Scooter Etiquette/Questions

[FeliciaB23]

Hi! My Mom will be renting a scooter in January due to bad arthritis in her knees and I had a few questions. Luckily, she currently walks without issue in her everyday life but with that said, the scooter is being rented as a precaution since Disney walking is...well...more extreme!

We will be staying at BWV. Is it possible for her to ride the scooter from BWV to Epcot (for example) and park it in a designated spot somewhere (ie: Scooter parking?) once she gets to the park, walk around France and Morocco (for example) and then retrieve the scooter and drive it to another location (such as Mexico), park it there, then walk around the Mexico pavillion? Versus her sitting it in the entire time?

She rented a scooter in HS once when her arthritis flared after a few days of walking in the parks and she typically left it with other scooters for the rides/meals and retrieved it when done. But, we are thinking if she starts with the scooter from the start of the trip, she will have no issue standing in lines, etc. and it will be easier for her to navigate the ride queues without it.

So - my question is basically - how long can you leave a scooter parked somewhere without it being rude/inconvenient? Can we leave it somewhere for an hour, without issue? Or, is there a time limit? Thanks in advance!

 

[jo-jo]

To my understanding, as long as it's parked in a proper area, .....as long as you want. Just don't drive, park and jump off where ever.

Remember the building with Soaring, You can bring the scooter inside. I've seen some parked near entrance or if she needs it , she can ride it to soaring, There are two elevators to get to lower level.

Just bring something to make it stand out. Maybe some decoration from the dollar store.....makes it easier to find but if someone thinks it's really really really cute and takes the bunch of flowers or whatever, you won't be out of much money. It's possible a CM may move it to a different area (not like 500 ft away) but it would be easier to say.....it had purple and green flowers on it if you don't see it.

 

[TCRAIG]

There is no time limit for parking your scooter - just be sure to park in a designated area - however - I wouldn’t leave it too far away close to park closing time.

 

[fla4fun]

When my mom was using one, she would drive to each country in WS, park it, and walk through the pavilion. Then she would get back on and drive to the next one. In the front of the park she would ride it more, but usually still parked it and walked through the queues for each attraction. She would usually park wherever stroller parking was indicated and we never had it moved although we knew it was a possibility.

Two things. Fold down the seat back to shade the seat so it doesn’t get hot from sitting in the sun, and be sure to carry a small towel to dry the seat if it rains as well as a shower cap to put on the tiller to keep the electronics dry. You may not realize it is going to rain when you park it and it’s no fun to come back to a wet scooter.

 

[Debbie Jean]

… and never leave anything of value with the scooter, baskets, pockets, etc.

 

[bluecruiser]

Speaking of Soarin' - the queue is very long, about 1/4 mile to the ride and another 1/4 mile returning to the lobby. This is one attraction I would recommend keeping the scooter with you through the queue.

 

[Groot]

Speaking of Soarin' - the queue is very long, about 1/4 mile to the ride and another 1/4 mile returning to the lobby). This is one attraction I would recommend keeping the scooter with you through the queue.

That and Kilamanjaro.

 

[jo-jo]

That and Kilamanjaro.

And the "LL" line on FOP is straight uphill. You'll pass mountain goats clinging to the side of the mountain.

About 8 years ago, I pushed DH up the hill in a wheelchair. As we passed the FP CM, she said good luck. We had no idea of the slope.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Two things. Fold down the seat back to shade the seat so it doesn’t get hot from sitting in the sun, and be sure to carry a small towel to dry the seat if it rains as well as a shower cap to put on the tiller to keep the electronics dry. You may not realize it is going to rain when you park it and it’s no fun to come back to a wet scooter.

I agree with this recommendation! On two separate occasions, I've gone in to dine, it was sunny-no shower in the forecast, and yet I came out to a wet seat. And also, the recommendation to have something attached to your scooter to identify it. I've had CMs who occasionally offer to get my scooter and bring it over to me. It's helpful to be able to point it out as "the one with the [color] bandana tied to the handle."

 

[Selket]

I used to park the ECV and walk around before my knees got so bad. Safest parking is usually with strollers or a designated ECV area. You may be tempted to park it elsewhere if it is raining but it can get moved and you won't know where.

For rain (depending on how much rain and what I was doing), it is sometimes just easier to keep it with you if you go in to see a show or get in a queue. It's not easy taking them into stores or restaurants however - especially if it downpours and everyone runs inside!

 

[katallo]

I'm in a similar situation and have rented regular wheelchairs. Is the ECV diffiucult to operate? I'm always afraid of bumping into someone. I have used them at grocery stores, but there typically are not crowds!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I don't think they're difficult to operate. To me, the biggest problem to avoid bumping into people is the fact that when you take your hand off the "accelerator", there's a split second before the ECV responds and stops going forward. If you're following someone in line, you really have to look out for that. The ECVs in the grocery store, around here at least, don't have a speed control to allow you to speed up or slow down, which I found to be the biggest part of the learning curve. However, I was solo the first time I rented an ECV, had never been on one in the store, but you learn quick. Just keep your eyes on the road! The much more likely thing than you bumping into people, from my experience, is people bumping into you because of the number of people who don't watch where they're going when they walk.

 

[diskids2]

Yes! I park my scooter and do the same thing. As others have said...park in a designated area because the CM's will move it anyway. Enjoy the trip!

 

[Lsdolphin]

So I just spent 2 nights at Pop Century before moving over to CSR today. While at Pop there was a guest who parked their scooter right smack in the middle of the walkway outside their room blocking those with strollers or ECVs from passing….

 

[Belle1962]

I apologize on their behalf. Sometimes they say the CM’s told them it was ok. There are a few options if you run into this again: if you’re comfortable with it knock on their door and ask them to scoot it closer to wall/door 2) go (not call) to the front desk and ask them to send someone/security to ask them to move it or 3) call the fire department and make them aware of the hazardous situation.

Although-during Ian while at WL I was told to park in hall and then we were told to move table and chairs from the balcony into the hall also. Crowded halls.

It’s also possible they needed to wheel a stroller into their room and forgot to go move the ecv.

 

[BigOnDis]

I'm in a similar situation and have rented regular wheelchairs. Is the ECV diffiucult to operate? I'm always afraid of bumping into someone. I have used them at grocery stores, but there typically are not crowds!

They are not that difficult to operate, but you do have to watch out for other people, they WILL walk in front of you. One tip I use, is not to set the speed anywhere near as fast as they will go. I am not in a hurray and less chance of me running over some poor unsuspecting child.

Yes! I park my scooter and do the same thing. As others have said...park in a designated area because the CM's will move it anyway. Enjoy the trip!

Same here. I park with the strollers and walk through the queue. Good tip, to mark it so it is recognizable because it could get moved and could then be hard to find.

 

[keishashadow]

Yes! I park my scooter and do the same thing. As others have said...park in a designated area because the CM's will move it anyway. Enjoy the trip!

They seem to be especially on pointe with that in Star Wars land

 

[maxiesmom]

I would park it if you are able for the shops, and take it any line queue you can. Taking it in line is less time for it to be sitting out when it may rain (Florida is known for pop up showers) and sometimes it cuts down on your wait time for the ride.

 

[katallo]

Thanks for all the good info

 

[jo-jo]

I would park it if you are able for the shops, and take it any line queue you can. Taking it in line is less time for it to be sitting out when it may rain (Florida is known for pop up showers) and sometimes it cuts down on your wait time for the ride.

Depending on your health, you might need it in the line. Remember that 30 minute wait might be an hour.