Not allowed to rent electric cart because of age?

[SodyPop]

Hello! It is Disney's policy not to rent an electric cart to anybody under 18. I can't use my wheelchair, because nobody that I would go with is healthy enough to push it.

I have been dying to go to Disneyland for years, but there is no way I can go without a cart. I've tried to rent one somewhere else, but they all seem to have the same age policy. Does anybody have a recommendation for a place to rent a cart or a way to talk to Disney? It seems that they should have some way for me to attend.

Thank you

 

[SueM in MN]

Hello! It is Disney's policy not to rent an electric cart to anybody under 18. I can't use my wheelchair, because nobody that I would go with is healthy enough to push it.

I have been dying to go to Disneyland for years, but there is no way I can go without a cart. I've tried to rent one somewhere else, but they all seem to have the same age policy. Does anybody have a recommendation for a place to rent a cart or a way to talk to Disney? It seems that they should have some way for me to attend.

Thank you

Disneyland's policy is to not rent ECVs for use by people under 18 years old (ECV is the name for electric carts).

These are the most often recommended companies for ECV and Wheelchair Rental at Disneyland:
Several people, here and on other boards, have recommended:
Deckert Surgical Supply in Santa Ana at (714) 542-5607 (I have never found a website).
Orange County Medical Supply at (714) 956-4690
Both will deliver to your resort.

As far as I know, their policy is also not to rent to younger people.

The only options I can see would be to either wait until you are over 18 when you could rent one or see if there is a place nearer to where you live that would rent one to you. It would be important to make sure they know you will be bringing it to Disneyland, but if it is OK with the company, you could bring it with you on an airplane free of charge.

 

[mackay_j]

I bought a second hand one that was cheaper than renting one for my 14 day stay. Plane take them on for free

 

[bidnow5]

That's my suggestion also I have a used scooter that was about the same price as renting for a week I use mine at the airport I take it right to the gate it's free to bring it

 

[Michigan]

Is there a medical reason why you can't push your manual chair yourself? My girls push themselves. Youngest has been pushing herself through DisneyWorld since she was 3 and it's a lot bigger.

 

[aaarcher86]

One of the reasons companies have the age limit is for insurance purposes. It's highly unlikely you'll be able to get them to go around their policies and risk liability.

Is look around, as others suggested, for one you could purchase. If it's not worth purchasing the ECV just for this to you, you'll have to wait until you're 18, have someone who can push you, or find a rental company that offers younger rentals.

 

[jmartinez1895]

I would also suggest looking into purchasing one. You could check Craigs list or local listings in your area and see if anyone has a good used one that you could buy for almost the same price you would rent one. Then once you get home you could resale it and get some ( if not all) of your money back.

Do you have a local mobility store that might could rent you an electric wheelchair instead? I had a neighbor how had to go this route. It was not cheap and because she does not need one full time her insurance did not pay for it, but it got the ob done.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would also suggest looking into purchasing one. You could check Craigs list or local listings in your area and see if anyone has a good used one that you could buy for almost the same price you would rent one. Then once you get home you could resale it and get some ( if not all) of your money back.

Do you have a local mobility store that might could rent you an electric wheelchair instead? I had a neighbor how had to go this route. It was not cheap and because she does not need one full time her insurance did not pay for it, but it got the ob done.

I would not suggest trying to get a power (electric) wheelchair instead.

First of all, they take more practice to drive because you are controlling everything (speed, direction forward or reverse, turning) with a single joystick.
It is not as easy or straightforward as it seems.

Power wheelchairs are much more expensive than ECVs and because of that, plus the practice required, many places will only rent them to either someone who already is skilled during them or is doing a trial to see if they can use it as part of the 'proof' for getting authorization for purchase. They are also less likely to bend on age.

In most cases, power wheelchairs need to be transported in a van, either a wheelchair accessible van with a built in ramp or I have seen vendors and some other people transport them in the back of a regular van (with no back seats) using a portable ramp. That is not as easy as it sounds since you either have to drive or push the wheelchair up the steep, fairly narrow ramp.


If you truly have situations where you are not able to propel your wheelchair yourself for long distances, for things like shopping, you might want to look into whether you can get enough justification and an order from your doctor for your insurance to pay for one.
In our experience, insurance is pretty picky and Medical Assistance more so; they have the mindset that a person can only 'possess' one wheelchair at a time, even if the person can't walk at all. My daughter and a number of her friends have run into that.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Hello! It is Disney's policy not to rent an electric cart to anybody under 18. I can't use my wheelchair, because nobody that I would go with is healthy enough to push it.

I have been dying to go to Disneyland for years, but there is no way I can go without a cart. I've tried to rent one somewhere else, but they all seem to have the same age policy. Does anybody have a recommendation for a place to rent a cart or a way to talk to Disney? It seems that they should have some way for me to attend.

Thank you

a personal(owned by you and custom sized to your needs) is permitted.

or if you own one and can demonstrate ability, some offsite companies will rent locally.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Is there a medical reason why you can't push your manual chair yourself? My girls push themselves. Youngest has been pushing herself through DisneyWorld since she was 3 and it's a lot bigger.

I am physically incapable of doing so( not a quadriplegic either). furthermore, I cannot operate an ECV due to other reasons. so it is either be pushed or an electric chair.

 

[bidnow5]

The store in Rhode Island that I bought my scooter from is thinking about renting electric wheel chairs for $100 or so a week. It would be Hoveround or pride Jazzy chairs that don't sell well. There might be a place near you that will do the same transporting an electric wheelchair is a big problem for most people

 

[SodyPop]

Thank you everyone. And yes, there is a physical reason why I am not able to push myself. I will look into purchasing a used one, as it's starting to become more of a need, and call around to some stores nearby.

Thank! . Hoping I don't have to wait two more years.

 

[bidnow5]

Good luck with your search hope you can have a great trip

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have arm motion, but not strength or endurance, this is a really cool new product you may want to look at.
http://www.innovationshealth.com/products/wijit/meet-wijit/

It is replacement wheels with a gear system so it maximizes each push on the wheels. It is 'user powered' so doesn't need batteries or charging.
I wish there was somewhere near here that my daughter could try it out. She has cerebral palsy and is able to propel her manual wheelchair short distances. She is independent most of the time in our house, but there is no way she could/can propel her own wheelchair longer distances like shopping or WDW.

 

[ttintagel]

Wow, that Wijit for manual wheelchairs is really cool!

I know some people, especially very active ones who are used to full-time wheelchair use, do fine self-propelling in a manual wheelchair at WDW, but I personally found there to be too many hills, ramps, and patches of uneven pavement to manage by myself. Everyone in my party got tired pushing me for the same reason, so I ended up switching to an ECV. Something like the Wijit might have made a difference!

Just a curious follow-up question from those who have taken ECV's on airplanes - what's the procedure? Do they gate-check it and put it in the luggage hold?

 

[bidnow5]

I bring mine to the plane they take it from the door of the plane and push it around to the luggage storage then when you land they bring it to me

 

[Nanajo1]

Yes, you gate check it. On arrival at my departing gate I approach the check in desk and tell the agent I need to gate check my wheelchair. A series of questions are asked regarding number and type of batteries and how much it weighs. I am preboarded and my chair is taken to the luggage hold. Reverse on way home. Easy.

 

[ttintagel]

Thank you both for the info! As yet, none of us need the ECV for the trip, but the day may come sooner or later, and it's nice to know what to expect.