Power Scooter - Rent or bring our own?

[disneyamy]

My dad needs a scooter (he can't walk or stand for extended periods of time), and we are wondering if it would be better to bring our own or just rent one whole he visits Disneyworld in January. He is staying on property, but how difficult is it to travel to and from the parks with a scooter utilizing disney transportation? Would he be better off just to rent one for his length of stay? Is that even possible?

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[CanadianGuy]

This might get better answers over on the disAbilities forum.. I'm going to move this there.

There's lots of info about motorized ECV's in the disABILITIES FAQ thread, located here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

Thanks!

Knox

 

[Mickiethepooh]

You can certainly save money by bringing your own, I am bringing mine this trip but still have to rent one for hubby. I always rent from an outside dealer, Walker mobility in my case, they deliver to your hotel and pick up. You then have it the whole time, as you do with your own. It is not that bad to use the Disney busses with it but sometimes you may have to wait for another bus since they only take so many WC guests per trip.
If he brings his own, which costs nothing, is he taking ME to get to the hotel? if so he needs to let them know he will be traveling with an ECV so they can have a lift/ramp Bus available when he arrives.
If you go with renting there I strongly recommend off site not in the park rental.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

All of the Disney Buses are either lift equipped (the older ones) or have ramps. The monorail trains are easy to use for an ECV, and almost all the boats (except the smallest) can handle ECVs.

He is probably better off bringing his own.

You might want to look at the 'disABILITIES FAQ", which is one of the first items in the forum's thread list, for lots more useful informaiton.

 

[SueM in MN]

You can find information about buses in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. In general, the buses work quite well.

A couple of things to think about:
- how are you getting to WDW? If by plane, how do you feel about traveling with his scooter?

- if you rent one from one of the off-site places, how does he feel about using one he is not familiar with?

- if you are thinking of renting from the parks, will he have trouble getting from the bus stop (assuming you use the bus) to the rental place? What about if all the ECVs are rented out when you get there? Will he be OK with a wheelchair?

- if you don't have one full-time, will he have difficulty getting around the resort?

 

[Shorty82]

You will need to inform ME that you need a lift bus as not all ME busses are equipped with lifts. From what I've read, inform them ahead of time and also inform the CM at the ME check-in counter at the airport.

 

[SueM in MN]

You will need to inform ME that you need a lift bus as not all ME busses are equipped with lifts. From what I've read, inform them ahead of time and also inform the CM at the ME check-in counter at the airport.

That is correct that not all the DME buses have lifts.
If you inform them ahead of time, they will have one planned for about the time you should need it (that is the plan anyway).
If you don't tell them until you are checking in, you may have a longer wait.

 

[Haley Whippet]

Though I usually bring my own when we drive, We will be flying this trip and I am renting from Scootarama because it is too much trouble to bring it on a plane..
It is very easy getting around the resorts and parks with a scooter..
Deb

 

[disneyamy]

Thanks so much for all the info! I think he has decided to rent one when he gets there from a medical supply company. He doesn't want to have to risk not being able to use one when he enters the park each day, and since he is flying he doesn't want to have to deal with bringing one on the plane!

You guys are a great help! Thanks.

Also, sorry I put this in the wrong forum. I'm still finding my way around here!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Just for those that have not done so bringing it on the plane is not a big deal at all.
I usually gate check mine.

 

[Vijoge]

I also gate check my ECV and have no problem taking it on the plane. I need it to get around the airport anyway so this works out fine. And so much cheaper than renting.

As far as ME, if your dad is able to navigate the steps on the ME bus he can just stow the ECV under the bus with the luggage. This is what we do. Then there's no need for an accessible bus.

Getting around the world on Disney transportation is surprisingly simple. I think there was only one or two times we had to wait for a bus because there wasn't room (an we were there for 11 days). One thing about the WDW buses-the drivers can't seem to make up their minds if they want you to back up or drive on. Everytime we got on a bus they had a different opinion. I finally learned just to wait and ask them before I did anything.

 

[SueM in MN]

One thing about the WDW buses-the drivers can't seem to make up their minds if they want you to back up or drive on. Everytime we got on a bus they had a different opinion. I finally learned just to wait and ask them before I did anything.

In most cases, the difference is what kind of equipment they have. For the buses with lifts, you do need to back onto those.
Some of the ones with ramps have a fairly steep ramp and they may ask you to back onto those. The ones with a shallow ramp, you can drive onto.

So, the easiest probably is to just wait and let the driver tell you what to do.

