Scooter Assistance Needed!

[thomascaldwell1]

I apologize if I am in the wrong place, but this is new for us and your help would be greatly appreciated! My husband is on a clinical trial for Stage IV Melanoma and is suffering from many side effects which includes deterioration of muscles and joints. He is not going to be able to walk for our annual trip to Disney. We are going to need to rent a motorized scooter of some kind for our trip. We will be driving in and would prefer something that could be delivered to the resort. If it matters, we will be swapping resorts during our week-long stay. He has concerns over battery life and how to charge it, etc. Will we need to make changes to our hotel reservations to have enough room to house this unit, etc. ANY help and guidance you can offer us on this topic would be extremely helpful as we've never even looked in to it before. THANK YOU!!

 

[jdb in AZ]

I apologize if I am in the wrong place, but this is new for us and your help would be greatly appreciated! My husband is on a clinical trial for Stage IV Melanoma and is suffering from many side effects which includes deterioration of muscles and joints. He is not going to be able to walk for our annual trip to Disney. We are going to need to rent a motorized scooter of some kind for our trip. We will be driving in and would prefer something that could be delivered to the resort. If it matters, we will be swapping resorts during our week-long stay. He has concerns over battery life and how to charge it, etc. Will we need to make changes to our hotel reservations to have enough room to house this unit, etc. ANY help and guidance you can offer us on this topic would be extremely helpful as we've never even looked in to it before. THANK YOU!!

The rental scooters come with a battery charger and you plug it in all night each night and it should be good to go all day. Your DH will need to turn off the key to the scooter when you're just sitting/waiting in line or eating so it doesn't drain the battery. If the scooter starts to act sluggish, just ask a cast member where to find an outlet. We've been known to "plug in" while eating dinner.

If your room doesn't have enough space for your scooter you can ask at the check-in desk if they'll remove a table for you, or you can park the scooter in the hall -- and take the key with you -- or you can leave the scooter with bell services overnight and ask them to recharge it for you. I would rather keep the scooter with me because it can be a long walk from bell services to your room, and if it's in the room I know for sure the charger has been plugged in all night.

 

[gap2368]

also remember to turn it off when not in use so while eating, watching show, when you are taking a break, trying to decide what to do next. most will last all day but you can bring the power cord and charge it during the day ( I do not see him doing 15+ hour days) there are places to charge it through out the parks.

a few thing to think about and you may already know some of this.

people will jump infant of him and he will need to be very alert at all times.
because of this a wheel chair maybe better ( I would have the number of a wheel chair rental incase you need it.)

first aid it each park can give him a place to lie down and rest ( not the most comfortable bed) but it is an option if he ned it ( and anyone for that matter) they also have OTC meds and bandaids and other small things to make your vacation better.

set in some rest time for him show are a great time to rest and they have them at each park ( some suggest ride then show ride then show...

as fiar as moving since you are driving I take it you will be moving your things your self. I would let the rental company know you need a scooter that comes apart. some comport in about 4-6 ( maybe more maybe less) and normally the heaviest is about 40 pounds ( agin maybe more maybe less) but the renal company can let you know how many pieces and how heave the heaviest one is.

if you find you can not break it down then maybe you can take the stuff to the new resort and take a taxi ( or something ) back to the first one and you and hubby can then go to the park and when it is time to leave go too the new resort.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You've gotten some great advice here. I just wanted to wish your DH the best of luck with his Melanoma. My DH had surgery for it 2 years ago, and if thankfully cancer-free right now. But the scary thing is that he'd just had a check for skin cancer (they also found basal cell) and this melanoma was missed. The day before his appointment to schedule surgery for the basal cell carcinoma, I found this funny-colored spot and said "As long as you're going, would you have him look at this?" And the rest is our battle with melamoma. It's amazing how quick and dangerous melanoma can be. Best of luck to him-I'll keep him in my prayers.

 

[SueM in MN]

The rental scooters come with a battery charger and you plug it in all night each night and it should be good to go all day. Your DH will need to turn off the key to the scooter when you're just sitting/waiting in line or eating so it doesn't drain the battery. If the scooter starts to act sluggish, just ask a cast member where to find an outlet. We've been known to "plug in" while eating dinner.

If your room doesn't have enough space for your scooter you can ask at the check-in desk if they'll remove a table for you, or you can park the scooter in the hall -- and take the key with you -- or you can leave the scooter with bell services overnight and ask them to recharge it for you. I would rather keep the scooter with me because it can be a long walk from bell services to your room, and if it's in the room I know for sure the charger has been plugged in all night.

There is a change that affects the bolded information.
A couple of years ago, Disney contracted with 5 different ECV/mobility equipment companies, which are the WDW 'Featured Providers'. Only ECVs from those Featured Providers can be left with Bell Services or left in the hallways.
(Also, be aware that you might not be able to leave anything out in the hall for fire safety/evacuation reasons).

The Featured Providers can leave equipment at Bell Services for delivery and return. For other providers, the Guest will need to arrange with the company for delivery and return.

There is a list of companies (both Featured and not) in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread. You can find it near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature

 

[gap2368]

T
or you can park the scooter in the hall -- and take the key with you --
.

If you do this make sure there is enough room in the hall way for other guest to get by ( with there luggage, wheel chair or what ever they have) as someone parked there ECV at All star out side there room and it was so hard for me to get in my room. Now I am not saying if Disney allows people to park things out side there room or not.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If you do this make sure there is enough room in the hall way for other guest to get by ( with there luggage, wheel chair or what ever they have) as someone parked there ECV at All star out side there room and it was so hard for me to get in my room. Now I am not saying if Disney allows people to park things out side there room or not.

When we stayed at the Grand Floridian, Concierge told us to park our ECV's in the hallway. Different hotels may have different policies. In Disneyland, the Grand Californian was fine with ECV's in the hallway. At the Disneyland Hotel, they considered them a fire hazard.

 

[Simba's Mom]

That's interesting that concierge said that. I thought parking ECVs in the hallway was supposed to be a "No, no". When we went to BCV a couple weeks ago, and I rented an ECV for the first time, I couldn't figure out how to open the door when I was alone. So on the 2 mornings when DH went golfing, I got up with him and moved my scooter out to the hallway, so that when I was ready to go to the parks by myself, I was all set. But I was afraid someone would knock on the door and tell me to move my scooter. Parked in right next to the wall, though, and there was plenty of room to get around.

 

[FortForever]

There is enough space, even in the value resort rooms, to drive a larger scooter into your room and park against the window. I have never had to move the table, or ask for it to be taken out. I have had scooters at both Pop and Sports, which I believe are some of the smallest rooms on the property.