Scooter information

[TexasTSL]

I am taking my mother to Disney. She is in her 70s and has diabetes so it is hard for her to get around. I want to rent her a scooter. Where can I rent one? Any advice of any kind regarding scooters would be appreciated. Also, we are staying at Pop Century. Will the scooter fit in the room?

 

[UncleMike101]

This thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/gold-mobility-rental.3684929/
has a ton of information on Gold Mobility Scooters.
I rented from them last August and an planning on renting from them again on my next visit this Summer.

 

[kaytieeldr]

And poet # 2 in this pinned thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...disabled-1st-trip-next-trip-wish-trip.595713/ has information on most rental companies.

 

[gap2368]

Yes the scooter will fit in the rooms at pop

 

[cmwade77]

And poet # 2 in this pinned thread https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...disabled-1st-trip-next-trip-wish-trip.595713/ has information on most rental companies.

Post #2 has not yet been updated with Gold Mobility, they are by far the gold standard for customer service, bit just in mobility scooters, but if any company that I have ever dealt with.

The featured providers listed in the post equipment quality has gone way downhill and Good Mobility replaces their entire inventory every 6 months, selling the used ones at their original cost, which means a significant discount off the retail price for customers, but also that they don't loose money.

And all of the added bonuses are super nice, plus the extended range battery means you don't end up with a dead battery half way through your day (as long as you charge nightly) like you can with many of the featured providers.

Add in the fact that they are one of the least expensive companies, they cone to you on your schedule and you really can't loose with them.

 

[Bete]

Try to get a first floor room. Then you won't have to use the elevators with the scooter. Also, it would be better if you would get the scooter in and out of the room, not your mom.

If you are using the bus transportation it would be much easier for your mom if one of you got the scooter in and out of the bus. It is a little tricky doing this.

Get in some practice at home with a scooter. They are free to ride in Walmart and grocery stores and some retail stores. She will have more confidence at trip time if you practice.

To get in and out of rides like boat rides I strongly suggest someone should be in front of her and someone in back of her. This has nothing to do with scootering.

Ride line queues haves a lot of turns. We turn wide when scootering.

Cruising around the park will have it's challenges. There will be people especially kids darting out in front of her scooter. She needs to be alert and be able to stop quickly.

When viewing shows, parades, and fireworks make sure to shut off the scooter to save the battery charge. The heavy duty scooters have two batteries and last longer. Depending on your mom's weight you need to decide which scooter model will be best.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Try to get a first floor room. Then you won't have to use the elevators with the scooter.

Elevators are large enough to handle a couple of scooters if necessary, and standees. Probably the best room location is one that works for the entire party. Someone who wants relative quiet isn't going to be happy on the potentially noisiest floor.

Also, it would be better if you would get the scooter in and out of the room, not your mom.

While a reasonable suggestion, the actual decision and process should probably be what works for the ecv user. She may well be fully capable of navigating it.

If you are using the bus transportation it would be much easier for your mom if one of you got the scooter in and out of the bus. It is a little tricky doing this.

Ditto. We don't know what's "easier" for the person. Great as a suggestion, less so as solid advice.

Get in some practice at home with a scooter. They are free to ride in Walmart and grocery stores and some retail stores. She will have more confidence at trip time if you practice.

You know, that's recommended frequently but maybe it's time to overall rethink this advice.

The best place to practice is at the resort, with the rented equipment. I went grocery shopping today. The (any, really) store has only a limited number of scooter carts. If you use one to shop anyway, that's one thing (but then why would you need to practice.) If you don't normally use one, well, there are many maneuvers you can't practice in the store - parallel parkong, driving up or down a ramp steeper/longer than a curb cut, proceeding through non-automatc doors, (mostly) using an elevator...

 

[mamabunny]

...You know, that's recommended frequently but maybe it's time to overall rethink this advice.

The best place to practice is at the resort, with the rented equipment. I went grocery shopping today. The (any, really) store has only a limited number of scooter carts. If you use one to shop anyway, that's one thing (but then why would you need to practice.) If you don't normally use one, well, there are many maneuvers you can't practice in the store - parallel parkong, driving up or down a ramp steeper/longer than a curb cut, proceeding through non-automatc doors, (mostly) using an elevator...

I do think that it may be good advice for people like my (now deceased) mother-in-law; she was one of those folks who could not drive a car, could not ride a bike, could not handle any type of motorized vehicle in the world - including a scooter. But she thought she was going to get on that scooter and bend the world to her will!

She pestered my FIL for *years* to get her a scooter, because she wanted one. (She was, as my grandma used to say, a "stinker pot" LOL). My FIL knew she would most likely run someone over, if not trash any place she tried to drive a scooter, but she was determined. Finally he told her that if she could drive a store scooter all they way through the Super Wal-Mart while they did their grocery shopping on a Sunday morning (a good time around these parts, as most folks are in church) without hitting anyone, or anything, he would call and have a scooter delivered out to the house on Monday.

