Question on Best Way to Rent Wheelchair OR Motorized Scooter PLEASE !!

[bellenbuzz]

First time Posting on disABILITIES: I KNOW SOMEONE CAN HELP ME OUT !!

Going to WDW for 8 days with family and parents, staying at POR.
My Mother Has a VERY difficult time walking and getting around. Can go short distances with a cane.
We want to rent a Motorized Scooter for her to get around. What are your best suggestions ?? Do they rent Wheelchairs or Scooters at Downtown Disney too ? Do they have Wheelchairs at the Resort to use ???
Please give me all your feedback !!
THANKS SO MUCH !!!

 

[DLo]

I am glad you asked this. My mom just fractured her foot (well a few weeks ago but it hasn't healed yet) . She can get around with crutches or a cane but only for short distances not a day at WDW. I'll be waiting along with you for suggestions!!!

 

[SteveMouse]

Please look under the FAQ sticky at the top of the forum. Information about renting scooters/ECVs and availability at Disney resorts is right at the top.

I personally prefer Walker's I like that they drop it at the bell stand rather than having to meet me- it really speeds things up quite a bit.(but I'm used to driving them). Randy's provides more training.

Enjoy and have a great trip.

 

[FlyingBelle]

When we needed a scooter we called the concierge at the Disney hotel before we left (I injured my knee pretty severly right before our trip - I ended up having surgery as soon as we got back).

The parks have scooters/wheelchairs - but they're 1st come 1st serve - and you can't leave the park with them. Since I couldn't walk at all - I had Disney rent a scooter from an outside vendor and have it delivered to the hotel. That way I could take it with me everywhere.

It's a little cumbersome to get around if you're not used to it. I found the boats and monorail were a lot easier than the buses. (IMO). There's a lot of good information out there on the DIS boards - you should be able to find what you need.

 

[taekwondo mom]

I would suggest renting from an off site company, That way you have the scooter at all times ..
I have rented from Randy's mobility..( they are several companies)

 

[bellenbuzz]

Do you just keep it in your hotel room with you ???
How difficult is it then to get on & off the busses ?? I bet it slows down travel.
My Mom is 66 years old, but my 2 DD's are 5 & 8 and want to move fast and see everything.....
My Mom on a Scooter wouldn't be fast-paced at all.....but really no other choice......Oh Dear !
Any other Comments ???
Thanks So Very Much !

 

[taekwondo mom]

Do you just keep it in your hotel room with you ???
YES The ones you rent are smaller than the ecv's at the park

How difficult is it then to get on & off the busses ?? I bet it slows down travel.
The buses load the ecv's first(and the rest of the family) but you are last to unload.. it's reallty easy the driver's are great

My Mom is 66 years old, but my 2 DD's are 5 & 8 and want to move fast and see everything.....
My Mom on a Scooter wouldn't be fast-paced at all.....but really no other choice......Oh Dear !
She maybe faster on the scooter than walking
Any other Comments ???
Have to practice at walmart or some place that have the ecv's.. (tell her not to panic it really gets easier..
Thanks So Very Much !

 

[SteveMouse]

I just noticed you're planning to stay at POR.

It's one of my favorites. A couple of things to think about....

1. The boats from POR to DD do not always accomodate ECVs. There is a bus that is a reasonable alternative.

2. You may want to request a first-floor room to avoid chasing upstairs.

3. The resort is fairly intimate, however there can be a bit of a walk between some of the buildings with rooms and the main building (food court, etc.). It's LOVELY walking or rolling around and you can get pretty much anywhere in about 10 minutes.

4. DD does NOT have ECVs available, and an EXTREMELY limited number of wheelchairs.

The ECVs at Walmart/homedepot/etc. drive like trucks compared to the ones from Walker's or Randy's.

As to the speediness, my wife always gets frustrated when I use one at Disney as she (who has no physical issues) gets tired of keeping up with me,

-S

 

[FlyingBelle]

The buses can be managed - just be aware that with some of them (maybe all, I can't remember) you have to back up the ramp and into the "parking spot". Also - don't stay on the scooter while the bus is in motion. Some of the bus drivers were encouraging me to do so (when the bus was full) but it's not safe (according to the scooter rental place).


I think the poster is right about the boats at POR/POFQ - there's not quite as much room as the boats at WL/Swan/etc...

I was at POR a few weeks ago - it's a LOT of walking around the resort... having a scooter there would probably be very beneficial.

 

[bellenbuzz]

It really helps to read info. from 1st hand DIS'ers....
Does anyone have the phone number for this RANDY's Rentals ??
Are they "Safe" to Deal with ??

I really appreciate the replies, I'm gonna share them with my Mom.
Any other notes for me to share with her to help her feel better about this??
THANKS A BUNCH !

 

[kops2da]

863-679-1550 according to his website

 

[SueM in MN]

It really helps to read info. from 1st hand DIS'ers....
Does anyone have the phone number for this RANDY's Rentals ??
Are they "Safe" to Deal with ??

I really appreciate the replies, I'm gonna share them with my Mom.
Any other notes for me to share with her to help her feel better about this??
THANKS A BUNCH !

There is contact information for Randy's in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board. The companies that are listed there are ones that DIS Board posters have frequently reported good experiences with, so that's why we listed them there. My family used Randy's in March and would highly recommend them. The ECV looked nearly new and the person delivering it was on time, professional and very helpful.

