Scooter or wheelchair rental?

[HHMcG]

I’ll be traveling to The World in January with my 76 year old mom. She was looking to travel to Florida to get away from winter and I’ll have an annual pass, so a few days at Disney it is. We will do a day at MK and a day at EPCOT with a rest day in between. I think midday rests will also be needed. This will be our first mother/daughter trip. She isn’t a Disney freak, has been 4 time mainly to take me as a kid and then to go with my kids. It has been 10 years since her last trip and her mobility has declined a lot in that time. She can walk ok, for about 1 mile at a slow pace, so a scooter or wheelchair is being rented. She would prefer to rent the wheelchair and have me push her or at times she can push it while she walks. She prefers this for the maneuverability.
I’d prefer she get the scooter because pushing her all day sounds rough. It is just the two of us so no one to share pushing with. I am a 50-year-old in decent shape. Though I am worried about getting a scooter on/off buses.

Has anyone pushed a wheelchair with a full-sized adult all over The World? How rough is it?

Which would you choose?

 

[MICKIMINI]

Get an ECV at the parks. It's about $53 with tax and you will both be happier. If she wants to walk around, just find a place to park it and let her go. Beware that if you come in late morning, you might have to wait for a return. If you leave a park and plan to return ask them to save it. If you return it and go to another park or DS your receipt will allow you to *rent* one at the other park in the same day.

IMO this in non-negotiable...

 

[Narcoossee11]

EPCOT is rough with a wheelchair. The hills will kill YOU.
A Scooter is a must. Mom will enjoy the scooter with 10minutes.

 

[disney-inspired]

I third the suggestion for a scooter. If she's concerned about maneuverability, just keep it at slow speed when she gets on and then she can adjust while she's moving about.
Also, getting onto the bus is a bit difficult for a novice scooter rider so you may need to ride it in to park it. The bus drivers are very helpful and if you're not comfortable, they can often help get it in the right position to secure it.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I’ll be traveling to The World in January with my 76 year old mom. She was looking to travel to Florida to get away from winter and I’ll have an annual pass, so a few days at Disney it is. We will do a day at MK and a day at EPCOT with a rest day in between. I think midday rests will also be needed. This will be our first mother/daughter trip. She isn’t a Disney freak, has been 4 time mainly to take me as a kid and then to go with my kids. It has been 10 years since her last trip and her mobility has declined a lot in that time. She can walk ok, for about 1 mile at a slow pace, so a scooter or wheelchair is being rented. She would prefer to rent the wheelchair and have me push her or at times she can push it while she walks. She prefers this for the maneuverability.
I’d prefer she get the scooter because pushing her all day sounds rough. It is just the two of us so no one to share pushing with. I am a 50-year-old in decent shape. Though I am worried about getting a scooter on/off buses.

Has anyone pushed a wheelchair with a full-sized adult all over The World? How rough is it?

Which would you choose?

as someone about your mom's age I would go with the scooter. since she can walk a little you could drive on and off buses for her. I would also rent off site so she can have at resort for off days. if she wants to walk some you park scooter in a parking area usually a stroller area and she walks. the wheelchair with only you to push when needed is going to be very tiring on you. renting in park will not help with getting to buses or any transportation as very few places to sit and wait which is worse at end of day waiting to get back to resort plus you will still have the walk to your room which can be a distance. offsite scooter all the way

 

[Pooh bear 39]

First question, will she be comfortable in a scooter? Stopping on a dime, dealing with people changing direction at the last minute, kids (adults too) not looking where they’re going? Not everyone is.

 

[Her Dotness]

First question, will she be comfortable in a scooter? Stopping on a dime, dealing with people changing direction at the last minute, kids (adults too) not looking where they’re going? Not everyone is.

Second this.

I equate scooter operation with driving a car. In WDW crowds, it easily takes the concentration and caution required for driving to move about safely.

DH typically naps for an hour or two every afternoon because chair driving wears him out so much.

I also second those who warned that pushing a wheelchair will be a huge strain even if your mother isn't Pooh-sized. A person walking about doesn't realize how much sloping and uneven decorative pavement there is throughout WDW.

 

[Mousetopia]

I’ll be traveling to The World in January with my 76 year old mom. She was looking to travel to Florida to get away from winter and I’ll have an annual pass, so a few days at Disney it is. We will do a day at MK and a day at EPCOT with a rest day in between. I think midday rests will also be needed. This will be our first mother/daughter trip. She isn’t a Disney freak, has been 4 time mainly to take me as a kid and then to go with my kids. It has been 10 years since her last trip and her mobility has declined a lot in that time. She can walk ok, for about 1 mile at a slow pace, so a scooter or wheelchair is being rented. She would prefer to rent the wheelchair and have me push her or at times she can push it while she walks. She prefers this for the maneuverability.
I’d prefer she get the scooter because pushing her all day sounds rough. It is just the two of us so no one to share pushing with. I am a 50-year-old in decent shape. Though I am worried about getting a scooter on/off buses.