She didn't get 10 minutes in before she almost wiped out a display of canned green beans; ran that cart right into the corner of an endcap. She never did get the scooter - in fact, she never was even allowed to use a walker or a rollator because we were all so worried she would run someone over! (she was a menace with a standard shopping cart as well) We got her a transport chair, simply because she had to rely upon one of us to push (and more importantly, steer) her.

I don't know if they are practical for "practice" (although a busy Wal-Mart on a weekend gets close to simulating some Disney-level crowds LOL) but I think if there is a question of "can X even drive a scooter" it's a relatively accessible way to find out, since Wal-Mart stores are available even in smaller towns.

I *do* agree that the Resort is the optimal place to "practice" because you can go in and out of shops, dining venues, doorways, try different surfaces, curb cuts, and there is ample space for backing up, and finding out how tightly your unit turns, as well as getting used to the throttle.

I actually think it would be kind of cool to make and distribute a scavenger hunt type activity that could be completed in 15 minutes or less:

• Find a curb cut, and go up and down the ramp to see how it feels
• Find an open area, and try using reverse to back up.
• In that same open area, try to turn a (slow) tight circle, to see how much space you need to make a u-turn
• Go into the QS and see if you can refill your Resort mug
• Go into the lobby (and back out again) to see how you fit through doors.
• Find at least 3 different surfaces to drive on, to see how it feels, and if it changes the way you steer.
• Find an elevator, and practice getting on and off the elevator
• Go into the shop(s) and navigate through the displays
• etc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In that same open area, try to turn a (slow) tight circle, to see how much space you need to make a u-turn

Or, you know, really tight figure eights in a roped-off area of Mission: Space, in the company of two CMs (one permanent, one CP)...

 

[TexasTSL]

Elevators are large enough to handle a couple of scooters if necessary, and standees. Probably the best room location is one that works for the entire party. Someone who wants relative quiet isn't going to be happy on the potentially noisiest floor.

While a reasonable suggestion, the actual decision and process should probably be what works for the ecv user. She may well be fully capable of navigating it.

Ditto. We don't know what's "easier" for the person. Great as a suggestion, less so as solid advice.

You know, that's recommended frequently but maybe it's time to overall rethink this advice.

The best place to practice is at the resort, with the rented equipment. I went grocery shopping today. The (any, really) store has only a limited number of scooter carts. If you use one to shop anyway, that's one thing (but then why would you need to practice.) If you don't normally use one, well, there are many maneuvers you can't practice in the store - parallel parkong, driving up or down a ramp steeper/longer than a curb cut, proceeding through non-automatc doors, (mostly) using an elevator...

I appreciate all the advice and input I can get! Then I can decide which advice to follow! Thank you both for your advice and opinions!

 

[Bete]

My comments are intended to help the scooter user. The previous suggestions have a proven track record for our family. They work and the scooter operator feels more secure. Not everyone is a wiz using a scooter; so, why not make it easier for your mom until she gets more experience with one.

It can be mentally exhausting for a new scooter user to do it all first time out.
I'm convinced by taking away the hardest aspects of scootering your mom will enjoy the parks more and she will last longer in the parks.

This is not to say she can't do more with the scooter eventually but it would be better to ease into some of the harder aspects of using a scooter and not start out doing all of it.

It's also good for you to realize yourself how it is doing some of these tasks; so, you can offer good suggestions when she tries.

You need to be smart with your room resort location. You can be on the first floor where it's less noisy. You need to be away from the pool areas and the food court.

Your mom needs to gain confidence and practicing ahead of time will make her less nervous if she can get some practice in at a local store. It's free to use; so, why not. You might find out she handles the scooter very well and then no one will be worried about doing the scooter in the parks. If she has a difficult time then you know you may need to help her more with the harder aspects of scootering once you are in the parks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's free to use; so, why not.

Because stores aren't training grounds, and because they sometimes do not have enough (what my store of choice calls) mart carts for shoppers? Never mind practicers? I know this method is frequently recommended here, which is why I asked if we should start doing it differently.

If somebody is going to be using an ECV anyway, practicing at the resort with the actual equipment is, imo, the best procedure.

 

[Bete]

I'm not disputing practicing at the resort with the scooter, but you need to know in advance how it will be for scootering before the trip. It's called being prepared.

As far as using a scooter in a store I certainly feel you can find off peak times to do it. Also, you are not spending hours on hours doing it at the store.

I'm in favor of even going to a local zoo and renting a scooter and using one there to practice. That would be closer to what Disney would be like scootering.

I think going without being prepared somewhat can be very stressful for all.