My mom needs scooter for 1 day at AK and MK (same day). What is the best scooter strategy?

[DSLRuser]

In December, staying at Saratoga Springs for 4 nights. My mom wants to go to the parks 1 day.

Animal Kingdom in the Morning, and Magic Kingdom that night. (Saturday)

She is mobile. And can walk, but not all day. We don't want to have to deal with loading a scooter on the bus. She will drive the scooter to an area, park it, and walk around from there. Just doesn't want to walk from Avatar to Everest if that makes sense.

Can we just rent one from guest services? Do I need a reservation? I can't really find any hard process for our situation.

 

[wendypooh22]

yes, you can rent from guest services at the park. You can't make a reservation, but the rental will work for both parks.. You will need to turn in the scooter before leaving Animal Kingdom and then show your receipt at Magic Kingdom to pick up a scooter.

 

[ultimatefans]

Just a heads up - the scooters are first-come, first-served, so it is very possible that MK will not have any scooters available when you arrive. If that's the case, maybe they would substitute a wheelchair if that's an option for you?

 

[lanejudy]

To guarantee she has a scooter, you would need to use an off-site rental. As PP says, the park rentals can't be reserved in advance and are first-come/first-served. If you get to the park rental and they have no ECVs, can she use a manual wheelchair? That would be the option while waiting for an ECV to be returned. This is a common situation, especially when hopping.

I'd suggest looking into an offsite rental. Most require a longer rental (2 or 3 days) but you may find one that does single-day.

 

[DSLRuser]

thanks ALL. This is our first experience renting a scooter....so with all the things I consider myself a Disney Expert in, this is not one of them.

Appreciate it.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

thanks ALL. This is our first experience renting a scooter....so with all the things I consider myself a Disney Expert in, this is not one of them.

Appreciate it.

just have a back up plan in case they are out when you get to MK which has happened to me. and also at end of day in park and esp after fireworks it can be a long tiring walk to bus with no seating and park scooters can not go out of gate. if you go the in park rental make sure you keep you slip from first park. and ps if you go with off site rental someone else in party can ride it on bus

 

[Bete]

If I was renting from the park then I would get to Animal Kingdom at opening time. Chances are much better that way to secure a scooter on the first come, first basis platform.

I would probably plan to get to Magic Kingdom no later than 2:30 pm. Make sure you get the receipt slip from the first park to use at the second park to rent again. You can get on a waiting list if you can't get a scooter immediately at the second park. Just be prepared as everyone is saying that a scooter may not be available and you may have to substitute a wheelchair instead. Your mom could use the wheelchair as a walker and push it empty at times.