Saw something last week that surprised me

[aubriee]

While sitting on the curb at MK waiting for the night time parade to start one night last week, I saw a kid about 8 or 9 y/o driving an ECV down main street with his parents and grandparents walking behind him. It was not his, as it was a large ECV and had a Buena Vista Scooter rental sign on it. His grandmother was walking behind him using a cane, so I suppose it was one she rented. This was right after Wishes and just before the parade started, so main street was pretty packed. What surprised me wasn't so much that a little kid was driving it, it was the fact that CMs with flashlights were everywhere guiding people out and not one said a word to him or his family. A few days later at AK I saw a lady on an ECV with her about 7 y/o grandson standing on the back of it and she holding her about 3 y/o grandaughter on her lap. Again they went right past a couple of CMs and nothing was said to her. She was also on a rented ECV (not Disney's, but one from offsite).

 

[MErnst]

I guess the scooter police weren't around! I was at WDW back in Oct with my mother and DS7. My mother rented a scooter for 2 days at the end of our trip because she hurt her ankle and couldn't walk too well. The day we were at DHS, I went to the ladies room while they waited with DS7 sitting on her lap on the ECV but not moving. A CM did walk up and remind her that DS7 was not allowed to be on the ECV..yes, she knew the rules and we laugh about it now that she got busted by the scooter police. I agree that children do not belong on them and should definitely NOT be driving one.

 

[Janet Hill]

Last time we were in Dollywood, I noticed that the scooters were equipped with a camera and if anyone was caught with a child on board, they lost scooter with no refund.

 

[Talking Hands]

I agree that children do not belong on them and should definitely NOT be driving one.

I agree with this, unless it is their scooter. I have had students as young as 4 or 5 who had a scooter or power wheelchair. They were quite skilled at using them. Of course they are sized to the child and not an adult size scooter.

 

[toocherie]

On my last trip to the World I saw a young boy--maybe 10--riding a scooter. Don't recall if it was rented or not. I noted it as unusual but he was driving just fine and was obviously being careful.

 

[BillSears]

I think the difference is the Disney rented ECV vs the off-site rented ECV. Disney can't tell an 8 year old they cannot drive a medically needed scooter. But they can choose not to rent the ECV to an 8 year old.

So Disney's rules on age limits only apply to Disney's ECVs.

 

[KPeveler]

I think the difference is the Disney rented ECV vs the off-site rented ECV. Disney can't tell an 8 year old they cannot drive a medically needed scooter. But they can choose not to rent the ECV to an 8 year old.

So Disney's rules on age limits only apply to Disney's ECVs.

Disney CAN say, however, with any scooter whether or not it is privately owned or rented, that only one person can ride it at a time. I actually checked this, and the ADA protects the person that NEEDS the medical device, but NOT passengers other than that person who needs it.

I do wish Disney would start saying something... It is just plain unsafe.

 

[cm8]

Disney CAN say, however, with any scooter whether or not it is privately owned or rented, that only one person can ride it at a time. I actually checked this, and the ADA protects the person that NEEDS the medical device, but NOT passengers other than that person who needs it.

I do wish Disney would start saying something... It is just plain unsafe.

 

[KPeveler]

I totally understand the concerns that go with parenting while disabled - my wife and i dont even have kids yet and we are already working on how I will transport them as a full time wheelchair user. I know an infant can be put in a sling-carrier and certainly not mess with driving, but I dunno how to do it safely after that!

I use either a manual or powerchair, so it will be a little different than an ECV (where the child is between the driver and the controls). My sister is going to come up with a stroller for me that attaches to my wheelchair (she's an engineer), which technically is against the rules of Disney, but we'll have to see what is allowed.

there are a LOT of challenges to being a parent, and some of those are doubled by being a disabled parent. But putting a child on an ECV with the person who is driving it is dangerous to the driver, the child, and the people around them.

 

[soarinup]

Aa far as the WDW scooters, the CM's can say something to someone who is using them improperly, but the off-site ones, I don't believe they "police" their use. The young boy who was piloting his grandparents scooter, well, he may have been helping them get it somewhere. I know that when I rented one for my Grandma, there were times she really needed to walk, but we were en route to an ADR so I would pilot the scooter for her. There may be any number of reasons someone is riding a scooter, so this is why I think CM's are trained not to say anything.

 

[iuki]

Disney CAN say, however, with any scooter whether or not it is privately owned or rented, that only one person can ride it at a time. I actually checked this, and the ADA protects the person that NEEDS the medical device, but NOT passengers other than that person who needs it.

I do wish Disney would start saying something... It is just plain unsafe.

I believe that the reason most CMs don't say anything is because people ignore them or argue with them. When we were at Mickey's Christmas party, several CMs told two different people that they had to stand behind the line. These people, who were not together, argued with the CMs and refused to move. It's as though the "guests" are pushing the envelopes knowing Security won't be called unless it becomes a dangerous situation. This also happened at Fantasmic in DHS. The lines are there to keep an open exit in case of fire or emergency - but there are those who don't care and act as "bullies."

