Question about scooter rental

[Bellamouse]

As the experienced Disney people among our friends, I get asked to help plan other people's vacations all the time. That said, I have never rented (or needed) a scooter, so I didn't have the answer to this question.

My friend will be renting a scooter at the parks each day, but she wants to go back to her room during the day. They will be staying off site, and won't be able to (or don't want to? I'm not sure..) bring the scooter back and forth to and from the parks. What can she do with her scooter during the times she wants to go back to the room? Does she just leave it somewhere near the front? Give it back to the scooter rental?

TIA

 

[DenverDave]

When your friend leaves the park for a break, she can turn in her Disney scooter at the scooter rental location and pick another one up when she returns. The rentals are good all day and are even good if she jumps to another park. The Disney scooters may not leave the park.

An alternative for Epcot and DHS visits, which I do all the time, is to rent a scooter at the Buena Vista Scooter location at Disney's Boardwalk Hotel (right across from the boat dock). Their scooters are much cheaper than Disney's (about $32/day vs. $50/day for Disney). When taking a break she could just drop off the scooter at the rental location and pick it up when she returns. It is a short scooter ride to DHS or Epcot from the Boardwalk, or a boat is available. Good luck!

 

[Bellamouse]

Hey that's great! I should have guessed Disney would have worked out some kind of good solution for that. Now I know a little more about scooters... Thank you!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Keep in mind that once she turns the scooter in for her break, while she can get one later in the day without paying again, it is not guaranteed. Though I don't hear that it is often a problem. Just wanted to give a heads up.

Off site rental would ensure she is never without a scooter.

 

[Bellamouse]

Good point. If she does off site rental, then what are her options for leaving it behind in the parks when she wants to go back to her room?

 

[karensi]

Good point. If she does off site rental, then what are her options for leaving it behind in the parks when she wants to go back to her room?

I don't believe she can leave it in the park when she goes back to her room. If she rents a scooter from a scooter company that scooter would have to go back with her when she leaves the park.

 

[codimouse]

I would honestly rent offsite for a scooter.
I recently had majpr surgery and needed help on my trip from July 8-15.
My husband pushed me around on park days with a manual however for the hottest day I didnt want him to do that so I rented an ECV. It was $70. Expensive!! However they do return $20 after you are finished.
We had to turn the ECV in when we went back to our room. HOWEVER they do hold it for you until you return.
We left at 2 pm. They held it until 7pm.

 

[codimouse]

Keep in mind that once she turns the scooter in for her break, while she can get one later in the day without paying again, it is not guaranteed. Though I don't hear that it is often a problem. Just wanted to give a heads up.

Off site rental would ensure she is never without a scooter.

They do hold it for you. Only for up to 4 hours. They tagged the one I had rented and when I returned it was available to me.

 

[karensi]

I think where the problem lies for your friend is that she will be staying off site.
She would have to bring the scooter back and forth between the parks and where she will be staying off site if she rents from a scooter company.
I also use a scooter in Disney. When we stay on Disney property I rent from a scooter company and keep the scooter with me because it is easy to go back and forth to/from the parks to my room with the scooter.
When we stay off site I just rent a scooter in the park because I feel it would be a hassle for my family to have to disassemble the scooter to get it into the car every time we went to the park and every time we left the park.
Hope this helps.

 

[bucky1023]

If she does her research she can get what they call a travel one. It isn't as big as at a regular one and can be broken down pretty easily (seat comes off, battery comes off etc.) it is still heavy and can be bulky to lift in and out of a trunk of a car so they would have to keep that in mind.

We rented one for my mom one year since we were going to Legoland one day and didn't want to have to pay for another one since we already get one for WDW every time we go. Once it was broken down me and my cousin lifted it up and into the back of our rented minivan. Most companies will deliver to off site hotels but again it is best to do research for price and flexibility.

 

[Bellamouse]

All the replies were very helpful - thank you everyone!

 

[gwb]

If your friend is in a car it would be far cheaper to rent a ecv off site the going rate is $50/ day vs Apple which is %135 for 6 days And 1 significanrt point is that many times WDW parks ecv's are gone b the middle of the day; so if it's a busy day there is a good chance there'll be none left when she goes back.The ECV's are very easy to take apart and fit in the trunk of a car. We have rented an ecv for the past 4 trips and have had no issues putting them in a trunk