Has anyone pushed a wheelchair with a full-sized adult all over The World? How rough is it?

Which would you choose?

I would choose what the person doing the pushing in the humid Florida sun can handle. Also if shes not a big fan would she enjoy AK more than MK?

 

[SueM in MN]

Since you are not going until January, could you possibly rent or borrow an ECV locally for her to try out at home?
That would give her some practice and make her more comfortable.
MK is the harder park to drive an ECV because there are more things to watch out for. Main Street has the horse trolley tracks and a lot of areas have curbs. There are also a lot of fairly narrow areas that get crowded and people dart out in front of wheelchairs and ECVs without warning. So, the ECV driver needs to be alert and prepared to stop suddenly.

If you can, you might want to go to EPCOT first - no curbs, no tracks and the pathways are wider.
My FIL felt comfortable driving an ECV at EPCOT, but never felt he could drive one at MK.
Some people don’t ever get comfortable enough to be confident drivers and, as was slrwsfy mentioned, the ECV driver can become exhausted by the concentration and attention thry need to pay when driving.

 

[jo-jo]

What size is your mom? Until four or five years ago, I pushed my DH (250) about 70% of the time. He would walk up bigger hills or when I got tired or when he just wanted to. This spring he switched to a scooter.

If your mom can walk a mile slowly, could she walk up a slope if it's too much for you to push?

I would say for her to enjoy the trip more, get the wheelchair.

 

[LoveToDisney]

In January the weather should be more cooperative and not as humid so that will help if you do the wheelchair. I was on a girls trip and my friend’s leg acted up so I had to push her all around MK. It’s definitely doable because there’s less hills. She was a regular sized adult.
I agree with the poster that Epcot is MUCH easier to use an ECV there. And I agree that Main Street of MK is awful with the tracks to deal with and so many people and kids/teens darting about.
You might consider a wheelchair for MK (especially if you go there first). She can relax and take in the sights without being fearful. Then try an ECV for Epcot if need be.
If you rent a Go-Go 3-wheel, it will be much easier to get on the bus. The bus drivers are very nice and will help as much as you need. I agree it will be easier for her if you drive it onto the bus and she just walks onto the bus once it is parked and secured.
Be sure to take breaks no matter what you do. Have a great trip!!

 

[HHMcG]

Thank you for all the feedback. Most of you reiterated what I thought - that the wheelchair would make the trip rough for me.
Mom is still very mentally with it, so I don't foresee problems driving, though it is good advice that she will be more worn out from it.

Get an ECV at the parks. It's about $53 with tax and you will both be happier. If she wants to walk around, just find a place to park it and let her go. Beware that if you come in late morning, you might have to wait for a return. If you leave a park and plan to return ask them to save it. If you return it and go to another park or DS your receipt will allow you to *rent* one at the other park in the same day.

IMO this in non-negotiable...

Rental at the park would be ideal but I've read a lot or reviews that they are often not available and aren't the easiest scooters to handle. I don't think I'd feel comfortable risking not getting a scooter.

Since you are not going until January, could you possibly rent or borrow an ECV locally for her to try out at home?
That would give her some practice and make her more comfortable.
MK is the harder park to drive an ECV because there are more things to watch out for. Main Street has the horse trolley tracks and a lot of areas have curbs. There are also a lot of fairly narrow areas that get crowded and people dart out in front of wheelchairs and ECVs without warning. So, the ECV driver needs to be alert and prepared to stop suddenly.

If you can, you might want to go to EPCOT first - no curbs, no tracks and the pathways are wider.
My FIL felt comfortable driving an ECV at EPCOT, but never felt he could drive one at MK.
Some people don’t ever get comfortable enough to be confident drivers and, as was slrwsfy mentioned, the ECV driver can become exhausted by the concentration and attention thry need to pay when driving.

I told Mom to try out the scooters at Target and the grocery store. Hopefully that will help us make a final decision.
Unfortunately, we are planning MK for our arrival day. Mom is more interested in EPCOT so we want a full day there.



Good to know that bus drivers will be helpful with loading the scooter. Because I worry that I won't be much better than mom at getting it on. But maybe I am worrying too much about nothing. I'm usually a very coordinated person and the queen of parallel parking which has to count for something.

 

[HHMcG]

Follow up question:
How hard is it to park the scooter on the bus?

We are considering between 2 resorts. One on the monorail just to avoid having to get the scooter on the bus. However the cost is 3x our other option which only has bus transportation.

Money isn’t really a concern. We have the money but the thrifty side of me really likes a ‘deal’. And the monorail resort isn’t a deal.


