Post-Gazette: Make way for the sidewalk SUV: Mobility scooters

[Praying Colonel]

Not sure if this goes on the news board or the touring strategies board, but thought it was interesting. Some excerpts:

On a recent afternoon at Walt Disney World, Dennis Robles was cruising around on an electric "mobility scooter" that the park usually rents out to people with disabilities. Mr. Robles doesn't have a problem walking -- he says he was simply saving up energy for late-night dancing.

"I'm pretty healthy," says the 37-year-old truck driver from Brooklyn, N.Y. "Just lazy, I guess."

The power scooter is an increasingly ubiquitous sight, with an estimated 1.2 million in use nationwide. But while the $1,000-plus vehicles have been hailed as a boon for the infirm and the elderly, they are now finding a new constituency: able-bodied people who simply don't feel like walking.
...

While some companies say they don't limit ridership to disabled people, others actively encourage use to anybody who wants one. The owner of Florida Mobility, a motorized scooter vendor outside Disney World, pitches a $75 rental package by telling customers: "Ride all day and dance at night." Last month, Avis started offering motorized scooters in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., and for an extra $40 to $50, they will arrange for the scooter to be waiting in the trunk of the rental car. At AA Tourist Rentals in Orlando, Fla., scooter business was up 20 percent in the last year, an increase the company partly attributes to a spry blonde woman in the ads: "She doesn't look like there's anything wrong with her," says office manager Donna Carroll.

Article

 

[rocketriter]

And some of these people limp up to a long line looking so-o feeble, and try to cadge a rush entry.

 

[DancingBear]

I don't get the attraction for healthy folks. I've got arthritic knees, but the extra $40/day and moving along at 3 mph is enough disincentive for me.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

There's an incentive for healthy people. Mind you I found this out because we rented a scooter for my Mom. She didn't require the scooter to go everywhere it just increased the amount of time she could stay in the park. Her walking was mostly limited to ride lines and any extra walking she wanted to do.

Where the healthy people comes into play is that if she didn't want to use the scooter somebody had to drive it. That gave everybody in the party a chance to rest their feet because of the amount of extra walking she was able to do back then. Would I rent one? No because that means you have to sit all day.

I do think a market is being missed here. That vehicle that originally called "ginger" but is now one of the tours at disney (weird how I can remember the prototype name easily but the market name escapes me) would be a good alternative rental to help keep the scooters freed up for those who really need them. And whats more Disney (or whomever) could charge more for them.

 

[DWatWDW]

I do think a market is being missed here. That vehicle that originally called "ginger" but is now one of the tours at disney (weird how I can remember the prototype name easily but the market name escapes me) would be a good alternative rental to help keep the scooters freed up for those who really need them. And whats more Disney (or whomever) could charge more for them.

Do you mean the segway? Disney has world showcase tours on them for $80, but does not rent them.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Thank you! Yes the Segways. They probably could rent those puppies for $80 no problem. Maybe you start with an early morning tour to limit the sting of the rental price and get to keep it all day. If you shift parks you get a transfer ticket. You'd also have to enable people to see if they could pick one up at the next park...altho' they don't really worry about that with the scooters.

 

[DancingBear]

Please no! We don't need to add a bunch of folks flying around on Segways to what are already often quite crowded walkways.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Clearly they would have to limit the speed they could travel just as they do witht he scooters.

 

[pugdog]

If you think it's bad now with stollers taking out your ankles what do you think the Segway would do. They move much to fast for use in the park with people around. Plus some days there already are not enough ECV's for the people that need them and now there are people renting them because they are to lazy to walk. If you don't want to walk that much why did you come to WDW?

 

[VickiB31]

We already get enough looks and comments. DH rents an ECV because he has a very bad back and walking and standing is very painful. Of course, he is "pooh sized" and at first glance doesn't appear to need one. People already assume he is riding because he is fat/lazy. (They simply don't get it that he would give up the "privledges" if he could stand more than 10 minutes without agonizing pain.) Many folks are very polite, but some are just plain mean. Now if there are a slew of healthy folks who don't want to walk, it will just get worse.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

NO TO SEGWAYS! that would just be ridiculous! while people would pay, it would not be safe at all!!

 

[ztbz]

Even though Disney and Segway do demonstrations on the Segway at Epcot and Disney GSM Managers also use them for gettomg around for company business. Disney guests are not allowed to bring in their own Segways into the Parks or to Downtown Disney or at the Disney Resorts.

 

[jpeka65844]

OY! I posted this very same article on the Theme Park Strategies board. If you read it at all, you'd see that it go SO out of hand! Lots of accusations and defensive comments. UGH.....

Let's not let this one get ugly....



Denice T.
Olathe, KS

 

[Squirlz]

OY! I posted this very same article on the Theme Park Strategies board. If you read it at all, you'd see that it go SO out of hand! Lots of accusations and defensive comments. UGH.....

Let's not let this one get ugly....



Denice T.
Olathe, KS

It won't. There (usually) isn't as much drama and hysteria on this board.

...which makes it downright boring sometimes!

 

[DancingBear]

It won't. There (usually) isn't as much drama and hysteria on this board.

We're losing our touch. Where's Landbaron when you need him?

 

[Sarangel]

It won't. There (usually) isn't as much drama and hysteria on this board.

We're losing our touch. Where's Landbaron when you need him?

I'm sure there are boards here on the DIS that have their share of Drama, but we do try to keep a civil tone here on the R&N Board.