 

[earthfaries]

My dad needs a scooter (he can't walk or stand for extended periods of time), and we are wondering if it would be better to bring our own or just rent one whole he visits Disneyworld in January. He is staying on property, but how difficult is it to travel to and from the parks with a scooter utilizing disney transportation? Would he be better off just to rent one for his length of stay? Is that even possible?

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi. My mom can't stand for long periods of time either, and needs an ECV. When staying on Disney she brought her own and had no problem. They board the handicap people first on the buses so you don't usually have too much waiting with that part of it. If you guys are going to be with him, they let you all on first too. Last year she flew and stayed on site and brought her own. This year she just got a new van last week and will be driving herself and her ECV and we are going seperately in our own van but staying together in a townhouse rental. It is a lot cheaper to bring your own. My sister has leg problems and can't walk too much so she will be renting one there since it won't fit in the van with all 5 of us.
Anyway, at WDW if you have your own ECV if is great getting around we have found the last few years. The waiting on rides and buses is minimal, which is good, because it is hard for some people like my mom to sit too long also, but better than standing. If they weren't so accomodating, she wouldn't be going.
It really is hard finding handicap friendly service a lot of places I found out last month. She just went on a solo B2B cruise to the Mexican Riveiera and flew out of Charlotte NC to LA with her ECV. NONE of the hotels in Charlotte or LA had handicap lift equiped shuttles to either of the airports We had to drive her to Charlotte and she finally found Super Shuttle in LA to take her to the port from LAX.
Anyway, WDW is VERY accomodating, and taking your own is cheaper and easy if staying on-site.

 

[earthfaries]

Thanks so much for all the info! I think he has decided to rent one when he gets there from a medical supply company. He doesn't want to have to risk not being able to use one when he enters the park each day, and since he is flying he doesn't want to have to deal with bringing one on the plane!

You guys are a great help! Thanks.

Also, sorry I put this in the wrong forum. I'm still finding my way around here!

Yeah, when we rent one, we get there when they open. If not, it is a big possibility you may not get one!

 

[Belle1997]

I bring my scooter to WDW. When we go through security we get to go in a separate line because they do not want us driving over the crowd LOL. Noticed we get through faster. They allow me to board first and I take my scooter right to the plane door.

The put my scooter on last and I have been able to see this from my plane window. They then bring my scooter right up to the door of the plane for me.

It saves me lots of money, I know how my scooter works and how it turns, instead of learning another.

I will always bring my scooter. It is more hassle to me to not bring one as I would need a wheelchair in the airport.

 

[colieolie]

When we go, I have my dad bring his scooter. The airlines are great. They put the scooter on the plane as he is going to enter the plane. When we land, they bring the scooter up so when he gets off the plane the scooter is waiting on the landing.

I have also rented scooters off site at Disney, they range about $30.00 per day. It is very convenient to have with you at the resorts since it is somewhat of a walk to get from your room to anything you may want to do.
I strongly suggest bring your own from home and if needed in my case i still need to rent another for my mom, I rent off site so she has it with her at all times.

Hope this helps. I suggest that you call and order a few weeks before you go, especially if it is a busy time of the year.

 

[kimsuenew]

We rented from the parks for our 2007 trip, we will still rent in 2008 but from an outside rental. WDW parks have wonderful scooters (all new this year I was told while renting) however it is "first come, first served" and you have to be early to guarantee getting one. Also, not having one at the resort meant having to rely or a wheelchair (I learned quickly a wheelchair was difficult for me to push at Downtown Disney all day and I did not want to make my family push me, so the day kinda stunk)! I have heard there are really good outside rental agencies to rent from for the duration of your stay. Have a fun trip!

 

[clkelley]

Hubby always brings his on the plane when we go. They take really good care of it. We gate check it also. Once thing we do is strip it down for the plane ride. The basket gets folded up and strapped up. We took the arms off of the seat a long time ago, they stay at home, and the charger fits in the same bag as hubby's CPAP. MCO itself is a hike from the gate to the DME area.

 

[SueM in MN]

We rented from the parks for our 2007 trip, we will still rent in 2008 but from an outside rental. WDW parks have wonderful scooters (all new this year I was told while renting) however it is "first come, first served" and you have to be early to guarantee getting one. Also, not having one at the resort meant having to rely or a wheelchair (I learned quickly a wheelchair was difficult for me to push at Downtown Disney all day and I did not want to make my family push me, so the day kinda stunk)! I have heard there are really good outside rental agencies to rent from for the duration of your stay. Have a fun trip!

there are some "DIS Poster recommended" companies listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

We did notice shiny new scooters at all the parks when we were there in October.