one that allows me to go a really full day at the parks and go from park to park and not have to worry about going back to the room to recharge or, horror among horrors , having it poop out in the middle of the park and then im stuck. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me. Oh.. and let me add, my insurance wont cover this so it needs to be as economical as possible. And I'd rather buy one for use all the time than rent. Thanks
Chris

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It is very unlikely, especially if you are with a group, if you will do more than eight miles in a day. The ECVs that say 25 miles tend to be larger and have much better batteries. I have two ECVs, the one with a ten mile range has a battery pack that only weighs about 20 pounds. The one with the 25 mile range has two batteries that are 24 pounds each. I have had times, as the batteries weaken in the smaller ECV that I have very nearly run out of power; I have never come close to running out of power on the larger one except one time when I had a battery going bad.

 

[RNMOM]

I have had to rent the "heavy duty" scooters and during 3 trips to the world have never run out of battery. They have two batteries.

I recently purchased my own Leisure Lift/ Pacesaver Espree Atlas and it has so much zip. It is rated to go as much as 30 mi. on a charge. It also goes 5.5 mph. I can run rings around my family, at last. There are a number of on line sales companies that allow you to compare. I wanted the Pride scooter but this was rated well on the only site I could find with comments from users and the sales person encouraged me to get this instead of the Pride that was nearly $1,000 more. What can I say, when the salesperson tells you it is better and looses money.. I am happy with my scooter and would recommend the brand. Buy the way, I bought from Scooterama and they have been very good.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

I ride an Invacare Storm powerchair with a rated range of 17 miles on a full charge. I seldom use more than one-third of my charge in a day at the parks at Disney and never more than one half. That's even when I spend a day at MGM riding both ways along the canal path from Boardwalk.

Even if you do run low, you can always plug yourself in to recarge over lunch at a restaurant.

Andrew

 

[shovan]

You will need a scooter or WC with two batteries. The smaller travel type won't cut it! Just this last trip, we saw a poor man trying to push his "dead" scooter (small travel type with one battery) & he was in the back of World Showcase in EPCOT.
Unfortunately, the one that will last longer will also be more expensive!

Good Luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

There are variables with how much mileage it will get on one charge. It takes more power to go up or down hills, on rough terrain or depending on the weight of the person driving it.
My DD has an Invacare Arrow power wheelchair and usually only needs to charge it once a week when we are home. She is only about 90 pounds though and is going on mostly flat terrain.
If you are worried about running out of power, you can bring the power cord along and plug it in. In the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there is a link to thread about charging ECVs and wheelchairs in the parks.

 

[dvlmycr]

Thank you all so much. Your ideas have been a tremendous help.