Remember the Segways at Disney lawsuit?

[lovetoscrap]

The article on the DIS about it when it was dismissed: http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General_Disney_News/Disney_Segway_lawsuit_dismissed.htm

Here is the part that I kind of glossed over at the time until just a few hours ago

The lawsuit had been temporarily settled in December when Disney agreed to provide 15 electric stand-up vehicles for use in their parks. These vehicles would have let users stand, but would be the same dimensions as a wheelchair.

I was just at Busch Gardens (in Virginia) and as I went past their Stroller/ECV rental I did a double take. Then a triple take. Then I had to turn around and go back and make sure I was seeing what I thought I was-- because I had never seen it before:

A stand up ECV!

Here is the control panel:

Busch Gardens is renting it for more than the regular ECVs. They don't have the price on their sign but the regular is $45 and the man I chatted with said it was about $10 more.

Since I haven't seen anyone post here about Disney having these I am guessing that they don't yet? I wonder if there are plans for them to show up there soon? Anyone heard anything?

 

[KPeveler]

Those look either awesome or frightening. My first thought was that people are going to put like 10 people on it. My second was that people better have VERY good balance on those! If you took a turn too fast, it would tip right over!

I get why standing is better for some people, and I wish I could avoid looking at keisters all day long, but that makes me a little nervous - It just looks dangerous (unless there is a safety belt of some kind)

I guess we'll see what happens in disney...

 

[SueM in MN]

I heard that WDW does have some, but I have not seen them and was not brave enough to ask. I was told they are not out in the open to rent and you do have ask.

 

[POOHsie]

Need more info. This looks like 2 older Segways put together, still not a handicap aid. Wasn't the Segway/Disney issue about them not being a genuine handicap aid?

Question 1. How speedy are they?
Question 2. Would they be rented to anyone, regardless of age, ability, disability? (Problems: speed, darting in and out of people-clusters, alcohol and driving, driving one-handed while holding a beverage, operating in low light situations, kids and bags loaded onto platform, crashing into glass doors and windows)
Question 3. If Park rented them, then could you bring in your own? (Problems: overwhelming the bus transportation service, speed at resorts, kids, luggage, crashing)

I have seen the Segways being used after hours at Epcot by Cast Members. (I use an ecv.) Not a criticism, but the people on the Segways go fast, because the machines are fast, and young people love speed, and they don't always understand the concept of proceeding cautiously. But if operated during park hours, these same Segways, driven the same way, would cause death to someone in no time flat.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Need more info. This looks like 2 older Segways put together, still not a handicap aid. Wasn't the Segway/Disney issue about them not being a genuine handicap aid?

Question 1. How speedy are they?
Question 2. Would they be rented to anyone, regardless of age, ability, disability? [

It actually didn't really look anything like a Segway in person. It is just a standard ECV with no seat and a taller tiller. Same type of base and same type of controls. I am guessing that the speed on it would be nearly the same as park rental ECVs. They guy I talked to said that they are for anyone and that they have people that just don't want to walk that have rented them. I would think that those with disabilities would own one of these themselves-- just as they wouldn't own a personal ECV comparable to the ones that the parks rent. It will be interesting to see if the future will bring personal ECV's like this one.

Busch Gardens is very hilly so I can understand that this could be easier than walking but I agree that this looks really dangerous. In some areas you end up in a tilt due to the angle of the sidewalk. I get nervous sitting on my ECV-- this seems like it would be an accident waiting to happen on these. DH says this moves the center of gravity up to an unsafe level (in his opinion) No safety belt, but really I think the risk is of the whole thing tipping so they would be better off being able to jump clear. And yep, you could easily fit 2 adults or an adult and several kids on it. I hope they enforce the only one person rule.

I am sure that you couldn't take this on any rides that can even fit an ECV.

 

[POOHsie]

I have tipped over my smaller 3-wheel scooter on tilted surfaces a few times. Last time I was quite bruised and banged up. Now I have a heavier, bigger scooter with bigger tires. I can just see some guests (and lawyers) thinking they are going to make easy money with their "stand-up scooter spills" at Disney.

I don't think this unit would pass Disney's handicap aid definition, like you say, because of top-heaviness & instability.

 

[Momelie]

Like most people in my zip code, we have APs for Busch Gardens in Tampa. I'm under the gun right now with my thesis - final draft due in 48 hours, defense a week from today, but I know a bunch of ladies that do their daily 3 mile walks there. I'll ask them if these have made their way over there yet.