Thoughts? Where would you stay with a scooter? Monorail or bus resort?

 

[RoseGold]

Renting for the day is an option, and maybe the best one, if you are just trying to get a few hours in. Then you don't care about transportation issues, done and done.

If you need a more permanent solution, I would start by going to your local mobility store. Look up who carries Whill and go there. They will have everything. You might be shocked what the modern options are. It's not like the huge stuff you think it is anymore. If you are driving, it might be better to rent locally, or even buy something. Of course, a power chair adds significant complication, you need an accessible bus, or you need to be able to load it in your car. Medical equipment goes for free on planes, but you still have to transport it once you get there.

Pushing a wheelchair for a day is a miserable option for everyone. Maybe if she were a kid, but an adult, nope. Unnecessary and a big burden. Don't do it.

 

[RoseGold]

How hard is it to park the scooter on the bus?

There are hundreds of mobility devices you could describe as scooters. There are plenty I couldn't park. I've parked a zero turn radius Whill on buses dozens of times very quickly, but that's the equipment, not me.

They make you back up into the Skyliner to make getting off easier, I'm not sure I could do that in a massive rental scooter.

 

[KPeterso]

Another vote for the scooter. We rent a scooter at WDW despite having our own manual chair for my mom. She does not want me to have to push her all around for multiple days in a row. There are so many more hills than you ever realize but become apparent when pushing a wheelchair. For the bus, turn the speed to as slow as possible. My mom is not too bad at parking it on the bus, but the drivers still are always offering to help her and do it for her.

We do use our wheelchair at Disneyland as it is generally only 1-2 days at a time and that is more doable for me. And my Mom is not super heavy at 130 lbs, but I often feel it a bit the next day from pushing her.

 

[Debbie Jean]

There are hundreds of mobility devices you could describe as scooters. There are plenty I couldn't park. I've parked a zero turn radius Whill on buses dozens of times very quickly, but that's the equipment, not me.

They make you back up into the Skyliner to make getting off easier, I'm not sure I could do that in a massive rental scooter.

I’ve never backed into the Skyliner. Always straight in, back up out. Same with the monorail. Very, very easy.

The bus driver is your friend. No matter what size ECV I’ve had… using a rented one several times a year at WDW for more than a decade… I have never had a driver not offer if I needed help. I know this is a common worry but experience tells me that help is there is you need it!

 

[RoseGold]

I’ve never backed into the Skyliner. Always straight in, back up out. Same with the monorail. Very, very easy.

Right, I'm thinking backward, been a minute. We avoided it last trip. They wouldn't let us back into it, which would have been easier for the awkward RIV drop off.

Guess it makes sense you don't want rental scooters backing into it!!!

 

[barb969]

I’m a bit older than your mom. I rent a scooter from off site and love it. Disney looks completely different from a scooter. There is no thinking about how far away something is, you just go. many of the lines are scooter friendly and the ones that are not will send you to the exit(Big Thunder) or give you a return time (Star Tours) and send you thru the LL lane.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you for all the feedback. Most of you reiterated what I thought - that the wheelchair would make the trip rough for me.
Mom is still very mentally with it, so I don't foresee problems driving, though it is good advice that she will be more worn out from it.



Rental at the park would be ideal but I've read a lot or reviews that they are often not available and aren't the easiest scooters to handle. I don't think I'd feel comfortable risking not getting a scooter.

I told Mom to try out the scooters at Target and the grocery store. Hopefully that will help us make a final decision.
Unfortunately, we are planning MK for our arrival day. Mom is more interested in EPCOT so we want a full day there.



Good to know that bus drivers will be helpful with loading the scooter. Because I worry that I won't be much better than mom at getting it on. But maybe I am worrying too much about nothing. I'm usually a very coordinated person and the queen of parallel parking which has to count for something.

Park rental ECVs are often not available after 10 or 10:30 am. May not be an issue if you plan on arriving at park opening, but not something you can plan on.

If she is comfortable driving one of the Target or grocery store ones, even the big park rental ones won’t be much of a challenge. Even they are smaller than the store ones.
She will still get tired driving an ECV from all the mental concentration, but the more she can practice, the more comfortable she will get.

Assuming you rent from offsite, have her drive around the resort for a while. Practice going forward, backwards and turning in each direction. The scooter will have a speed control that limits how fast it can go. Many are labeled rabbit for faster and turtle for slower. Within rabbit or turtle, you can go slower or faster, but turtle will have a slower top maximum speed than rabbit. Most of the big issues I see with ECVs are people going too fast - in this case, Turtle is your friend.

Some drivers will ‘take over‘ and park the ECV (although I’ve been told they are not actually supposed to do that). At the very least, they will give helpful information and instructions on when to turn, which way and how much. A lot of the people I see with problems parking it themselves are flustered and not listening (or trusting) the driver. Take your time!