I feel for CMs - it's a tough job.

iuki

 

[SueM in MN]

Aa far as the WDW scooters, the CM's can say something to someone who is using them improperly, but the off-site ones, I don't believe they "police" their use. The young boy who was piloting his grandparents scooter, well, he may have been helping them get it somewhere. I know that when I rented one for my Grandma, there were times she really needed to walk, but we were en route to an ADR so I would pilot the scooter for her. There may be any number of reasons someone is riding a scooter, so this is why I think CM's are trained not to say anything.

CMs can talk to anyone who is using an ECV or wheelchair in an unsafe manner. It doesn't matter whether it is a WDW park rental one or not.
They obviously have more options if it is a park one - they can confiscate the ECV.
A CM sent me the text of their policy, so I know that they are not 'trained not to say anything.'
The contract for the WDW park rental ECVs do say that there can be only one person on the ECV and that only adults are to drive it. Most of the off-site companies have the same information in their rental contract. I know of one company (Randy's) which will make some exceptions to allow an ECV to be rented for older teens to drive. But, Randy's requires that the ECV be delivered to the person rather than to Bell Services, so they are able to get an idea of the teen's abilities and maturity.

I believe that the reason most CMs don't say anything is because people ignore them or argue with them. When we were at Mickey's Christmas party, several CMs told two different people that they had to stand behind the line. These people, who were not together, argued with the CMs and refused to move. It's as though the "guests" are pushing the envelopes knowing Security won't be called unless it becomes a dangerous situation. This also happened at Fantasmic in DHS. The lines are there to keep an open exit in case of fire or emergency - but there are those who don't care and act as "bullies."

I feel for CMs - it's a tough job.

iuki

I agree.
I have personally seen CMs talk to drivers on off-site rental ECVs and tell them that their child could not sit on their lap or that the child was not allowed to drive it. Some of the people argued (and I did not see the result because we didn't stick around). Some people had the child get off and then as soon as the CM was gone, they went back to what they were doing.

 

[PatsMom]

I think one of the most dangerous things I've seen was an older gentleman on a scooter at Epcot. He had one young child in his lap. Behind the scooter was a twin stroller. The child in the stroller was holding onto the back of the scooter to ride along. No one was walking behind the stroller. I could just see the stroller tipping over somehow or the child's hands getting caught in some moving part of the scooter.

 

[KPeveler]

I think one of the most dangerous things I've seen was an older gentleman on a scooter at Epcot. He had one young child in his lap. Behind the scooter was a twin stroller. The child in the stroller was holding onto the back of the scooter to ride along. No one was walking behind the stroller. I could just see the stroller tipping over somehow or the child's hands getting caught in some moving part of the scooter.

My mom saw an older man in a scooter towing his older wife in a wheelchair by bungee cords - apparently the CMs stepped in to stop this one pretty quickly.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

Without knowing the situation. It could be the child needed something. The rental company may have been out of child sized vehichles.

 

[KPeveler]

Without knowing the situation. It could be the child needed something. The rental company may have been out of child sized vehichles.

Rental companies do not rent to children, except Randy's, which rents to children under 18 (but usually not younger than 15 from what I have heard) if they use a scooter or powerchair at home, but choose not to fly with it.

the only "child sized" vehicles that are rented in the Orlando area are manual wheelchairs and special needs/regular strollers. There is no company that rents child sized scooters or powerchairs (I looked, since I use a child-sized chair in most circumstances). There is not even a company that rents to little people/dwarves. Looked for that too.

It states in the WDW contract and every rental contact we are aware of that NO children are allowed to drive the scooter and NO children are allowed to be on laps. Period. If a child cannot walk at Disney, they must either bring equipment from home or rent a manual chair or stroller and be pushed.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

I guess we learn something every day. It was just a thought.

 

[KPeveler]

I guess we learn something every day. It was just a thought.

I totally understand wanting to give people the benefit of the doubt, but there is no excuse for a child on a lap of an ECV driver. A child driving an ECV may be using his/her own, but they are never allowed to be on a WDW ECV for any reason.

 

[iuki]

My mom saw an older man in a scooter towing his older wife in a wheelchair by bungee cords - apparently the CMs stepped in to stop this one pretty quickly.

We saw the exact same thing on December 14. When we saw them, they were just leaving the park.

 

[RachelZ3]

Hi-
Are push scooters for kids allowed at Disney World? My two year old (turning 3 at WDW this February) has just figured out how to use his push scooter (Micro Kick). I think it could be helpful getting around WDW as it is at home. Neither of us have a physical challenge to overcome, we can walk. I'd rather him scoot than use a stroller, good exercise and all that sort of thing.

Also, I have a push scooter to use with him- to keep up! Am I allowed to use my push scooter at WDW?

TIA for any help