Scooter availability in the parks? Do they sell out?

[lorenae]

I have been pretty obstinate and haven’t yet even tried a scooter, but for my late January trip with my two grandsons, I may have to break down and do it. I think some days I may be better than others, so don’t want to have to have it at the resort or even some park days.

Sometimes I’m pretty agile (but certainly not always) and definitely do NOT want to deal with busses to ASMo with my grandkids and a scooter. I will if I have to, but I’m thinking the flexibility of using one in the parks if needed may be just right for me.

Are they available late in the day, if at 3 PM I just can’t go on?

 

[Selket]

When I was there in early December a few weeks ago - not high crowds but I saw Epcot had a sign up they were out of ECV rentals. This was not late in the day and not a weekend either.

I stayed at ASMovies and no problems with busses. You can always rent one off site and take it to the park and park it and walk as much as you want. I think it depends on which way you want to risk it.

 

[lanejudy]

The parks DO run out. Often by mid- to late-morning. There may be one available at 3pm, but it may have just been returned and doesn't have a full battery. Waiting to rent in the park when you get tired is certainly a risk.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have been pretty obstinate and haven’t yet even tried a scooter, but for my late January trip with my two grandsons, I may have to break down and do it. I think some days I may be better than others, so don’t want to have to have it at the resort or even some park days.

Sometimes I’m pretty agile (but certainly not always) and definitely do NOT want to deal with busses to ASMo with my grandkids and a scooter. I will if I have to, but I’m thinking the flexibility of using one in the parks if needed may be just right for me.

Are they available late in the day, if at 3 PM I just can’t go on?

and remember park rentals can not help you at end of day to your car or other transportation as they can not go out the gate even to parking lots or bus lines

 

[Bjkandma]

Not only is there a chance of them selling out. They are more expensive to rent per day ($50 plus $20 refundable deposit) per day. You can have a 7 day rental offsite for a lot less. Some may be as little as $25 per day.

 

[Bete]

Please realize the average trek for a park is 6 miles a day. This doesn't count all the standing in ride lines you do, too. When it's day in, day out it's a lot harder to do without a scooter. Also, this doesn't count the walking getting from your resort to the park and back.

Keep in mind by getting a scooter you will be more comfortable and last longer in the parks. You just feel better. If you want some walking exercise you can park the scooter for a while in a safe place.

If there are others in your party that can push a wheelchair for you if needed then you can take the chance of going later to get a park scooter. Then, if there are no park scooters left you rent a wheelchair.

Back home, try going to a zoo or whatever and see how it feels to walk all day. Try to keep track of your mileage walking.

It is mostly cheaper except for a shorter stay to rent a scooter from an offsite vendor. It does take a little practice to get a scooter on and off the buses. Maybe, someone in your party can do this for you, if necessary.

 

[Sakurachaek]

Yes, they do. At Animal Kingdom on the 19th they were out of ECVs and had a sign up list. They rarely run out of wheelchairs, but it did happen at Springs yesterday.

 

[Bethctraveler]

They were out every day we were there when we arrived at between 9AM-10AM. I personally would not depend on them having one.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In early October, DH couldn’t rent one in MK and AK. Since then, he has rented off site as I do.

 

[Evita_W]

Lately they have been selling out anywhere from before park opening to 30 minutes after.

It really is best to rent from offsite, in your case, check and ask whatever company you rent from if you find it isn't working for you after the first day or two if you can return early for a prorated/full refund. I do know that Gold Mobility will work with you on this, but chances are some of the others would too, just find out before choosing your company.

 

[Bethctraveler]

Lately they have been selling out anywhere from before park opening to 30 minutes after.

It really is best to rent from offsite, in your case, check and ask whatever company you rent from if you find it isn't working for you after the first day or two if you can return early for a prorated/full refund. I do know that Gold Mobility will work with you on this, but chances are some of the others would too, just find out before choosing your company.

Availability was #1 important but also our rental scooters were $199 a week each , if we rented daily in the park it would have been $350. Plus I need the scooter to get back and forth to the resort, and the park scooters are not allowed out of the parks at all. One night we were waiting over 11/2 hours to get on the monorail in a huge line. No way I would have been able to without the scooter. ....And yes Gold with incredibly accommodating across the board especially for the pickup and delivery.

 

[FrankDIS72]

The ECVs at 5th he parks are like big tanks. If you go with an offsite vendor, you might be able to get a slimmer and sleeker one.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I have been pretty obstinate and haven’t yet even tried a scooter, but for my late January trip with my two grandsons, I may have to break down and do it. I think some days I may be better than others, so don’t want to have to have it at the resort or even some park days.

Sometimes I’m pretty agile (but certainly not always) and definitely do NOT want to deal with busses to ASMo with my grandkids and a scooter. I will if I have to, but I’m thinking the flexibility of using one in the parks if needed may be just right for me.

Are they available late in the day, if at 3 PM I just can’t go on?

you will probably not be able to get one at 3PM but also you will be at other end of park at that time and have to make the long walk back to front of park to find out. Ps as for the buses you might find it easier with the scooter loading it and your grandsons than in the line as scooters are loaded first

 

[RoseGold]

Another option is a manual wheelchair. These are easy to get in an Uber on on a park transport bus, because you just collapse it. For plane flights, they collapse it with the strollers as you board. If you don't need it, you just park it somewhere.

If your grandkids are old enough to push you sometimes, this might be a good way to split the day up, so it's not so taxing. In most WDW rides, you can take your chair all the way to the ride, so that eliminates the standing around in lines, which can be physically challenging.

 

[Bethctraveler]

The ECVs at 5th he parks are like big tanks. If you go with an offsite vendor, you might be able to get a slimmer and sleeker one.

We saw those park rental ones, I have no idea how you would be able to drive them the line cue's being that big.