Pros and Cons of a Knee Scooter

[DisneyOma]

We are at WDW and a friend in the area has joined us a few days this week. Right now she is using a knee scooter and it's been interesting.

She's been able to take it all the way to boarding in some queues, and then the CM moves it to the exit. One definite exception is moving walkways- no knee scooter on those except on Spaceship Earth. Our friend is able to walk/hop a few steps (and when wearing a boot can walk about 10 feet comfortably, which seems to be the standard distance they ask you to walk) so has been able to access every attraction we've tried, including RotR and MFSR.

Some attraction CMs have her go in the regular queue, others send us all down the wheelchair access. Sometimes her knee scooter isn't very close at the exit and one of us goes and gets it for her. Sometimes the CM has the info that it belongs to her and brings it right to us as we get off, other times it seems they have no clue.

Pavement textures are all over the place, even in the queues. Her knee scooter is a pretty simple one, so it is hard to navigate the bumpy textures at AK, some of the queues (like FEA) etc. A knee scooter with shock absorbers and bigger all terrain wheels would ne much more comfortable, IMO.

FOP has a huge incline to get into the building. Not sure if there is an elevator access, but our friend was not offered that if one exists, and she was very winded by the time she got into the building. She's young, healthy, and strong, so be prepared for a lot of exercise.

I have DAS, and with her knee scooter sometimes we got onto an attraction really quickly once the return time arrived, but sometimes it took longer as they wanted us to wait for an accessible vehicle, even though she didn't need one. They just wanted all the mobility devices to be in one location, which makes sense.

All in all, the knee scooter worked out really well for her, and she spent hours in the parks with us these past few days. Just make sure you have the stamina, good fat tires and shock absorbers if possible, and a cover for the seat to keep it from getting wet.

 

[mamabunny]

We are at WDW and a friend in the area has joined us a few days this week. Right now she is using a knee scooter and it's been interesting.

She's been able to take it all the way to boarding in some queues, and then the CM moves it to the exit. One definite exception is moving walkways- no knee scooter on those except on Spaceship Earth. Our friend is able to walk/hop a few steps (and when wearing a boot can walk about 10 feet comfortably, which seems to be the standard distance they ask you to walk) so has been able to access every attraction we've tried, including RotR and MFSR.

Some attraction CMs have her go in the regular queue, others send us all down the wheelchair access. Sometimes her knee scooter isn't very close at the exit and one of us goes and gets it for her. Sometimes the CM has the info that it belongs to her and brings it right to us as we get off, other times it seems they have no clue.

Pavement textures are all over the place, even in the queues. Her knee scooter is a pretty simple one, so it is hard to navigate the bumpy textures at AK, some of the queues (like FEA) etc. A knee scooter with shock absorbers and bigger all terrain wheels would ne much more comfortable, IMO.

FOP has a huge incline to get into the building. Not sure if there is an elevator access, but our friend was not offered that if one exists, and she was very winded by the time she got into the building. She's young, healthy, and strong, so be prepared for a lot of exercise.

I have DAS, and with her knee scooter sometimes we got onto an attraction really quickly once the return time arrived, but sometimes it took longer as they wanted us to wait for an accessible vehicle, even though she didn't need one. They just wanted all the mobility devices to be in one location, which makes sense.

All in all, the knee scooter worked out really well for her, and she spent hours in the parks with us these past few days. Just make sure you have the stamina, good fat tires and shock absorbers if possible, and a cover for the seat to keep it from getting wet.

I can see where that could be *really* exhausting for someone - especially if they were new to using a knee scooter (like right after an injury or surgery).

I wonder if anyone makes a gel cushion for those types of devices that would help even out the bumps?

 

[DisneyOma]

The foam cushion seemed to be enough for her for the first two days, but last night her knee was sore. I think a gel cushion would have been awesome!

I think a young, otherwise healthy person could manage a knee scooter for a few days at WDW, maybe even longer. It sure beats crutches, she said, and it beats pushing her in a wheelchair, I said. It's also a lot cheaper than renting an ECV, and a lot easier to get around the world.

