Renting Scooter Vs. Bringing Your Own Electric Wheelchair

[LBear1121]

Edit: Initially thought he had his own scooter, but my husband let me know it's actually an electric wheelchair.

Hi All,

We're bringing my in-laws to Disney with us in September. My stepdad in law has mobility issues and is planning on using something to aid with mobility for the trip. Their initial plan was to bring his own electric wheelchair from home, but it seems like most people rent once they are there. It seems like most people are renting scooters, is renting an electric wheelchair even an option? My husband thought his stepdad might feel more comfortable in the electric wheelchair, but he has used scooters before also. Can someone talk to me about the pros and cons of both options? I'm not super familiar with traveling with disabilities and the various options, as this is the first time we will be vacationing with them. If he decides to bring his own from home, does anyone have experience or suggestions for getting from the airport to the resort? We weren't planning on renting a car and were going to look at taking a bus, but I'm not sure what their ability to accomodate an electric wheelchair would be? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks!
Lindsey

 

[SueM in MN]

He could bring his own power wheelchair - it would be transported by the airline free of charge and would not count toward his baggage allowance.
The first thing to think about would be whether he feels comfortable putting it on the airplane - my daughter’s custom power wheelchair is very expensive and complex (it can stand, recline, etc.) and we feel it’s too likely to be damaged. So, we don’t travel with it.

If his is a more standard power chair (like a Jazzy or Fold & Go/Magshock), it would not be as fragile and he may have less concern with travel. The other concern is transport from the airport. If his either folds or disassembles, you may be able to transport it in a regular vehicle. If it doesn’t, he will need accessible tramsporotation.

Several places rent power wheelchairs to people who are experienced using one; most rent Jazzy or similar - Scootaround, Randy’s Mobility, Yellow Scooter, Gold Mobility are some of the companies that rent power wheelchairs.

Advantages of power wheelchair:
- he’s used to driving one
- can turn in a smaller space, so more maneuverable than ECV
- treated the same as a manual wheelchair for most lines and wheelchair accessible ride vehicles (most wheelchair accessible vehicles are not ECV accessible AND some lines are wheelchair, but not ECV accessible )

WDW buses, monorails, Skyliners and most boats are both ECV and wheelchair accessible, so won’t matter if he uses a power wheelchair or ECV.
It‘s easier maneuvering a power wheelchair onto the transportation since it turns sharper.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I have my own Electric mobility scooter, a Go-Go Elite Traveler. However, I never bring it to WDW, I always plan to rent. The main reason is that if it breaks down when I'm way in the back of a park, I have to spend a good chunk of time arranging to get my scooter back to my resort, and hoping I can arrange a quick rental. But if I rent from the start and my rental breaks down, just get on my phone and it's not my problem, and hopefully I get a new scooter. Also, if the airline were to damage my own scooter, it kind of puts a damper on using it at home. Yes, it costs money to rent a scooter when I already own one, but I figure it's worth it to me.

 

[disney-inspired]

If it's a powerchair, I think he should bring his own. He's familiar with it and is comfortable in it.

 

[Groot]

If his is a more standard power chair (like a Jazzy or Fold & Go/Magshock), it would not be as fragile and he may have less concern with travel.

If he does have a Fold and Go, definitely get the travel bag. It might look cumbersome to put on, but I tried it the other day and it only took me 3 minutes (with my mom’s help).

Several places rent power wheelchairs to people who are experienced using one; most rent Jazzy or similar - Scootaround, Randy’s Mobility, Yellow Scooter, Gold Mobility are some of the companies that rent power wheelchairs.

Most of those powerchairs are the standard duty (less than 300 pound capacity) Jazzys and most likely Frontwheel Drive (the casters in the back ONLY).

Advantages of power wheelchair:
- he’s used to driving one
- can turn in a smaller space, so more maneuverable than ECV
- treated the same as a manual wheelchair for most lines and wheelchair accessible ride vehicles (most wheelchair accessible vehicles are not ECV accessible AND some lines are wheelchair, but not ECV accessible )

And when you need to put the mobility device on a plane, the scooter might have to be disassembled (sometimes in 5 pieces, including the batteries, which although are small, can weight 25 pounds each). The heaviest part of a scooter is the front section which includes the tiller (the part you drive/steer with) The only thing that you’d have to remove is the joystick.

WDW buses, monorails, Skyliners and most boats are both ECV and wheelchair accessible, so won’t matter if he uses a power wheelchair or ECV.
It‘s easier maneuvering a power wheelchair onto the transportation since it turns sharper.

Yeah, mainly because you won’t have a “Nose” to worry about.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I bring mine, but we drive and have a hitch carrier. I like having my own because it’s familiar. I can steer my power chair much easier/ more precise than I can one of the scooters at Walmart. I also feel like I get treated differently being in a personal chair rather than a rental. CMs seem much more accommodating. Even my husband commented on it when we made the switch from renting in the park to bringing my own.

 

[Bethctraveler]

When my sister travels with us to WDW she rents a pride Jazzy power chair with a joystick control from Gold Mobility . She use to bring her own power chair until on 2 separate occasions her chair was left damaged by the airlines. Both times the airlines paid for the repairs, but it was a total inconvenience having her sons take turns pushing her in a manual wheelchair. This last trip she rented the power-chair with no issues. The one they have at Gold Mobility they must put bigger batteries in it for the theme parks , because it lasts all day like the scooters. Her personal power-chair battery only made it at best 4-5 hours and she would need to go back to the resort during the day to let it charge. With the Gold Mobility one she kept up with us all day 12+ hours.