once you rent an ECV it's yours for the day

[hannymom]

i had submitted a question on this board a few weeks before we went to disney. my husband needed a ECV do to heart problems. i was told that if we leave MK during the day, we might not get one when we return for more evening fun. when DH turned his in at noon, they gave him a card and said it was his for the day and would be there for him when he returned later that day. i just wanted to clarify that for anyone that will need to rent one when they go to MK.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Interesting. We rent our ECV's offsite because they're cheaper and we can drive them around the resort.

 

[WheelieBigDisFan]

Unless there has been a recent policy change, that is not SOP at WDW resorts. I don't question that it was your experience, but during a very buy time at WDW they do not guarantee that there will be an ECV available when you return (just like if you were to park hop they don't guarantee that you will be able to access a scooter at the second park). On days when the ECV's are gone within the first hour, they try to do a "waiting list" for scooter rentals, so if a scooter is returned and someone else in the park is waiting for it, they will rent it a second time that same day.
I'm glad your DH was able to have an ECV available when he needed it, but if you go at at particularly busy time of the year (such as Christmas) and absolutely need an ECV for use at the parks, I would recommend renting from offsite and having it available for your DH's exclusive use in and around the WDW parks and resorts.
Mandy

 

[bidnow5]

It depends on how busy it is I have asked it they could hold my scooter when we left they asked what time I would return and told me they would hold it till then but no guarantees after that

Once when it was very busy I was told no they could not hold it

 

[SueM in MN]

It depends on how busy it is I have asked it they could hold my scooter when we left they asked what time I would return and told me they would hold it till then but no guarantees after that

Once when it was very busy I was told no they could not hold it

That is pretty much what has been reported by most other posters.
Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

If you plan to return, it's very important to tell them that when returning it and not just assume it will be waiting. I think it is also reasonable for the park to ask what time you plan to return and give a time they will not hold it beyond. The parks do often have rented out all the ECCs and have a waiting list already by 10:30, so it is in their best interest to figure out who is done for the day so they can re-rent those ECVs.

The park Guidemaps for Guests with Disabilities do all say:

"Your ECV will be held if you wish to leave and return to the same park."

In the area about park hopping, it indicates that wheelchairs or ECVs may not be available at the second park.