renting ECV while at WDW?

[Simba's Mom]

Has anyone gone to WDW not intending to need an ECV, then ending up needing to rent one while there? If so, how successful were you in getting one on virtually no, or at least extremely short, notice? I'm thinking that could happen to me.

 

[gap2368]

I have heard this happing to someone they called an of site vender and had one delivered to ( I think MK) with in a very short time ( I think it was about an hour or so) so it can happen I would look up some compianys and see what ones you like the best and have there numbers in your phone incase you need it.

 

[Ladcassidy]

We had a great experience getting a scooter on the fly from Buena Vista Rentals this week. Last Saturday, my extended family checked into the Wilderness Lodge about noon. We dropped our bags and headed straight to Raglan Road for lunch. The walk from the parking structure to the restaurant tired my step-father, and I could see that the Lodge would be a challenge for him, too, much less the parks. I called BVR from lunch, and arranged for a scooter. It was at the Lodge waiting when we returned there an hour later. Yeah!

Before our trip, I had seen other posters mention a quick turnaround from BVR, and that's why I called them first. But other vendors are probably equally helpful.

 

[mamabunny]

:::raising my hand:::

Might have been me... First time I used an ECV at WDW, I called Walker from inside the parks when I needed a scooter, and the park was out of WDW rental ECVs.

They delivered to the park in record time, and had zero issues with any part of that rental.

Walker is not currently on Disney's "Featured Providers" list (which means you have to meet with them personally for both drop off of the scooter and pick up, otherwise no biggie deal). I have increasingly heard great things about Buena Vista (they are on property, which I'm sure would make for a much quicker turn around time).

 

[Simba's Mom]

Great, everyone, thanks so much. Sounds like it's possible to get it even sooner than I'd hoped. I was kind of hoping for within 12-24 hours, but of course, the sooner the better. And from what I've heard here, it sounds as if sooner is quite possible. Now I can go armed with my list of about 3 provider phone #s, and be able to get one right away. Did people call themselves from their cell phone, or did anyone use lobby concierge? If you used lobby concierge to make the arrangements, were they only willing to call one of the "Featured Providers"? I'm leaning towards Walker-when DH and I were younger, we used to comment on the Walker ECVs and how the name of the company was so ironic. Now, fortunately, I've been hearing good reports of them, and want to be one of those people with the "Walking ECV".

 

[mamabunny]

Before I had my own ECV, I would just keep a few Orlando vendors in my contacts in my cellphone, including Walker. In fact, I still have them there, in case we ever need to rent anything else during a trip. I prefaced each vendors name with MCO - (MCO is the airport code for Orlando) so, in my Contacts Walker was "MCO - Walker", "MCO - Buena Vista", "MCO - Care Medical". That kept them all together, and I didn't have to try and remember vendor names. (A trick I use for any city I travel to)

I have never had the Lobby Concierge call a vendor, or arrange a rental for me, so I can't speak to that experience.

 

[The Hunchback]

I had to use an ECV after 1 day in the park. Hips just gave out. Called Walker Mobility and they meet us at the Ticket and Transportation Center with a scooter. Be sure you have the plug in attachments you need.

 

[NeverSayNever]

Preferred Providers? Where would I find this list? Why is Walker not on the list?

Any insights helpful, still trying to decide who to use for upcoming Disney Cruise and debating about the parks, was just hoping to rent one at MK when there... Is that not likely ?

 

[mamabunny]

Preferred Providers? Where would I find this list? Why is Walker not on the list?

Any insights helpful, still trying to decide who to use for upcoming Disney Cruise and debating about the parks, was just hoping to rent one at MK when there... Is that not likely ?

As I understand it, Walker didn't make the list this time around because their "fleet" of rental scooters wasn't 100% ready to meet WDW's new rules for size. (If you have ever seen the white box painted on the concrete floor of the bus station at your WDW resort... that is the box that an ECV must be able to fit into in order to be allowed on a WDW vehicle for transport.)

Walker's still a great option; they just weren't ready when it was time to bid for the list.

WDW has a fleet of ECVs that are available for rental at the front of each theme park. Current rate is $50/day, and you can "hop" your daily rental to another park - provided that park has a scooter available. There is also a deposit required that ranges from $20 - $100 depending on location.

It is true that the theme parks will often run out of rental scooters fairly early in the day. As people go back to their resorts, or to another park in the afternoons, more WDW units are available then. The WDW scooters have just recently been replaced; they are designed to be a heavy-duty workhorse unit (like the ones you see at grocery stores, minus the giant wire cart on the front).

Many people prefer to have an ECV available to them all the time. Some of the Resorts are HUGE, and the walking there alone can add up really fast! Not to mention if you decide to visit another Resort, or go to Downtown Disney/Disney Springs (which is growing in size daily!)

Walt Disney World has a list of "Featured Providers" (found on this page)

All of these companies are reputable - and they are the ONLY Orlando companies that can drop off and leave an ECV at your WDW Resort Hotel, so that it is waiting for you when you arrive.

These "Featured Providers" are also the only companies that you are allowed to simply leave the ECV at the WDW Resort hotel at the end of your stay, and walk away, knowing that it will be picked up.

All of the other scooter rental companies MUST meet you to both drop off the scooter, and pick it up when renting on/for WDW property. They are NOT allowed to leave the scooter for you, and you are not allowed to just walk away from it at the end of the rental. Add extra time as appropriate if you are going to use a non-Featured Provider for your rental, for both drop off and pick up.

All of the non-WDW scooter rental entities in Orlando can typically beat Disney's rate by a significant amount, when you look at a multi-day rental. You can rent for any amount of time - from one day to one year.

Hope this helps!

 

[lanejudy]

Preferred Providers? Where would I find this list? Why is Walker not on the list?

I just wanted to point out that the list is "Featured Vendors" not necessarily "preferred." There are several vendors regularly discussed here on the DIS who are not "Featured" but definitely get high reviews from the folks who use them. My understanding is that vendors may have made a business decision to specifically not be on the Featured list, but that doesn't necessarily imply lower quality or value.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[NeverSayNever]

Thank you all! Great information.

Is the key difference between a featured vendor and non- featured vendor that a featured vendor is the only type of vendor that can drop off and pick up at a resort without you being present?

Thanks!

 

[lanejudy]

Correct, the Featured Vendors are allowed to utilize Bell Services or Luggage Services for drop-off and return. All other vendors will make arrangements to meet you personally, though I understand from reports that is a fairly simple process and doesn't considerable take extra time.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[ttintagel]

I broke my foot on the first day of my 2011 trip and called Walker - at that point I didn't realize how many hills and ramps there were in the parks and thought I would be OK with a manual wheelchair. They delivered the wheelchair to my resort before I got home from the ER.

By the afternoon of the next day, I realized the manual chair wasn't going to work. We called Walker to ask for an ECV; they said they would normally be able to get it to us right away, but they were short a driver that night. They brought it to my resort by 6:30 the next morning.

The next trip, I wasn't using a mobility aid, but another person in my party rented an ECV from Apple. It broke down in Adventureland and they brought a new one within an hour. UNFORTUNATELY, a parade started as they were coming through the Magic Kingdom gates, so they couldn't physically reach us until the parade was over and the parade crowds had dispersed. They asked CM's if there was any way they could help them get back to us, but the CM's said no. We got Citrus Swirls and rode Aladdin's Magic Carpets over and over and over. It was the only ride within walking distance - I offered to grab a manual wheelchair and push the ECV rider to Pirates or something, but she wanted to remain in sight of the broken ECV.