There is also a large section in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about boarding the buses with an ECV or wheelchair.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The buses can be managed - just be aware that with some of them (maybe all, I can't remember) you have to back up the ramp and into the "parking spot". Also - don't stay on the scooter while the bus is in motion. Some of the bus drivers were encouraging me to do so (when the bus was full) but it's not safe (according to the scooter rental place).

Uh, yeah. It's not particularly safe according to most bus drivers, either. ALL the ones I encountered prefer that you move to a seat. It's easier and less time-consuming to strap down an empty ECV than one with a passenger in it! Plus, being empty keeps the center of gravity low and the ECV is far less likely to tip over - although I've never seen one tip (except the one I was on in Disneyland last year, but that was IN the park and I felt it, I didn't see it, but I did see my view of Main Street change 90º to the right )
If the bus appears to be filling up, I'll offer 'space' on and around my ECV to parents with strollers or large bags. This serves two purposes: It frees up space for more passengers, and most of the time it prevents anyone from sitting on the seat.
Now, there was one woman who plopped herself down and I had to explain that if it was safe to ride that way, I'd be in the ECV. She thought it (black vinyl and fabric, padded) was an extra seat on a bus equipped with solely purple plastic bench seats.

 

[elwise1966]

Uh, yeah. It's not particularly safe according to most bus drivers, either. ALL the ones I encountered prefer that you move to a seat. It's easier and less time-consuming to strap down an empty ECV than one with a passenger in it! Plus, being empty keeps the center of gravity low and the ECV is far less likely to tip over - although I've never seen one tip (except the one I was on in Disneyland last year, but that was IN the park and I felt it, I didn't see it, but I did see my view of Main Street change 90º to the right )
If the bus appears to be filling up, I'll offer 'space' on and around my ECV to parents with strollers or large bags. This serves two purposes: It frees up space for more passengers, and most of the time it prevents anyone from sitting on the seat.
Now, there was one woman who plopped herself down and I had to explain that if it was safe to ride that way, I'd be in the ECV. She thought it (black vinyl and fabric, padded) was an extra seat on a bus equipped with solely purple plastic bench seats.

How in the world did you manage that? Did you run off the curb or something? I wouldn't think you'd ever be able to tip those big clunky 4 wheel things.

 

[bellenbuzz]

I'm the OP, my Mom is feeling better now that I have been showing her all these posts & threads on these Boards.....
Disney World makes it good for folks to get around...
Thanks for input !

 

[Haley Whippet]

We used http://www.scootarama.com/
They were great.They Deliver and pick up at your resort.
Good prices too!
Here I am on the scooter, I now have one of my own just like this..

Deb

 

[mrmagicmph]

We just got back from spending 10/3-8 at the Beach Club where I used a scooter from Walker Mobility virtually the entire time.

First, the experience was GREAT. I would NOT have been able to do 1/3 of the things my wife & I did if I hadn't swallowed my pride & used a scooter.

Next, do NOT worry about Mom being slowed down by being in the scooter. If you rent from an offsite location, it will come with speed controls that are MUCH better than the WDW scooters. If she's on the right surface under the right conditions, she may be going faster than you can!

Buses, Monorails, & Boats: While staying at the Beach Club, we "walked" directly to Epcot. We took the Friendship Boats to/from Disney-MGM. We took the monorail once from Epcot to MK. We took the monorail to/from the TTC & MK. We took the bus twice from Beach Club to MK. My observations? Avoid the buses if possible, they are NOT fun to deal with. The monorail's great, but remember she'll either have to back INTO the monorail or back OUT of the monorail. Take it slowly & carefully when going backwards, and for her sake, PRAY that the monorail cast member who puts down the ramp does NOT try to "help" by moving the ramp to "line up better" once the scooter's in motion! Had that happen once, it was NOT fun at all.

Oh, one last thing about the speed control. It will make it MUCH easier to go up/down the various inclines/declines that you'll find in the parks. Keep the thumb control pressed down to GO, and adjust the speed control dial to get the speed that you want on the climb. Vary the speed dial as needed and you will find that she's having a MUCH easier time on some of the hills than you are!

Hope you enjoy! Feel free to ask anything that I might have left out!

 

[kaytieeldr]

How in the world did you manage that? Did you run off the curb or something? I wouldn't think you'd ever be able to tip those big clunky 4 wheel things.

Yep! First, I was FINE! Now, you know how, when you enter either park, there's the circle with a standard curb and some curb cuts? Well, for some stupid reason, I thought it was all flat : and went off sideways.

 

[bellenbuzz]

And MrMagic: Great Info on the Transportation Stuff....So Good To Hear !!
My Mom is a tad self-conscious and doesn't want to put folks out of there way, or have people waiting on her and rolling their eyeballs etc......
Thanks All !

 

[elwise1966]

Yep! First, I was FINE! Now, you know how, when you enter either park, there's the circle with a standard curb and some curb cuts? Well, for some stupid reason, I thought it was all flat : and went off sideways.

I hope you didn't hurt yourself. That's quite a tumble with that big scooter.

To the OP: Disney is very good with people in ECV's/wheelchairs. Have no worries that your mother will be well looked after. Have a great trip!