 

[Pirate1+Princess4]

I'm going to jump on this one, as it seems to have addressed a few questions I have. Here is our specific situation:

19 year old daughter had foot surgery (bunion) 12/23. She is completely non-weight bearing for 6 weeks and getting around the house and the grocery well on her knee scooter. Today when she got her splint removed and cast put on we discussed recovery with surgeon and how will she be for our 3/7 - 3/11 WDW trip. Her cast will be removed 2/1, at which time she will be weight bearing walking normally (or as normal as one can as she regains strength). She will be walking around her college campus for 4 weeks before our trip, but surgeon suggested that WDW may be a bit much for her and suggested we take the knee scooter.

Do we need to try to register with DAS? What would they do? Maybe wheelchair rental is a better option? Will the scooter really be more tiring/painful than walking?

So, she'll be able to transfer in/out of all the rides, and frankly the scooter is just to rest her foot. Will it be more annoying than useful? It's a quick trip- 4 park days that we'll likely do open to close each day. This is making up for the band trip that never happened senior year for 3 of my 19s, so aside from the overnight bus trip and a performance, we are pretty much mimicking the itinerary of the band trip. We are staying at POP! if that matters

ETA: wanted to be clear we are NOT looking for special treatment with front of line, etc.

 

[bluecruiser]

If her only concern is mobility, she won't be given a DAS. DAS is used for people who can't wait in the regular queue, and most queues are accessible to people using mobility devices.

There's a lot more walking involved at WDW than your normal day, especially if you are planning to do open to close each day. Based on other threads about knee scooters, she will not find it comfortable for such long hours every day.

Based on your situation, I think a wheelchair or ECV would be your best option. The wheelchair would necessitate that she be pushed by someone in your group all the time, which gets tiring for the person pushing. An ECV will give her the most freedom - she can go wherever she wants without always having to ask someone to push her there.

If you decide to go with a wheelchair or ECV, make sure to rent off-site since rental devices are first-come, first-served at the parks and may/do run out. They're also cheaper from off-site places than from Disney.

 

[lanejudy]

As PP mentions. DAS will not be granted if she simply needs to use a mobility device (knee scooter, ECV, wheelchair).

How large is her college campus and how much walking does she do there? If she'll be used to walking 6-8+ miles per day around campus with the knee scooter, she should be fine at WDW. I recall using crutches for a while around campus (8am class on the opposite side of campus!) and it was exhausting but I managed. I'd let her decide what will be most comfortable for her.

 

[DisneyOma]

We did 20,000+ steps a day at WDW when friend was using the knee scooter. It worked well as a seat to rest on as well It was so much easier than a wheelchair or ECV, as it fit nicely everywhere, no one else had to push, and it zipped on and off the Skyliner without needing the special access loop. Easy to get in and out of elevators, no need to back in or out, and she got to wheel it right on to the buses.

 

[elvispursley]

I broke my foot last year and ended up taking my knee scooter to DLR and anticipated the long days using it, so put a gel pad covered in lamb's wool over the regular knee pad. I was comfortable for about the first 2-hrs. The constantly changing textures of the pavement made it twice as hard to push and the vibration made my knee SO painful. We ended up back at the hotel with DH renting a w/c for the rest of the trip. Even if you end up renting a w/c and just parking it somewhere, at least it will be available in case it's needed. I don't think knee scooters are intended for 10-12 miles/day of use, IMHO.

 

[gap2368]

I broke my foot last year and ended up taking my knee scooter to DLR and anticipated the long days using it, so put a gel pad covered in lamb's wool over the regular knee pad. I was comfortable for about the first 2-hrs. The constantly changing textures of the pavement made it twice as hard to push and the vibration made my knee SO painful. We ended up back at the hotel with DH renting a w/c for the rest of the trip. Even if you end up renting a w/c and just parking it somewhere, at least it will be available in case it's needed. I don't think knee scooters are intended for 10-12 miles/day of use, IMHO.

I am with you I would not think a knee scooter would be conftable for all day use at the parks

 

[Bethctraveler]

Several years ago I tried to use a knee scooter in the theme parks. After one day I was total exhausted. Ever since then I've been using mobility scooters.

 

[ttintagel]

Getting up all the ramps and hills in the parks while self propelling a manual wheelchair proved to be impossible for me for any length of time. I can’t imagine trying to do it with a knee scooter. Then again, I’ve never really been much of an athletic person, so mileage may vary.

 

[DisneyOma]

Yes, the user was in her late twenties, relatively active, etc. I know that makes a difference. She was in a boot for a foot injury, and walking all day was not possible. The knee scooter was easier for her (and us) because she was fit enough to use it, and it made for a very easy mobility device.