If so... and I'm in a celebretory mood next week (or maybe if I feel the need to really do some physical damage to myself) I'll go try one out for a little while. I was fitted with bilateral knee braces today, so I can use the putting them through their paces excuse.

Film at 11....

These things look like heaven on a stick for those who are sick and tired of looking at people's rear ends all day, but just thinking of the practical applications that they may open up to the uninitiated might bring scares me to death! Forget the cowcatcher for my ECV, I think I want a plexiglass bubble!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Disney does allow the IBOT at WDW. This is self-balancing, as a Segway and will run on two wheels. However, it actually has four wheels; when it is off it will be on all four wheels. And Disney requires users to be in four-wheel mode when getting on or off for attractions. And it is a medically certified device.

 

[POOHsie]

Good luck with thesis! Let us know if they have these stand up scooters at Busch Tampa, and give us a run-down. I especially worry about drinkers (Epcot, Boardwalk). I saw a video of the IBOT Cheshire Figment is talking about. You can Google it.

 

[POOHsie]

Disney does allow the IBOT at WDW. This is self-balancing, as a Segway and will run on two wheels. However, it actually has four wheels; when it is off it will be on all four wheels. And Disney requires users to be in four-wheel mode when getting on or off for attractions. And it is a medically certified device.

Cheshire, do you see the above pictured Stand-up Scooter as something Disney would consider in the future for guest use?

 

[SueM in MN]

Need more info. This looks like 2 older Segways put together, still not a handicap aid. Wasn't the Segway/Disney issue about them not being a genuine handicap aid?

Question 1. How speedy are they?
Question 2. Would they be rented to anyone, regardless of age, ability, disability? (Problems: speed, darting in and out of people-clusters, alcohol and driving, driving one-handed while holding a beverage, operating in low light situations, kids and bags loaded onto platform, crashing into glass doors and windows)
Question 3. If Park rented them, then could you bring in your own? (Problems: overwhelming the bus transportation service, speed at resorts, kids, luggage, crashing)

I have seen the Segways being used after hours at Epcot by Cast Members. (I use an ecv.) Not a criticism, but the people on the Segways go fast, because the machines are fast, and young people love speed, and they don't always understand the concept of proceeding cautiously. But if operated during park hours, these same Segways, driven the same way, would cause death to someone in no time flat.

The issues Disney had for the Segways was that they were not mobility aids and were not considered safe for that.
They are self balancing to a point, but can tip over easily, especially if someone is not experienced. It’s also for a Segway to get away from an inexperienced user (speaking as an inexperienced user who has been on the Segway tour 4 times).
Segways can go too fast - the majority of ECVs are usually set to go less than 4.5 miles per hour. A Segway at its fastest speed (the last time I looked) was 12.
Also, there would be no place to put them if people could bring them in ride lines. Wheelchairs and ECVs can be parked and are not going to tip over. Segways not so easy.

Also, (and I think this is one of the biggest reasons) if WDW lets anyone bring a Segway into the park and use it, that means they have to let everyone who says they need one for mobility bring one in. I think there would be a HUGE off-site market for renting them and the parks would be overrun.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Just looking at this makes my feet hurt! DH did say that he saw a BG worker using one to get around the last time he was there.

I thought it was very interesting that they were promoting this. I only took the photos of the ECV but it was set outside, away from where the line to rent and the regular ECVs are-- so that it could be clearly seen. And as you can see it says "Rent Me!" on the sides. The location of their rentals is outside the park gates on the path that everyone must take to get in so it is not off to the side like it often is at Disney.

Definitely a different approach if Disney does have them but is keeping them . I may be back at BG later this week so I will try to ask some more questions about how many they have and who is renting them. Wonder if they would let me try it out? Probably a bad idea considering I was told today that I have very poor balance (DUH!)-- Maybe I can get DH to be a guinea pig!

 

[SueM in MN]

I think the 'DH plan’ sounds better.

 

[kaytieeldr]

At the very least, if you could take a picture of you or him standing in (on?) it? Give a better idea of the actual size?

I wouldn't be too concerned about it tipping, since it has four wheels and is likely set to the same speed as the sitting ECVs - although whoever pointed out the higher center of gravity is right... so the user would need to have common sense It doesn't look like you could fit more than two people - and yes, I know, only one is allowed.

I like that the user has the back support; and the tiller is adjustable... I want one.